WSET LEVEL 1 ACTUAL FINAL PAPER QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS GRADED A+
✔✔When can a grape be considered ripe? - ✔✔When the level of acid drops and the
level of sugar increases. In black grapes the skin colour changes from green to red to
dep purple.
✔✔How would taste a wine made from unripe grapes? - ✔✔Thin and sour. Too acidic.
✔✔How would taste a wine made from over ripe grapes? - ✔✔Over alcoholic, flabby
and lacking balance.
✔✔What is the importance of climate? - ✔✔It can gives us an idea of the expected
temperature and weather conditions in a region and how it will affect the grapes and
therefore the wine produced in those regions.
✔✔*Cool* climate. - ✔✔• Mainly white grapes
• High in acidity
• Lower in alcohol
• Refreshing and crisp
• E.g. North of France and Germany
✔✔*Hot* climate. - ✔✔• Mainly red grapes
• High in alcohol
• Rich in flavour
• E.g. South of France, Central Spain and Australia
✔✔What is *Climate*? - ✔✔The amount os sunlight and heat that a region normaly
gets.
✔✔Which are considered the *Noble* grape varieties? - ✔✔1. Chardonnay
2. Sauvignon Blanc
3. Riesling
4. Cabernet Sauvignon
5. Merlot
6. Pinot Noir
7. Syrah/Shiraz
✔✔*Chardonnay* profile. - ✔✔• Dry
• Full bodied
• Rich creamy texture
• Cool region: green fruits, citrus high acidity
• Hot region: Stone fruits, tropical fruits
• It can spend time in oak ➜ spice & vanilla
, ✔✔Famous *Chardonnays*. - ✔✔• Chablis (France)
• Champagne (France)
• California
✔✔*Sauvignon Blanc* profile. - ✔✔• Dry
• Light to medium bodied
• Refreshing high acidity
• Green fruits and herbaceaous flavours
✔✔Famous *Sauvignon Blancs*. - ✔✔• New Zealand
• Sancerre (Loire-France)
• Pouilly Fume (Loire-France)
✔✔*Riesling* profile. - ✔✔• Dry to sweet
• Light to medium bodied
• High acidity
• Intensily fruity
• Stone fruits, citrus, floral & petrol (mature) flavours
• Suitable for ageing
✔✔Famous *Rieslings*. - ✔✔• Alsace (France)
• Mosel (Germany)
• Australia
✔✔How does *ageing* affect red wines? - ✔✔• Soften tannins
• Allows wines to gain complexity
• Develops aromas of leaves and mushroom
✔✔*Cabernet Sauvignon* profile. - ✔✔• Dry
• Medium to full bodied
• High acidity
• High tannins, deeply coloured
• Black fruits & herbaceous flavours
• Oaked ➜ spice & vanilla
• Often blended
✔✔Which other varieties are blended with Cabernet Sauvignon? - ✔✔• Merlot
(Bordeaux)
• Shiraz (Australia-California)
✔✔*Merlot* profile. - ✔✔• Dry
• Full bodied
• Medium acidity
• Low to medium tannins
• Red fruits and black fruits flavours
ANSWERS GRADED A+
✔✔When can a grape be considered ripe? - ✔✔When the level of acid drops and the
level of sugar increases. In black grapes the skin colour changes from green to red to
dep purple.
✔✔How would taste a wine made from unripe grapes? - ✔✔Thin and sour. Too acidic.
✔✔How would taste a wine made from over ripe grapes? - ✔✔Over alcoholic, flabby
and lacking balance.
✔✔What is the importance of climate? - ✔✔It can gives us an idea of the expected
temperature and weather conditions in a region and how it will affect the grapes and
therefore the wine produced in those regions.
✔✔*Cool* climate. - ✔✔• Mainly white grapes
• High in acidity
• Lower in alcohol
• Refreshing and crisp
• E.g. North of France and Germany
✔✔*Hot* climate. - ✔✔• Mainly red grapes
• High in alcohol
• Rich in flavour
• E.g. South of France, Central Spain and Australia
✔✔What is *Climate*? - ✔✔The amount os sunlight and heat that a region normaly
gets.
✔✔Which are considered the *Noble* grape varieties? - ✔✔1. Chardonnay
2. Sauvignon Blanc
3. Riesling
4. Cabernet Sauvignon
5. Merlot
6. Pinot Noir
7. Syrah/Shiraz
✔✔*Chardonnay* profile. - ✔✔• Dry
• Full bodied
• Rich creamy texture
• Cool region: green fruits, citrus high acidity
• Hot region: Stone fruits, tropical fruits
• It can spend time in oak ➜ spice & vanilla
, ✔✔Famous *Chardonnays*. - ✔✔• Chablis (France)
• Champagne (France)
• California
✔✔*Sauvignon Blanc* profile. - ✔✔• Dry
• Light to medium bodied
• Refreshing high acidity
• Green fruits and herbaceaous flavours
✔✔Famous *Sauvignon Blancs*. - ✔✔• New Zealand
• Sancerre (Loire-France)
• Pouilly Fume (Loire-France)
✔✔*Riesling* profile. - ✔✔• Dry to sweet
• Light to medium bodied
• High acidity
• Intensily fruity
• Stone fruits, citrus, floral & petrol (mature) flavours
• Suitable for ageing
✔✔Famous *Rieslings*. - ✔✔• Alsace (France)
• Mosel (Germany)
• Australia
✔✔How does *ageing* affect red wines? - ✔✔• Soften tannins
• Allows wines to gain complexity
• Develops aromas of leaves and mushroom
✔✔*Cabernet Sauvignon* profile. - ✔✔• Dry
• Medium to full bodied
• High acidity
• High tannins, deeply coloured
• Black fruits & herbaceous flavours
• Oaked ➜ spice & vanilla
• Often blended
✔✔Which other varieties are blended with Cabernet Sauvignon? - ✔✔• Merlot
(Bordeaux)
• Shiraz (Australia-California)
✔✔*Merlot* profile. - ✔✔• Dry
• Full bodied
• Medium acidity
• Low to medium tannins
• Red fruits and black fruits flavours
