WSET LEVEL 3 VERIFIED TEST KEY 2026
QUESTIONS WITH OUTCOMES GRADED A+.
⫸ Bench grafting. Answer: A method of grafting a Vitis Vinifera to a
rootstock. Two short canes of equal width are cut from a rootstock
and a Vitis Vinifera, spliced together with a machine and allowed to
heal in a warm, humid environment until the wounds heal into a
callus. Then, roots are trimmed off the Vinifera, the shoots off the
rootstock, and it's planted or stored for a year.
⫸ head grafting. Answer: the practice of changing an established
vineyard from one varietal to a more profitable varietal, without
having to replant the entire vineyard
⫸ what a vine needs. Answer: Heat, Sunlight, CO2, Water, and
Nutrients
⫸ heat. Answer: needs to be above 10 degrees C for the vine to grow.
the amount of heat in the growing season is the defining factor that
determines what grapes can be grown where
⫸ latitude. Answer: 30-50 degrees north or south of the equator in
order to meet the vine's temperature needs. day length during the
season is longer the further the vineyard is from the equator
⫸ altitude. Answer: as altitude increases, temp drops. allows high
elevation sights that are closer to the equator to successfully produce.
,⫸ ocean currents. Answer: major currents transport large volumes of
warm or cold water across the surface of the ocean, leading to
localized warming or cooling in certain wine regions.
⫸ fog. Answer: can help cool an are that may otherwise struggle to
produce high quality grapes
⫸ soil. Answer: dark or high rock content soils absorb and radiate
more of the suns heat. this can be critical for ripening fruit in cooler
climates.
⫸ aspect. Answer: the direction in which a slope faces. facing the
equator gives the most heat. steeper slopes benefit more from extra
heat. affects the amount of sunlight received. steeper slopes receive
more sunlight
⫸ continentality. Answer: temperature difference between the coldest
and hottest month. high continentality = big differences between
summer and winter.
⫸ diurnal range. Answer: The difference between the lowest
temperature and the highest temperature in a 24 hour period.
proximity to seas and lakes can reduce this. level of cloud cover can
influence this.
,⫸ winter. Answer: if temperatures fall below -20 C vines can be
killed by freeze `
⫸ spring frosts. Answer: this occurs when cold air below 0C collects
at ground level,freezing any water vapor that has settled on the
ground or the vine. kills newly burst buds and young shoots
⫸ preventing spring frosts. Answer: heaters, wind machines,
sprinklers, thoughtful vineyard design
⫸ sunlight. Answer: needed for a successful flowering and fruit set,
cloudy conditions during this period can result in a smaller crop of
grapes
⫸ water. Answer: aids in photosynthesis and swells grapes during
ripening. vines access this through its roots and draws water to its
leaves.
⫸ transpiration. Answer: Evaporation of water from the leaves of a
plant
⫸ Types of irrigation. Answer: drip irrigation, sprinklers, flood
irrigation
⫸ drip irrigation. Answer: the most advanced and expensive. each
vine has its own dripper that can be computer controlled to ensure that
each vine gets the optimal amount of water
, ⫸ sprinklers. Answer: Widely used and cheaper, but can waste a lot
of water and create damp conditions.
⫸ flood irrigation. Answer: very cheap but only possible in vineyards
that are flat or sloping and where there is access to large quantities of
water
⫸ drought. Answer: vines will temporarily stop transpiration in order
to preserve resources. vines suffer from water stress. weakens or kills
vines
⫸ too much water. Answer: the vine will continue to grow shoots and
leaves, leaving less sugar for ripening grapes. waterlogged soil can
cause the roots to become saturated and die
⫸ rainfall. Answer: flowering and fruit set can both be disrupted by
heavy rainfall and this can significantly reduce the number of grapes
that are formed. can lead to damp conditions and fungal disease.
⫸ hail. Answer: can damage grapes and even the vine itself. may
destroy an entire crop
⫸ climate. Answer: the annual pattern of temperature, sunlight and
rainfall averaged out over several years
⫸ cool climate. Answer: 16.5C or below
QUESTIONS WITH OUTCOMES GRADED A+.
