WSET LEVEL 2 PRACTICAL COMPREHENSIVE TEST
PREPARATION GUIDE EXAM PREP
• What is Tank Method? -✓✓ part of fermentation takes place in sealed tank, which
prevents any carbon dioxide gas from escaping
• True or False: The base wine could be partially fermented must, where the last part of
the fermentation takes place in a sealed tank -✓✓ True
• What is Prosecco? -✓✓ A sparkling wine from NE Italy, and it's usually made using the
tank method
• What grape variety is used for Prosecco? -✓✓ The Glera grape, which gives a medium
body, dry or off dry sparkling wine with stone fruit flavor
• What does Spumante mean? -✓✓ fully sparkling wine
• What does frizzante mean? -✓✓ lightly sparkling wine
• What is Conegliano-Valdobbiadene DOCG? -✓✓ a premier sparking wine from NE
Italy
• What is Asti DOCG? -✓✓ a sweet fruity light bodied sparkling wine from Piedmont,
and it's made from Muscat
Flavors: peach, grape, rose
• What is Sekt? -✓✓ German word for sparkling wine, both made in Germany and
Austria
• What are characteristics of Sekt? -✓✓ Most are simple, inexpensive tank-method wine
Medium/Dry, light in body, floral and fruity
Generally uses cheap base wines sourced from anywhere in the EU
• What is the main quality advantage of Bottled Fermentation? -✓✓ Through extended
contact with dead yeast, the wines can gain bready, biscuity flavors
• What is a base wine? -✓✓ A still wine that is blended with sugar and yeast and then
bottled, sealed and stored.
,• What is second fermentation? -✓✓ Takes place, in which the wine increases slightly in
alcohol, and CO2, which cannot escape from the sealed bottle, becomes dissolved in
the wine.
• What is yeast autolysis? -✓✓ Most important part of bottle fermentation. The yeast self
digest, release flavours into the wine. Flavours are described as autolytic.
• What is disgorge? -✓✓ The process of removing the yeast sediments after
fermentation and aging in bottle.
• What is the traditional method? -✓✓ Bottle is slowly tipped and jiggled so the yeast
cells slide into the neck of the bottle. The plug of yeast in the neck is frozen, and pops
out when the bottle is unsealed. The bottle is topped up with wine and sugar.
• What is dosage? -✓✓ The amount of sugar added, which determines the sweetness of
the final bottled product.
• What is Brut? -✓✓ A very small amount of sugar is used
• What is the transfer method? -✓✓ Method to remove the yeast. Empty the entire
contents of the bottles into a tank under pressure, then filtered, and rebottled. Not
permitted in Champagne or Cava.
• Which grape varieties are used in Champagne to make sparkling wine? -✓✓ Pinot
Noir, Meunier, Chardonnay
• What is Champagne's condition like? -✓✓ Cool climate, chalky soils, which allow
sparkling wines to have high acidity, medium body, and light alcohol. The weather
varies from vintage to vintage, and the grapes do not fully ripen.
• What are non-vintage wines? -✓✓ a blend of different vintages for quality and
consistency
• What is vintage Champagne? -✓✓ A portion of the best wine of exceptional years
make vintage Champagne.
• What is the minimum legal period of yeast autolysis? -✓✓ 15 months
• What are Grandes Marques? -✓✓ famous Champagne houses
• Describe Vintage Champagne -✓✓ Complex, intense fruity and autolytic flavors with
vegetal, nutty or honeyed complexity from bottle age.
, • What is Cremant? -✓✓ Indicates sparkling wine made using the traditional method.
The Loire / Saumur is a major region for production. (Chenin Blanc)
• Where in the Loire Valley is Cremant made? -✓✓ Saumur, where Chenin Blanc is the
main grape variety. It has high acidity, green and citrus fruit flavors, with some autolytic
character.
• What is Cava? -✓✓ Spanish term for traditional-method sparkling wines. The main
grape varieties are local Spanish ones.
• What are Cava's characteristics? -✓✓ Fairly neutral fruit flavors, hint of pear, medium
acidity, and very little autolytic complexity
• Characteristics of Sparkling Reds in Australia? -✓✓ made with Shiraz, full bodied, with
medium acidity, and intense black and red berry fruit notes.
• What are 3 ways for yeast to stop processing sugar into alcohol? -✓✓ 1. Remove
yeast, using a fine filter to ensure none remain
2.Yeast could be poisoned using sulfur dioxide
3. Fortify (add alcohol) during fermentation
• What are Vin Doux Naturels? -✓✓ Sweet fortified wines from Southern France such
as:
Muscat de Beaumes de Venise
Muscat de Rivesaltes
• What are characterisitcs of Muscat de Beaumes de Venise and Muscat de Rivesaltes?
