WSET LEVEL 2 UPDATED END OF COURSE QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS MARKED A+
✔✔What is the typical temperature range for red wine fermentation? - ✔✔20°C to 32°C
✔✔What is the typical temperature range for white wine fermentation? - ✔✔12°C to
22°C
✔✔What materials are inert winery vessels made from? - ✔✔Stainless steel or concrete
✔✔What are two reasons a winemaker would use oak barrels? - ✔✔Oak can add
flavours to wine (vanilla, smoke, cedar). Oak can allow flavours of the wine to evolve as
a result of interaction with oxygen
✔✔What are two oak alternatives to using barrels? - ✔✔Oak staves or oak chips
✔✔What does malolactic conversion do? - ✔✔Lowers the acidity of the wine and can
give buttery flavours
✔✔What is the result of lees contact? - ✔✔Increases the body of the wine and can add
flavours such as biscuit and bread
✔✔What are reasons for blending a wine? - ✔✔Consistency, complexity
✔✔What does a wine need in order to mature in the bottle? - ✔✔Concentration of
flavour, and high acid, tannin or sweetness
✔✔What climates are best for Pinot Noir production? - ✔✔Cool to moderate
✔✔What is the typical acidity, tannin and flavour of a Pinot Noir? - ✔✔Acidity - high
Tannin - low to medium
Flavour - red fruits (strawberry, raspberry, red cherry)
✔✔What is the climate of Burgundy? - ✔✔Cool to moderate
✔✔What style of wine would you expect from a red Bourgogne AOC? - ✔✔Light to
medium body with low tannins, high acidity, red fruit flavours, not suitable for aging
✔✔What are the most famous villages for Pinot Noir in the Côte d'Or? - ✔✔Gevrey-
Chambertin AOC
Nuits-Saint-Georges AOC
Beaune AOC
Pommard AOC
, ✔✔What does 'premier cru' indicate on a wine from Burgundy? - ✔✔A high quality
vineyard with south or south-east facing aspect. Wines benefit from concentrated
flavours
✔✔What does 'grand cru' indicate on a wine from Burgundy? - ✔✔A single vineyard
wine of the highest quality. The wines are concentrated and complex with the greatest
potential for aging
✔✔What are the regions in California associated with top quality Pinot Noir production?
- ✔✔Los Carneros, Sonoma, Santa Barbara County
✔✔What are the moderating influences in California that help with the production of top
quality Pinot Noir? - ✔✔Morning fogs in Carneros and ocean breezes in Sonoma and
Santa Barbara County
✔✔Outside of California, where is in the USA has a reputation for producing top quality
Pinot Noir? - ✔✔Oregon
✔✔What is the region in Chile that produces very good Pinot Noir? - ✔✔Casablanca
Valley
✔✔What is the moderating factor that allows Walker Bay to produce very good to
outstanding Pinot Noir? - ✔✔Strong southerly sea breezes
✔✔What are the regions in Australia associated with top quality Pinot Noir production? -
✔✔Yarra Valley and Mornington Peninsula
✔✔What are the factors that mean Central Otago produces New Zealand's most
powerful Pinot Noir? - ✔✔It is protected from the sea by mountains, the days are
intensely sunny and the nights are cool
✔✔What is the best climate for Zinfandel production? - ✔✔Warm
✔✔What is the labelling term used for rosé wines made from the Zinfandel grape in
California? - ✔✔White Zinfandel
✔✔What is the typical level of tannin, body and flavour characteristics you would expect
from a California Zinfandel? - ✔✔Medium to high tannin, full body, flavours of blueberry,
blackberry, black plum, raisin, prune, vanilla, coffee. Can develop earth and meat
flavours in bottle
✔✔What is the Italian name for the Zinfandel grape? - ✔✔Primitivo
ANSWERS MARKED A+
✔✔What is the typical temperature range for red wine fermentation? - ✔✔20°C to 32°C
✔✔What is the typical temperature range for white wine fermentation? - ✔✔12°C to
22°C
✔✔What materials are inert winery vessels made from? - ✔✔Stainless steel or concrete
✔✔What are two reasons a winemaker would use oak barrels? - ✔✔Oak can add
flavours to wine (vanilla, smoke, cedar). Oak can allow flavours of the wine to evolve as
a result of interaction with oxygen
✔✔What are two oak alternatives to using barrels? - ✔✔Oak staves or oak chips
✔✔What does malolactic conversion do? - ✔✔Lowers the acidity of the wine and can
give buttery flavours
✔✔What is the result of lees contact? - ✔✔Increases the body of the wine and can add
flavours such as biscuit and bread
✔✔What are reasons for blending a wine? - ✔✔Consistency, complexity
✔✔What does a wine need in order to mature in the bottle? - ✔✔Concentration of
flavour, and high acid, tannin or sweetness
✔✔What climates are best for Pinot Noir production? - ✔✔Cool to moderate
✔✔What is the typical acidity, tannin and flavour of a Pinot Noir? - ✔✔Acidity - high
Tannin - low to medium
Flavour - red fruits (strawberry, raspberry, red cherry)
✔✔What is the climate of Burgundy? - ✔✔Cool to moderate
✔✔What style of wine would you expect from a red Bourgogne AOC? - ✔✔Light to
medium body with low tannins, high acidity, red fruit flavours, not suitable for aging
✔✔What are the most famous villages for Pinot Noir in the Côte d'Or? - ✔✔Gevrey-
Chambertin AOC
Nuits-Saint-Georges AOC
Beaune AOC
Pommard AOC
, ✔✔What does 'premier cru' indicate on a wine from Burgundy? - ✔✔A high quality
vineyard with south or south-east facing aspect. Wines benefit from concentrated
flavours
✔✔What does 'grand cru' indicate on a wine from Burgundy? - ✔✔A single vineyard
wine of the highest quality. The wines are concentrated and complex with the greatest
potential for aging
✔✔What are the regions in California associated with top quality Pinot Noir production?
- ✔✔Los Carneros, Sonoma, Santa Barbara County
✔✔What are the moderating influences in California that help with the production of top
quality Pinot Noir? - ✔✔Morning fogs in Carneros and ocean breezes in Sonoma and
Santa Barbara County
✔✔Outside of California, where is in the USA has a reputation for producing top quality
Pinot Noir? - ✔✔Oregon
✔✔What is the region in Chile that produces very good Pinot Noir? - ✔✔Casablanca
Valley
✔✔What is the moderating factor that allows Walker Bay to produce very good to
outstanding Pinot Noir? - ✔✔Strong southerly sea breezes
✔✔What are the regions in Australia associated with top quality Pinot Noir production? -
✔✔Yarra Valley and Mornington Peninsula
✔✔What are the factors that mean Central Otago produces New Zealand's most
powerful Pinot Noir? - ✔✔It is protected from the sea by mountains, the days are
intensely sunny and the nights are cool
✔✔What is the best climate for Zinfandel production? - ✔✔Warm
✔✔What is the labelling term used for rosé wines made from the Zinfandel grape in
California? - ✔✔White Zinfandel
✔✔What is the typical level of tannin, body and flavour characteristics you would expect
from a California Zinfandel? - ✔✔Medium to high tannin, full body, flavours of blueberry,
blackberry, black plum, raisin, prune, vanilla, coffee. Can develop earth and meat
flavours in bottle
✔✔What is the Italian name for the Zinfandel grape? - ✔✔Primitivo
