WSET Level 3 Exam Questions and Answers
Cutting - Correct Answers -Section of a vine shoot that is planted and then grows as a
new plant
Vitis vinifera - Correct Answers -Main Eurasian species
Clonal selection - Correct Answers -Vines with positive mutations are selected for
further propagation by cutting or layering, so that the positive characteristics of these
vines can be carried forward in new plantings
Crossings - Correct Answers -When a new variety is produced from two parents of the
same species
Grafting - Correct Answers -Technique used to join a rootstock to a V. vinifera variety
véraison - Correct Answers -Change of color when the grape is ripening
Chile grape varieties - Correct Answers -Black: CS, Merlot, Carmenere, Syrah, PN
White: SB, Chard, Muscat of Alexandria
Coquimbo Region - Correct Answers -Chile's principal wine region, three subregions are
Elqui Valley, Limari Valley, and Choapa Valley
Low yield but high quality, biggest challenge is lack of water
Fertile soils, reds are rich, ripe fruits high alc and tannins
Central Valley Region - Correct Answers -Chile, warm, flat region with majority of
vineyards
Grapes ripen easily and production is focused on inexpensive fruity wines, lots of Merlot
and Chard
Subregions: Maipo Valley (surrounded by mountains), Cachapoal Valley (warm area cut
off from ocean breezes, Carmenere), Colchagua Valley larger area, warm)
Latitude where grapes are grown - Correct Answers -between 30-50 degrees north and
south of the equator
Earthing up - Correct Answers -Process used to protect from the winter freeze, where
earth is used to cover up and protect the graft
Methods to protect from spring frost - Correct Answers --Heaters: placed throughout the
vineyard and lit if frost is forecast. Creates movement in the air and prevents cold air
from settling and causing frost
,-Wind machines: large fan that draws warm air from above to keep the temperature at
ground level above freezing
-Sprinklers: spray water on to the vines, so as the water freezes, it releases some heat
into the plant tissue protecting the buds and shoots
-Thoughtful vineyard design: planting vineyards on slopes and avoiding depressing in
which cold air can collect. Also training vines high to avoid cold air that sinks to the
ground
Transpiration - Correct Answers -Process when the vine accesses water through its
roots and draws it up to its leaves
Irrigation techniques - Correct Answers -Drip irrigation: most advanced and most
expensive. Each vine has its own dripper that can be computer controlled to ensure that
each vine gets the optimum amount of water
Sprinklers: Cheaper but waste a lot of water and create damp conditions in the
vineyard, causing a risk of disease
Flood irrigation: only possible in vineyards that are flat or very gently sloping and where
there is access to large quantities of water
Water hazards - Correct Answers -Drought
Too much water - vine will continue to grow shots and leaves during ripening season,
leaving less sugar for ripening grapes. Damp conditions can also encourage the spread
of fungal diseases
Hail - can use netting for protection
Continental climate - Correct Answers -Greatest difference in temp b/w the hottest and
coldest months (high continentality)
Better suited to varieties that bud late and ripen early
Maritime climate - Correct Answers -Cool to moderate temps and a low annual
difference between the hottest and coldest months
Warm enough for grapes to continue ripening through the autumn
Mediterranean climate - Correct Answers -Low temp difference between the hottest and
coldest months but the summers tend to be warm and dry
Extra warmth and sunlight leads to wines that are fuller bodied with riper tannins, higher
alc, and lower levels of acidity
Loam - Correct Answers -Mixture of sand and clay particles
Most important nutrients for a vine - Correct Answers -Nitrogen, phosphorous, and
potassium
Vine training - Correct Answers -Shape of permanent wood of the vine
, Head training - Correct Answers -Relatively little permanent wood, some only have a
trunk
Cordon training - Correct Answers -Trunk with one or more permanent horizontal arms
Spur pruning - Correct Answers -Spurs are short sections of one-year-old wood that
have been cut down to only two or three buds
Replacement cane pruning - Correct Answers -Canes are longer sections of one-year-
old wood and can have anything between 8-20 buds
Trellises - Correct Answers -Permanent structures of stakes and wires that are used to
support any replacement canes and the vine's annual growth
Canopy management - Correct Answers -Posts are joined by horizontal wires, and then
the vine's canes and shoots are tied to the trellis
Density - Correct Answers -No. of vines planted in a given area
Limited water availability - Correct Answers -Low planting density to allow each vine's
roots to take up water from a large volume of soil without having to compete with one
another
Sufficient rainfall and low levels of nutrients - Correct Answers -Vines planted at a high
density (if it can access enough water, it can survive in relatively low-nutrient soil)
High levels of nutrients and sufficient rainfall - Correct Answers -Very fertile soils are not
suitable for viticulture
Low density plantings using vines with multiple cordons or canes
Pests - Correct Answers -Phylloxera: insect native to N. America, V. vinifera unable to
defend itself against it
Nematodes: microscopic worms that attack the roots of vines, interfering with water and
nutrient uptake. Can sometimes transmit diseases too
Birds and mammals: Consume the grapes
Insects: Feed on both the grapes and leaves
Fungal diseases - Correct Answers -Downy and powdery mildew: thrive in warm, humid
environments and can affect green parts of the vine, including the leaves and grapes
Grey rot: caused by botrytis, thrives in damp conditions
Protective or anaerobic winemaking - Correct Answers -Counteract against oxygen -
grapes are picked at night when it is cooler and the effect of oxygen is reduced. Grapes
are kept chilled, and then at the winery winery equipment is filled with either CO2 or
nitrogen before they are used for grape processing or winemaking
