Certified Sommelier Practice Exam

Which of the following is a feature of the Cotes de Nuits region?

1. Primarily white wines

2. All Grand Crus are white

3. All Grand Cru are red, except Corton

4. Only sparkling wines are produced

The correct answer is: All Grand Cru are red, except Corton

The Côtes de Nuits region, part of the Burgundy wine area in France, is renowned primarily for its red wines made from Pinot Noir. The statement regarding Grand Cru wines being red, with the exception of Corton, accurately reflects the characteristics of this region. Corton is unique in the Côtes de Nuits as it is one of the few Grand Cru vineyards that produces both red and white wines, but it is indeed predominantly known for its red wines. Consequently, within Côtes de Nuits, all other designated Grand Cru wines are red, which solidifies the correctness of the selected answer. In contrast, the other options do not align with the characteristics of the region. The first choice, which mentions primarily white wines, inaccurately describes the dominance of red wine production. The second choice about all Grand Cru wines being white is also incorrect as it misrepresents the fact that most Grand Cru classifications in this region are red. Lastly, the statement that only sparkling wines are produced is misleading since the Côtes de Nuits is not known for sparkling wines but rather for its high-quality still red wines.