WSET LEVEL 3 LATEST 2026 EXAM QUESTIONS AND
SOLUTIONS RATED A+
✔✔Grenache characteristics - ✔✔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 - ✔✔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 - ✔✔Unique Variety
pink skin
gold color wine
high alcohol
residual sugar?
oily, full body
Flavors: spicy - ginger, lychees, roses, stone & tropical fruit
Aromatic White
✔✔Pinot Gris Characteristics - ✔✔Pinot Gris vs. Pinot Grigio is:
full body texture
high alcohol
more acid than Gewurztraminer; less than Pinot Grigio
Flavors: fresh & dried fruit, spiced pear, ginger, honeyed character
Aromatic White
✔✔Gruner Veltliner Characteristics - ✔✔Austria's White
Can be: simple & fresh OR full, concentrated
high acid
stainless & oak can be used
Flavors: citrus & stone fruit white pepperhoney, toast with age
,Aromatic White
✔✔Temperature Range a Vine Needs - ✔✔16C - 22C
✔✔Cool climate Temp Range - ✔✔16.5°C or below
✔✔Moderate climate Temp Range - ✔✔16.5-18.5°C
✔✔Warm climate Temp Range - ✔✔18.5-21°C
✔✔Hot climate Temp Range - ✔✔Above 21°C
✔✔Continental climate - ✔✔high continentality. usually have short, dry summers with
large rapid temp drop in autumn. Cool continental climates (Chablis) risk spring frosts.
suited to varieties that bud late and ripen early.
✔✔Maritime climate - ✔✔low continentality -even rainfall. cool to moderate
temperatures. rain moderates temp, meaning ripening continues into autumn. Bordeaux
can ripen thick skinned cabernet which might normally struggle.
✔✔Mediterranean climate - ✔✔low continentality - dry, warm summers. Extra warmth
and sunlight leads to fuller body wines with ripe tannings, higher alcohol and lower
aidity.
✔✔What is Pruning? - ✔✔Removal of unwanted leaves, shoots or wood
Winter - determine bud number
Summer - managing leaf canopy
✔✔What is Training? - ✔✔molding the vines wood and shoots to the required shape
✔✔What is a Trellis? - ✔✔stakes and wires used to support the trained vines
✔✔Requirements for Botrytis Cinerea - ✔✔•Grapes must be fully ripened before rot
develops
•Humid misty mornings
•Dry, sunny afternoons
•Specialized pickers
•Multiple passes over time
✔✔Alcoholic Fermentation - ✔✔Sugars in Grape Juice + Yeast = Alcohol and Flavor
Releases Heat and Carbon Dioxide
✔✔Photosynthesis - ✔✔Leaves combine Carbon Dioxide and Water to create Glucose
and Oxygen.
,✔✔White Wine Fermentation Temperatures - ✔✔range 12-22°C
cool temperature help retain fruit aromas
✔✔Red Wine Fermentation Temperatures - ✔✔range 20-32°C
Precise control allows influence on color, flavor, tannin extraction
✔✔Malolactic Fermentation - ✔✔Malic Acid in Wine + Bacteria = Lactic Acid and Flavor
(Butter, hazelnut, can suppress fruit purity)
Happens
✔✔Lees - ✔✔Need to add
✔✔What is Carbonic Maceration? - ✔✔whole bunches into CO2 filled vat
intracellular fermentation occurs
at 2% alcohol skins split; juice released, grapes pressed & juice completes normal
ferment
Results: extracts color with little tannin
soft fruity wines: kirsch, bubblegum, banana
✔✔What is Semi-Carbonic Maceration? - ✔✔no added CO2, but vat filled with whole
bunches
weight crushes bottom bunches, juice released
ambient yeast ferments juice, produces CO2
intracellular fermentation occurs, followed by pressing then normal fermentation occurs
Results: extracts color with little tannin like Carbonic maceration, but provides better
aroma integration, fresher fruit
✔✔What is Whole Bunch Fermentation with crushed fruit? - ✔✔bunches submerged
and progressively crushed
some intracellular fermentation occurs
Results in: silkier texture, bright fresh fruit
✔✔Why choose pre-fermentation extraction? - ✔✔cold soaking prevents fermentation
starting
extract color & flavor without much tannin
✔✔Alsace Natural Factors - ✔✔cool continental climate
very dry due to Vosges Mountains
slope important
varied soils
Best Vineyards on steepest with south-east and east aspect
Focus on single, aromatic grape varieties
Aromatic grapes: No MLF, stainless steel or old oak
, ✔✔Alsace Noble Varieties - ✔✔Riesling
Gewurztraminer
Pinot Gris
Muscat
Also: Pinot Blanc
✔✔Vendanges Tardives - ✔✔Late Harvest in Alsace
Minimum sugar
Must be from four noble varietes
✔✔Selection de Grains Nobles (SGN) - ✔✔Must have minimum sugar ripeness. higher
than VT. Usually noble rot. Not produced every year and in small quantities
✔✔Alsace - Reisling - ✔✔Most widely planted
Med to full body, med alcohol, high acid
Citrus and stone fruit aromas. Stony/steely.
