WSET 3 Chapter 33 California Exam Questions and Answers With Verified
Solutions 2025
What has a bigger impact on climate in CA? latitude or the ocean - ✔✔The ocean.
Describe the geography of California wine regions - ✔✔Coastline is moutainous north of Los Angeles and
act as a sheild from most of the cooling influences of the ocean but where the ocean does come
through, it is significant
Effect on areas where they get fog (coast line and Monterey/Santa Barbara counties) - ✔✔Big diurnal
shifts. Fog can last well into the day blocking the morning sun. Sometimes grapes can struggle to ripen.
Gaps act like funnels when they pull fog into Monterey and Santa Barbara
Grape growing in areas where no effect from ocean/fog - ✔✔HOT!
Describe rainfall in CA - ✔✔hardly any during growing season--drought risk. Lots of irrigation used.
Most significant black grape in California - ✔✔cab sauv
Widest grown white or black grape in CA - ✔✔Chardonnay
Describe two primary styles of cab sauv in CA - ✔✔Ripe, concentrated, cassis, spice from new oak or less
rich, black currant flavors,
Describe the style of zinfindel in CA - ✔✔Considered CA's "own" varietal. Made in a range of styles.
Often uneven ripening so very concentrated high alcohol berries with underripe more herbacious
berries. Sometimes has RS in the riper versions. Lots of white zinfindel--medium sweet and low in
alcohol
What is largest producing merlot region in CA and describe the wines - ✔✔San Joaquin Valley--simple
inexpensive wines,
ripe black fruit soft tannins.
Solutions 2025
What has a bigger impact on climate in CA? latitude or the ocean - ✔✔The ocean.
Describe the geography of California wine regions - ✔✔Coastline is moutainous north of Los Angeles and
act as a sheild from most of the cooling influences of the ocean but where the ocean does come
through, it is significant
Effect on areas where they get fog (coast line and Monterey/Santa Barbara counties) - ✔✔Big diurnal
shifts. Fog can last well into the day blocking the morning sun. Sometimes grapes can struggle to ripen.
Gaps act like funnels when they pull fog into Monterey and Santa Barbara
Grape growing in areas where no effect from ocean/fog - ✔✔HOT!
Describe rainfall in CA - ✔✔hardly any during growing season--drought risk. Lots of irrigation used.
Most significant black grape in California - ✔✔cab sauv
Widest grown white or black grape in CA - ✔✔Chardonnay
Describe two primary styles of cab sauv in CA - ✔✔Ripe, concentrated, cassis, spice from new oak or less
rich, black currant flavors,
Describe the style of zinfindel in CA - ✔✔Considered CA's "own" varietal. Made in a range of styles.
Often uneven ripening so very concentrated high alcohol berries with underripe more herbacious
berries. Sometimes has RS in the riper versions. Lots of white zinfindel--medium sweet and low in
alcohol
What is largest producing merlot region in CA and describe the wines - ✔✔San Joaquin Valley--simple
inexpensive wines,
ripe black fruit soft tannins.
