Burgundy WSET 3 Exam Questions and Answers With Verified Solutions 2025
what is the climate of burgundy? - ✔✔Moderate Continental, harsh winters and warm Summer,
Medium rainfall
chablis cool Continental
variations between all seasons
what are some hazards of the burgundy climate? - ✔✔spring frost - can kill the buds and flowers,
particularly chablis
rain during harvest and during flowering - damage to the buds/flowers, fungal disease, swelling of
grapes
what is the risk of fall frost? - ✔✔kill the ripened grapes
what is the risk of winter frost? - ✔✔kill the vines
what is the risk of hail during harvest? - ✔✔damage berries, oxidize berries, fungal disease
what is the risk of hail in spring? - ✔✔damage the leave so no photosynthesis
where are basic village level vineyards found in burgundy? - ✔✔flat sites or bottom of slopes, more
prone to frost, less protection from winds
where are premier cru or grand cru vineyards found in burgundy? - ✔✔mid-slopes and south/south east
facing, these areas are less prone to frost and protected from westerly winds, slopes are gentle
what is the soil type of burgundy? - ✔✔very varied, but soils on hillsides are shallower with better
drainage where flat land is deeper and more fertile
why is the middle of the slope better than the rest of teh slope? - ✔✔the top is too exposed and not
protected, the bottom has too much water, the middle is well protected and has good drainage
, How much vineyard area does pinot noir cover in burgundy? - ✔✔over a third
where are the most important planting of pinot noir in burgundy? - ✔✔in the cote d'or
what is the profle of pinot noir from burgundy? - ✔✔red fruit flavors in youth that evolve into flavors of
earth, game and mushroom as it matures. high acidity and low to medium tannins
what is the normal barrel aging time for the best red burgundies? - ✔✔16-18 months
how does pinot noir grow? - ✔✔early budding and early ripening
waht climatic risks is pinot noir prone to? - ✔✔spring frost
rain during summer or harvest - susceptible to noble rot, less so at harvest as it's a early ripening grape,
but in burgundy it can rain at any time after august.
what winemaking characteristics could you see in red burgundy? - ✔✔cold soak maceration to extract
color and flavor and less tannin
stem usege/whole bunch for tannins and structure
low fermentation temperatures for easy drinking fresh wines
high fermentation temperatures for savory characteristics, losing some fresh fruit for ageable wines
what is carbonic maceration? - ✔✔Whole grapes are fermented in a co2 rich environment prior to
crushing
Carbonic maceration specifically refers to anaerobic fermentation (without the presence of oxygen) of
whole bunches.
This is achieved by covering the must with carbon dioxide, and completely sealing the fermentation
vessel (see diagram above), or as in the Beaujolais method, by relying on the CO2 produced naturally by
the ferment.
what is the climate of burgundy? - ✔✔Moderate Continental, harsh winters and warm Summer,
Medium rainfall
chablis cool Continental
variations between all seasons
what are some hazards of the burgundy climate? - ✔✔spring frost - can kill the buds and flowers,
particularly chablis
rain during harvest and during flowering - damage to the buds/flowers, fungal disease, swelling of
grapes
what is the risk of fall frost? - ✔✔kill the ripened grapes
what is the risk of winter frost? - ✔✔kill the vines
what is the risk of hail during harvest? - ✔✔damage berries, oxidize berries, fungal disease
what is the risk of hail in spring? - ✔✔damage the leave so no photosynthesis
where are basic village level vineyards found in burgundy? - ✔✔flat sites or bottom of slopes, more
prone to frost, less protection from winds
where are premier cru or grand cru vineyards found in burgundy? - ✔✔mid-slopes and south/south east
facing, these areas are less prone to frost and protected from westerly winds, slopes are gentle
what is the soil type of burgundy? - ✔✔very varied, but soils on hillsides are shallower with better
drainage where flat land is deeper and more fertile
why is the middle of the slope better than the rest of teh slope? - ✔✔the top is too exposed and not
protected, the bottom has too much water, the middle is well protected and has good drainage
, How much vineyard area does pinot noir cover in burgundy? - ✔✔over a third
where are the most important planting of pinot noir in burgundy? - ✔✔in the cote d'or
what is the profle of pinot noir from burgundy? - ✔✔red fruit flavors in youth that evolve into flavors of
earth, game and mushroom as it matures. high acidity and low to medium tannins
what is the normal barrel aging time for the best red burgundies? - ✔✔16-18 months
how does pinot noir grow? - ✔✔early budding and early ripening
waht climatic risks is pinot noir prone to? - ✔✔spring frost
rain during summer or harvest - susceptible to noble rot, less so at harvest as it's a early ripening grape,
but in burgundy it can rain at any time after august.
what winemaking characteristics could you see in red burgundy? - ✔✔cold soak maceration to extract
color and flavor and less tannin
stem usege/whole bunch for tannins and structure
low fermentation temperatures for easy drinking fresh wines
high fermentation temperatures for savory characteristics, losing some fresh fruit for ageable wines
what is carbonic maceration? - ✔✔Whole grapes are fermented in a co2 rich environment prior to
crushing
Carbonic maceration specifically refers to anaerobic fermentation (without the presence of oxygen) of
whole bunches.
This is achieved by covering the must with carbon dioxide, and completely sealing the fermentation
vessel (see diagram above), or as in the Beaujolais method, by relying on the CO2 produced naturally by
the ferment.
