WSET LEVEL 3 QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
The wine tastes more drying and bitter, more acidic. Less sweet and fruity. - Answers -
What effect does a sweet food have on wine?
Since sweet food can dull the taste of a wine (losing its fruit and becoming unpleasantly
acidic), a good general rule is to select a wine with a higher level of sweetness. -
Answers -What type of wine should you pair with sweet food?
Increases the perception of bitterness, astringency, acidity and alcohol burn in the wine.
It also decreases the perception of body, sweetness, and fruitiness of the wine. -
Answers -What effect does umami food have on wine?
Pair with low tannin, lower alcohol red wines without (or limited) oak character. Crisp
whites with minimal oak and lower alcohol also work well. - Answers -What type of wine
should you pair with umami food?
Salt will increase the perception of body in a wine and decrease astringency, bitterness
and acidity. - Answers -What effect does salty food have on wine?
Fruity and rich (less bitter. less alcoholic) - Answers -Salty foods will make a tannic,
alcoholic red wine taste more ......... ?
Acid in food will increase the perception of body, sweetness, and fruitiness in wine. It
will also decrease the perception of acid in a wine. - Answers -What effect does acidic
food have on wine?
It's a good rule of thumb to pair high acid food with high acid wine (as wines can appear
flat and flabby if the acid of the wine is overwhelmed by the food). - Answers -What type
of wine should be paired with acidic food?
Bitterness in food increases the bitterness in wine. - Answers -What effect does bitter
food have on wine?
The wine can be overwhelmed by the food flavors. - Answers -What effect does highly
flavored food have on wine?
Pair with wines of similar intensity or flavors. - Answers -What type of wine should be
paired with highly flavored food?
It makes the wine appear less acidic. - Answers -What effect does fatty/oily food have
on wine?
Pair with wines of high levels of acidity. - Answers -What type of wine should be paired
with highly fatty/oily food?
,In 2009 - Answers -When did the European Union change it's wine laws?
1) Protected Designation of Origen (PDO)
2) Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) - Answers -What are the two labelling terms
of EU wines with a geographical indication?
Apellation d'Origine Controlee (AC or AOC) - Answers -What term is used to delineate a
PDO wine from France?
Vin de Pays (VdP) or Indication Geographique Protegee (IGP). IGP has appeared on
many wine labels begining with the 2009 vintage. - Answers -What term is used to
delineate a PGI wine from France?
Vin de France - Answers -What term is used to delineate a wine in France without any
geographical indication?
Located in south-west France, Bordeaux has a moderate/maritime climate. - Answers -
What is the location and climate of Bordeaux?
Stone/Gravel - Answers -What type of soil is found in the Medoc, Haut-Medoc, and
Graves regions of Bordeaux?
Clay with limestone subsoil - Answers -What type of soil is found in the St-Emilion and
Pomeral regions of Bordeaux?
1) Merlot
2) Cabernet Sauvignon
3) Cabernet
4) Malbec
5) Petit Verdot
6) Carmenere - Answers -What are the 6 main black grape varieties of Bordeaux (in
order of most to least vineyard acreage)?
1) Semillon
2) Sauvignon Blanc
3) Muscadelle - Answers -What are the 3 main white grapes of Bordeaux (in order of
most to least vineyard acreage)?
High-density planting - Answers -Are there high or low density plantings in Bordeaux?
Lower yields for higher-quality wines - Answers -Do the higher quality wines of
Bordeaux experience lower or higher yields?
1) Ripening Grapes
2) Fungal disease - Answers -What are two key vineyard challenges in Bordeaux?
,Vertical 'basket' press where the pressure on the grapes comes from above using a
plate that is lowered or raised using a screw or lever. - Answers -What is the traditional
type of wine press used and explain how it works.
Similar to Bordeaux but with less maritime influence. - Answers -What is the climate of
southwest France?
Bergerac - Answers -Name the major appellation in southwest France that produces a
style of wine similar to Bordeaux.
Cotes de Gascogne IGP - Answers -What is the most important IGP in Southwest
France?
Monbazillac (sweet white wines) - Answers -Which AC wine, considered a Bordeaux
"copy", is made with Semillon and Sauvignon Blanc?
Cahors - Answers -Which key wine region of southwest France makes a Malbec based
red wine?
Madiran - Answers -Which key wine region of southwest France makes red wines from
Tannat, Cab Franc, and Cab Sav?
Jurancon - Answers -Which key wine region of southwest France makes dry and, more
importantly, sweet wines from Petit Manseng?
Generally dry, light-bodied white wines made from Ugni Blanc with aromas and flavors
of green apple. - Answers -Describe the style of wine to be expected from the IGP
Cotes de Gascogne.
Located in northeast France. Burgundy has a moderate/continental climate. - Answers -
What is the location and climate of Burgundy?
