WSET LEVEL 3 TOP COMPREHENSIVE
STUDY GUIDE 2026 FULL QUESTIONS
AND SOLUTIONS GRADED A+
◍ PDO wines.
Answer: the French for PDO is Appellation d'origine protege (AOP) but the
traditional term Appellation d'origine controlee (AC or AOC) is more
widely seen on labels
◍ PGI wines.
Answer: the French for PGI is Indication geographique protegee IGP; the
traditional term Vin de Pays (VdP) is also often seen
◍ Vin de France.
Answer: wines without a GI
◍ Bordeaux.
Answer: the largest appellation region in France in terms of both value and
volume; also home to many of the most prestigious names in fine wine;
moderate maritime climate that benefits from the effect of the Gulf Stream
◍ Black varieties of Bordeaux.
Answer: Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Petit Verdot
◍ Most widely planted variety in Bordeaux.
Answer: Merlot
◍ White varieties of Bordeaux.
Answer: Semillon, Sauvignon Blanc, Muscadelle
◍ Left Bank of Bordeaux.
Answer: west and south of the Gironde/Garonne; appellations Medoc,
Graves, and Sauternes
, ◍ Entre-Deux-Mers.
Answer: appellation covering most of the area between the Dordogne and
the Garonne; can only produce white wines
◍ Right Bank of Bordeaux.
Answer: principal districts to the north and east of the Gironde and
Dordogne are Saint-Emilion and Pomerol
◍ Bordeaux Classifications.
Answer: classification systems lie outside of the appellation system (except
in the case of Saint-Emilion); the 1855 classification; the Graves
classification; the classification system in Saint-Emilion
◍ The 1855 Classification.
Answer: in 1855 on the occasion of the Paris Universal Exhibition, the
Bordeaux Chamber of Commerce was approached to produce an official list
of their best red wines from the Medoc and white wines from Sauternes -
this is now known as the 1855 Classification and the chateaux that are listed
in this classification are referred to as crus classes; divided into five ranks in
the Medoc and three ranks in Sauternes; cru bourgeois is only awarded to
wines in a specific vintage
◍ Graves classification.
Answer: wines are classified with parallel, but separate lists for red and
white wines; no ranking; all wines on the list may call themselves cru
classes; all the crus classes chateaux now lie within the limits of
Pessac-Leognan, as this appellation was created after the Graves
classification was drawn up
◍ Saint-Emilion Grand Cru.
Answer: the classification system in Saint-Emilion is integrated into the
appellation system; within the Saint-Emilion Grand Cru appellation there is
a classification of the best chateauxSaint-Emilion Grand Cru Classe > Saint
Emilion Premier Grand Cru Classe B > Saint Emilion Premier Grand Cru
Classe A
STUDY GUIDE 2026 FULL QUESTIONS
AND SOLUTIONS GRADED A+
◍ PDO wines.
Answer: the French for PDO is Appellation d'origine protege (AOP) but the
traditional term Appellation d'origine controlee (AC or AOC) is more
widely seen on labels
◍ PGI wines.
Answer: the French for PGI is Indication geographique protegee IGP; the
traditional term Vin de Pays (VdP) is also often seen
◍ Vin de France.
Answer: wines without a GI
◍ Bordeaux.
Answer: the largest appellation region in France in terms of both value and
volume; also home to many of the most prestigious names in fine wine;
moderate maritime climate that benefits from the effect of the Gulf Stream
◍ Black varieties of Bordeaux.
Answer: Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Petit Verdot
◍ Most widely planted variety in Bordeaux.
Answer: Merlot
◍ White varieties of Bordeaux.
Answer: Semillon, Sauvignon Blanc, Muscadelle
◍ Left Bank of Bordeaux.
Answer: west and south of the Gironde/Garonne; appellations Medoc,
Graves, and Sauternes
, ◍ Entre-Deux-Mers.
Answer: appellation covering most of the area between the Dordogne and
the Garonne; can only produce white wines
◍ Right Bank of Bordeaux.
Answer: principal districts to the north and east of the Gironde and
Dordogne are Saint-Emilion and Pomerol
◍ Bordeaux Classifications.
Answer: classification systems lie outside of the appellation system (except
in the case of Saint-Emilion); the 1855 classification; the Graves
classification; the classification system in Saint-Emilion
◍ The 1855 Classification.
Answer: in 1855 on the occasion of the Paris Universal Exhibition, the
Bordeaux Chamber of Commerce was approached to produce an official list
of their best red wines from the Medoc and white wines from Sauternes -
this is now known as the 1855 Classification and the chateaux that are listed
in this classification are referred to as crus classes; divided into five ranks in
the Medoc and three ranks in Sauternes; cru bourgeois is only awarded to
wines in a specific vintage
◍ Graves classification.
Answer: wines are classified with parallel, but separate lists for red and
white wines; no ranking; all wines on the list may call themselves cru
classes; all the crus classes chateaux now lie within the limits of
Pessac-Leognan, as this appellation was created after the Graves
classification was drawn up
◍ Saint-Emilion Grand Cru.
Answer: the classification system in Saint-Emilion is integrated into the
appellation system; within the Saint-Emilion Grand Cru appellation there is
a classification of the best chateauxSaint-Emilion Grand Cru Classe > Saint
Emilion Premier Grand Cru Classe B > Saint Emilion Premier Grand Cru
Classe A
