WSET Level 3 Wines - Chapters 4 – 6
Questions and Correct Answers
What is the name of the main Eurasian vine species for winemaking?
✓ ~~~ Vitis vinifera.
Why are American vines used?
✓ ~~~ American vines are widely used for their rootstocks rather than
producing grapes for winemaking.
What are some of the factors a grape grower will consider when trying to decide
which grape variety to select?
✓ ~~~ Budding and ripening times, resistance to disease.
Why are vines grown from cuttings?
✓ ~~~ To grow a new vine that is the same variety. If seeds are used they
would grow into a different variety.
What is a clone?
✓ ~~~ A mutation of a grape variety that has a small difference to the original
and is still genetically identical.
Why might a new grape variety be created?
✓ ~~~ To thrive in certain climates and soil conditions, or have improved
disease resistance, or be able to deliver higher quality or quantity of grapes.
How are new grape varieties created?
✓ ~~~ Cross fertilisation of flowers from different vines.
What is a crossing? Give an example of a crossing.
✓ ~~~ A new variety produced from vitis vinifera vines. An example is Pinotage
(Pinot Noir x Cinsault).
What is a hybrid? Give an example of a hybrid.
✓ ~~~ A variety whose parents come from two different vine species. Typically
at least one parent is an American vine. They are often used for rootstocks.
An example used for winemaking is Vidal.
What is phylloxera? What does it to vineyards and how is it prevented?
✓ ~~~ Phylloxera is an insect. It feeds on the roots of vines where infections
can enter which kills the vine. It is prevented by grafting American rootstocks
to vines.
What are some of the reasons to use rootstocks?
✓ ~~~ Because they can provide resistance to Phylloxera, protection against
nematodes, resistance to drought conditions.
, What is bench grafting?
✓ ~~~ An automated process where short sections of vinifera cane are joined to
rootstocks by a machine and then stored until they fuse together.
What is head grafting?
✓ ~~~ In an established vineyard the vine can be cut back and the shoot of a
different variety attached to the trunk. This is done in the vineyard and
changes the grape variety of the vine.
What is the function of buds on a shoot?
✓ ~~~ Buds contain the embryonic shoots for the following year.
What is the function of tendrils on a shoot?
✓ ~~~ Tendrils grip the nearby supporting structure to help the vine stay
upright.
What is the function of leaves on a vine?
✓ ~~~ Leaves are responsible for photosynthesis. This is the process where
sunlight converts water and carbon dioxide into glucose and oxygen.
What are the name of the bunches of flowers formed on vines?
✓ ~~~ Inflorescences.
What is important about managing the one-year-old wood on the vine?
✓ ~~~ Pruning it into a cane or spur after winter to determine the number of
buds for the next years growth.
What is the function of the roots of the vine?
✓ ~~~ Absorb water and nutrients from the soil, anchor the vine and store
carbohydrates.
Why is heat important for vines?
✓ ~~~ Vines need heat to function. If it is too cold the vine will not grow or will
struggle to survive. Vines need at least 10°C to grow. The amount of heat will
determine which grape variety will grow in a region.
How does latitude affect the heat of a region?
✓ ~~~ The closer to the equator a region is the warmer it is. The further away a
region is from the equator the cooler it is. Most vineyards are between the
latitudes 30° and 50°.
How does altitude affect the heat of a region?
✓ ~~~ Temperature decreases as altitude increases.
How do ocean currents affect the temperature of a region?
✓ ~~~ Warm or cold currents transport large volumes of water across the
surface of the ocean leading to localised warming or cooling.
Questions and Correct Answers
What is the name of the main Eurasian vine species for winemaking?
✓ ~~~ Vitis vinifera.
Why are American vines used?
✓ ~~~ American vines are widely used for their rootstocks rather than
producing grapes for winemaking.
What are some of the factors a grape grower will consider when trying to decide
which grape variety to select?
✓ ~~~ Budding and ripening times, resistance to disease.
Why are vines grown from cuttings?
✓ ~~~ To grow a new vine that is the same variety. If seeds are used they
would grow into a different variety.
What is a clone?
✓ ~~~ A mutation of a grape variety that has a small difference to the original
and is still genetically identical.
Why might a new grape variety be created?
✓ ~~~ To thrive in certain climates and soil conditions, or have improved
disease resistance, or be able to deliver higher quality or quantity of grapes.
How are new grape varieties created?
✓ ~~~ Cross fertilisation of flowers from different vines.
What is a crossing? Give an example of a crossing.
✓ ~~~ A new variety produced from vitis vinifera vines. An example is Pinotage
(Pinot Noir x Cinsault).
What is a hybrid? Give an example of a hybrid.
✓ ~~~ A variety whose parents come from two different vine species. Typically
at least one parent is an American vine. They are often used for rootstocks.
An example used for winemaking is Vidal.
What is phylloxera? What does it to vineyards and how is it prevented?
✓ ~~~ Phylloxera is an insect. It feeds on the roots of vines where infections
can enter which kills the vine. It is prevented by grafting American rootstocks
to vines.
What are some of the reasons to use rootstocks?
✓ ~~~ Because they can provide resistance to Phylloxera, protection against
nematodes, resistance to drought conditions.
, What is bench grafting?
✓ ~~~ An automated process where short sections of vinifera cane are joined to
rootstocks by a machine and then stored until they fuse together.
What is head grafting?
✓ ~~~ In an established vineyard the vine can be cut back and the shoot of a
different variety attached to the trunk. This is done in the vineyard and
changes the grape variety of the vine.
What is the function of buds on a shoot?
✓ ~~~ Buds contain the embryonic shoots for the following year.
What is the function of tendrils on a shoot?
✓ ~~~ Tendrils grip the nearby supporting structure to help the vine stay
upright.
What is the function of leaves on a vine?
✓ ~~~ Leaves are responsible for photosynthesis. This is the process where
sunlight converts water and carbon dioxide into glucose and oxygen.
What are the name of the bunches of flowers formed on vines?
✓ ~~~ Inflorescences.
What is important about managing the one-year-old wood on the vine?
✓ ~~~ Pruning it into a cane or spur after winter to determine the number of
buds for the next years growth.
What is the function of the roots of the vine?
✓ ~~~ Absorb water and nutrients from the soil, anchor the vine and store
carbohydrates.
Why is heat important for vines?
✓ ~~~ Vines need heat to function. If it is too cold the vine will not grow or will
struggle to survive. Vines need at least 10°C to grow. The amount of heat will
determine which grape variety will grow in a region.
How does latitude affect the heat of a region?
✓ ~~~ The closer to the equator a region is the warmer it is. The further away a
region is from the equator the cooler it is. Most vineyards are between the
latitudes 30° and 50°.
How does altitude affect the heat of a region?
✓ ~~~ Temperature decreases as altitude increases.
How do ocean currents affect the temperature of a region?
✓ ~~~ Warm or cold currents transport large volumes of water across the
surface of the ocean leading to localised warming or cooling.
