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Certified sommelier practice test: 40 questions

A free Certified Sommelier practice test: 40 questions with answers on Burgundy, Bordeaux, Champagne, the wider wine world, spirits and the exam itself.

Published October 2026

Written by Alper Billik, Advanced Sommelier. Edited with AI.

9 min read

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The short answer: this free Certified Sommelier practice test has 40 questions at the level of the Court of Master Sommeliers' Certified Sommelier exam, each with the answer and a short explanation. Play it as a timed test, or read it through below.

I passed my Certified Sommelier exam in 2014. The jump from the Introductory is real: the theory goes one step deeper everywhere, from Burgundy's villages to the Champagne press. These questions train that depth. They are not real exam questions, and nobody can give you those.

Alper Billik's Certified Sommelier certificate from the Court of Master Sommeliers
My Certified Sommelier certificate, Court of Master Sommeliers, 2014

The Certified Sommelier exam in 2026

  • Europe: a theory paper of 40 multiple-choice and short-answer questions, a blind tasting of two wines on the Court's tasting grid, and a practical service exam. You need 60% in each part, passed together.
  • Americas: a theory exam of 45 questions in 38 minutes (multiple choice, short answer, simple math and matching), a blind tasting of four wines, and service. 60% on every section, in one sitting.
  • You need the Introductory first. In Europe you then have three years to take the Certified, and the Court asks for at least ten weeks of pre-study.

Always check the latest details with your Court before you book. The full theory guide, region by region, is in the Certified Sommelier theory exam, and the whole path in how to become a Certified Sommelier.

How to take this practice test

  • Play it as a test with the button below: one question at a time, your score and your weakest topics at the end. Switch on the timer for exam pace.
  • Or read it through and open each answer as you go.
  • 24 correct is 60%, the pass mark. Aim for 32 or more (80%) before exam day.

Burgundy

Certified practice test

Take it as a real test

40 questions, one at a time. The answer and why after each one, then your score and your weakest topics.

Question 1

How many Grand Cru climats are there in Chablis?

  1. a)Five
  2. b)Seven
  3. c)Nine
  4. d)Twelve
Show answer

b) Seven. Blanchot, Bougros, Les Clos, Grenouilles, Preuses, Valmur and Vaudésir, all within one appellation, Chablis Grand Cru.

Question 2

Which is the only red Grand Cru of the Côte de Beaune?

  1. a)Montrachet
  2. b)Corton-Charlemagne
  3. c)Corton
  4. d)Bâtard-Montrachet
Show answer

c) Corton. Corton. Montrachet, Bâtard-Montrachet and Corton-Charlemagne are white.

Question 3

Bouzeron is a village appellation for which grape?

  1. a)Chardonnay
  2. b)Aligoté
  3. c)Pinot Noir
  4. d)Gamay
Show answer

b) Aligoté. Bouzeron, in the Côte Chalonnaise, became a village appellation for Aligoté in 1998.

Question 4

Which Mâconnais appellation gained Premier Cru vineyards from the 2020 vintage?

  1. a)Saint-Véran
  2. b)Viré-Clessé
  3. c)Pouilly-Fuissé
  4. d)Mâcon-Villages
Show answer

c) Pouilly-Fuissé. Pouilly-Fuissé now has 22 Premier Cru climats, the first in the Mâconnais.

Question 5

In which village are Romanée-Conti and La Tâche?

  1. a)Gevrey-Chambertin
  2. b)Vosne-Romanée
  3. c)Chambolle-Musigny
  4. d)Nuits-Saint-Georges
Show answer

b) Vosne-Romanée. Both are in Vosne-Romanée, and both are monopoles of Domaine de la Romanée-Conti.

Question 6

Bonnes-Mares is shared between which two villages?

  1. a)Gevrey-Chambertin and Morey-Saint-Denis
  2. b)Chambolle-Musigny and Morey-Saint-Denis
  3. c)Vosne-Romanée and Flagey-Echézeaux
  4. d)Puligny-Montrachet and Chassagne-Montrachet
Show answer

b) Chambolle-Musigny and Morey-Saint-Denis. Most of Bonnes-Mares is in Chambolle-Musigny; a smaller part lies in Morey-Saint-Denis.

Question 7

Saint-Bris, near Chablis, is the Burgundy appellation for which grape?

