WSET Level 3- Italy Exam Questions and Answers With Verified Solutions 2025
climate in Italy? - ✔✔Mediterranean- cooler in the north, hot in the south
What factors affect weather in Italy? - ✔✔-variation between zones is often more to do with altitude
rather than latitude.
-drought during growing season
-hail is a threat in Piedmonte
# of varieties in Italy - ✔✔more than 1,000 varieties
Which varieties were introduced by the Greeks - ✔✔Aglianico, Greco
Which varieties were introduced by Etruscan - ✔✔Sangiovese
What are the soils in Italy? - ✔✔Marine - classic clay/limestone mixes
Volcanic
Vineyards which are on slopes of ancient volcanos - ✔✔DOC(G)s of Soave
Colli Euganei
Lacryma Christi
Etna
Vineyards which are on classic clay over limestone soils - ✔✔RED
Barolo
Valpolicella
,Barbaresco
Chianti
WHITE
Cortese
Verdicchio
Trentino
What are the key local red grape varieties in Italy? - ✔✔Nebbiolo
Sangiovese
Barbera
Dolcetto
Corvina
Montepulciano
Aglianico
Primitivo (like California Zinfandel)
What are the key local white grape varieties in Italy? - ✔✔Trebbiano
Malvasia
Verdicchio
Garganega
Cortese
Key factor affecting grape growing in Italy? - ✔✔Centered around hillside locations
High trained pergola vines are less widespread now as best producers look to limit yeilds and improve
levels of ripeness, particularly physiological, as so many of the native black grape varieties are high in
tannin
Grape growing in Italy? - ✔✔Centered around hillside locations -most use some variation
, classic, two-wire vertical shoot-positioning trellising, including both single & double replacement cane &
cordone speronato (single cordon)
Passito - ✔✔Originated in Veneto - long tradition of wines from dried grapes.
-healthy grapes are harvested early and laid out to dry on mats in the sun or racks in a ventilated room
called a Fruttaio. (can take a few weeks to 6 months)
-they can be dry or sweet, red or white, and are often full bodied with high alcohol.
Key factors affecting wine making in Italy? - ✔✔Traditional red wine making involved long periods of
maturation in large old wood cask called Botte. Wines could have a marked oxidative character.
Modern fermentation with temperature control and use of new oak, particularly for red wines, is now
wide spread.
Where did Passito orginate - ✔✔Veneto
Sweet white wines - ✔✔Recioto di Soave DOCG
Passito di Pantelleria DOC
Key sparkling wines - ✔✔Moscato d'Asti (Lombardy)
Franciacorta (Lombardy)
Conegliano-Valdobbiadene (Veneto)
Red wines passito style - ✔✔Amarone della Valpolicella DOCG
- high levels of alcohol and full bodied
climate in Italy? - ✔✔Mediterranean- cooler in the north, hot in the south
What factors affect weather in Italy? - ✔✔-variation between zones is often more to do with altitude
rather than latitude.
-drought during growing season
-hail is a threat in Piedmonte
# of varieties in Italy - ✔✔more than 1,000 varieties
Which varieties were introduced by the Greeks - ✔✔Aglianico, Greco
Which varieties were introduced by Etruscan - ✔✔Sangiovese
What are the soils in Italy? - ✔✔Marine - classic clay/limestone mixes
Volcanic
Vineyards which are on slopes of ancient volcanos - ✔✔DOC(G)s of Soave
Colli Euganei
Lacryma Christi
Etna
Vineyards which are on classic clay over limestone soils - ✔✔RED
Barolo
Valpolicella
,Barbaresco
Chianti
WHITE
Cortese
Verdicchio
Trentino
What are the key local red grape varieties in Italy? - ✔✔Nebbiolo
Sangiovese
Barbera
Dolcetto
Corvina
Montepulciano
Aglianico
Primitivo (like California Zinfandel)
What are the key local white grape varieties in Italy? - ✔✔Trebbiano
Malvasia
Verdicchio
Garganega
Cortese
Key factor affecting grape growing in Italy? - ✔✔Centered around hillside locations
High trained pergola vines are less widespread now as best producers look to limit yeilds and improve
levels of ripeness, particularly physiological, as so many of the native black grape varieties are high in
tannin
Grape growing in Italy? - ✔✔Centered around hillside locations -most use some variation
, classic, two-wire vertical shoot-positioning trellising, including both single & double replacement cane &
cordone speronato (single cordon)
Passito - ✔✔Originated in Veneto - long tradition of wines from dried grapes.
-healthy grapes are harvested early and laid out to dry on mats in the sun or racks in a ventilated room
called a Fruttaio. (can take a few weeks to 6 months)
-they can be dry or sweet, red or white, and are often full bodied with high alcohol.
Key factors affecting wine making in Italy? - ✔✔Traditional red wine making involved long periods of
maturation in large old wood cask called Botte. Wines could have a marked oxidative character.
Modern fermentation with temperature control and use of new oak, particularly for red wines, is now
wide spread.
Where did Passito orginate - ✔✔Veneto
Sweet white wines - ✔✔Recioto di Soave DOCG
Passito di Pantelleria DOC
Key sparkling wines - ✔✔Moscato d'Asti (Lombardy)
Franciacorta (Lombardy)
Conegliano-Valdobbiadene (Veneto)
Red wines passito style - ✔✔Amarone della Valpolicella DOCG
- high levels of alcohol and full bodied
