WSET LEVEL 2 EXAM 2026 FINAL
ASSESSMENT PAPER GLOBAL WINE REGIONS
COMPREHENSIVE QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
VERIFIED A+
◉ What is photosynthesis? Answer: The process where sunlight,
carbon dioxide and water are combined to produce sugars
◉ What are the five things a vine needs to grow? Answer: Warmth,
sunlight, carbon dioxide, water, nutrients
◉ Put the stages of grape formation and ripening in the correct
order:
Ripening
Flowering
Extra ripening
Fruit set
Veraison Answer: Flowering
Fruit set
Veraison
Ripening
Extra ripening
,◉ What changes in grapes as they ripen? Answer: Grapes swell with
water, acidity drops, sugar increases, aromas change, in black grapes
tannin ripen
◉ What happens to grapes when they are left on the vine for extra
ripening? Answer: Grapes build up more sugar and exaggerated ripe
aromas. Eventually they turn into raisins as water evaporates. This
concentrates sugars, acids and flavours and dried fruit aromas
develop
◉ What effect does Botrytis/noble rot have on grapes? Answer: It
makes tiny holes in the skin of the grape which allows water to
evaporate. This concentrates sugars, acids and flavours.
◉ What are the conditions needed for noble rot to develop? Answer:
Damp misty mornings followed by warm dry afternoons
◉ What is the name given to sweet wines made from frozen grapes?
Answer: Icewine/Eiswein
◉ Between what latitudes are vineyards generally located? Answer:
30° and 50° north and south of the equator
,◉ What affect does altitude have on the temperature of a vineyard?
Answer: The temperature decreases with altitude
◉ What affect do seas have on the temperature of a region? Answer:
They have a moderating influence
◉ What affect can clouds and fog have on the temperature of a
vineyard? Answer: Clouds block sunlight, fogs cool down vineyards
◉ What affect can mountains have on grape growing in vineyards?
Answer: Mountains can act as a barrier, sheltering vineyards from
clouds, rain and wind. This results in sunny summers and long dry
autumns
◉ What affect do slope and aspect have on grape growing? Answer:
Slopes facing the equator will receive more heat and light and
producer riper grapes
◉ What affect do stony soils have on grape growing? Answer: Stones
absorb heat and make the vineyard warmer, this can help with grape
ripening
◉ What are problems associated with high levels of rain? Answer:
High levels of moisture can help spread fungal disease. Rain close to
harvest can cause grapes to swell and dilute flavours
, ◉ What happens to vines affected by frost? Answer: Spring frost can
damage and kill the vine's new growth. This reduces the number of
grapes that can be grown
◉ What is the name of the process of adding water to vines? Answer:
Irrigation
◉ What are the names of the sprays used to kill fungi and weeds?
Answer: Fungicides and herbicides
◉ What does 'organic' mean for grape growing? Answer: Grapes
grown without the use of most chemicals
◉ What is the yield? Answer: The amount of fruit produced per unit
of area
◉ What are the options for harvest? Answer: Hand harvest or
machine harvest
◉ What is a GI? Answer: Geographical indication - a legally defined
vineyard area
ASSESSMENT PAPER GLOBAL WINE REGIONS
COMPREHENSIVE QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
VERIFIED A+
◉ What is photosynthesis? Answer: The process where sunlight,
carbon dioxide and water are combined to produce sugars
◉ What are the five things a vine needs to grow? Answer: Warmth,
sunlight, carbon dioxide, water, nutrients
◉ Put the stages of grape formation and ripening in the correct
order:
Ripening
Flowering
Extra ripening
Fruit set
Veraison Answer: Flowering
Fruit set
Veraison
Ripening
Extra ripening
,◉ What changes in grapes as they ripen? Answer: Grapes swell with
water, acidity drops, sugar increases, aromas change, in black grapes
tannin ripen
◉ What happens to grapes when they are left on the vine for extra
ripening? Answer: Grapes build up more sugar and exaggerated ripe
aromas. Eventually they turn into raisins as water evaporates. This
concentrates sugars, acids and flavours and dried fruit aromas
develop
◉ What effect does Botrytis/noble rot have on grapes? Answer: It
makes tiny holes in the skin of the grape which allows water to
evaporate. This concentrates sugars, acids and flavours.
◉ What are the conditions needed for noble rot to develop? Answer:
Damp misty mornings followed by warm dry afternoons
◉ What is the name given to sweet wines made from frozen grapes?
Answer: Icewine/Eiswein
◉ Between what latitudes are vineyards generally located? Answer:
30° and 50° north and south of the equator
,◉ What affect does altitude have on the temperature of a vineyard?
Answer: The temperature decreases with altitude
◉ What affect do seas have on the temperature of a region? Answer:
They have a moderating influence
◉ What affect can clouds and fog have on the temperature of a
vineyard? Answer: Clouds block sunlight, fogs cool down vineyards
◉ What affect can mountains have on grape growing in vineyards?
Answer: Mountains can act as a barrier, sheltering vineyards from
clouds, rain and wind. This results in sunny summers and long dry
autumns
◉ What affect do slope and aspect have on grape growing? Answer:
Slopes facing the equator will receive more heat and light and
producer riper grapes
◉ What affect do stony soils have on grape growing? Answer: Stones
absorb heat and make the vineyard warmer, this can help with grape
ripening
◉ What are problems associated with high levels of rain? Answer:
High levels of moisture can help spread fungal disease. Rain close to
harvest can cause grapes to swell and dilute flavours
, ◉ What happens to vines affected by frost? Answer: Spring frost can
damage and kill the vine's new growth. This reduces the number of
grapes that can be grown
◉ What is the name of the process of adding water to vines? Answer:
Irrigation
◉ What are the names of the sprays used to kill fungi and weeds?
Answer: Fungicides and herbicides
◉ What does 'organic' mean for grape growing? Answer: Grapes
grown without the use of most chemicals
◉ What is the yield? Answer: The amount of fruit produced per unit
of area
◉ What are the options for harvest? Answer: Hand harvest or
machine harvest
◉ What is a GI? Answer: Geographical indication - a legally defined
vineyard area