Chablis has a cool continental climate and is cooler than the moderate continental
climate found in the rest of Burgundy. - Answers -How does the climate of Chablis differ
from the rest of Burgundy?
1) Frost
2) Hail - Answers -What are two major environmental hazards that vineyards face in
Burgundy?
Grey rot is the malevolent form of botrytis which affects unripe berries or black grapes;
causing off flavors and a lack of color. The frequent summer rains in Burgundy make
the area prone to greyrot. - Answers -What is "grey rot" and why is it an issue in
Burgundy?
, Limestone overlaid with Kimmeridgian clay. - Answers -What type of soil is found in
Chablis?
(1) Bourgogne Rouge (2) Bourgogne Blanc (3) Bourgogne Hautes Cotes de Nuits (4)
Bourgogne Hautes Cotes de Beaune (5) Bourgogne Cote Chalonnaise (6) Macon (7)
Macon Villages - Answers -Name 7 regional appellations of Burgundy.
Granite - Answers -What type of soil is found in Beaujolais?
Pinot Noir - Answers -What is the main black grape variety of Burgundy?
Gamay - Answers -What is the main black grape variety of Beaujolais?
Chardonnay and Aligote - Answers -What are the two main white grape varieties of
northern Burgundy?
Chardonnay - Answers -What is the main white grape variety of southern Burgundy?
High - Answers -Are there high or low density plantings in northern Burgundy?
Guyot - Answers -What type of pruning system is used on the vines of northern
Burgundy?
Mid-slope on the east or southeast facing hillside vineyards. - Answers -
Topographically, where can the best vineyards of northern Burgundy be found?
Head trained Gobelet pruned vines. - Answers -What type of pruning system is
employed in Beaujolais?
On granite hillsides in the northern part of Beaujolais. - Answers -Where are the best
vineyards found in Beaujolais?
In Beaujolais - Answers -Carbonic maceration is used in what part of Burgundy?
Yes, mid to high priced red wines go through a moderate use of oak maturation. -
Answers -Is oak maturation used for the red wines of Burgundy?
Typically, stainless steel is used. Very little oak is used for Chablis AC wines. It is more
likely to be seen with Grand Cru Chablis or even some Premier Grand Cru. - Answers -
Is oak used to mature the white wines of Chablis?
The region lies to the south of the Cote d'Or where the higher altitude makes ripening
less reliable. - Answers -What natural factors influence the wine quality and differentiate
the wines in the Cotes Chalonnaise from their famous northern neighbor?
The wine tastes more drying and bitter, more acidic. Less sweet and fruity. - Answers -
What effect does a sweet food have on wine?
Since sweet food can dull the taste of a wine (losing its fruit and becoming unpleasantly
acidic), a good general rule is to select a wine with a higher level of sweetness. -
Answers -What type of wine should you pair with sweet food?
Increases the perception of bitterness, astringency, acidity and alcohol burn in the wine.
It also decreases the perception of body, sweetness, and fruitiness of the wine. -
Answers -What effect does umami food have on wine?
Pair with low tannin, lower alcohol red wines without (or limited) oak character. Crisp
whites with minimal oak and lower alcohol also work well. - Answers -What type of wine
should you pair with umami food?
Salt will increase the perception of body in a wine and decrease astringency, bitterness
and acidity. - Answers -What effect does salty food have on wine?
Fruity and rich (less bitter. less alcoholic) - Answers -Salty foods will make a tannic,
alcoholic red wine taste more ......... ?
Acid in food will increase the perception of body, sweetness, and fruitiness in wine. It
will also decrease the perception of acid in a wine. - Answers -What effect does acidic
food have on wine?
It's a good rule of thumb to pair high acid food with high acid wine (as wines can appear
flat and flabby if the acid of the wine is overwhelmed by the food). - Answers -What type
of wine should be paired with acidic food?
Bitterness in food increases the bitterness in wine. - Answers -What effect does bitter
food have on wine?
The wine can be overwhelmed by the food flavors. - Answers -What effect does highly
flavored food have on wine?
Pair with wines of similar intensity or flavors. - Answers -What type of wine should be
paired with highly flavored food?
It makes the wine appear less acidic. - Answers -What effect does fatty/oily food have
on wine?
Pair with wines of high levels of acidity. - Answers -What type of wine should be paired
with highly fatty/oily food?
,In 2009 - Answers -When did the European Union change it's wine laws?
1) Protected Designation of Origen (PDO)
2) Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) - Answers -What are the two labelling terms
of EU wines with a geographical indication?
Apellation d'Origine Controlee (AC or AOC) - Answers -What term is used to delineate a
PDO wine from France?
Vin de Pays (VdP) or Indication Geographique Protegee (IGP). IGP has appeared on
many wine labels begining with the 2009 vintage. - Answers -What term is used to
delineate a PGI wine from France?
Vin de France - Answers -What term is used to delineate a wine in France without any
geographical indication?
