WSET Level 3 UPDATED Exam Questions
and CORRECT Answers
continentality - Correct Answer- temperature difference between the coldest and hottest
month
Diurnal Range - Correct Answer- difference between the day time and night time
temperatures
spring frost mitigation - Correct Answer- heaters placed through vineyard
wind machines
sprinklers
vineyard design - plant on slopes or trained high
water hazards - Correct Answer- once a sufficient canopy has grown, important to limit water
to promote grape ripening rather than shoot growth. this would leave less sugar for the
grapes. also increases canopy growth - more shade - less ripening.
droughts risk photosynthesis stopping, killing the vine
rainfall during flowring and fruitset can disrupt.
Pinot Noir Characteristics - Correct Answer- color intensity: light
Tannins: low
Acidity: high
Flavour characteristics: strawberry, raspberry, red cherry
Burgundy - entry level - light, high acid, hint of oak. Cote D'Or have intensity and
complexity. Range from delicate and floral to tannic and spicy. cool vintage risk of vegetal
notes like cabbage and wet leaves. if too hot, jammy and unattractive.
Baden, Carneros, Sonoma, Martinborough, Marlborough, Central Otago (NZ), Yarra Valley,
Mornington Peninsula, Tasmania (Australia), Walker Bay (South Africa), Casablanca Valley
(Chile).
Pinot Noir can be amove 30F ferment to extract more flavor, color and tannin.
Cabernet Sauvignon Characteristics - Correct Answer- Colour intensity: deep
,Tannins: high
Acidity: high
Flavour characteristics: blackcurrant, black cherry, green bell pepper
thick skinned, late ripening. can be astringent and herbaceous if not ripened fully
Haut Medoc: Grippy tannins in youth, cedar and black currant leaf. (Merlot gives it smoother
texture.
Italy, Spain, South of France - blended with indigineous grape varieties
Napa, Margaret River, Hawke's Bay, Stellenbosch, Colchagua Valley - warm, long bright
sunlight ripens fruit
Merlot Characteristics - Correct Answer- Colour intensity: medium -deep
Tannins: medium
Acidity: medium
Flavour characteristics: strawberry, red plum, red cherry
ripens earlier than Cabernet
Two styles: New World: harvest as late as possible, intense purple color, concentrated
blackberry and plum, soft velvet texture , new oak maturation
Bordeaux: harvest earlier, med body and alcohol, higher acid, fresh red fruit, vegetal, leafy
Syrah/Shiraz Characteristics - Correct Answer- Colour intensity :deep
Tannins: medium - high
Acidity: medium
Flavour characteristics: blackberry, black cherry. black pepper
Syrah can range from medium body with pepper and fresh black fruit to smooth, fully body,
ripe black fruit and liquorice.
Northern Rhone - coolest location. Cotie Rotie and Hermitage (south facing) - fuller body,
berry, pepper, notes of meat and leather after aging.
Also known in Languedoc and ROussilon where its blended.
Hot regions: Hunter and Barossa valley produce soft earthy, spicy styles with concentrate
black fruit. Cooler regions like Geelong and Heathcote produce leaner, more peppery styles.
Chile, south Africa, hawke's bay and Washington also known.
Grenache characteristics - Correct Answer- Colour intensity: light-medium
,Tannins: medium (soft)
Acidity: Low
Flavour characteristics: red fruit
late ripening, needs hot climate. high tolerance for drought.
Priorat: blended with Carignan for color and tannin, fresh black fruit.
In Rioja: Planted in rioja Baja and blended with temperanillo. contributes perfrume, body and
alcohol. Also grown in Catalayud, Carinena and Navarra.
Also used for rose.
Southern Rhone: most widely planted. Chateaneuf du Pape - blended with Syrah and
Mourvedre. rich texture and concentrated spicy fruit.
Barossa Valley & McClaren Vale: old bush vines give high concentration, intense red berry
and pepper.
Reisling Characteristics - Correct Answer- Variety has cool climate success:
bud & ripen late
maintains acid as sugar rises
range of styles
bottle aging
Flavors: citrus, stone fruit, petrol, honey, botrytis
Aromatic White
Gewurztraminer Characteristics - Correct Answer- Unique Variety
pink skin
gold color wine
high alcohol
residual sugar?
oily, full body
Flavors: spicy - ginger, lychees, roses, stone & tropical fruit
Aromatic White
Pinot Gris Characteristics - Correct Answer- Pinot Gris vs. Pinot Grigio is:
, full body texture
high alcohol
more acid than Gewurztraminer; less than Pinot Grigio
Flavors: fresh & dried fruit, spiced pear, ginger, honeyed character
Aromatic White
Gruner Veltliner Characteristics - Correct Answer- Austria's White
Can be: simple & fresh OR full, concentrated
high acid
stainless & oak can be used
Flavors: citrus & stone fruit white pepperhoney, toast with age
Aromatic White
Temperature Range a Vine Needs - Correct Answer- 16C - 22C
Cool climate Temp Range - Correct Answer- 16.5°C or below
Moderate climate Temp Range - Correct Answer- 16.5-18.5°C
Warm climate Temp Range - Correct Answer- 18.5-21°C
Hot climate Temp Range - Correct Answer- Above 21°C
Continental climate - Correct Answer- high continentality. usually have short, dry summers
with large rapid temp drop in autumn. Cool continental climates (Chablis) risk spring frosts.
suited to varieties that bud late and ripen early.
