WSET LEVEL 1 EXAM QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
What is wine? - Answers -A drink made from the fermented juice or freshly-picked
grapes.
One of the most natural of all alcoholic drinks.
What is fermentation? - Answers -A natural process caused by yeast.
What is yeast? - Answers -Are microscopic organisms that live naturally alongside
grapes int he vineyard and winery.
How does yeast live? - Answers -They feed on sugar, as found in grape juice,
converting it to alcohol and carbon dioxide gas.
What are the three types of wine? - Answers -Light wine
Sparking wine
Fortified wine
Examples of dry white wines.. - Answers -Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand.
Fino Sherry from Spain.
Brut from Champagne.
Examples of dry red wines.. - Answers -Châteauneuf-du-Pape from France.
Chianti from Italy.
Cabernet Sauvignon from California.
Sweetness: Medium - Answers -Process: The winemaker either removed the yeast from
the juice before all the sugar has been consumed or adds unfermented, sweet grape
juice to dry wine.
Usually white and rosé.
Taste: Should have sweetness but not by cloying or sickly.
Examples of medium wines.. - Answers -Many popular wines from Germany.
Rosé wines such as White Zinfandel from California.
Sweetness: Sweet - Answers -Process: Can be made from grapes so rich in sugar that
the yeast dies before all the sugar is consumed. Alternatively the yeast can die through
the addition of extra alcohol.
Taste: Should be balanced with a refreshing acidity to prevent these wines from being
cloying. Amount of sugar can make them feel thicker and richer.
Examples of sweet wines.. - Answers -Sauternes from France.
Port from Portugal.
Body - Answers -The general feel of the wine in the mouth when you taste.
, Light Bodied - Answers -Usually refreshing and easy to drink.
Example of a light-bodied white wine.. - Answers -Pinot Grigio from Italy
Example of a light-bodied red wine.. - Answers -Beaujolais from France.
Medium Bodied - Answers -Will feel richer and more substantial
Because of the grapes used or due to aging in oak barrels, thereby giving it extra
texture to the wine.
Examples of medium-bodied wines.. - Answers -White Burgundy from France.
Merlot from Chile.
Full Bodied - Answers -Will be powerful and will seem more concentrated and heavy.
Usually due to the ripeness of the grape and from some wines the use of oak.
Examples of full-bodied wines.. - Answers -Oaked Chardonnay from California.
Shiraz from Australia.
Other factors to take into account when describing wine are? - Answers -Oak
Tannin
Acidity
Oak - Answers -Has been fermented to matured in this.
Gains flavours, tannins and texture from contact.
What does oak do for white wines? - Answers -Become buttery and gain vanilla
flavours.
What does oak do for red wines? - Answers -Can become smoother, with added spicy
character.
What is tannin? - Answers -A substance found in black grape skins.
How to taste tannin.. - Answers -Felt on the teeth, gums, and tongue and makes the
mouth feel dry.
The same substance that makes cold black tea feel dry.
What does tannin give the wine? - Answers -Can make a red wine seem harsh.
Give structure and complexity to a wine, as well as helping it to mature.
Acidity - Answers -Comes from grape juice.
Gives wine its refreshing qualities.
How to taste acidity.. - Answers -A mouth watering sensation.
Too much can make a wine seem tart.
What is wine? - Answers -A drink made from the fermented juice or freshly-picked
grapes.
One of the most natural of all alcoholic drinks.
What is fermentation? - Answers -A natural process caused by yeast.
What is yeast? - Answers -Are microscopic organisms that live naturally alongside
grapes int he vineyard and winery.
How does yeast live? - Answers -They feed on sugar, as found in grape juice,
converting it to alcohol and carbon dioxide gas.
What are the three types of wine? - Answers -Light wine
Sparking wine
Fortified wine
Examples of dry white wines.. - Answers -Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand.
Fino Sherry from Spain.
Brut from Champagne.
Examples of dry red wines.. - Answers -Châteauneuf-du-Pape from France.
Chianti from Italy.
Cabernet Sauvignon from California.
Sweetness: Medium - Answers -Process: The winemaker either removed the yeast from
the juice before all the sugar has been consumed or adds unfermented, sweet grape
juice to dry wine.
Usually white and rosé.
Taste: Should have sweetness but not by cloying or sickly.
Examples of medium wines.. - Answers -Many popular wines from Germany.
Rosé wines such as White Zinfandel from California.
Sweetness: Sweet - Answers -Process: Can be made from grapes so rich in sugar that
the yeast dies before all the sugar is consumed. Alternatively the yeast can die through
the addition of extra alcohol.
Taste: Should be balanced with a refreshing acidity to prevent these wines from being
cloying. Amount of sugar can make them feel thicker and richer.
Examples of sweet wines.. - Answers -Sauternes from France.
Port from Portugal.
Body - Answers -The general feel of the wine in the mouth when you taste.
, Light Bodied - Answers -Usually refreshing and easy to drink.
Example of a light-bodied white wine.. - Answers -Pinot Grigio from Italy
Example of a light-bodied red wine.. - Answers -Beaujolais from France.
Medium Bodied - Answers -Will feel richer and more substantial
Because of the grapes used or due to aging in oak barrels, thereby giving it extra
texture to the wine.
Examples of medium-bodied wines.. - Answers -White Burgundy from France.
Merlot from Chile.
Full Bodied - Answers -Will be powerful and will seem more concentrated and heavy.
Usually due to the ripeness of the grape and from some wines the use of oak.
Examples of full-bodied wines.. - Answers -Oaked Chardonnay from California.
Shiraz from Australia.
Other factors to take into account when describing wine are? - Answers -Oak
Tannin
Acidity
Oak - Answers -Has been fermented to matured in this.
Gains flavours, tannins and texture from contact.
What does oak do for white wines? - Answers -Become buttery and gain vanilla
flavours.
What does oak do for red wines? - Answers -Can become smoother, with added spicy
character.
What is tannin? - Answers -A substance found in black grape skins.
How to taste tannin.. - Answers -Felt on the teeth, gums, and tongue and makes the
mouth feel dry.
The same substance that makes cold black tea feel dry.
What does tannin give the wine? - Answers -Can make a red wine seem harsh.
Give structure and complexity to a wine, as well as helping it to mature.
Acidity - Answers -Comes from grape juice.
Gives wine its refreshing qualities.
How to taste acidity.. - Answers -A mouth watering sensation.
Too much can make a wine seem tart.
