WSET LEVEL 3 ASSESSMENT SHEET 2026
RESOLVED QUESTIONS EXAMINED ITEMS.
⫸ Diurnal Range. Answer: difference between the day time and night
time temperatures
⫸ spring frost mitigation. Answer: heaters placed through vineyard
wind machines
sprinklers
vineyard design - plant on slopes or trained high
⫸ water hazards. Answer: once a sufficient canopy has grown,
important to limit water to promote grape ripening rather than shoot
growth. this would leave less sugar for the grapes. also increases
canopy growth - more shade - less ripening.
droughts risk photosynthesis stopping, killing the vine
rainfall during flowring and fruitset can disrupt.
⫸ Pinot Noir Characteristics. Answer: color intensity: light
Tannins: low
Acidity: high
Flavour characteristics: strawberry, raspberry, red cherry
Burgundy - entry level - light, high acid, hint of oak. Cote D'Or have
intensity and complexity. Range from delicate and floral to tannic and
,spicy. cool vintage risk of vegetal notes like cabbage and wet leaves.
if too hot, jammy and unattractive.
Baden, Carneros, Sonoma, Martinborough, Marlborough, Central
Otago (NZ), Yarra Valley, Mornington Peninsula, Tasmania
(Australia), Walker Bay (South Africa), Casablanca Valley (Chile).
Pinot Noir can be amove 30F ferment to extract more flavor, color
and tannin.
⫸ Cabernet Sauvignon Characteristics. Answer: Colour intensity:
deep
Tannins: high
Acidity: high
Flavour characteristics: blackcurrant, black cherry, green bell pepper
thick skinned, late ripening. can be astringent and herbaceous if not
ripened fully
Haut Medoc: Grippy tannins in youth, cedar and black currant leaf.
(Merlot gives it smoother texture.
Italy, Spain, South of France - blended with indigineous grape
varieties
Napa, Margaret River, Hawke's Bay, Stellenbosch, Colchagua Valley -
warm, long bright sunlight ripens fruit
⫸ Merlot Characteristics. Answer: Colour intensity: medium -deep
Tannins: medium
Acidity: medium
Flavour characteristics: strawberry, red plum, red cherry
,ripens earlier than Cabernet
Two styles: New World: harvest as late as possible, intense purple
color, concentrated blackberry and plum, soft velvet texture , new oak
maturation
Bordeaux: harvest earlier, med body and alcohol, higher acid, fresh
red fruit, vegetal, leafy
⫸ Syrah/Shiraz Characteristics. Answer: Colour intensity :deep
Tannins: medium - high
Acidity: medium
Flavour characteristics: blackberry, black cherry. black pepper
Syrah can range from medium body with pepper and fresh black fruit
to smooth, fully body, ripe black fruit and liquorice.
Northern Rhone - coolest location. Cotie Rotie and Hermitage (south
facing) - fuller body, berry, pepper, notes of meat and leather after
aging.
Also known in Languedoc and ROussilon where its blended.
Hot regions: Hunter and Barossa valley produce soft earthy, spicy
styles with concentrate black fruit. Cooler regions like Geelong and
Heathcote produce leaner, more peppery styles. Chile, south Africa,
hawke's bay and Washington also known.
⫸ Grenache characteristics. Answer: Colour intensity: light-medium
Tannins: medium (soft)
Acidity: Low
Flavour characteristics: red fruit
, late ripening, needs hot climate. high tolerance for drought.
Priorat: blended with Carignan for color and tannin, fresh black fruit.
In Rioja: Planted in rioja Baja and blended with temperanillo.
contributes perfrume, body and alcohol. Also grown in Catalayud,
Carinena and Navarra.
Also used for rose.
Southern Rhone: most widely planted. Chateaneuf du Pape - blended
with Syrah and Mourvedre. rich texture and concentrated spicy fruit.
Barossa Valley & McClaren Vale: old bush vines give high
concentration, intense red berry and pepper.
⫸ Reisling Characteristics. Answer: Variety has cool climate success:
bud & ripen late
maintains acid as sugar rises
range of styles
bottle aging
Flavors: citrus, stone fruit, petrol, honey, botrytis
Aromatic White
⫸ Gewurztraminer Characteristics. Answer: Unique Variety
pink skin
gold color wine
high alcohol
residual sugar?
oily, full body
RESOLVED QUESTIONS EXAMINED ITEMS.
