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WSET LEVEL 2 WINES LATEST 2024 ACTUAL EXAM (QUESTIONS WITH VERIFIED ANSWERS)
Typology: Exams
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Sweetness in food can make dry wines seem: More drying, more bitter, more acidic. Less sweet and fruity Umami in food can make wines seem: More drying, more bitter, more acidic. Less sweet and fruity Salty foods can make wines seem: Less drying, less bitter, less acidic. More fruity, more body Acidic foods can make wines seem: Less drying, less bitter, less acidic. More sweet, more fruity For long term storage of wines, how should wines be stored? At a cool constant temperature Away from sunshine and bright light If sealed with a cork, bottle should be stored on their side
What are the optimal service temperatures for Sweet and Sparkling wines? Sweet wines - well chilled - 6 - 8° Sparkling wines - well chilled - 6 - 10 ° What are the aromas associated with the following faults: Cork Taint Failure of Closure Heat Damage Cork Taint - Damp cardboard, lack of fresh fruit flavours Failure of Closure - Honey, caramel, coffee, lack of freshness and fruitiness Heat Damage - Lack of fruit character and freshness Name the main components of a grape and what they contain: Stalk - Tannins Skin - Tannins, Colour, Flavours Pulp - Sugar, Acid, Water Seeds - Bitter Oils What is photosynthesis? The process where sunlight, carbon dioxide and water are combined to produce sugars
What are the five things a vine needs to grow? Warmth, sunlight, carbon dioxide, water, nutrients Put the stages of grape formation and ripening in the correct order: Ripening Flowering Extra ripening Fruit set Véraison Flowering Fruit set Véraison Ripening Extra ripening What changes in grapes as they ripen? Grapes swell with water, acidity drops, sugar increases, aromas change, in black grapes tannin ripen What happens to grapes when they are left on the vine for extra ripening? Grapes build up more sugar and exaggerated ripe aromas. Eventually they turn into raisins as water evaporates. This concentrates sugars, acids and flavours and dried fruit aromas develop
What effect does Botrytis/noble rot have on grapes? It makes tiny holes in the skin of the grape which allows water to evaporate. This concentrates sugars, acids and flavours. What are the conditions needed for noble rot to develop? Damp misty mornings followed by warm dry afternoons What is the name given to sweet wines made from frozen grapes? Icewine/Eiswein Between what latitudes are vineyards generally located? 30° and 50° north and south of the equator What affect does altitude have on the temperature of a vineyard? The temperature decreases with altitude What affect do seas have on the temperature of a region? They have a moderating influence
What affect can clouds and fog have on the temperature of a vineyard? Clouds block sunlight, fogs cool down vineyards What affect can mountains have on grape growing in vineyards? Mountains can act as a barrier, sheltering vineyards from clouds, rain and wind. This results in sunny summers and long dry autumns What affect do slope and aspect have on grape growing? Slopes facing the equator will receive more heat and light and producer riper grapes What affect do stony soils have on grape growing? Stones absorb heat and make the vineyard warmer, this can help with grape ripening What are problems associated with high levels of rain? High levels of moisture can help spread fungal disease. Rain close to harvest can cause grapes to swell and dilute flavours What happens to vines affected by frost? Spring frost can damage and kill the vine's new growth. This reduces the number of grapes that can be grown
What is the name of the process of adding water to vines? Irrigation What are the names of the sprays used to kill fungi and weeds? Fungicides and herbicides What does 'organic' mean for grape growing? Grapes grown without the use of most chemicals What is the yield? The amount of fruit produced per unit of area What are the options for harvest? Hand harvest or machine harvest What is a GI? Geographical indication - a legally defined vineyard area What is a PDO?
