WSET Level 3 Exam Questions with
correct Answers
The wine tastes more drying and bitter, more acidic. Less sweet and fruity.
ANSWERS What effect does a sweet food have on wine?
Since sweet food can dull the taste of a wine (losing its fruit and becoming unpleasantly
acidic), a good general rule is to select a wine with a higher level of sweetness.
ANSWERS What type of wine should you pair with sweet food?
Increases the perception of bitterness, astringency, acidity and alcohol burn in the wine.
It also decreases the perception of body, sweetness, and fruitiness of the wine.
ANSWERS What effect does umami food have on wine?
Pair with low tannin, lower alcohol red wines without (or limited) oak character. Crisp
whites with minimal oak and lower alcohol also work well. ANSWERS What type
of wine should you pair with umami food?
Salt will increase the perception of body in a wine and decrease astringency, bitterness
and acidity. ANSWERS What effect does salty food have on wine?
Torrontes ANSWERS What is the dominant grape of the Cafayate Region?
Catamarca is very arid and so much of the production is pest-free and organic.
ANSWERS Is Catamarca a wet or dry region? How does this impact the wines
produced?
Famatina ANSWERS To avoid confusion with the Rioja region of Spain, what
labelling term is used for Argentinian wines from the La Rioja province?
1) Torrontes
2) Bonarda
3) Syrah ANSWERS What three grape varieties dominate in the La Rioja
Province?
Fruity and rich (less bitter. less alcoholic) ANSWERS Salty foods will make a
tannic, alcoholic red wine taste more ......... ?
,Acid in food will increase the perception of body, sweetness, and fruitiness in wine. It
will also decrease the perception of acid in a wine. ANSWERS What effect does
acidic food have on wine?
It's a good rule of thumb to pair high acid food with high acid wine (as wines can appear
flat and flabby if the acid of the wine is overwhelmed by the food). ANSWERS
What type of wine should be paired with acidic food?
Bitterness in food increases the bitterness in wine. ANSWERS What effect does
bitter food have on wine?
The wine can be overwhelmed by the food flavors. ANSWERS What effect does
highly flavored food have on wine?
Pair with wines of similar intensity or flavors. ANSWERS What type of wine should
be paired with highly flavored food?
It makes the wine appear less acidic. ANSWERS What effect does fatty/oily food
have on wine?
Pair with wines of high levels of acidity. ANSWERS What type of wine should be
paired with highly fatty/oily food?
In 2009 ANSWERS When did the European Union change it's wine laws?
1) Protected Designation of Origen (PDO)
2) Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) ANSWERS What are the two labelling
terms of EU wines with a geographical indication?
Apellation d'Origine Controlee (AC or AOC) ANSWERS What term is used to
delineate a PDO wine from France?
Vin de Pays (VdP) or Indication Geographique Protegee (IGP). IGP has appeared on
many wine labels begining with the 2009 vintage. ANSWERS What term is used
to delineate a PGI wine from France?
Vin de France ANSWERS What term is used to delineate a wine in France without
any geographical indication?
Located in south-west France, Bordeaux has a moderate/maritime climate.
ANSWERS What is the location and climate of Bordeaux?
Stone/Gravel ANSWERS What type of soil is found in the Medoc, Haut-Medoc,
and Graves regions of Bordeaux?
,Clay with limestone subsoil ANSWERS What type of soil is found in the St-Emilion
and Pomeral regions of Bordeaux?
1) Merlot
2) Cabernet Sauvignon
3) Cabernet
4) Malbec
5) Petit Verdot
6) Carmenere ANSWERS What are the 6 main black grape varieties of Bordeaux
(in order of most to least vineyard acreage)?
1) Semillon
2) Sauvignon Blanc
3) Muscadelle ANSWERS What are the 3 main white grapes of Bordeaux (in order
of most to least vineyard acreage)?
High-density planting ANSWERS Are there high or low density plantings in
Bordeaux?
Lower yields for higher-quality wines ANSWERS Do the higher quality wines of
Bordeaux experience lower or higher yields?
1) Ripening Grapes
2) Fungal disease ANSWERS What are two key vineyard challenges in
Bordeaux?
Machine harvesting. The gentle sloping vineyards of Bordeaux are suitable for machine
harvesting. ANSWERS What type of harvesting is used throughout Bordeaux?
Hand-picking is typical for grapes affected by noble rot used for sweet wine production
(Sauternes, Barsac, etc) ANSWERS For what type of wine style is hand-
harvesting required in Bordeaux?
Grape varieties are fermented separately and blended after fermentation.