-✓✓ unaged, intense fruity aromas (grape, peach, perfume). Medium/full-bodied, and
sweet, with high alcohol and medium or low acidity
• Where is Moscatel de Valencia from? -✓✓ Spain
• Where is Rutherglen Muscat from? -✓✓ Northern Victoria, Australia
• What are the tasting notes for Rutherglen Muscat? -✓✓ Aged for a long period in oak,
which oxydizes. Dried fruit and kernel flavors (raisin, prune, fig, dried apricot, coffee,
toffee). Sweet, full bodied, with high alcohol and med or low acidity
• What is süssreserve? -✓✓ unfermented grape juice, used to sweeten medium or
sweet German wines
• When do yeasts die? -✓✓ When alcohol reaches 15%
• What are 3 ways to concentrate sugar in grapes? -✓✓ 1. Dry the grapes
PREPARATION GUIDE EXAM PREP
• What is Tank Method? -✓✓ part of fermentation takes place in sealed tank, which
prevents any carbon dioxide gas from escaping
• True or False: The base wine could be partially fermented must, where the last part of
the fermentation takes place in a sealed tank -✓✓ True
• What is Prosecco? -✓✓ A sparkling wine from NE Italy, and it's usually made using the
tank method
• What grape variety is used for Prosecco? -✓✓ The Glera grape, which gives a medium
body, dry or off dry sparkling wine with stone fruit flavor
• What does Spumante mean? -✓✓ fully sparkling wine
• What does frizzante mean? -✓✓ lightly sparkling wine
• What is Conegliano-Valdobbiadene DOCG? -✓✓ a premier sparking wine from NE
Italy
• What is Asti DOCG? -✓✓ a sweet fruity light bodied sparkling wine from Piedmont,
and it's made from Muscat
Flavors: peach, grape, rose
• What is Sekt? -✓✓ German word for sparkling wine, both made in Germany and
Austria
• What are characteristics of Sekt? -✓✓ Most are simple, inexpensive tank-method wine
Medium/Dry, light in body, floral and fruity
Generally uses cheap base wines sourced from anywhere in the EU
• What is the main quality advantage of Bottled Fermentation? -✓✓ Through extended
contact with dead yeast, the wines can gain bready, biscuity flavors
• What is a base wine? -✓✓ A still wine that is blended with sugar and yeast and then
bottled, sealed and stored.
,• What is second fermentation? -✓✓ Takes place, in which the wine increases slightly in
alcohol, and CO2, which cannot escape from the sealed bottle, becomes dissolved in
the wine.
• What is yeast autolysis? -✓✓ Most important part of bottle fermentation. The yeast self
digest, release flavours into the wine. Flavours are described as autolytic.
• What is disgorge? -✓✓ The process of removing the yeast sediments after
fermentation and aging in bottle.
• What is the traditional method? -✓✓ Bottle is slowly tipped and jiggled so the yeast
cells slide into the neck of the bottle. The plug of yeast in the neck is frozen, and pops
out when the bottle is unsealed. The bottle is topped up with wine and sugar.
• What is dosage? -✓✓ The amount of sugar added, which determines the sweetness of
the final bottled product.
• What is Brut? -✓✓ A very small amount of sugar is used
• What is the transfer method? -✓✓ Method to remove the yeast. Empty the entire
contents of the bottles into a tank under pressure, then filtered, and rebottled. Not
permitted in Champagne or Cava.
• Which grape varieties are used in Champagne to make sparkling wine? -✓✓ Pinot
Noir, Meunier, Chardonnay
• What is Champagne's condition like? -✓✓ Cool climate, chalky soils, which allow
sparkling wines to have high acidity, medium body, and light alcohol. The weather
varies from vintage to vintage, and the grapes do not fully ripen.
• What are non-vintage wines? -✓✓ a blend of different vintages for quality and
consistency
• What is vintage Champagne? -✓✓ A portion of the best wine of exceptional years
make vintage Champagne.
• What is the minimum legal period of yeast autolysis? -✓✓ 15 months
• What are Grandes Marques? -✓✓ famous Champagne houses
• Describe Vintage Champagne -✓✓ Complex, intense fruity and autolytic flavors with
vegetal, nutty or honeyed complexity from bottle age.
, • What is Cremant? -✓✓ Indicates sparkling wine made using the traditional method.
The Loire / Saumur is a major region for production. (Chenin Blanc)
• Where in the Loire Valley is Cremant made? -✓✓ Saumur, where Chenin Blanc is the
main grape variety. It has high acidity, green and citrus fruit flavors, with some autolytic
character.
• What is Cava? -✓✓ Spanish term for traditional-method sparkling wines. The main
grape varieties are local Spanish ones.
• What are Cava's characteristics? -✓✓ Fairly neutral fruit flavors, hint of pear, medium
acidity, and very little autolytic complexity
• Characteristics of Sparkling Reds in Australia? -✓✓ made with Shiraz, full bodied, with
medium acidity, and intense black and red berry fruit notes.
• What are 3 ways for yeast to stop processing sugar into alcohol? -✓✓ 1. Remove
yeast, using a fine filter to ensure none remain
2.Yeast could be poisoned using sulfur dioxide
3. Fortify (add alcohol) during fermentation
• What are Vin Doux Naturels? -✓✓ Sweet fortified wines from Southern France such
as:
Muscat de Beaumes de Venise
Muscat de Rivesaltes
• What are characterisitcs of Muscat de Beaumes de Venise and Muscat de Rivesaltes?
-✓✓ unaged, intense fruity aromas (grape, peach, perfume). Medium/full-bodied, and
sweet, with high alcohol and medium or low acidity
• Where is Moscatel de Valencia from? -✓✓ Spain
• Where is Rutherglen Muscat from? -✓✓ Northern Victoria, Australia
• What are the tasting notes for Rutherglen Muscat? -✓✓ Aged for a long period in oak,
which oxydizes. Dried fruit and kernel flavors (raisin, prune, fig, dried apricot, coffee,
toffee). Sweet, full bodied, with high alcohol and med or low acidity
• What is süssreserve? -✓✓ unfermented grape juice, used to sweeten medium or
sweet German wines
• When do yeasts die? -✓✓ When alcohol reaches 15%
• What are 3 ways to concentrate sugar in grapes? -✓✓ 1. Dry the grapes