Located in south-west France, Bordeaux has a moderate/maritime climate. - Answers -
What is the location and climate of Bordeaux?
Stone/Gravel - Answers -What type of soil is found in the Medoc, Haut-Medoc, and
Graves regions of Bordeaux?
Clay with limestone subsoil - Answers -What type of soil is found in the St-Emilion and
Pomeral regions of Bordeaux?
1) Merlot
2) Cabernet Sauvignon
3) Cabernet
4) Malbec
5) Petit Verdot
6) Carmenere - Answers -What are the 6 main black grape varieties of Bordeaux (in
order of most to least vineyard acreage)?
1) Semillon
2) Sauvignon Blanc
3) Muscadelle - Answers -What are the 3 main white grapes of Bordeaux (in order of
most to least vineyard acreage)?
High-density planting - Answers -Are there high or low density plantings in Bordeaux?
Lower yields for higher-quality wines - Answers -Do the higher quality wines of
Bordeaux experience lower or higher yields?
1) Ripening Grapes
2) Fungal disease - Answers -What are two key vineyard challenges in Bordeaux?
,Vertical 'basket' press where the pressure on the grapes comes from above using a
plate that is lowered or raised using a screw or lever. - Answers -What is the traditional
type of wine press used and explain how it works.
Similar to Bordeaux but with less maritime influence. - Answers -What is the climate of
southwest France?
Bergerac - Answers -Name the major appellation in southwest France that produces a
style of wine similar to Bordeaux.
Cotes de Gascogne IGP - Answers -What is the most important IGP in Southwest
France?
Monbazillac (sweet white wines) - Answers -Which AC wine, considered a Bordeaux
"copy", is made with Semillon and Sauvignon Blanc?
Cahors - Answers -Which key wine region of southwest France makes a Malbec based
red wine?
Madiran - Answers -Which key wine region of southwest France makes red wines from
Tannat, Cab Franc, and Cab Sav?
Jurancon - Answers -Which key wine region of southwest France makes dry and, more
importantly, sweet wines from Petit Manseng?
Generally dry, light-bodied white wines made from Ugni Blanc with aromas and flavors
of green apple. - Answers -Describe the style of wine to be expected from the IGP
Cotes de Gascogne.
Located in northeast France. Burgundy has a moderate/continental climate. - Answers -
What is the location and climate of Burgundy?
Chablis has a cool continental climate and is cooler than the moderate continental
climate found in the rest of Burgundy. - Answers -How does the climate of Chablis differ
from the rest of Burgundy?
1) Frost
2) Hail - Answers -What are two major environmental hazards that vineyards face in
Burgundy?
Grey rot is the malevolent form of botrytis which affects unripe berries or black grapes;
causing off flavors and a lack of color. The frequent summer rains in Burgundy make
the area prone to greyrot. - Answers -What is "grey rot" and why is it an issue in
Burgundy?
, Limestone overlaid with Kimmeridgian clay. - Answers -What type of soil is found in
Chablis?
(1) Bourgogne Rouge (2) Bourgogne Blanc (3) Bourgogne Hautes Cotes de Nuits (4)
Bourgogne Hautes Cotes de Beaune (5) Bourgogne Cote Chalonnaise (6) Macon (7)
Macon Villages - Answers -Name 7 regional appellations of Burgundy.
Granite - Answers -What type of soil is found in Beaujolais?
Pinot Noir - Answers -What is the main black grape variety of Burgundy?
Gamay - Answers -What is the main black grape variety of Beaujolais?
Chardonnay and Aligote - Answers -What are the two main white grape varieties of
northern Burgundy?
Chardonnay - Answers -What is the main white grape variety of southern Burgundy?
High - Answers -Are there high or low density plantings in northern Burgundy?
Guyot - Answers -What type of pruning system is used on the vines of northern
Burgundy?
Mid-slope on the east or southeast facing hillside vineyards. - Answers -
Topographically, where can the best vineyards of northern Burgundy be found?
Head trained Gobelet pruned vines. - Answers -What type of pruning system is
employed in Beaujolais?
On granite hillsides in the northern part of Beaujolais. - Answers -Where are the best
vineyards found in Beaujolais?
In Beaujolais - Answers -Carbonic maceration is used in what part of Burgundy?
Yes, mid to high priced red wines go through a moderate use of oak maturation. -
Answers -Is oak maturation used for the red wines of Burgundy?
Typically, stainless steel is used. Very little oak is used for Chablis AC wines. It is more
likely to be seen with Grand Cru Chablis or even some Premier Grand Cru. - Answers -
Is oak used to mature the white wines of Chablis?
The region lies to the south of the Cote d'Or where the higher altitude makes ripening
less reliable. - Answers -What natural factors influence the wine quality and differentiate
the wines in the Cotes Chalonnaise from their famous northern neighbor?
