WSET Level 2 Wines Exam 2026
Questions and Answers
Sweetness in food can make dry wines seem: - Correct answer-More drying, more
bitter, more acidic. Less sweet and fruity
Umami in food can make wines seem: - Correct answer-More drying, more bitter,
more acidic. Less sweet and fruity
Salty foods can make wines seem: - Correct answer-Less drying, less bitter, less
acidic. More fruity, more body
Acidic foods can make wines seem: - Correct answer-Less drying, less bitter, less
acidic. More sweet, more fruity
For long term storage of wines, how should wines be stored? - Correct answer-At a
cool constant temperature
Away from sunshine and bright light
If sealed with a cork, bottle should be stored on their side
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,What are the optimal service temperatures for Sweet and Sparkling wines? -
Correct answer-Sweet wines - well chilled - 6-8°
Sparkling wines - well chilled - 6-10°
What are the aromas associated with the following faults:
Cork Taint
Failure of Closure
Heat Damage - Correct answer-Cork Taint - Damp cardboard, lack of fresh fruit
flavours
Failure of Closure - Honey, caramel, coffee, lack of freshness and fruitiness
Heat Damage - Lack of fruit character and freshness
Name the main components of a grape and what they contain: - Correct answer-
Stalk - Tannins
Skin - Tannins, Colour, Flavours
Pulp - Sugar, Acid, Water
Seeds - Bitter Oils
What is photosynthesis? - Correct answer-The process where sunlight, carbon
dioxide and water are combined to produce sugars
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,What are the five things a vine needs to grow? - Correct answer-Warmth, sunlight,
carbon dioxide, water, nutrients
Put the stages of grape formation and ripening in the correct order:
Ripening
Flowering
Extra ripening
Fruit set
Véraison - Correct answer-Flowering
Fruit set
Véraison
Ripening
Extra ripening
What changes in grapes as they ripen? - Correct answer-Grapes swell with water,
acidity drops, sugar increases, aromas change, in black grapes tannin ripen
What happens to grapes when they are left on the vine for extra ripening? - Correct
answer-Grapes build up more sugar and exaggerated ripe aromas. Eventually they
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, turn into raisins as water evaporates. This concentrates sugars, acids and flavours
and dried fruit aromas develop
What effect does Botrytis/noble rot have on grapes? - Correct answer-It makes tiny
holes in the skin of the grape which allows water to evaporate. This concentrates
sugars, acids and flavours.
What are the conditions needed for noble rot to develop? - Correct answer-Damp
misty mornings followed by warm dry afternoons
What is the name given to sweet wines made from frozen grapes? - Correct
answer-Icewine/Eiswein
Between what latitudes are vineyards generally located? - Correct answer-30° and
50° north and south of the equator
What affect does altitude have on the temperature of a vineyard? - Correct answer-
The temperature decreases with altitude
What affect do seas have on the temperature of a region? - Correct answer-They
have a moderating influence
What affect can clouds and fog have on the temperature of a vineyard? - Correct
answer-Clouds block sunlight, fogs cool down vineyards
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Questions and Answers
Sweetness in food can make dry wines seem: - Correct answer-More drying, more
bitter, more acidic. Less sweet and fruity
Umami in food can make wines seem: - Correct answer-More drying, more bitter,
more acidic. Less sweet and fruity
Salty foods can make wines seem: - Correct answer-Less drying, less bitter, less
acidic. More fruity, more body
Acidic foods can make wines seem: - Correct answer-Less drying, less bitter, less
acidic. More sweet, more fruity
For long term storage of wines, how should wines be stored? - Correct answer-At a
cool constant temperature
Away from sunshine and bright light
If sealed with a cork, bottle should be stored on their side
©COPYRIGHT 2025, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 1
,What are the optimal service temperatures for Sweet and Sparkling wines? -
Correct answer-Sweet wines - well chilled - 6-8°
Sparkling wines - well chilled - 6-10°
What are the aromas associated with the following faults:
Cork Taint
Failure of Closure
Heat Damage - Correct answer-Cork Taint - Damp cardboard, lack of fresh fruit
flavours
Failure of Closure - Honey, caramel, coffee, lack of freshness and fruitiness
Heat Damage - Lack of fruit character and freshness
Name the main components of a grape and what they contain: - Correct answer-
Stalk - Tannins
Skin - Tannins, Colour, Flavours
Pulp - Sugar, Acid, Water
Seeds - Bitter Oils
What is photosynthesis? - Correct answer-The process where sunlight, carbon
dioxide and water are combined to produce sugars
©COPYRIGHT 2025, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 2
,What are the five things a vine needs to grow? - Correct answer-Warmth, sunlight,
carbon dioxide, water, nutrients
Put the stages of grape formation and ripening in the correct order:
Ripening
Flowering
Extra ripening
Fruit set
Véraison - Correct answer-Flowering
Fruit set
Véraison
Ripening
Extra ripening
What changes in grapes as they ripen? - Correct answer-Grapes swell with water,
acidity drops, sugar increases, aromas change, in black grapes tannin ripen
What happens to grapes when they are left on the vine for extra ripening? - Correct
answer-Grapes build up more sugar and exaggerated ripe aromas. Eventually they
©COPYRIGHT 2025, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 3
, turn into raisins as water evaporates. This concentrates sugars, acids and flavours
and dried fruit aromas develop
What effect does Botrytis/noble rot have on grapes? - Correct answer-It makes tiny
holes in the skin of the grape which allows water to evaporate. This concentrates
sugars, acids and flavours.
What are the conditions needed for noble rot to develop? - Correct answer-Damp
misty mornings followed by warm dry afternoons
What is the name given to sweet wines made from frozen grapes? - Correct
answer-Icewine/Eiswein
Between what latitudes are vineyards generally located? - Correct answer-30° and
50° north and south of the equator
What affect does altitude have on the temperature of a vineyard? - Correct answer-
The temperature decreases with altitude
What affect do seas have on the temperature of a region? - Correct answer-They
have a moderating influence
What affect can clouds and fog have on the temperature of a vineyard? - Correct
answer-Clouds block sunlight, fogs cool down vineyards
©COPYRIGHT 2025, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 4
