WSET Level 2 Award in Wines Exam (pdf) | 2026/2027 | Certification
Q&A | Wine Education
1. Which of the following conditions allows for the best impression of a wine
during tasting?**
A) A room with strong food odors
B) A room that has been cleaned with bleach
C) A room with good natural light and a neutral, clean environment
D) A room with loud background music
**Correct Answer: C**
**Rationale:** The WSET Systematic Approach to Tasting (SAT) recommends
a clean, well-lit, and odor-free environment for accurate wine assessment.
Strong odors or distracting stimuli interfere with the ability to detect and
evaluate a wine's aromas and flavors.
**2. Which of the following is the most common colour for red wines?**
A) Amber
B) Purple
C) Ruby
D) Garnet
**Correct Answer: C**
**Rationale:** Ruby is the most common colour for young red wines. As red
wines age, they tend to develop garnet or tawny hues. Purple is typical of
very young, deeply colored red wines.
,**3. A wine that has been affected by cork taint will smell of:**
A) Grass
B) Damp cardboard
C) Rancid butter
D) Vinegar
**Correct Answer: B**
**Rationale:** Cork taint (caused by TCA contamination) gives wine a
distinctive aroma of damp cardboard, wet dog, or musty cellar. Rancid butter
is a sign of butyric acid, and vinegar indicates acetic acid spoilage.
**4. Which of the following is NOT a primary aroma in wine?**
A) Apple
B) Rose
C) Vanilla
D) Grapefruit
**Correct Answer: C**
**Rationale:** Primary aromas come from the grape variety and alcoholic
fermentation. Vanilla is a secondary aroma, derived from oak aging. Apple
and grapefruit are green fruit and citrus notes, while rose is a floral note.
, **5. According to the WSET Level 2 SAT, which of the following is a descriptor
for white wine colour?**
A) Ruby
B) Purple
C) Lemon
D) Tawny
**Correct Answer: C**
**Rationale:** The SAT colour categories for white wine are lemon, gold, and
amber. Ruby, purple, and garnet are descriptors for red wines, and tawny is
used for aged reds or tawny Port.
**6. Which of the following black grape varieties is known for having thin
skins and is a principal variety for red Burgundy?**
A) Cabernet Sauvignon
B) Merlot
C) Pinot Noir
D) Syrah
**Correct Answer: C**
**Rationale:** Pinot Noir is the principal black grape of Burgundy and is
characterized by thin skins, pale colour, and high acidity. It is one of the eight
principal grape varieties on the Level 2 syllabus.
Q&A | Wine Education
1. Which of the following conditions allows for the best impression of a wine
during tasting?**
A) A room with strong food odors
B) A room that has been cleaned with bleach
C) A room with good natural light and a neutral, clean environment
D) A room with loud background music
**Correct Answer: C**
**Rationale:** The WSET Systematic Approach to Tasting (SAT) recommends
a clean, well-lit, and odor-free environment for accurate wine assessment.
Strong odors or distracting stimuli interfere with the ability to detect and
evaluate a wine's aromas and flavors.
**2. Which of the following is the most common colour for red wines?**
A) Amber
B) Purple
C) Ruby
D) Garnet
**Correct Answer: C**
**Rationale:** Ruby is the most common colour for young red wines. As red
wines age, they tend to develop garnet or tawny hues. Purple is typical of
very young, deeply colored red wines.
,**3. A wine that has been affected by cork taint will smell of:**
A) Grass
B) Damp cardboard
C) Rancid butter
D) Vinegar
**Correct Answer: B**
**Rationale:** Cork taint (caused by TCA contamination) gives wine a
distinctive aroma of damp cardboard, wet dog, or musty cellar. Rancid butter
is a sign of butyric acid, and vinegar indicates acetic acid spoilage.
**4. Which of the following is NOT a primary aroma in wine?**
A) Apple
B) Rose
C) Vanilla
D) Grapefruit
**Correct Answer: C**
**Rationale:** Primary aromas come from the grape variety and alcoholic
fermentation. Vanilla is a secondary aroma, derived from oak aging. Apple
and grapefruit are green fruit and citrus notes, while rose is a floral note.
, **5. According to the WSET Level 2 SAT, which of the following is a descriptor
for white wine colour?**
A) Ruby
B) Purple
C) Lemon
D) Tawny
**Correct Answer: C**
**Rationale:** The SAT colour categories for white wine are lemon, gold, and
amber. Ruby, purple, and garnet are descriptors for red wines, and tawny is
used for aged reds or tawny Port.
**6. Which of the following black grape varieties is known for having thin
skins and is a principal variety for red Burgundy?**
A) Cabernet Sauvignon
B) Merlot
C) Pinot Noir
D) Syrah
**Correct Answer: C**
**Rationale:** Pinot Noir is the principal black grape of Burgundy and is
characterized by thin skins, pale colour, and high acidity. It is one of the eight
principal grape varieties on the Level 2 syllabus.
