WSET LEVEL 2 EXAM 2026 QUESTION BANK
VITICULTURE AND VINIFICATION MODULE
SOLVED ITEMS AND RESPONSE KEY
◉ Umami in food can make wines seem: Answer: More drying, more
bitter, more acidic. Less sweet and fruity
◉ Salty foods can make wines seem: Answer: Less drying, less bitter,
less acidic. More fruity, more body
◉ Acidic foods can make wines seem: Answer: Less drying, less
bitter, less acidic. More sweet, more fruity
◉ For long term storage of wines, how should wines be stored?
Answer: At a cool constant temperature
Away from sunshine and bright light
If sealed with a cork, bottle should be stored on their side
◉ What are the optimal service temperatures for Sweet and
Sparkling wines? Answer: Sweet wines - well chilled - 6-8°
Sparkling wines - well chilled - 6-10°
,◉ What are the aromas associated with the following faults:
Cork Taint
Failure of Closure
Heat Damage Answer: Cork Taint - Damp cardboard, lack of fresh
fruit flavours
Failure of Closure - Honey, caramel, coffee, lack of freshness and
fruitiness
Heat Damage - Lack of fruit character and freshness
◉ Name the main components of a grape and what they contain:
Answer: Stalk - Tannins
Skin - Tannins, Colour, Flavours
Pulp - Sugar, Acid, Water
Seeds - Bitter Oils
◉ 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
VITICULTURE AND VINIFICATION MODULE
SOLVED ITEMS AND RESPONSE KEY
◉ Umami in food can make wines seem: Answer: More drying, more
bitter, more acidic. Less sweet and fruity
◉ Salty foods can make wines seem: Answer: Less drying, less bitter,
less acidic. More fruity, more body
◉ Acidic foods can make wines seem: Answer: Less drying, less
bitter, less acidic. More sweet, more fruity
◉ For long term storage of wines, how should wines be stored?
Answer: At a cool constant temperature
Away from sunshine and bright light
If sealed with a cork, bottle should be stored on their side
◉ What are the optimal service temperatures for Sweet and
Sparkling wines? Answer: Sweet wines - well chilled - 6-8°
Sparkling wines - well chilled - 6-10°
,◉ What are the aromas associated with the following faults:
Cork Taint
Failure of Closure
Heat Damage Answer: Cork Taint - Damp cardboard, lack of fresh
fruit flavours
Failure of Closure - Honey, caramel, coffee, lack of freshness and
fruitiness
Heat Damage - Lack of fruit character and freshness
◉ Name the main components of a grape and what they contain:
Answer: Stalk - Tannins
Skin - Tannins, Colour, Flavours
Pulp - Sugar, Acid, Water
Seeds - Bitter Oils
◉ 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