ANSWERS For Bordeaux red winemaking, are the grape varieties fermented
separately or together?
In wooden vats or in new or used oak barriques (225 liters) ANSWERS What is
Bordeaux red wine typically matured in?
They are made ready-to-drink with a high proportion of Merlot in the blend, matured in a
vat with no new oak. ANSWERS In Bordeaux, how are inexpensive red wines
typically produced?
Higher-priced wines use traditional fermentation and have a higher proportion of new
oak for maturation; these wines will need maturing in bottle for several years.
, ANSWERS In Bordeaux winemaking, how are higher-priced red wines typically
produced?
Typically, stainless steel for a short period of time so that it can retain the varietal
characteristics. ANSWERS How is dry Sauvignon Blanc typically aged in
Bordeaux?
Yes, oak is often used to ferment and/or mature blends of dry Semillon/Sauvignon
Blanc wines (ie Pessac-Leognan). It is also used in the production of sweet wines of
Bordeaux. ANSWERS Is oak ever used to mature white wine in Bordeaux?
red, white, and rose ANSWERS What types of wines are produced under the
Generic Bordeaux AC?
1) St Estephe
2) Pauillac
3) St Julien
4) Margaux ANSWERS What are the 4 famous regions producing red wines in the
Haut-Medoc from north to south?
1) Blaye
2) Cadillac
3) Castillon
4) Francs ANSWERS Name 4 appellations that can put their name in front of the
term Cotes de Bordeaux for greater recognition.
1) Entre-Deux-Mers
2) Graves
3) Pessac-Leognan ANSWERS What are 3 premium dry white wine regions of
Bordeaux?
1) Sauternes
2) Barsac ANSWERS What are 2 sweet white wine regions of Bordeaux?
Undisturbed in a cool dark place with a constant temperature, ideally around 10-15 C
(50-59 F). There should also be constant humidity, and wines sealed with a cork should
be stored on their side. ANSWERS What are the ideal conditions for longer term
storage of wines that improve with age?
Vertical 'basket' press where the pressure on the grapes comes from above using a
plate that is lowered or raised using a screw or lever. ANSWERS What is the
traditional type of wine press used and explain how it works.
Similar to Bordeaux but with less maritime influence. ANSWERS What is the
climate of southwest France?
correct Answers
The wine tastes more drying and bitter, more acidic. Less sweet and fruity.
ANSWERS What effect does a sweet food have on wine?
Since sweet food can dull the taste of a wine (losing its fruit and becoming unpleasantly
acidic), a good general rule is to select a wine with a higher level of sweetness.
ANSWERS What type of wine should you pair with sweet food?
Increases the perception of bitterness, astringency, acidity and alcohol burn in the wine.
It also decreases the perception of body, sweetness, and fruitiness of the wine.
ANSWERS What effect does umami food have on wine?
Pair with low tannin, lower alcohol red wines without (or limited) oak character. Crisp
whites with minimal oak and lower alcohol also work well. ANSWERS What type
of wine should you pair with umami food?
Salt will increase the perception of body in a wine and decrease astringency, bitterness
and acidity. ANSWERS What effect does salty food have on wine?
Torrontes ANSWERS What is the dominant grape of the Cafayate Region?
Catamarca is very arid and so much of the production is pest-free and organic.
ANSWERS Is Catamarca a wet or dry region? How does this impact the wines
produced?
Famatina ANSWERS To avoid confusion with the Rioja region of Spain, what
labelling term is used for Argentinian wines from the La Rioja province?
1) Torrontes
2) Bonarda
3) Syrah ANSWERS What three grape varieties dominate in the La Rioja
Province?
Fruity and rich (less bitter. less alcoholic) ANSWERS Salty foods will make a
tannic, alcoholic red wine taste more ......... ?
,Acid in food will increase the perception of body, sweetness, and fruitiness in wine. It
will also decrease the perception of acid in a wine. ANSWERS What effect does
acidic food have on wine?
It's a good rule of thumb to pair high acid food with high acid wine (as wines can appear
flat and flabby if the acid of the wine is overwhelmed by the food). ANSWERS
What type of wine should be paired with acidic food?
Bitterness in food increases the bitterness in wine. ANSWERS What effect does
bitter food have on wine?
The wine can be overwhelmed by the food flavors. ANSWERS What effect does
highly flavored food have on wine?
Pair with wines of similar intensity or flavors. ANSWERS What type of wine should
be paired with highly flavored food?
It makes the wine appear less acidic. ANSWERS What effect does fatty/oily food
have on wine?
