Last updated August 2026

Written by Jesse & Cassie, Wine Scribes — Jesse holds a degree in Viticulture & Enology from UC Davis and has made wine in Burgundy, Yarra Valley, California, Washington and the Douro Valley; Cassie holds WSET Level 2 with Distinction and assists Jesse with work in the vineyard and cellar.

Iberia and Italy are where Advanced candidates most often discover that their knowledge is a decade out of date. Rioja added a geographic tier system in 2017. Barolo formalised its MGA sub-zones in 2010 and Barbaresco earlier. Amarone’s DOCG decree is more recent than most people assume.

These fifteen questions cover the Barolo and Barbaresco MGA systems, Serralunga’s structural signature, Barolo and Brunello ageing minima, Amarone’s appassimento and DOCG elevation, Greco di Tufo, Spain’s two top-tier designations, Ribera del Duero, the Rioja 2017 categories, Sherry’s biological ageing and VORS, Priorat’s llicorella, Port declaration frequency and Madeira’s driest style.

CMS Certified — Old World Regions

Test your Old World wine knowledge for the CMS Certified Sommelier exam. Questions cover Bordeaux, Burgundy, Rhône, Italy, Spain, Portugal, and Germany. Written for self-study purposes only — not affiliated with the Court of Master Sommeliers.

The Menzioni Geografiche Aggiuntive (MGA) system for Barolo, officially recognizing named sub-zones, was established in what year? 2018 1966 2010 1990

Which Barolo commune is typically associated with the region's most powerful, structured, and long-lived wines? Serralunga d'Alba Castiglione Falletto Barolo La Morra

Barolo DOCG requires a minimum aging of 38 months from November 1st following the harvest, with a minimum time in wood of: 30 months 18 months 12 months 24 months

Brunello di Montalcino Riserva may not be released before 1 January of which year following the harvest? The fourth year The sixth year The eighth year The third year

Amarone della Valpolicella is produced by which winemaking method? Malolactic fermentation on lees for 24 months Solera fractional blending Governo — adding partially fermented grape must to finished wine Appassimento — drying grapes on straw mats for 100–120 days before fermentation

Amarone della Valpolicella was elevated from DOC to DOCG in which year? 2004 1968 1980 2010

Which Italian white variety is the signature grape of Greco di Tufo DOCG in Campania? Vermentino Verdicchio Greco Fiano

Spain has two regions elevated to the highest-tier qualified designation (DOCa in Castilian / DOQ in Catalan). They are: Rioja (DOCa 1991) and Priorat (DOQ 2000) Priorat and Sherry Rioja and Rías Baixas Rioja and Ribera del Duero

Ribera del Duero was established as a DO in what year, and its dominant red grape is known locally as: 1990; Mencía 1982; Tinto Fino / Tinta del País (Tempranillo) 1966; Garnacha 1995; Bobal

Rioja's 2017 geographic tier system introduced three new categories to complement the traditional aging classifications. They are: Village, Premier Cru, Grand Cru Vino de Zona, Vino de Municipio/Pueblo, Viñedo Singular Reserva, Gran Reserva, Superior Cosecha, Barrica, Reserva Especial

Sherry aging under a film of yeast (flor) is called "biological aging." Which Sherry style is aged entirely biologically? Palo Cortado Fino (and Manzanilla from Sanlúcar) Oloroso Amontillado

Sherry's VORS aging designation requires a minimum average age of: 20 years 10 years 50 years 30 years

Priorat's distinctive dark slate-and-quartz soil is called: Albariza Terra rossa Galestro Llicorella

Port vintage declarations are typically made: About three times per decade Every year that quality permits (7–9 times per decade) Once per decade, decided collectively by all shippers Twice per decade

Which Madeira grape produces the driest and most austere style? Boal Sercial Verdelho Malvasia (Malmsey)

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How to study Italy, Spain and Portugal for Advanced

Update your Rioja knowledge specifically. The 2017 reform introduced Vino de Zona, Vino de Municipio and Viñedo Singular alongside the familiar Crianza, Reserva and Gran Reserva ladder, and the two systems now run in parallel rather than one replacing the other.

Keep the Piedmont ageing figures straight by holding Barolo and Barbaresco side by side. Barolo runs thirty-eight months total with eighteen in wood; Barbaresco twenty-six with nine. Learning them together is far more reliable than learning them apart.

Sherry rewards a structural understanding rather than lists. Know which styles age under flor, what the solera actually does, and what the VOS and VORS designations require. Then Palo Cortado stops being confusing.

The Certified Fortified Wines quiz is a useful foundation for the Sherry, Port and Madeira questions here, and France is the natural companion at this level.

What changed in Rioja in 2017?

Rioja introduced three geographic categories — Vino de Zona, Vino de Municipio (or Pueblo) and Viñedo Singular — which sit alongside the traditional ageing classifications rather than replacing them. Viñedo Singular requires vines of at least thirty-five years and hand harvesting.

What is an MGA in Barolo?

A Menzione Geografica Aggiuntiva, or additional geographic mention — the officially recognised named sub-zones, formalised by decree in 2010. There are 181, comprising 170 named crus plus the eleven communes.

Are these the same questions as the real CMS exam?

No. They are written independently by Wine Scribes and are not affiliated with or endorsed by the Court of Master Sommeliers.

CMS Advanced Sommelier Italy, Spain & Portugal Quiz

CMS Certified — Old World Regions

How to study Italy, Spain and Portugal for Advanced