WSET level 3 Questions and Correct
Answers
Name the five grand chateaux of the 1855
✓ ~~~ Ch. Lafite-Rothschild
✓ Ch. Latour
✓ Ch. Margaux
✓ Ch. Mouton-Rothschild
✓ Ch. Haut-Brion
What is the climate of Bordeaux? Name three moderating influences.
✓ ~~~ Moderate maritime.
1. The warming effect of the Gulf stream current
2. The moderating Atlantic ocean
3. Protection from the Landes forest
What are the four main AOC prefixes to Côtes de Bordeaux?
✓ ~~~ Blaye, Franc, Castillion, Cadillac
What are the three main soil types of Saint-Émilion?
✓ ~~~ 1. Alluvial terraces of gravel and limestone in the northwest - this area
grows Cabernet Franc.
2. Clay-limestone plateau around the town. This is slightly cooler and makes wines
with more structure.
3. Sandy alluvial soils of the Dordogne in the south, making lighter wines.
Describe a premium Left Bank wine.
✓ ~~~ Deep colour, medium-high tannins, soft mouthfeel, full body; plum and
red fruit characteristics, tobacco, spice and cedar with age.
Describe a Sauternes.
✓ ~~~ High alcohol, sweet, high acidity, apricot and citrus peel characters from
noble rot, toast and vanilla from oak fermentation/maturation.
What is the main grape of Côtes de Gascogne?
✓ ~~~ Ugni Blanc
What is the main grape of Madiran?
✓ ~~~ Tannat
Name the main AOCs of Côtes de Nuits
✓ ~~~ Bourgogne Haut Côtes de Nuits, Gevrey-Chambertin, Vougeot, Vosne-
Romanée, Nuits-Saint-Georges
Name the Main AOCs of Côtes de Beaune
, ✓ ~~~ Bourgogne Hautes Côtes de Beaune, Côte de Beaune-Villages, Aloxe-
Corton, Beaune, Pommard, Volnay, Meursault, Puligny-Montrachet,
Chassagne-Montrachet
What are the two red-only AOCs of Cotes de Beaune?
✓ ~~~ Pommard and Volnay
What are the main AOCs of Côte Chalonnaise and Mâconnais?
✓ ~~~ Bourgogne Côte Chalonnaise, Rully, Mercurey, Givry, Montagny Mâcon,
Mâcon Villages, Pouilly-Fuissé, Saint-Véran
True or False: Mersault has a Grand Cru.
✓ ~~~ False
What is the climate of Alsace and what is the main moderating feature?
✓ ~~~ Cool to moderate continental. The Vosges mountains provide a rain
shadow.
What are the two premium Chenin Blanc AOCs in the Loire? How are they different?
✓ ~~~ Savennieres and Vouvray. Savennieres is full-bodied and dry, with more
stone fruit notes. Vouvray is light-medium in body, floral and fresh, and can be
dry to lusciously sweet.
What are the three premium Cabernet Franc AOCs in the Loire?
✓ ~~~ Chinon, Bourgueil, Saumur-Champigny
Describe a Hermitage.
✓ ~~~ Deep colour, high structured tannin, black fruit, pepper, floral aromas,
high oak use, Viognier presence.
Which AOC allows Syrah only?
✓ ~~~ Cornas
What variety is a Condrieu?
✓ ~~~ Viognier
What is the climate of the Southern Rhône? Describe two moderating influences.
✓ ~~~ Moderate mediterranean. Cold and aggressive mistral winds damage
winds and lower disease pressure. Galets stones that absorb and radiate
heat.
What does Cinsault bring to a blend?
✓ ~~~ Fruit flavors rather than tannins or color
What does Mourvedre bring to a blend?
✓ ~~~ Colour, high tannin, and savoury characteristics.
Describe a Tavel or Lirac Rose. Which AOC allows red wine also?
, ✓ ~~~ Full bodied, intense flavours of red fruit, candy, medium alcohol. Lirac.
What is the climate of Southern France? Describe three moderating influences.
✓ ~~~ Warm Mediterranean.
1. Mistral winds from the Rhône Valley, and Tramontane winds from in between the
Massif Central and Pyrenees.
2. Cooling effects of altitude in the Pyrenees and Massif Central
3. Moderating effect of the Mediterranean sea.
What are the seven most prominent red varieties in Southern France?
✓ ~~~ Grenache, Syrah, Carignan, Mourvedre, Cinsault, Merlot, Cabernet
Sauvignon.
What are the four most prominent white varieties in Southern France?
✓ ~~~ Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Viognier, Picpoul.
What is the main grape of Bandol?
✓ ~~~ Mourvedre.
What are the main moderating influences of California?
✓ ~~~ Cold California ocean current.
Cooling fogs
Coastal mountains - protection from sea's influence.
Low rainfall
Describe a Californian Cabernet Sauvignon
✓ ~~~ Full bodied,concentrated ripe cassis, prominent spice aromas from new
oak.
They can also be made in a less rich style, with fresher blackcurrant aromas
What AVAs in California are known for premium Pinot Noir?
✓ ~~~ Russian River Valley, Los Carneros, Santa Maria Valley, and Monterey.
What characteristics can a premium Californian Chardonnay have?
✓ ~~~ Full bodied, high alcohol. low acidity, oak/hazelnut/butter aromas,
banana/peach flavours.
What are the two main white varieties of California?
✓ ~~~ Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc
What geographical feature separates Napa and Sonoma?
✓ ~~~ Mayacamas Mountains
What is the prominent influence on the North Coast AVA?
✓ ~~~ Fog
What moderates Napa Valley AVA?
