WSET LEVEL 2 EXAM QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS (GRADED A+) DEFINITE
PASS
Ideal temperature to serve sweet wines? - Answer-Well chilled, 6-8C (43-45F)
Ideal temperature to serve sparkling wines? - Answer-Well chilled, 6-10C (43-50F)
Ideal temperature to serve light bodied reds? - Answer-Lightly chilled 13C (55F)
Ideal temperature to serve medium to full bodied reds? - Answer-Room temperature
(UK room temp, not California), 15-18C (59-64F)
Main factors that determine how a wine will taste? - Answer-Grape variety used,
environment in which it is grown, the care with which they are grown and harvested,
how wine is made and how it is matured.
Grape seeds contain... - Answer-Bitter oils and tannins.
Grape pulp contains... - Answer-Sugar, water and acid.
Grape stalks are used in some whole cluster pressing to give some... - Answer-Tannins.
Grape skins contain... - Answer-Tannins and color.
Vine needs what four major inputs to thrive? - Answer-Sunlight, water, warmth and
nutrients.
Nutrient poor soils produce what kind of grape? - Answer-A better quality grape. Vines
need nutrients but only in trace amounts.
Character of grapes grown in hot climate - Answer-Higher sugar, more alcohol, less
acidity, fuller body, more tannin.
Character of grapes grown in cool climate - Answer-Lower sugar, less alcohol, more
acidity, light to medium body, low tannin.
Why are Mexico and India able to have winegrowing regions outside of the
Mediterranean band? - Answer-Vineyards are at high altitude, altitude effects climate.
Napa would be too hot to grow quality grapes without this influence. - Answer-Humboldt
current in the Pacific from Alaska bringing cold water to San Pablo Bay.
, In spring, tender shoots are susceptible to frost. How can we mitigate frost in the
vineyard? - Answer-Fans and aspirators.
Three main effects on climate. - Answer-Latitude, altitude and the sea.
Comment on "aspect" of a vineyard - Answer-Slopes can maximize exposure to sunlight
and warmth.
Comment on "nutrients" in soil - Answer-Low is best, from an evolutionary point as a
vine is stressed it will focus on propagation, its fruit.
Comment on "drainage" in soil - Answer-Best soils are well drained, gravel doesn't
retain moisture.
Comment on "stones" in the vineyard - Answer-high stone content can help reflect heat
back to the vine.
What pests can be a problem for a vineyard? - Answer-Birds, insects, phylloxera (can
be mitigated with rootstock), sharp shooters, nematodes...
What fungal problems can affect a vineyard? - Answer-Rot and mildews.
What long term diseases can affect a vineyard? - Answer-Viruses and bacteria. These
can, over time, limit ripening and eventually the vineyard will have to be pulled out and
started over.
White and rose wines are fermented at these low temperatures, typically... - Answer-12-
22C (54-72F).
Red wines are fermented at these temperatures, typically... - Answer-20-32C (68-90F).
Rose begins fermentation on the skins and finishes fermentation off of them. What
range of time spent on the skins is typical? - Answer-12-36 hours.
What purpose to use neutral oak vs. steel? - Answer-Oak will give maturation with
micro-oxygenation, softening tannins and giving flavors of toffee, fig, hazelnut and
coffee.
Two ways to mature wine without oxygen - Answer-Steel tanks and in bottle.
Factors in the vineyard affecting cost - Answer-Cost of land, degree to which work is
mechanized, labor, equipment, yield.
Factors in the winery affecting cost - Answer-Equipment, efficiency, barrels, building,
storage (aging)
ANSWERS (GRADED A+) DEFINITE
PASS
Ideal temperature to serve sweet wines? - Answer-Well chilled, 6-8C (43-45F)
Ideal temperature to serve sparkling wines? - Answer-Well chilled, 6-10C (43-50F)
Ideal temperature to serve light bodied reds? - Answer-Lightly chilled 13C (55F)
Ideal temperature to serve medium to full bodied reds? - Answer-Room temperature
(UK room temp, not California), 15-18C (59-64F)
Main factors that determine how a wine will taste? - Answer-Grape variety used,
environment in which it is grown, the care with which they are grown and harvested,
how wine is made and how it is matured.
Grape seeds contain... - Answer-Bitter oils and tannins.
Grape pulp contains... - Answer-Sugar, water and acid.
Grape stalks are used in some whole cluster pressing to give some... - Answer-Tannins.
Grape skins contain... - Answer-Tannins and color.
Vine needs what four major inputs to thrive? - Answer-Sunlight, water, warmth and
nutrients.
Nutrient poor soils produce what kind of grape? - Answer-A better quality grape. Vines
need nutrients but only in trace amounts.
Character of grapes grown in hot climate - Answer-Higher sugar, more alcohol, less
acidity, fuller body, more tannin.
Character of grapes grown in cool climate - Answer-Lower sugar, less alcohol, more
acidity, light to medium body, low tannin.
Why are Mexico and India able to have winegrowing regions outside of the
Mediterranean band? - Answer-Vineyards are at high altitude, altitude effects climate.
Napa would be too hot to grow quality grapes without this influence. - Answer-Humboldt
current in the Pacific from Alaska bringing cold water to San Pablo Bay.
, In spring, tender shoots are susceptible to frost. How can we mitigate frost in the
vineyard? - Answer-Fans and aspirators.
Three main effects on climate. - Answer-Latitude, altitude and the sea.
Comment on "aspect" of a vineyard - Answer-Slopes can maximize exposure to sunlight
and warmth.
Comment on "nutrients" in soil - Answer-Low is best, from an evolutionary point as a
vine is stressed it will focus on propagation, its fruit.
Comment on "drainage" in soil - Answer-Best soils are well drained, gravel doesn't
retain moisture.
Comment on "stones" in the vineyard - Answer-high stone content can help reflect heat
back to the vine.
What pests can be a problem for a vineyard? - Answer-Birds, insects, phylloxera (can
be mitigated with rootstock), sharp shooters, nematodes...
What fungal problems can affect a vineyard? - Answer-Rot and mildews.
What long term diseases can affect a vineyard? - Answer-Viruses and bacteria. These
can, over time, limit ripening and eventually the vineyard will have to be pulled out and
started over.
White and rose wines are fermented at these low temperatures, typically... - Answer-12-
22C (54-72F).
Red wines are fermented at these temperatures, typically... - Answer-20-32C (68-90F).
Rose begins fermentation on the skins and finishes fermentation off of them. What
range of time spent on the skins is typical? - Answer-12-36 hours.
What purpose to use neutral oak vs. steel? - Answer-Oak will give maturation with
micro-oxygenation, softening tannins and giving flavors of toffee, fig, hazelnut and
coffee.
Two ways to mature wine without oxygen - Answer-Steel tanks and in bottle.
Factors in the vineyard affecting cost - Answer-Cost of land, degree to which work is
mechanized, labor, equipment, yield.
Factors in the winery affecting cost - Answer-Equipment, efficiency, barrels, building,
storage (aging)