⫸ Bench grafting. Answer: A method of grafting a Vitis Vinifera to a
rootstock. Two short canes of equal width are cut from a rootstock
and a Vitis Vinifera, spliced together with a machine and allowed to
heal in a warm, humid environment until the wounds heal into a
callus. Then, roots are trimmed off the Vinifera, the shoots off the
rootstock, and it's planted or stored for a year.
⫸ head grafting. Answer: the practice of changing an established
vineyard from one varietal to a more profitable varietal, without
having to replant the entire vineyard
⫸ what a vine needs. Answer: Heat, Sunlight, CO2, Water, and
Nutrients
⫸ heat. Answer: needs to be above 10 degrees C for the vine to grow.
the amount of heat in the growing season is the defining factor that
determines what grapes can be grown where
⫸ latitude. Answer: 30-50 degrees north or south of the equator in
order to meet the vine's temperature needs. day length during the
season is longer the further the vineyard is from the equator
⫸ altitude. Answer: as altitude increases, temp drops. allows high
elevation sights that are closer to the equator to successfully produce.
,⫸ ocean currents. Answer: major currents transport large volumes of
warm or cold water across the surface of the ocean, leading to
localized warming or cooling in certain wine regions.
⫸ fog. Answer: can help cool an are that may otherwise struggle to
produce high quality grapes
⫸ soil. Answer: dark or high rock content soils absorb and radiate
more of the suns heat. this can be critical for ripening fruit in cooler
climates.
⫸ aspect. Answer: the direction in which a slope faces. facing the
equator gives the most heat. steeper slopes benefit more from extra
heat. affects the amount of sunlight received. steeper slopes receive
more sunlight
⫸ continentality. Answer: temperature difference between the coldest
and hottest month. high continentality = big differences between
summer and winter.
⫸ diurnal range. Answer: The difference between the lowest
temperature and the highest temperature in a 24 hour period.
proximity to seas and lakes can reduce this. level of cloud cover can
influence this.
,⫸ winter. Answer: if temperatures fall below -20 C vines can be
killed by freeze `
⫸ spring frosts. Answer: this occurs when cold air below 0C collects
at ground level,freezing any water vapor that has settled on the
ground or the vine. kills newly burst buds and young shoots
⫸ preventing spring frosts. Answer: heaters, wind machines,
sprinklers, thoughtful vineyard design
⫸ sunlight. Answer: needed for a successful flowering and fruit set,
cloudy conditions during this period can result in a smaller crop of
grapes
⫸ water. Answer: aids in photosynthesis and swells grapes during
ripening. vines access this through its roots and draws water to its
leaves.
⫸ transpiration. Answer: Evaporation of water from the leaves of a
plant
⫸ Types of irrigation. Answer: drip irrigation, sprinklers, flood
irrigation
⫸ drip irrigation. Answer: the most advanced and expensive. each
vine has its own dripper that can be computer controlled to ensure that
each vine gets the optimal amount of water
, ⫸ sprinklers. Answer: Widely used and cheaper, but can waste a lot
of water and create damp conditions.
⫸ flood irrigation. Answer: very cheap but only possible in vineyards
that are flat or sloping and where there is access to large quantities of
water
⫸ drought. Answer: vines will temporarily stop transpiration in order
to preserve resources. vines suffer from water stress. weakens or kills
vines
⫸ too much water. Answer: the vine will continue to grow shoots and
leaves, leaving less sugar for ripening grapes. waterlogged soil can
cause the roots to become saturated and die
⫸ rainfall. Answer: flowering and fruit set can both be disrupted by
heavy rainfall and this can significantly reduce the number of grapes
that are formed. can lead to damp conditions and fungal disease.
⫸ hail. Answer: can damage grapes and even the vine itself. may
destroy an entire crop
⫸ climate. Answer: the annual pattern of temperature, sunlight and
rainfall averaged out over several years
⫸ cool climate. Answer: 16.5C or below