Generally small areas with tightly defined regulations What is a PGI? Generally large areas with less strict regulations What happens to vines as they age? Older vines produce a small number of grapes which are more concentrated and complex and can result in higher quality wines What does the vintage on a label of wine refer to? The year in which the grape were harvested What is the French equivalent to PDO and PGI AOC/AOP and IGP What is the Italian equivalent to PDO and PGI DOC/DOCG and IGT What is the Spanish equivalent to PDO and PGI DO/DOCa and Vino de le Tierra
What is the German equivalent to PDO and PGI Qualitätswein/Prädikatswein and Landwein What does crushing do? Splits the grape skins to release some of the juice What does pressing do? Crushed grapes are pressed to extract as much of the liquid as possible What is the process of alcoholic fermentation? Yeast eats sugar to create alcohol. Carbon dioxide and heat are by products. What are the options for vessels for storage or maturation? Stainless steel or oak barrels State the production steps in the correct order for making red wine: Crushing, alcoholic fermentation, draining, pressing, storage or maturation, packaging
What are two techniques for extracting colour and tannins from grape skins during red wine fermentation? Punching down and pumping over What are two techniques for making rosé wines? Short maceration and blending State the production steps in the correct order for making white wine: Crushing, pressing, alcoholic fermentation, storage or maturation, packaging What are the 4 methods of making sweet wines? Using grapes with concentrated grape sugars Removing the yeast Killing the yeast Adding sweetness to a dry wine What are the 3 adjustments that winemakers can sometimes use to correct the balance of a wine? Add sugar Add acid Reduce acid
What is the typical temperature range for red wine fermentation? 20°C to 32°C What is the typical temperature range for white wine fermentation? 12°C to 22°C What materials are inert winery vessels made from? Stainless steel or concrete What are two reasons a winemaker would use oak barrels? Oak can add flavours to wine (vanilla, smoke, cedar). Oak can allow flavours of the wine to evolve as a result of interaction with oxygen What are two oak alternatives to using barrels? Oak staves or oak chips What does malolactic conversion do? Lowers the acidity of the wine and can give buttery flavours
What is the result of lees contact? Increases the body of the wine and can add flavours such as biscuit and bread What are reasons for blending a wine? Consistency, complexity What does a wine need in order to mature in the bottle? Concentration of flavour, and high acid, tannin or sweetness What climates are best for Pinot Noir production? Cool to moderate What is the typical acidity, tannin and flavour of a Pinot Noir? Acidity - high Tannin - low to medium Flavour - red fruits (strawberry, raspberry, red cherry) What is the climate of Burgundy? Cool to moderate
What style of wine would you expect from a red Bourgogne AOC? Light to medium body with low tannins, high acidity, red fruit flavours, not suitable for aging What are the most famous villages for Pinot Noir in the Côte d'Or? Gevrey-Chambertin AOC Nuits-Saint-Georges AOC Beaune AOC Pommard AOC What does 'premier cru' indicate on a wine from Burgundy? A high quality vineyard with south or south-east facing aspect. Wines benefit from concentrated flavours What does 'grand cru' indicate on a wine from Burgundy? A single vineyard wine of the highest quality. The wines are concentrated and complex with the greatest potential for aging What are the regions in California associated with top quality Pinot Noir production? Los Carneros, Sonoma, Santa Barbara County What are the moderating influences in California that help with the production of top quality Pinot Noir?
Morning fogs in Carneros and ocean breezes in Sonoma and Santa Barbara County Outside of California, where is in the USA has a reputation for producing top quality Pinot Noir? Oregon What is the region in Chile that produces very good Pinot Noir? Casablanca Valley What is the moderating factor that allows Walker Bay to produce very good to outstanding Pinot Noir? Strong southerly sea breezes What are the regions in Australia associated with top quality Pinot Noir production? Yarra Valley and Mornington Peninsula What are the factors that mean Central Otago produces New Zealand's most powerful Pinot Noir? It is protected from the sea by mountains, the days are intensely sunny and the nights are cool What is the best climate for Zinfandel production? Warm
What is the labelling term used for rosé wines made from the Zinfandel grape in California? White Zinfandel What is the typical level of tannin, body and flavour characteristics you would expect from a California Zinfandel? Medium to high tannin, full body, flavours of blueberry, blackberry, black plum, raisin, prune, vanilla, coffee. Can develop earth and meat flavours in bottle What is the Italian name for the Zinfandel grape? Primitivo What are the best climates for Riesling production? Cool to moderate What difference in flavours would you expect from 'just-ripe' Riesling compared to 'extra-ripe' Riesling? Just-ripe - apple, pear, lemon, lime Extra-ripe - peach, apricot, mango, pineapple, dried apricots What level of sweetness and acidity can be produced in a Riesling?
Sweetness - Dry, off-dry, medium, sweet Acidity - high What are the important regions for Riesling production in Germany? Mosel, Rheingau, Pfalz What makes Alsace AOC suitable for Riesling production? Cool climate, protected by the Vosges mountains, dry and sunny with south and south-east facing slopes Put the six Prädikat categories in order from least ripe to most ripe: Kabinett, Spätlese, Auslese, Eiswein, Beerenauslese, Trockenbeerenauslese What are the two regions in Australia associated with Premium Riesling production? Clare Valley and Eden Valley What climates are suitable for Chenin Blanc production? Cool, moderate and warm What is the area of the Loire Valley that produces a variety of styles of Chenin Blanc?