  1. a)Sauvignon Blanc
  2. b)Aligoté
  3. c)César
  4. d)Melon de Bourgogne
Show answer

a) Sauvignon Blanc. Saint-Bris is the odd one out in Burgundy: an appellation for Sauvignon Blanc.

Bordeaux

Question 8

Which two rivers meet to form the Gironde estuary?

  1. a)The Garonne and the Dordogne
  2. b)The Loire and the Cher
  3. c)The Rhône and the Saône
  4. d)The Lot and the Tarn
Show answer

a) The Garonne and the Dordogne. The Garonne and the Dordogne join north of the city of Bordeaux.

Question 9

Why does Cabernet Sauvignon do best on the gravel of the Left Bank?

  1. a)Gravel keeps the vines cool
  2. b)Gravel drains well and holds heat, helping a late grape ripen
  3. c)Gravel stops noble rot
  4. d)Gravel gives higher yields
Show answer

b) Gravel drains well and holds heat, helping a late grape ripen. Cabernet Sauvignon ripens late; warm, well-drained gravel gives it the extra heat it needs.

Question 10

Which is the most planted grape in Bordeaux?

  1. a)Cabernet Sauvignon
  2. b)Cabernet Franc
  3. c)Merlot
  4. d)Sémillon
Show answer

c) Merlot. Merlot: about two-thirds of the red vines, according to the CIVB.

Question 11

Which château was promoted to First Growth in 1973?

  1. a)Château Palmer
  2. b)Château Mouton Rothschild
  3. c)Château Cos d'Estournel
  4. d)Château Léoville Las Cases
Show answer

b) Château Mouton Rothschild. Mouton Rothschild, a Second Growth in 1855, became a First Growth in 1973: the only promotion in the red classification.

Question 12

Which First Growth is not in the Médoc?

  1. a)Château Latour
  2. b)Château Margaux
  3. c)Château Haut-Brion
  4. d)Château Lafite Rothschild
Show answer

c) Château Haut-Brion. Haut-Brion is in Pessac, in the Graves, today's Pessac-Léognan appellation.

Question 13

Which appellation has the most classified growths in the 1855 classification?

  1. a)Pauillac
  2. b)Margaux
  3. c)Saint-Julien
  4. d)Saint-Estèphe
Show answer

b) Margaux. Margaux has 21, Pauillac 18, Saint-Julien 11 and Saint-Estèphe 5.

Question 14

Which famous Right Bank appellation has no official classification?

  1. a)Saint-Émilion
  2. b)Pomerol
  3. c)Graves
  4. d)Sauternes
Show answer

b) Pomerol. Pomerol has never been classified. Graves and Sauternes are Left Bank; Saint-Émilion has its own classification.

Question 15

In the 2022 Saint-Émilion classification, which two châteaux are Premier Grand Cru Classé A?

  1. a)Ausone and Cheval Blanc
  2. b)Angélus and Pavie
  3. c)Figeac and Pavie
  4. d)Petrus and Le Pin
Show answer

c) Figeac and Pavie. Figeac and Pavie. Ausone, Cheval Blanc and Angélus left the classification; Petrus and Le Pin are in Pomerol.

Champagne

Question 16

How much does a traditional Champagne press load (a marc) weigh?

  1. a)1,000 kg
  2. b)2,550 kg
  3. c)4,000 kg
  4. d)5,000 kg
Show answer

c) 4,000 kg. A marc is 4,000 kg of grapes.

Question 17

How many litres of cuvée does a 4,000 kg marc give?

  1. a)500 litres
  2. b)2,050 litres
  3. c)2,550 litres
  4. d)3,000 litres
Show answer

b) 2,050 litres. 2,050 litres of cuvée, then 500 litres of taille: 2,550 litres in all.

Question 18

Which bottle holds 3 litres?

  1. a)Magnum
  2. b)Jeroboam
  3. c)Rehoboam
  4. d)Methuselah
Show answer

b) Jeroboam. A jeroboam is 3 litres, four standard bottles.

Question 19

Cristal is the prestige wine of which house?

  1. a)Moët & Chandon
  2. b)Taittinger
  3. c)Louis Roederer
  4. d)Pol Roger
Show answer

c) Louis Roederer. Cristal is Louis Roederer's prestige cuvée.

Question 20

What is Rosé des Riceys?

