1|Page
WSET Level 3 Exams 2026 | Actual Exam with
Complete Questions and Answers | Wine & Spirit
Education Trust | Advanced Certification||Newest
Exam!!!
What term is used to delineate a PDO wine from France? -
Answer-Apellation d'Origine Controlee (AC or AOC)
What term is used to delineate a PGI wine from France? -
Answer-Vin de Pays (VdP) or Indication Geographique
Protegee (IGP). IGP has appeared on many wine labels
begining with the 2009 vintage.
What term is used to delineate a wine in France without
any geographical indication? - Answer-Vin de France
What is the location and climate of Bordeaux? - Answer-
Located in south-west France, Bordeaux has a
moderate/maritime climate.
What type of soil is found in the Medoc, Haut-Medoc, and
Graves regions of Bordeaux? - Answer-Stone/Gravel
,2|Page
What type of soil is found in the St-Emilion and Pomeral
regions of Bordeaux? - Answer-Clay with limestone
subsoil
What are the 6 main black grape varieties of Bordeaux (in
order of most to least vineyard acreage)? - Answer-1)
Merlot
2) Cabernet Sauvignon
3) Cabernet
4) Malbec
5) Petit Verdot
6) Carmenere
What are the 3 main white grapes of Bordeaux (in order of
most to least vineyard acreage)? - Answer-1) Semillon
2) Sauvignon Blanc
3) Muscadelle
Are there high or low density plantings in Bordeaux? -
Answer-High-density planting
,3|Page
Do the higher quality wines of Bordeaux experience lower
or higher yields? - Answer-Lower yields for higher-quality
wines
What are two key vineyard challenges in Bordeaux? -
Answer-1) Ripening Grapes
2) Fungal disease
What type of harvesting is used throughout Bordeaux? -
Answer-Machine harvesting. The gentle sloping vineyards
of Bordeaux are suitable for machine harvesting.
For what type of wine style is hand-harvesting required in
Bordeaux? - Answer-Hand-picking is typical for grapes
affected by noble rot used for sweet wine production
(Sauternes, Barsac, etc)
For Bordeaux red winemaking, are the grape varieties
fermented separately or together? - Answer-Grape
varieties are fermented separately and blended after
fermentation.
, 4|Page
What is Bordeaux red wine typically matured in? - Answer-
In wooden vats or in new or used oak barriques (225
liters)
In Bordeaux, how are inexpensive red wines typically
produced? - Answer-They are made ready-to-drink with a
high proportion of Merlot in the blend, matured in a vat
with no new oak.
In Bordeaux winemaking, how are higher-priced red wines
typically produced? - Answer-Higher-priced wines use
traditional fermentation and have a higher proportion of
new oak for maturation; these wines will need maturing in
bottle for several years.
How is dry Sauvignon Blanc typically aged in Bordeaux? -
Answer-Typically, stainless steel for a short period of time
so that it can retain the varietal characteristics.
Is oak ever used to mature white wine in Bordeaux? -
Answer-Yes, oak is often used to ferment and/or mature
blends of dry Semillon/Sauvignon Blanc wines (ie Pessac-
Leognan). It is also used in the production of sweet wines
of Bordeaux.
WSET Level 3 Exams 2026 | Actual Exam with
Complete Questions and Answers | Wine & Spirit
Education Trust | Advanced Certification||Newest
Exam!!!
What term is used to delineate a PDO wine from France? -
Answer-Apellation d'Origine Controlee (AC or AOC)
What term is used to delineate a PGI wine from France? -
Answer-Vin de Pays (VdP) or Indication Geographique
Protegee (IGP). IGP has appeared on many wine labels
begining with the 2009 vintage.
What term is used to delineate a wine in France without
any geographical indication? - Answer-Vin de France
What is the location and climate of Bordeaux? - Answer-
Located in south-west France, Bordeaux has a
moderate/maritime climate.
What type of soil is found in the Medoc, Haut-Medoc, and
Graves regions of Bordeaux? - Answer-Stone/Gravel
,2|Page
What type of soil is found in the St-Emilion and Pomeral
regions of Bordeaux? - Answer-Clay with limestone
subsoil
What are the 6 main black grape varieties of Bordeaux (in
order of most to least vineyard acreage)? - Answer-1)
Merlot
2) Cabernet Sauvignon
3) Cabernet
4) Malbec
5) Petit Verdot
6) Carmenere
What are the 3 main white grapes of Bordeaux (in order of
most to least vineyard acreage)? - Answer-1) Semillon
2) Sauvignon Blanc
3) Muscadelle
Are there high or low density plantings in Bordeaux? -
Answer-High-density planting
,3|Page
Do the higher quality wines of Bordeaux experience lower
or higher yields? - Answer-Lower yields for higher-quality
wines
What are two key vineyard challenges in Bordeaux? -
Answer-1) Ripening Grapes
2) Fungal disease
What type of harvesting is used throughout Bordeaux? -
Answer-Machine harvesting. The gentle sloping vineyards
of Bordeaux are suitable for machine harvesting.
For what type of wine style is hand-harvesting required in
Bordeaux? - Answer-Hand-picking is typical for grapes
affected by noble rot used for sweet wine production
(Sauternes, Barsac, etc)
For Bordeaux red winemaking, are the grape varieties
fermented separately or together? - Answer-Grape
varieties are fermented separately and blended after
fermentation.
, 4|Page
What is Bordeaux red wine typically matured in? - Answer-
In wooden vats or in new or used oak barriques (225
liters)
In Bordeaux, how are inexpensive red wines typically
produced? - Answer-They are made ready-to-drink with a
high proportion of Merlot in the blend, matured in a vat
with no new oak.
In Bordeaux winemaking, how are higher-priced red wines
typically produced? - Answer-Higher-priced wines use
traditional fermentation and have a higher proportion of
new oak for maturation; these wines will need maturing in
bottle for several years.
How is dry Sauvignon Blanc typically aged in Bordeaux? -
Answer-Typically, stainless steel for a short period of time
so that it can retain the varietal characteristics.
Is oak ever used to mature white wine in Bordeaux? -
Answer-Yes, oak is often used to ferment and/or mature
blends of dry Semillon/Sauvignon Blanc wines (ie Pessac-
Leognan). It is also used in the production of sweet wines
of Bordeaux.