Most dry, but some now with residual sugar
not as floral as from Germany
✔✔Alsace - Gewurtzraminer - ✔✔Pungent aromas, spicy nose of lychess, roses, sweet
baking spices
Golden color (light pink skin)
✔✔Alsace - Pinot Gris - ✔✔Rich, full body, high alcohol, higher acidity than Gewurtz
Rich texture. Fresh and dried fruit.
honey character
✔✔Alsace - Muscat - ✔✔Intensely aromatic - orange blossom, rose, grape
light to med body
low to med acidity
prone to rot and poor fruit set
✔✔Alsace - Pinot Blanc - ✔✔Grown on fertile soil of plain
mainly used for sparkling.
still - generally light, simply refreshing
✔✔Germany - ✔✔Cool continental climate
long, cool ripening period
vintage variation. vineyard location essential
best on steep and stony slopes with southerly aspect to maximize heat and sunlight.
Must weight classification
✔✔German Riesling - ✔✔Expressed differently from regions, climates and soils.
Can range from delicate and floral to a richer peachy fruit.
Can range from bone dry to very sweet
SOLUTIONS RATED A+
✔✔Grenache characteristics - ✔✔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 - ✔✔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 - ✔✔Unique Variety
pink skin
gold color wine
high alcohol
residual sugar?
oily, full body
Flavors: spicy - ginger, lychees, roses, stone & tropical fruit
Aromatic White
✔✔Pinot Gris Characteristics - ✔✔Pinot Gris vs. Pinot Grigio is:
full body texture
high alcohol
more acid than Gewurztraminer; less than Pinot Grigio
Flavors: fresh & dried fruit, spiced pear, ginger, honeyed character
Aromatic White
✔✔Gruner Veltliner Characteristics - ✔✔Austria's White
Can be: simple & fresh OR full, concentrated
high acid
stainless & oak can be used
Flavors: citrus & stone fruit white pepperhoney, toast with age
,Aromatic White
✔✔Temperature Range a Vine Needs - ✔✔16C - 22C
✔✔Cool climate Temp Range - ✔✔16.5°C or below
✔✔Moderate climate Temp Range - ✔✔16.5-18.5°C
✔✔Warm climate Temp Range - ✔✔18.5-21°C
✔✔Hot climate Temp Range - ✔✔Above 21°C
✔✔Continental climate - ✔✔high continentality. usually have short, dry summers with
large rapid temp drop in autumn. Cool continental climates (Chablis) risk spring frosts.
suited to varieties that bud late and ripen early.
✔✔Maritime climate - ✔✔low continentality -even rainfall. cool to moderate
temperatures. rain moderates temp, meaning ripening continues into autumn. Bordeaux
can ripen thick skinned cabernet which might normally struggle.
✔✔Mediterranean climate - ✔✔low continentality - dry, warm summers. Extra warmth
and sunlight leads to fuller body wines with ripe tannings, higher alcohol and lower
aidity.