  1. a)A sparkling rosé from the Côte des Blancs
  2. b)A still rosé from Pinot Noir, from the Aube
  3. c)A rosé Champagne made by saignée
  4. d)A still rosé from Meunier, from the Marne
Show answer

b) A still rosé from Pinot Noir, from the Aube. Rosé des Riceys is a still rosé, Pinot Noir only, from around Les Riceys in the Aube.

Question 21

How long must vintage Champagne age after bottling before it is sold?

  1. a)12 months
  2. b)15 months
  3. c)24 months
  4. d)36 months
Show answer

d) 36 months. 36 months for vintage; 15 months for non-vintage.

The wider wine world

Question 22

Which Northern Rhône appellation belongs to a single estate and makes only Viognier?

  1. a)Condrieu
  2. b)Château-Grillet
  3. c)Saint-Péray
  4. d)Cornas
Show answer

b) Château-Grillet. Château-Grillet is a single-estate appellation inside the Condrieu area. Cornas is red Syrah; Saint-Péray is white Marsanne and Roussanne.

Question 23

Which Loire appellation is known for sweet Chenin Blanc?

  1. a)Muscadet Sèvre et Maine
  2. b)Quarts de Chaume
  3. c)Chinon
  4. d)Sancerre
Show answer

b) Quarts de Chaume. Quarts de Chaume, in Anjou, makes sweet Chenin Blanc, often touched by botrytis. Chinon is mostly red Cabernet Franc.

Question 24

What is the main grape of Madiran?

  1. a)Malbec
  2. b)Tannat
  3. c)Négrette
  4. d)Fer Servadou
Show answer

b) Tannat. Madiran, in South West France, is built on Tannat, one of the most tannic grapes there is.

Question 25

In the VDP classification, a Grosses Gewächs is:

  1. a)A sweet wine from any site
  2. b)A dry wine from a Grosse Lage
  3. c)A village wine
  4. d)A sparkling wine
Show answer

b) A dry wine from a Grosse Lage. Grosses Gewächs (GG) is the dry wine from a VDP Grosse Lage, the top tier of its vineyard pyramid.

Question 26

In the Wachau, which category is the ripest and fullest?

  1. a)Steinfeder
  2. b)Federspiel
  3. c)Smaragd
  4. d)Kabinett
Show answer

c) Smaragd. Steinfeder is the lightest, Federspiel the middle and Smaragd the fullest.

Question 27

Taurasi is made from which grape?

  1. a)Nebbiolo
  2. b)Sangiovese
  3. c)Aglianico
  4. d)Nero d'Avola
Show answer

c) Aglianico. Taurasi is Campania's great Aglianico, and a DOCG.

Question 28

Méthode Cap Classique is traditional-method sparkling wine from:

  1. a)Australia
  2. b)Chile
  3. c)South Africa
  4. d)New Zealand
Show answer

c) South Africa. Méthode Cap Classique (MCC) is South Africa's term for bottle-fermented sparkling wine.

Spirits, fortified wine and cocktails

Question 29

VORS on a Sherry label means an average age of at least:

  1. a)12 years
  2. b)15 years
  3. c)20 years
  4. d)30 years
Show answer

d) 30 years. VORS is 30 years or more. VOS is 20 years or more.

Question 30

Fine Champagne Cognac is a blend of:

  1. a)Grande and Petite Champagne, at least half Grande Champagne
  2. b)Borderies and Fins Bois
  3. c)Any Cognac crus
  4. d)Cognac and Champagne
Show answer

a) Grande and Petite Champagne, at least half Grande Champagne. Fine Champagne blends Grande and Petite Champagne, with at least 50% Grande Champagne. It has nothing to do with the wine region.

Question 31

Which three ingredients make a Negroni?

  1. a)Gin, Campari and sweet vermouth
  2. b)Gin, Aperol and prosecco
  3. c)Gin, dry vermouth and orange bitters
  4. d)Whiskey, Campari and sweet vermouth
Show answer

a) Gin, Campari and sweet vermouth. Equal parts gin, Campari and sweet red vermouth. With whiskey instead of gin it becomes a Boulevardier.

Question 32

A Gibson is a Dry Martini garnished with:

  1. a)An olive
  2. b)A lemon twist
  3. c)A cocktail onion
  4. d)A cherry
Show answer

c) A cocktail onion. The cocktail onion is the only difference between a Gibson and a Dry Martini.

