WSET Level 1 Quiz

What is Wine? An Alcoholic drink made from the fermented juice of freshly-picked grapes. What is Fermentation? Yeast feed on sugar, converting it into alcohol and carbon dioxide gas. 00:10 01:14 Types of wine. 1. Light wine 2. Sparkling wine 3. Fortified wine Light wines. • They are still (no bubbles) • 8-15% alcohol • Named after a region (old world) • Named after a grape variety (new world) Sparkling wines. • Carbon dioxide trapped (bubbles) • Champagne is the best known • Cava is made in Spain Fortified wines. • Extra alcohol added • 15-22% alcohol • E.g. Sherry (Spain) & Port (Portugal) Styles of wine. • Colour • Sweetness • Body • Oak • Tannins • Acidity Colour of wine. • Red Black grapes. Juice fermented in contact with skins • White Usually white grapes. Lighter & refreshing • Rosé Black grapes. Less skin contact. Level of Sweetness. • Yeast dies at 15% above • Remaining sugar will determine how sweet the wine is • Dry - Medium - Sweet Dry wines. • No sugar left during fermentation • Most wines are dry Examples of Dry wines. • White Sauvignong Blanc from NZ, Sherry from Spain & Brut Champagne from France • Red Chianti from Italy, Cabernet Sauvignon from California & Châteauneuf-du-Pape from France Medium wines. • Usually white or rosé wines • Winemaker either stops fermentation by removing yeast before all sugars are consumed or adds unfermented grape juice Examples of Medium wines. • Germany white wines (Riesling) • White Zinfandel (rosé) from California Sweet wines. • Wine made out of grapes rich in sugar, yeast dies before all sugars are consumed or yeast dies because of the addition of extra alcohol • Sweetness and acidiy must be balanced not cloying Examples of Sweet wines. • Sauternes from France • Port from Portugal What is Body? • The general feel of the wine in the mouth when you taste it • Light - Medium - Full Light bodied wine. • Refreshing and easy to drink • E.g. Pinot Grigio (Italy) & Beaujolais (France) Medium bodied wine. • Richer more substantial • Oak barrels extra texture • E.g. Merlot (Chile) & White Burgundy (France) Full bodied wine. • Powerful, concentrated and heavy • Ripen grapes & use of Oak barrels • E.g. Shiraz (Australia) & oaked Chardonnay (California) Oak. • Fermented or matured in oak barrels • Gives flavour, tannins & texture • White wine becomes buttery with vanilla flavour • Red wine becomes smoother with spicy character Tannins. • Found in black grape skins • Felt in teeth, gums and tongue • Mouth dry sensation • Provides structure and complexity • Help wines to mature Acidity. • Refreshing qualities • Mouth watering sensation • Too much acidity tart • Too little acidity flabby and flat • Helps wine to mature