WSET DIPLOMA D2 EXAM PRACTICE
SOLUTION SET 2026 QUESTIONS WITH
ANSWERS GRADED A+
⩥ Four main sections of a grape vine. Answer: the main shoots, one-
year-old wood, permanent wood and the roots
⩥ What comprises the canopy of a vine?. Answer: The main shoots and
all of their major structures - stem, buds, leaves, lateral shoots, tendrils
and inflorescences/grape bunches
⩥ What do the main shoots grow from, and when?. Answer: The main
shoots on the vine grow in spring from buds retained from the previous
year
⩥ Where are carbohydrates stored in a vine?. Answer: Stems, trunks,
roots
⩥ Define lignify. Answer: Green shoots become woody and rigid, they
are then called canes
⩥ Where do buds form?. Answer: between the leaf stalk (petiole) and the
stem
,⩥ Define the two types of buds. Answer: - Compound buds (form in one
growing season and break open the following growing season,
producing main shoots; typically a primary, secondary, and maybe
tertiary)- Prompt buds (form and break open same season, form lateral
shoots)
- Prompt buds (form and break open same season, form lateral shoots)
⩥ What is the main function of lateral shoots? When are they
desirable/undesirable?. Answer: - to allow the plant to carry on growing
if the tip of the main shoot has been damaged or eaten
- can provide an additional source of leaves for photosynthesis (useful if
the laterals are near the ends of the main shoots)
⩥ What is second crop?. Answer: Lateral shoots often produce
inflorescences, which can be known as a 'second crop'
- Growth of laterals nearer the base of the main shoot can be undesirable
as they impede air flow and can shade the fruit too much
⩥ What is green harvesting?. Answer: Removal of second crop during
summer
⩥ Define one-year-old wood. Answer: the main shoots from the last
growing season that were kept at pruning, supports compound buds;
cane or spur
,⩥ Define permanent wood. Answer: woody parts of the vine that are
older than one year, including the trunk
⩥ where are most roots found?. Answer: top 50cm of soil
⩥ what distinguishes PN clone 115?. Answer: low yield, small grapes,
good for high quality of red wines
⩥ what distinguishes PN clone 521?. Answer: high yield, bigger grapes,
good for sparkling wine production
⩥ When is leaf fall and dormancy?. Answer: Nov-March
⩥ When is budburst?. Answer: March-April
⩥ When is shoot and leaf growth?. Answer: March-July
⩥ When is flowering and fruit set?. Answer: May-June
⩥ When is grape development?. Answer: June-Oct
⩥ When is harvest?. Answer: Sept-Oct
, ⩥ How does the vine support itself during dormancy?. Answer: starch in
the roots, trunk, and branches
⩥ Below what temp can vines be severly damaged? die?. Answer: -15C,
-25C
⩥ What factors determine the timing of budburst?. Answer: - air temp
(>10C)
- soil temp (higher encourages earlier budburst)
- variety
- human factors (e.g. winter pruning late -> later budburst)
⩥ Why is high continentality good for budburst?. Answer: marked
differences in temp can result in uniform budburst
⩥ what determines the vigor of a vine?. Answer: rate of shoot growth
⩥ when does the fastest rate of shoot growth typically occur?. Answer:
between budburst and flowering
⩥ what could cause low carb levels in roots, trunk, and branches?.
Answer: - excessive leaf removal
- water stress
- high crop loads in prev season
SOLUTION SET 2026 QUESTIONS WITH
ANSWERS GRADED A+
⩥ Four main sections of a grape vine. Answer: the main shoots, one-
year-old wood, permanent wood and the roots
⩥ What comprises the canopy of a vine?. Answer: The main shoots and
all of their major structures - stem, buds, leaves, lateral shoots, tendrils
and inflorescences/grape bunches
⩥ What do the main shoots grow from, and when?. Answer: The main
shoots on the vine grow in spring from buds retained from the previous
year
⩥ Where are carbohydrates stored in a vine?. Answer: Stems, trunks,
roots
⩥ Define lignify. Answer: Green shoots become woody and rigid, they
are then called canes
⩥ Where do buds form?. Answer: between the leaf stalk (petiole) and the
stem
,⩥ Define the two types of buds. Answer: - Compound buds (form in one
growing season and break open the following growing season,
producing main shoots; typically a primary, secondary, and maybe
tertiary)- Prompt buds (form and break open same season, form lateral
shoots)
- Prompt buds (form and break open same season, form lateral shoots)
⩥ What is the main function of lateral shoots? When are they
desirable/undesirable?. Answer: - to allow the plant to carry on growing
if the tip of the main shoot has been damaged or eaten
- can provide an additional source of leaves for photosynthesis (useful if
the laterals are near the ends of the main shoots)
⩥ What is second crop?. Answer: Lateral shoots often produce
inflorescences, which can be known as a 'second crop'
- Growth of laterals nearer the base of the main shoot can be undesirable
as they impede air flow and can shade the fruit too much
⩥ What is green harvesting?. Answer: Removal of second crop during
summer
⩥ Define one-year-old wood. Answer: the main shoots from the last
growing season that were kept at pruning, supports compound buds;
cane or spur
,⩥ Define permanent wood. Answer: woody parts of the vine that are
older than one year, including the trunk
⩥ where are most roots found?. Answer: top 50cm of soil
⩥ what distinguishes PN clone 115?. Answer: low yield, small grapes,
good for high quality of red wines
⩥ what distinguishes PN clone 521?. Answer: high yield, bigger grapes,
good for sparkling wine production
⩥ When is leaf fall and dormancy?. Answer: Nov-March
⩥ When is budburst?. Answer: March-April
⩥ When is shoot and leaf growth?. Answer: March-July
⩥ When is flowering and fruit set?. Answer: May-June
⩥ When is grape development?. Answer: June-Oct
⩥ When is harvest?. Answer: Sept-Oct
, ⩥ How does the vine support itself during dormancy?. Answer: starch in
the roots, trunk, and branches
⩥ Below what temp can vines be severly damaged? die?. Answer: -15C,
-25C
⩥ What factors determine the timing of budburst?. Answer: - air temp
(>10C)
- soil temp (higher encourages earlier budburst)
- variety
- human factors (e.g. winter pruning late -> later budburst)
⩥ Why is high continentality good for budburst?. Answer: marked
differences in temp can result in uniform budburst
⩥ what determines the vigor of a vine?. Answer: rate of shoot growth
⩥ when does the fastest rate of shoot growth typically occur?. Answer:
between budburst and flowering
⩥ what could cause low carb levels in roots, trunk, and branches?.
Answer: - excessive leaf removal
- water stress
- high crop loads in prev season