Pair with wines of high levels of acidity. ANSWERS What type of wine should be
paired with highly fatty/oily food?
In 2009 ANSWERS When did the European Union change it's wine laws?
1) Protected Designation of Origen (PDO)
2) Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) ANSWERS What are the two labelling
terms of EU wines with a geographical indication?
Apellation d'Origine Controlee (AC or AOC) ANSWERS What term is used to
delineate a PDO wine from France?
Vin de Pays (VdP) or Indication Geographique Protegee (IGP). IGP has appeared on
many wine labels begining with the 2009 vintage. ANSWERS What term is used
to delineate a PGI wine from France?
Vin de France ANSWERS What term is used to delineate a wine in France without
any geographical indication?
Located in south-west France, Bordeaux has a moderate/maritime climate.
ANSWERS What is the location and climate of Bordeaux?
Stone/Gravel ANSWERS What type of soil is found in the Medoc, Haut-Medoc,
and Graves regions of Bordeaux?
,Clay with limestone subsoil ANSWERS What type of soil is found in the St-Emilion
and Pomeral regions of Bordeaux?
1) Merlot
2) Cabernet Sauvignon
3) Cabernet
4) Malbec
5) Petit Verdot
6) Carmenere ANSWERS What are the 6 main black grape varieties of Bordeaux
(in order of most to least vineyard acreage)?
1) Semillon
2) Sauvignon Blanc
3) Muscadelle ANSWERS What are the 3 main white grapes of Bordeaux (in order
of most to least vineyard acreage)?
High-density planting ANSWERS Are there high or low density plantings in
Bordeaux?
Lower yields for higher-quality wines ANSWERS Do the higher quality wines of
Bordeaux experience lower or higher yields?
1) Ripening Grapes
2) Fungal disease ANSWERS What are two key vineyard challenges in
Bordeaux?
Machine harvesting. The gentle sloping vineyards of Bordeaux are suitable for machine
harvesting. ANSWERS What type of harvesting is used throughout Bordeaux?
Hand-picking is typical for grapes affected by noble rot used for sweet wine production
(Sauternes, Barsac, etc) ANSWERS For what type of wine style is hand-
harvesting required in Bordeaux?
Grape varieties are fermented separately and blended after fermentation.
ANSWERS For Bordeaux red winemaking, are the grape varieties fermented
separately or together?
In wooden vats or in new or used oak barriques (225 liters) ANSWERS What is
Bordeaux red wine typically matured in?
They are made ready-to-drink with a high proportion of Merlot in the blend, matured in a
vat with no new oak. ANSWERS In Bordeaux, how are inexpensive red wines
typically produced?
Higher-priced wines use traditional fermentation and have a higher proportion of new
oak for maturation; these wines will need maturing in bottle for several years.
, ANSWERS In Bordeaux winemaking, how are higher-priced red wines typically
produced?
Typically, stainless steel for a short period of time so that it can retain the varietal
characteristics. ANSWERS How is dry Sauvignon Blanc typically aged in
Bordeaux?
Yes, oak is often used to ferment and/or mature blends of dry Semillon/Sauvignon
Blanc wines (ie Pessac-Leognan). It is also used in the production of sweet wines of
Bordeaux. ANSWERS Is oak ever used to mature white wine in Bordeaux?
red, white, and rose ANSWERS What types of wines are produced under the
Generic Bordeaux AC?
1) St Estephe
2) Pauillac
3) St Julien
4) Margaux ANSWERS What are the 4 famous regions producing red wines in the
Haut-Medoc from north to south?
1) Blaye
2) Cadillac
3) Castillon
4) Francs ANSWERS Name 4 appellations that can put their name in front of the
term Cotes de Bordeaux for greater recognition.
1) Entre-Deux-Mers
2) Graves
3) Pessac-Leognan ANSWERS What are 3 premium dry white wine regions of
Bordeaux?
1) Sauternes
2) Barsac ANSWERS What are 2 sweet white wine regions of Bordeaux?
Undisturbed in a cool dark place with a constant temperature, ideally around 10-15 C
(50-59 F). There should also be constant humidity, and wines sealed with a cork should
be stored on their side. ANSWERS What are the ideal conditions for longer term
storage of wines that improve with age?
Vertical 'basket' press where the pressure on the grapes comes from above using a
plate that is lowered or raised using a screw or lever. ANSWERS What is the
traditional type of wine press used and explain how it works.
Similar to Bordeaux but with less maritime influence. ANSWERS What is the
climate of southwest France?