Maritime climate - Correct Answer- low continentality -even rainfall. cool to moderate
temperatures. rain moderates temp, meaning ripening continues into autumn. Bordeaux can
ripen thick skinned cabernet which might normally struggle.
and CORRECT Answers
continentality - Correct Answer- temperature difference between the coldest and hottest
month
Diurnal Range - Correct Answer- difference between the day time and night time
temperatures
spring frost mitigation - Correct Answer- heaters placed through vineyard
wind machines
sprinklers
vineyard design - plant on slopes or trained high
water hazards - Correct Answer- once a sufficient canopy has grown, important to limit water
to promote grape ripening rather than shoot growth. this would leave less sugar for the
grapes. also increases canopy growth - more shade - less ripening.
droughts risk photosynthesis stopping, killing the vine
rainfall during flowring and fruitset can disrupt.
Pinot Noir Characteristics - Correct Answer- color intensity: light
Tannins: low
Acidity: high
Flavour characteristics: strawberry, raspberry, red cherry
Burgundy - entry level - light, high acid, hint of oak. Cote D'Or have intensity and
complexity. Range from delicate and floral to tannic and spicy. cool vintage risk of vegetal
notes like cabbage and wet leaves. if too hot, jammy and unattractive.
Baden, Carneros, Sonoma, Martinborough, Marlborough, Central Otago (NZ), Yarra Valley,
Mornington Peninsula, Tasmania (Australia), Walker Bay (South Africa), Casablanca Valley
(Chile).
Pinot Noir can be amove 30F ferment to extract more flavor, color and tannin.
Cabernet Sauvignon Characteristics - Correct Answer- Colour intensity: deep
,Tannins: high
Acidity: high
Flavour characteristics: blackcurrant, black cherry, green bell pepper
thick skinned, late ripening. can be astringent and herbaceous if not ripened fully
Haut Medoc: Grippy tannins in youth, cedar and black currant leaf. (Merlot gives it smoother
texture.
Italy, Spain, South of France - blended with indigineous grape varieties
Napa, Margaret River, Hawke's Bay, Stellenbosch, Colchagua Valley - warm, long bright
sunlight ripens fruit
Merlot Characteristics - Correct Answer- Colour intensity: medium -deep
Tannins: medium
Acidity: medium
Flavour characteristics: strawberry, red plum, red cherry
ripens earlier than Cabernet
Two styles: New World: harvest as late as possible, intense purple color, concentrated
blackberry and plum, soft velvet texture , new oak maturation
Bordeaux: harvest earlier, med body and alcohol, higher acid, fresh red fruit, vegetal, leafy
Syrah/Shiraz Characteristics - Correct Answer- Colour intensity :deep
Tannins: medium - high
Acidity: medium
Flavour characteristics: blackberry, black cherry. black pepper
Syrah can range from medium body with pepper and fresh black fruit to smooth, fully body,
ripe black fruit and liquorice.
Northern Rhone - coolest location. Cotie Rotie and Hermitage (south facing) - fuller body,
berry, pepper, notes of meat and leather after aging.
Also known in Languedoc and ROussilon where its blended.
Hot regions: Hunter and Barossa valley produce soft earthy, spicy styles with concentrate
black fruit. Cooler regions like Geelong and Heathcote produce leaner, more peppery styles.
Chile, south Africa, hawke's bay and Washington also known.
Grenache characteristics - Correct Answer- Colour intensity: light-medium
,Tannins: medium (soft)
Acidity: Low
Flavour characteristics: red fruit
late ripening, needs hot climate. high tolerance for drought.
Priorat: blended with Carignan for color and tannin, fresh black fruit.
In Rioja: Planted in rioja Baja and blended with temperanillo. contributes perfrume, body and
alcohol. Also grown in Catalayud, Carinena and Navarra.
Also used for rose.
Southern Rhone: most widely planted. Chateaneuf du Pape - blended with Syrah and
Mourvedre. rich texture and concentrated spicy fruit.
Barossa Valley & McClaren Vale: old bush vines give high concentration, intense red berry
and pepper.
Reisling Characteristics - Correct Answer- Variety has cool climate success:
bud & ripen late
maintains acid as sugar rises
range of styles
bottle aging
Flavors: citrus, stone fruit, petrol, honey, botrytis
Aromatic White
Gewurztraminer Characteristics - Correct Answer- Unique Variety
pink skin
gold color wine
high alcohol
residual sugar?
oily, full body
Flavors: spicy - ginger, lychees, roses, stone & tropical fruit
Aromatic White
Pinot Gris Characteristics - Correct Answer- Pinot Gris vs. Pinot Grigio is:
, full body texture
high alcohol
more acid than Gewurztraminer; less than Pinot Grigio
Flavors: fresh & dried fruit, spiced pear, ginger, honeyed character
Aromatic White
Gruner Veltliner Characteristics - Correct Answer- Austria's White
Can be: simple & fresh OR full, concentrated
high acid
stainless & oak can be used
Flavors: citrus & stone fruit white pepperhoney, toast with age
Aromatic White
Temperature Range a Vine Needs - Correct Answer- 16C - 22C
Cool climate Temp Range - Correct Answer- 16.5°C or below
Moderate climate Temp Range - Correct Answer- 16.5-18.5°C
Warm climate Temp Range - Correct Answer- 18.5-21°C
Hot climate Temp Range - Correct Answer- Above 21°C
Continental climate - Correct Answer- high continentality. usually have short, dry summers
with large rapid temp drop in autumn. Cool continental climates (Chablis) risk spring frosts.
suited to varieties that bud late and ripen early.
Maritime climate - Correct Answer- low continentality -even rainfall. cool to moderate
temperatures. rain moderates temp, meaning ripening continues into autumn. Bordeaux can
ripen thick skinned cabernet which might normally struggle.