✔✔What is Pruning? - ✔✔Removal of unwanted leaves, shoots or wood
Winter - determine bud number
Summer - managing leaf canopy
✔✔What is Training? - ✔✔molding the vines wood and shoots to the required shape
✔✔What is a Trellis? - ✔✔stakes and wires used to support the trained vines
✔✔Requirements for Botrytis Cinerea - ✔✔•Grapes must be fully ripened before rot
develops
•Humid misty mornings
•Dry, sunny afternoons
•Specialized pickers
•Multiple passes over time
✔✔Alcoholic Fermentation - ✔✔Sugars in Grape Juice + Yeast = Alcohol and Flavor
Releases Heat and Carbon Dioxide
✔✔Photosynthesis - ✔✔Leaves combine Carbon Dioxide and Water to create Glucose
and Oxygen.
,✔✔White Wine Fermentation Temperatures - ✔✔range 12-22°C
cool temperature help retain fruit aromas
✔✔Red Wine Fermentation Temperatures - ✔✔range 20-32°C
Precise control allows influence on color, flavor, tannin extraction
✔✔Malolactic Fermentation - ✔✔Malic Acid in Wine + Bacteria = Lactic Acid and Flavor
(Butter, hazelnut, can suppress fruit purity)
Happens
✔✔Lees - ✔✔Need to add
✔✔What is Carbonic Maceration? - ✔✔whole bunches into CO2 filled vat
intracellular fermentation occurs
at 2% alcohol skins split; juice released, grapes pressed & juice completes normal
ferment
Results: extracts color with little tannin
soft fruity wines: kirsch, bubblegum, banana
✔✔What is Semi-Carbonic Maceration? - ✔✔no added CO2, but vat filled with whole
bunches
weight crushes bottom bunches, juice released
ambient yeast ferments juice, produces CO2
intracellular fermentation occurs, followed by pressing then normal fermentation occurs
Results: extracts color with little tannin like Carbonic maceration, but provides better
aroma integration, fresher fruit
✔✔What is Whole Bunch Fermentation with crushed fruit? - ✔✔bunches submerged
and progressively crushed
some intracellular fermentation occurs
Results in: silkier texture, bright fresh fruit
✔✔Why choose pre-fermentation extraction? - ✔✔cold soaking prevents fermentation
starting
extract color & flavor without much tannin
✔✔Alsace Natural Factors - ✔✔cool continental climate
very dry due to Vosges Mountains
slope important
varied soils
Best Vineyards on steepest with south-east and east aspect
Focus on single, aromatic grape varieties
Aromatic grapes: No MLF, stainless steel or old oak
, ✔✔Alsace Noble Varieties - ✔✔Riesling
Gewurztraminer
Pinot Gris
Muscat
Also: Pinot Blanc
✔✔Vendanges Tardives - ✔✔Late Harvest in Alsace
Minimum sugar
Must be from four noble varietes
✔✔Selection de Grains Nobles (SGN) - ✔✔Must have minimum sugar ripeness. higher
than VT. Usually noble rot. Not produced every year and in small quantities
✔✔Alsace - Reisling - ✔✔Most widely planted
Med to full body, med alcohol, high acid
Citrus and stone fruit aromas. Stony/steely.
Most dry, but some now with residual sugar
not as floral as from Germany
✔✔Alsace - Gewurtzraminer - ✔✔Pungent aromas, spicy nose of lychess, roses, sweet
baking spices
Golden color (light pink skin)
✔✔Alsace - Pinot Gris - ✔✔Rich, full body, high alcohol, higher acidity than Gewurtz
Rich texture. Fresh and dried fruit.
honey character
✔✔Alsace - Muscat - ✔✔Intensely aromatic - orange blossom, rose, grape
light to med body
low to med acidity
prone to rot and poor fruit set
✔✔Alsace - Pinot Blanc - ✔✔Grown on fertile soil of plain
mainly used for sparkling.
still - generally light, simply refreshing
✔✔Germany - ✔✔Cool continental climate
long, cool ripening period
vintage variation. vineyard location essential
best on steep and stony slopes with southerly aspect to maximize heat and sunlight.
Must weight classification
✔✔German Riesling - ✔✔Expressed differently from regions, climates and soils.
Can range from delicate and floral to a richer peachy fruit.
Can range from bone dry to very sweet