Question 33

The Vesper is made with gin, vodka and:

  1. a)Lillet Blanc
  2. b)Dry vermouth
  3. c)Cointreau
  4. d)Campari
Show answer

a) Lillet Blanc. The Vesper's third ingredient is Lillet Blanc, the aromatised wine from near Bordeaux.

Question 34

A French 75 is topped with:

  1. a)Soda water
  2. b)Tonic water
  3. c)Champagne
  4. d)Ginger beer
Show answer

c) Champagne. Gin, lemon juice and sugar syrup are shaken, strained into a flute and topped with Champagne.

Question 35

Which liqueur gives the Aviation its pale violet colour?

  1. a)Crème de violette
  2. b)Blue curaçao
  3. c)Maraschino
  4. d)Green Chartreuse
Show answer

a) Crème de violette. Maraschino is clear; the bar spoon of crème de violette gives the colour.

Question 36

How is a Dry Martini made, in the IBA's recipe?

  1. a)Shaken with ice
  2. b)Stirred with ice and strained
  3. c)Built over ice in a rocks glass
  4. d)Blended with crushed ice
Show answer

b) Stirred with ice and strained. Stirred in a mixing glass with ice, then strained into a chilled cocktail glass. The Vesper is the one that is shaken.

The exam itself

Question 37

In Europe, how many wines are in the Certified tasting?

  1. a)One
  2. b)Two
  3. c)Four
  4. d)Six
Show answer

b) Two. The Court of Master Sommeliers Europe sets two wines, tasted blind and written on its tasting grid. The Americas set four.

Question 38

What is the pass mark for each part of the Certified exam?

  1. a)50%
  2. b)55%
  3. c)60%
  4. d)75%
Show answer

c) 60%. Both Courts ask for 60% in each part, passed at the same sitting.

Question 39

What must you pass before the Certified?

  1. a)WSET Level 3
  2. b)The Introductory Sommelier exam
  3. c)The Advanced Sommelier exam
  4. d)Nothing
Show answer

b) The Introductory Sommelier exam. The Introductory comes first. In Europe, you then have three years to take the Certified.

Question 40

How much pre-study does the Court of Master Sommeliers Europe ask for before the Certified?

  1. a)One week
  2. b)Four weeks
  3. c)A minimum of ten weeks
  4. d)Two years
Show answer

c) A minimum of ten weeks. The Court asks for a minimum of ten weeks of pre-study for the theory, tasting and service.

Your score

  • 32–40: you are ready for the theory. Keep your tasting and service sharp too.
  • 24–31: that is a pass, but with a thin margin. Go back to the topics where you missed most.
  • Under 24: build the base first, with the regions where you missed most.

For more practice, SOMM DIGI AI has Certified-level questions on every region, with the answer explained, free to start.

Practise with SOMM DIGI AIThe Certified theory guide

Questions people ask

How many questions are on the Certified Sommelier theory exam?

In Europe, 40 multiple-choice and short-answer questions. In the Americas, 45 questions in 38 minutes, including short answers, simple math and matching.

What score do you need to pass the Certified Sommelier exam?

60% in each part, theory, tasting and service, passed at the same sitting.

Is there blind tasting at the Certified level?

Yes. Two wines in Europe, on the Court's tasting grid; four wines in the Americas.

Can I take the Certified without the Introductory?

No. The Introductory comes first, and in Europe the Certified must be taken within three years of it.

Are these the real exam questions?

No. Real exam questions are confidential. These cover the same topics at the same level, so you can test yourself before the day.

Your exam kit

Where to study for your exam

The Court of Master Sommeliers Learning PortalOfficial · freeThe Court's Learning PortalOpen the portal SOMM DIGI AI's free sommelier practice testPractice · freeSOMM DIGI AIPractise now
Sommelier Prep BookMy book · AmazonSommelier Prep BookQuick questions and answers for a break at work.Order on Amazon Sommelier Level 1 Prep BookMy book · AmazonSommelier Level 1 Prep BookLevel 1's key topics in one small book you can carry anywhere.Order on Amazon

SOMM DIGI built the Court of Master Sommeliers Europe’s Learning Portal, and SOMM DIGI AI. Who is behind this

For sommeliers · next steps

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