Vouvray AOC What does the labelling term 'Demi-Sec' mean on a bottle of Vouvray AOC? The wine has off-dry or medium sweetness What flavours would you expect in a Chenin Blanc produced in South Africa? Pronounced tropical fruit (pineapple, mango) and often flavours from oak (vanilla, smoke) What climates are suitable for Semillon production? Moderate and warm What is the grape variety often blended with Sémillon in white Bordeaux wines? Sauvignon Blanc What is the sub-region of Bordeaux famous for sweet wine production? Sauternes AOC What is the typical acidity, body and flavours in a mature Hunter Valley Semillon? Acidity - high
Body - light Flavours - honey and nuts Where is the Furmint variety grown? Hungary What is the technique used to make the sweet Tokaji Aszú? Noble rot/botrytis What level of sweetness and acidity would you expect in a Tokaji Aszú wine? Sweetness - sweet Acidity - high What climates are suitable for Chardonnay production? Cool, moderate and warm What are the typical flavours of Chardonnay in cool, moderate and warm climates? Cool - apple, pear, lemon, wet stones Moderate - lemon, peach, melon Warm - peach, pineapple, banana
What are the three process that can add secondary flavours to Chardonnay? Oak aging, malolactic conversion, lees contact What is the cool climate region in France that produces high quality Chardonnay? Chablis What is the name of the villages of the Côte d'Or famous for producing very good to outstanding quality Chardonnay? Meursault AOC Puligny Montrachet AOC What is the expected body, intensity and flavours from a Napa Valley Chardonnay? Body - full Intensity - pronounced Flavours - pineapple, mango, banana, vanilla What is the large region associated high-volume Chardonnay production in Australia? South Eastern Australia
What is the main moderating factor that helps cool vineyards in Adelaide Hills? Altitude What are the two regions in New Zealand that produce Chardonnay? Marlborough and Hawke's Bay What region of Chile makes Chardonnay in a range of quality levels from inexpensive high-volume brands to outstanding examples? Central Valley What grape variety is often blended with Chardonnay in South Africa to make high volume branded wines? Chenin Blanc What climates are best suited to Sauvignon Blanc production? Cool to moderate What aromas would you expect from a cool climate Sauvignon Blanc? Grass, green bell pepper, asparagus, blossom, apple, gooseberry
What labelling term might indicate that a Sauvignon Blanc has been matured or fermented in oak? Barrel aged What are the two regions of the Loire Valley associated with top quality Sauvignon Blanc? Sancerre AOC Pouilly-Fumé AOC What are the two AOCs within Bordeaux associated with very good to outstanding quality dry Sauvignon Blanc based wines, often blended with Sémillon and matured in oak and bottle? Graves AOC Pessac-Léognan AOC What is the region in New Zealand that produces lots of Sauvignon Blanc? Marlborough What are the moderating influences in Constantia and Elgin that make them suitable for Sauvignon Blanc production? Constantia - cooling sea breezes Elgin - altitude What climates are best suited to Pinot Grigio/Pinot Gris production?
Cool or moderate What is the typical body and finish for a Veneto IGT Pinot Grigio? Body - light Finish - short What is typical acidity, body and flavours for an Alsace Grand Cru AOC Pinot Gris? Acidity - medium Body - full Flavours - peach, mango, ginger What does the labelling term 'Vendanges Tardives' mean? Late harvest What climates are best suited to Gewurztraminer production? Cool or moderate What are the typical aroma characteristics of a Gewurztraminer wine? Rose, lychee, peach, apricot
Which French region is most famous for Gewurztraminer production? Alsace AOC What climate is best suited to Viognier production? Moderate What is the typical acidity, body and flavour of a Viognier wine? Acidity - low to medium Body - medium to full Flavour - blossom, peach, apricot Which French AOC produces the finest examples of Viognier? Condrieu AOC Which grape variety is grown in Rías Baixas DO? Albariño What winemaking method is sometimes used to add secondary characteristics to an Albariño wine? Lees contact
What climates are best suited to Merlot production? Moderate and warm Which grape variety is Merlot often blended with? Cabernet Sauvignon What regions in Bordeaux are often referred to as the 'Left Bank'? Médoc and Graves AOC (including Haut-Médoc AOC, Margaux AOC, Pauillac AOC, Pessac-Léognan AOC) What regions in Bordeaux are often referred to as the 'Right Bank'? Saint-Émilion and Pomerol What is the difference between Bordeaux AOC and Bordeaux Supérieur AOC? Bordeaux Supérieur has lower yields, longer aging and higher minimum alcohol levels What is the dominant grape variety in a Saint-Émilion wine? Merlot
What are two of the smaller AOCs within the Haut-Médoc AOC with a reputation for top quality wine production? Margaux AOC Pauillac AOC What parts of California have a reputation for very good to outstanding Merlot? Napa Valley and Sonoma What is the region in Chile with a reputation for high volume Merlot? Central Valley What is the region in South Africa that has developed a reputation for complex, age-worthy red wines from classic Bordeaux varieties? Stellenbosch What is Merlot often blended with in Margaret River? Cabernet Sauvignon What region in New Zealand produces the most Merlot? Hawke's Bay
What climates are best suited to Cabernet Sauvignon production? Moderate and warm What would be the typical acidity, tannin and flavour in a Cabernet Sauvignon wine? Acidity - high Tannin - high Flavour - blackcurrant, herbaceous/herbal What winemaking option is often used to soften the tannins of Cabernet Sauvignon based wines? Oak maturation How might a Cabernet Sauvignon change after several years maturation in bottle? Softer tannins, tertiary flavours develop (dried fruits, earth, forest floor) What is the soil in Bordeaux best suited to growing Cabernet Sauvignon? Gravel What labelling terms can be used to indicate the best wines from the best Châteaux in Bordeaux?