⫸ Diurnal Range. Answer: difference between the day time and night
time temperatures
⫸ spring frost mitigation. Answer: heaters placed through vineyard
wind machines
sprinklers
vineyard design - plant on slopes or trained high
⫸ water hazards. Answer: once a sufficient canopy has grown,
important to limit water to promote grape ripening rather than shoot
growth. this would leave less sugar for the grapes. also increases
canopy growth - more shade - less ripening.
droughts risk photosynthesis stopping, killing the vine
rainfall during flowring and fruitset can disrupt.
⫸ Pinot Noir Characteristics. Answer: color intensity: light
Tannins: low
Acidity: high
Flavour characteristics: strawberry, raspberry, red cherry
Burgundy - entry level - light, high acid, hint of oak. Cote D'Or have
intensity and complexity. Range from delicate and floral to tannic and
,spicy. cool vintage risk of vegetal notes like cabbage and wet leaves.
if too hot, jammy and unattractive.
Baden, Carneros, Sonoma, Martinborough, Marlborough, Central
Otago (NZ), Yarra Valley, Mornington Peninsula, Tasmania
(Australia), Walker Bay (South Africa), Casablanca Valley (Chile).
Pinot Noir can be amove 30F ferment to extract more flavor, color
and tannin.
⫸ Cabernet Sauvignon Characteristics. Answer: Colour intensity:
deep
Tannins: high
Acidity: high
Flavour characteristics: blackcurrant, black cherry, green bell pepper
thick skinned, late ripening. can be astringent and herbaceous if not
ripened fully
Haut Medoc: Grippy tannins in youth, cedar and black currant leaf.
(Merlot gives it smoother texture.
Italy, Spain, South of France - blended with indigineous grape
varieties
Napa, Margaret River, Hawke's Bay, Stellenbosch, Colchagua Valley -
warm, long bright sunlight ripens fruit
⫸ Merlot Characteristics. Answer: Colour intensity: medium -deep
Tannins: medium
Acidity: medium
Flavour characteristics: strawberry, red plum, red cherry
,ripens earlier than Cabernet
Two styles: New World: harvest as late as possible, intense purple
color, concentrated blackberry and plum, soft velvet texture , new oak
maturation
Bordeaux: harvest earlier, med body and alcohol, higher acid, fresh
red fruit, vegetal, leafy
⫸ Syrah/Shiraz Characteristics. Answer: Colour intensity :deep
Tannins: medium - high
Acidity: medium
Flavour characteristics: blackberry, black cherry. black pepper
Syrah can range from medium body with pepper and fresh black fruit
to smooth, fully body, ripe black fruit and liquorice.
Northern Rhone - coolest location. Cotie Rotie and Hermitage (south
facing) - fuller body, berry, pepper, notes of meat and leather after
aging.
Also known in Languedoc and ROussilon where its blended.
Hot regions: Hunter and Barossa valley produce soft earthy, spicy
styles with concentrate black fruit. Cooler regions like Geelong and
Heathcote produce leaner, more peppery styles. Chile, south Africa,
hawke's bay and Washington also known.
⫸ Grenache characteristics. Answer: Colour intensity: light-medium
Tannins: medium (soft)
Acidity: Low
Flavour characteristics: red fruit
, late ripening, needs hot climate. high tolerance for drought.
Priorat: blended with Carignan for color and tannin, fresh black fruit.
In Rioja: Planted in rioja Baja and blended with temperanillo.
contributes perfrume, body and alcohol. Also grown in Catalayud,
Carinena and Navarra.
Also used for rose.
Southern Rhone: most widely planted. Chateaneuf du Pape - blended
with Syrah and Mourvedre. rich texture and concentrated spicy fruit.
Barossa Valley & McClaren Vale: old bush vines give high
concentration, intense red berry and pepper.
⫸ Reisling Characteristics. Answer: Variety has cool climate success:
bud & ripen late
maintains acid as sugar rises
range of styles
bottle aging
Flavors: citrus, stone fruit, petrol, honey, botrytis
Aromatic White
⫸ Gewurztraminer Characteristics. Answer: Unique Variety
pink skin
gold color wine
high alcohol
residual sugar?
oily, full body