Cutting - Correct Answers -Section of a vine shoot that is planted and then grows as a
new plant
Vitis vinifera - Correct Answers -Main Eurasian species
Clonal selection - Correct Answers -Vines with positive mutations are selected for
further propagation by cutting or layering, so that the positive characteristics of these
vines can be carried forward in new plantings
Crossings - Correct Answers -When a new variety is produced from two parents of the
same species
Grafting - Correct Answers -Technique used to join a rootstock to a V. vinifera variety
véraison - Correct Answers -Change of color when the grape is ripening
Chile grape varieties - Correct Answers -Black: CS, Merlot, Carmenere, Syrah, PN
White: SB, Chard, Muscat of Alexandria
Coquimbo Region - Correct Answers -Chile's principal wine region, three subregions are
Elqui Valley, Limari Valley, and Choapa Valley
Low yield but high quality, biggest challenge is lack of water
Fertile soils, reds are rich, ripe fruits high alc and tannins
Central Valley Region - Correct Answers -Chile, warm, flat region with majority of
vineyards
Grapes ripen easily and production is focused on inexpensive fruity wines, lots of Merlot
and Chard
Subregions: Maipo Valley (surrounded by mountains), Cachapoal Valley (warm area cut
off from ocean breezes, Carmenere), Colchagua Valley larger area, warm)
Latitude where grapes are grown - Correct Answers -between 30-50 degrees north and
south of the equator
Earthing up - Correct Answers -Process used to protect from the winter freeze, where
earth is used to cover up and protect the graft
Methods to protect from spring frost - Correct Answers --Heaters: placed throughout the
vineyard and lit if frost is forecast. Creates movement in the air and prevents cold air
from settling and causing frost
,-Wind machines: large fan that draws warm air from above to keep the temperature at
ground level above freezing
-Sprinklers: spray water on to the vines, so as the water freezes, it releases some heat
into the plant tissue protecting the buds and shoots
-Thoughtful vineyard design: planting vineyards on slopes and avoiding depressing in
which cold air can collect. Also training vines high to avoid cold air that sinks to the
ground
Transpiration - Correct Answers -Process when the vine accesses water through its
roots and draws it up to its leaves
Irrigation techniques - Correct Answers -Drip irrigation: most advanced and most
expensive. Each vine has its own dripper that can be computer controlled to ensure that
each vine gets the optimum amount of water
Sprinklers: Cheaper but waste a lot of water and create damp conditions in the
vineyard, causing a risk of disease
Flood irrigation: only possible in vineyards that are flat or very gently sloping and where
there is access to large quantities of water
Water hazards - Correct Answers -Drought
Too much water - vine will continue to grow shots and leaves during ripening season,
leaving less sugar for ripening grapes. Damp conditions can also encourage the spread
of fungal diseases
Hail - can use netting for protection
Continental climate - Correct Answers -Greatest difference in temp b/w the hottest and
coldest months (high continentality)
Better suited to varieties that bud late and ripen early
Maritime climate - Correct Answers -Cool to moderate temps and a low annual
difference between the hottest and coldest months
Warm enough for grapes to continue ripening through the autumn
Mediterranean climate - Correct Answers -Low temp difference between the hottest and
coldest months but the summers tend to be warm and dry
Extra warmth and sunlight leads to wines that are fuller bodied with riper tannins, higher
alc, and lower levels of acidity
Loam - Correct Answers -Mixture of sand and clay particles
Most important nutrients for a vine - Correct Answers -Nitrogen, phosphorous, and
potassium
Vine training - Correct Answers -Shape of permanent wood of the vine
, Head training - Correct Answers -Relatively little permanent wood, some only have a
trunk
Cordon training - Correct Answers -Trunk with one or more permanent horizontal arms
Spur pruning - Correct Answers -Spurs are short sections of one-year-old wood that
have been cut down to only two or three buds
Replacement cane pruning - Correct Answers -Canes are longer sections of one-year-
old wood and can have anything between 8-20 buds
Trellises - Correct Answers -Permanent structures of stakes and wires that are used to
support any replacement canes and the vine's annual growth
Canopy management - Correct Answers -Posts are joined by horizontal wires, and then
the vine's canes and shoots are tied to the trellis
Density - Correct Answers -No. of vines planted in a given area
Limited water availability - Correct Answers -Low planting density to allow each vine's
roots to take up water from a large volume of soil without having to compete with one
another
Sufficient rainfall and low levels of nutrients - Correct Answers -Vines planted at a high
density (if it can access enough water, it can survive in relatively low-nutrient soil)
High levels of nutrients and sufficient rainfall - Correct Answers -Very fertile soils are not
suitable for viticulture
Low density plantings using vines with multiple cordons or canes
Pests - Correct Answers -Phylloxera: insect native to N. America, V. vinifera unable to
defend itself against it
Nematodes: microscopic worms that attack the roots of vines, interfering with water and
nutrient uptake. Can sometimes transmit diseases too
Birds and mammals: Consume the grapes
Insects: Feed on both the grapes and leaves
Fungal diseases - Correct Answers -Downy and powdery mildew: thrive in warm, humid
environments and can affect green parts of the vine, including the leaves and grapes
Grey rot: caused by botrytis, thrives in damp conditions
Protective or anaerobic winemaking - Correct Answers -Counteract against oxygen -
grapes are picked at night when it is cooler and the effect of oxygen is reduced. Grapes
are kept chilled, and then at the winery winery equipment is filled with either CO2 or
nitrogen before they are used for grape processing or winemaking
