Page 1 of 138
Certified Specialist of Wine (CSW) Exam ACTUAL
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS LATEST UPDATE THIS
YEAR
Certified Specialist of Wine (CSW) Exam,
POINT-FORM SUMMARIZED EXAM COVERAGE
• Exam Overview: 120-question multiple-choice exam administered by the Society of Wine
Educators (SWE). Passing score requires approximately 85-90 correct answers .
• Study Materials (2024-2026): Exams are based on the CSW Study Guide and Workbook. The
2025 edition is valid through December 30, 2027; the 2026 edition through December 30, 2028 .
• Online Prep Course: Free instructor-led course available to Professional SWE members who
have a valid CSW Exam attendance credit .
• Addenda & Errata: SWE publishes official addenda for substantive changes between study guide
editions. Errors (such as missing sentences on Rhône Valley varieties) are corrected via errata .
• Tasting & Theory Balance: CSW emphasizes wine theory (geography, varieties, production)
more than blind tasting; foundational knowledge across all major regions is essential.
• Major Old World Regions: France (Bordeaux, Burgundy, Rhône, Loire, Alsace, Champagne), Italy
(Piedmont, Tuscany, Veneto), Spain (Rioja, Ribera del Duero, Priorat, Sherry), Germany (Riesling
classifications), Portugal (Port, Douro).
• Major New World Regions: USA (California, Oregon, Washington, New York), Australia (Barossa,
Hunter, Clare Valley), New Zealand (Marlborough, Central Otago), Chile, Argentina, South Africa.
• Grape Variety Focus: International varieties (Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Riesling, Cabernet
Sauvignon, Merlot, Pinot Noir, Syrah/Shiraz) and regionally significant grapes (Nebbiolo,
Sangiovese, Tempranillo, Malbec, Zinfandel).
• Wine Production: Harvest, crushing, fermentation (alcoholic and malolactic), clarification, aging
vessels (oak, stainless, concrete), stabilization, bottling.
• Fortified Wines: Sherry (solera system, biological vs. oxidative aging), Port (styles, aging),
Madeira (estufagem, historical process), Vin Doux Naturel.
• Sparkling Wines: Traditional method (Champagne), Charmat/Tank method (Prosecco), Transfer
method, Carbonation, Ancestral method.
• Viticulture: Vineyard management, trellising, canopy management, irrigation,
organic/biodynamic farming, climate factors (sun, temperature, water, soil).
• Vinification Chemistry: Alcohol, acidity (TA, pH), tannins, residual sugar, volatile acidity, sulfur
dioxide, oak influence.
• Wine Law & Labeling: Appellation systems (AOC/AOP in France, DOC/DOCG in Italy, DO/DOCa in
Spain, Prädikatswein in Germany), AVA system in the US.
• Food & Wine Pairing: Basic principles (tannin-fat, acidity-richness, sweetness-spiciness),
complementary vs. contrasting pairings.
• Professional Service: Storage (temperature, humidity, light), service temperatures, decanting,
glassware, wine lists, corkage.
• Wine Business: Importation, distribution (three-tier system in US), retail, wine list pricing, basic
financial metrics.
• Theory of Wine & Food: TCA (cork taint), sediment, heat damage, oxidation, reduction, tartrate
crystals, bottle variation.
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• Wine Judging & Competitions: Tasting protocols (deductive tasting, scoring systems), common
faults identification .
1. The Certified Specialist of Wine (CSW) exam is administered by which professional organization?
A) Court of Master Sommeliers
B) Wine & Spirit Education Trust (WSET)
C) Society of Wine Educators (SWE)
D) International Sommelier Guild
Answer: C
Rationale: The CSW exam is offered by the Society of Wine Educators, which also publishes the official
study guide and workbook for exam candidates .
2. For which year editions of the CSW Study Guide are exams still available through December 30, 2028?
A) 2023 edition
B) 2024 edition
C) 2025 edition
D) 2026 edition
Answer: D
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Rationale: Exams based on the 2026 edition of the CSW Study Guide will be available through December
30, 2028, as announced by the SWE .
3. If a candidate purchases the 2025 CSW Study Guide, what is the last date they can take the exam
based on that edition?
A) December 30, 2026
B) December 30, 2027
C) December 30, 2028
D) December 30, 2029
Answer: B
Rationale: The 2025 CSW Study Guide is valid for exams through December 30, 2027, after which the
candidate would need the updated edition .
4. Where can candidates find documentation of substantive changes between different editions of the
CSW Study Guide?
A) In the preface of every new edition
B) On the SWE website as official addenda
C) From third-party study guide publishers only
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D) Through the candidate's local wine society
Answer: B
Rationale: SWE publishes official addenda listing substantive changes between editions, such as the
addendum for changes between the 2026 and 2025 versions .
5. Which official SWE service is described as helping attendees get "as prepared as humanly possible"
for the CSW Exam?
A) The CSW Workbook alone
B) The instructor-led Online Prep Course
C) A private tutoring service for an additional fee
D) The CSW mobile application
Answer: B
Rationale: The CSW Online Prep Course is explicitly described as aiming to get attendees "as prepared as
humanly possible" and is free to Professional members with a valid exam credit .
