WSET L4 SPARKLING WINES
CERTIFICATION SCRIPT 2026
QUESTIONS WITH SOLUTIONS
GRADED A+
◍ Sec.
Answer: 17-32 g/L
◍ What is a pupitre?.
Answer: An A-frame rack used to store wine and riddle them over time
(traditionally used)
◍ Limoux Location.
Answer: Languedoc - just North of Cataluña
◍ What are the grape varieties used for Cava?.
Answer: XarelloParelladaMacabeo
◍ How is second fermentation instigated?.
Answer: A sugar and yeast mixture is added to the dry base wine, triggering
a second fermentation.
◍ What are the three types of blending typically seen for the base wine of a
sparkling wine?
A. wines from different vintages, villages and/or grape varieties
B. wines from different regions, vintages and/or length of ageing
C. wines from different villages, grape varieties and/or countries
D. wines from different producers, vintages and/or sweetness levels.
Answer: A. wines from different vintages, villages and/or grape varieties
◍ Marinotti Method.
Answer: AKA Cuve close, tank method, charmat method 2nd fermentation
, in a closed and pressurized tank
◍ New Zealand.
Answer: Could be considered one of the most ideal locations in the Southern
HemisphereConcentrated around MarlboroughSoils are free
drainingIrrigation needed sometimesChardonnay and Pinot Noir
dominateTraditional method for premium, maybe transferTank or
carbonation for cheaper Non -vintage, vintage, Blanc de blancs, Rose
◍ What are the traditional grape varieties for white Cava?.
Answer: 1. Macabeo (Viura)2. Xarel-lo3. Parellada
◍ Transfer method.
Answer: Second fermentation in bottle. Wine disgorged, filtered, dosed and
rebottled under pressure Common in champagne for unusual sizes (split,
jeroboam +)
◍ The process of riddling.
Answer: remuage
◍ What role does blending play in sparkling wine?.
Answer: Blending is vital to the quality and making a consistent house style.
Best producers have access to a large number of parcels, making the process
easier.
◍ What does Pinot Noir contribute to Champagne?.
Answer: greater body, structure and red fruit character
◍ Blanc de Noirs.
Answer: Made from black grapes only
◍ Crémant de Limoux Grapes.
Answer: Principles Varieties - Chardonnay (50% min) - Chenin Blanc -
between 10-40% - Chardonnay + Chenin - 90% totalSecondary Varieties -
Mauzac & Pinot Noir (20 % Max) - Pinot Noir (15% Max) Less rustic style
◍ What impact does yeast autolysis have on a sparkling wine?.
Answer: contributes to flavor of the wine giving bread, biscuit or toasty
, notes
◍ Most dominant variety grown in Côte de Sézanne.
Answer: Chardonnay
◍ Traditional method.
Answer: A bottle fermentation method for sparkling wines.
◍ What does it mean when a label of sparkling wine says "brut nature" or
"zero dosage" ?.
Answer: No Liqueur d'expedition is added (no sugar added)
◍ What regions produce dry Riesling?.
Answer: Alsace in FranceAustralia
◍ Aÿ.
Answer: Known for Pinot Noir (Pinot Vert Doré) Exceptional body, delicate
noseNot as fresh as Montaigne de Reims Finesse and backbone
◍ Disgorging.
Answer: Removal of sediment from the neck of a sparkling wine bottle By
hand or mechanized Bottle neck frozen in brine solution to create frozen
plug ejected automatically by internal pressure May be facilitated by
addition of bentonite or other substances
◍ How does aging Cava differ from Champagne?.
Answer: Shorter legal aging time on lees = more subtle autolytic notes
◍ True or False? For traditional method sparkling wines, the bottle is sealed
with a cork prior to second fermentation..
Answer: False
◍ How are grapes for sparkling wine harvested for premium vs inexpensive
wines?.
Answer: Premium - hand picked to retain whole bunches of unsplit
grapesInexpensive/warm regions - machine harvested for speed + efficiency
before they accumulate too much sugar or lose too much acidity.
◍ What grape is used to make Prosecco.