6. What error was found in some copies of the 2024 CSW Study Guide according to the SWE errata?
A) Mislabeled Italian wine region maps
B) Two missing sentences on the Rhône Valley grape varieties section on page 115
Certified Specialist of Wine (CSW) Exam ACTUAL
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS LATEST UPDATE THIS
YEAR
Certified Specialist of Wine (CSW) Exam,
POINT-FORM SUMMARIZED EXAM COVERAGE
• Exam Overview: 120-question multiple-choice exam administered by the Society of Wine
Educators (SWE). Passing score requires approximately 85-90 correct answers .
• Study Materials (2024-2026): Exams are based on the CSW Study Guide and Workbook. The
2025 edition is valid through December 30, 2027; the 2026 edition through December 30, 2028 .
• Online Prep Course: Free instructor-led course available to Professional SWE members who
have a valid CSW Exam attendance credit .
• Addenda & Errata: SWE publishes official addenda for substantive changes between study guide
editions. Errors (such as missing sentences on Rhône Valley varieties) are corrected via errata .
• Tasting & Theory Balance: CSW emphasizes wine theory (geography, varieties, production)
more than blind tasting; foundational knowledge across all major regions is essential.
• Major Old World Regions: France (Bordeaux, Burgundy, Rhône, Loire, Alsace, Champagne), Italy
(Piedmont, Tuscany, Veneto), Spain (Rioja, Ribera del Duero, Priorat, Sherry), Germany (Riesling
classifications), Portugal (Port, Douro).
• Major New World Regions: USA (California, Oregon, Washington, New York), Australia (Barossa,
Hunter, Clare Valley), New Zealand (Marlborough, Central Otago), Chile, Argentina, South Africa.
• Grape Variety Focus: International varieties (Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Riesling, Cabernet
Sauvignon, Merlot, Pinot Noir, Syrah/Shiraz) and regionally significant grapes (Nebbiolo,
Sangiovese, Tempranillo, Malbec, Zinfandel).
• Wine Production: Harvest, crushing, fermentation (alcoholic and malolactic), clarification, aging
vessels (oak, stainless, concrete), stabilization, bottling.
• Fortified Wines: Sherry (solera system, biological vs. oxidative aging), Port (styles, aging),
Madeira (estufagem, historical process), Vin Doux Naturel.
• Sparkling Wines: Traditional method (Champagne), Charmat/Tank method (Prosecco), Transfer
method, Carbonation, Ancestral method.
• Viticulture: Vineyard management, trellising, canopy management, irrigation,
organic/biodynamic farming, climate factors (sun, temperature, water, soil).
• Vinification Chemistry: Alcohol, acidity (TA, pH), tannins, residual sugar, volatile acidity, sulfur
dioxide, oak influence.
• Wine Law & Labeling: Appellation systems (AOC/AOP in France, DOC/DOCG in Italy, DO/DOCa in
Spain, Prädikatswein in Germany), AVA system in the US.
• Food & Wine Pairing: Basic principles (tannin-fat, acidity-richness, sweetness-spiciness),
complementary vs. contrasting pairings.
• Professional Service: Storage (temperature, humidity, light), service temperatures, decanting,
glassware, wine lists, corkage.
• Wine Business: Importation, distribution (three-tier system in US), retail, wine list pricing, basic
financial metrics.
• Theory of Wine & Food: TCA (cork taint), sediment, heat damage, oxidation, reduction, tartrate
crystals, bottle variation.
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• Wine Judging & Competitions: Tasting protocols (deductive tasting, scoring systems), common
faults identification .
1. The Certified Specialist of Wine (CSW) exam is administered by which professional organization?
A) Court of Master Sommeliers
B) Wine & Spirit Education Trust (WSET)
C) Society of Wine Educators (SWE)
D) International Sommelier Guild
Answer: C
Rationale: The CSW exam is offered by the Society of Wine Educators, which also publishes the official
study guide and workbook for exam candidates .
2. For which year editions of the CSW Study Guide are exams still available through December 30, 2028?
A) 2023 edition
B) 2024 edition
C) 2025 edition
D) 2026 edition
Answer: D
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Rationale: Exams based on the 2026 edition of the CSW Study Guide will be available through December
30, 2028, as announced by the SWE .
3. If a candidate purchases the 2025 CSW Study Guide, what is the last date they can take the exam
based on that edition?
A) December 30, 2026
B) December 30, 2027
C) December 30, 2028
D) December 30, 2029
Answer: B
Rationale: The 2025 CSW Study Guide is valid for exams through December 30, 2027, after which the
candidate would need the updated edition .
4. Where can candidates find documentation of substantive changes between different editions of the
CSW Study Guide?
A) In the preface of every new edition
B) On the SWE website as official addenda
C) From third-party study guide publishers only
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D) Through the candidate's local wine society
Answer: B
Rationale: SWE publishes official addenda listing substantive changes between editions, such as the
addendum for changes between the 2026 and 2025 versions .
5. Which official SWE service is described as helping attendees get "as prepared as humanly possible"
for the CSW Exam?
A) The CSW Workbook alone
B) The instructor-led Online Prep Course
C) A private tutoring service for an additional fee
D) The CSW mobile application
Answer: B
Rationale: The CSW Online Prep Course is explicitly described as aiming to get attendees "as prepared as
humanly possible" and is free to Professional members with a valid exam credit .
6. What error was found in some copies of the 2024 CSW Study Guide according to the SWE errata?
A) Mislabeled Italian wine region maps
B) Two missing sentences on the Rhône Valley grape varieties section on page 115