CERTIFICATION SCRIPT 2026
QUESTIONS WITH SOLUTIONS
GRADED A+
◍ Sec.
Answer: 17-32 g/L
◍ What is a pupitre?.
Answer: An A-frame rack used to store wine and riddle them over time
(traditionally used)
◍ Limoux Location.
Answer: Languedoc - just North of Cataluña
◍ What are the grape varieties used for Cava?.
Answer: XarelloParelladaMacabeo
◍ How is second fermentation instigated?.
Answer: A sugar and yeast mixture is added to the dry base wine, triggering
a second fermentation.
◍ What are the three types of blending typically seen for the base wine of a
sparkling wine?
A. wines from different vintages, villages and/or grape varieties
B. wines from different regions, vintages and/or length of ageing
C. wines from different villages, grape varieties and/or countries
D. wines from different producers, vintages and/or sweetness levels.
Answer: A. wines from different vintages, villages and/or grape varieties
◍ Marinotti Method.
Answer: AKA Cuve close, tank method, charmat method 2nd fermentation
, in a closed and pressurized tank
◍ New Zealand.
Answer: Could be considered one of the most ideal locations in the Southern
HemisphereConcentrated around MarlboroughSoils are free
drainingIrrigation needed sometimesChardonnay and Pinot Noir
dominateTraditional method for premium, maybe transferTank or
carbonation for cheaper Non -vintage, vintage, Blanc de blancs, Rose
◍ What are the traditional grape varieties for white Cava?.
Answer: 1. Macabeo (Viura)2. Xarel-lo3. Parellada
◍ Transfer method.
Answer: Second fermentation in bottle. Wine disgorged, filtered, dosed and
rebottled under pressure Common in champagne for unusual sizes (split,
jeroboam +)
◍ The process of riddling.
Answer: remuage
◍ What role does blending play in sparkling wine?.
Answer: Blending is vital to the quality and making a consistent house style.
Best producers have access to a large number of parcels, making the process
easier.
◍ What does Pinot Noir contribute to Champagne?.
Answer: greater body, structure and red fruit character
◍ Blanc de Noirs.
Answer: Made from black grapes only
◍ Crémant de Limoux Grapes.
Answer: Principles Varieties - Chardonnay (50% min) - Chenin Blanc -
between 10-40% - Chardonnay + Chenin - 90% totalSecondary Varieties -
Mauzac & Pinot Noir (20 % Max) - Pinot Noir (15% Max) Less rustic style
◍ What impact does yeast autolysis have on a sparkling wine?.
Answer: contributes to flavor of the wine giving bread, biscuit or toasty
, notes
◍ Most dominant variety grown in Côte de Sézanne.
Answer: Chardonnay
◍ Traditional method.
Answer: A bottle fermentation method for sparkling wines.
◍ What does it mean when a label of sparkling wine says "brut nature" or
"zero dosage" ?.
Answer: No Liqueur d'expedition is added (no sugar added)
◍ What regions produce dry Riesling?.
Answer: Alsace in FranceAustralia
◍ Aÿ.
Answer: Known for Pinot Noir (Pinot Vert Doré) Exceptional body, delicate
noseNot as fresh as Montaigne de Reims Finesse and backbone
◍ Disgorging.
Answer: Removal of sediment from the neck of a sparkling wine bottle By
hand or mechanized Bottle neck frozen in brine solution to create frozen
plug ejected automatically by internal pressure May be facilitated by
addition of bentonite or other substances
◍ How does aging Cava differ from Champagne?.
Answer: Shorter legal aging time on lees = more subtle autolytic notes
◍ True or False? For traditional method sparkling wines, the bottle is sealed
with a cork prior to second fermentation..
Answer: False
◍ How are grapes for sparkling wine harvested for premium vs inexpensive
wines?.
Answer: Premium - hand picked to retain whole bunches of unsplit
grapesInexpensive/warm regions - machine harvested for speed + efficiency
before they accumulate too much sugar or lose too much acidity.
◍ What grape is used to make Prosecco.
