WSET 2 Flashcards
What does the intensity of a wine’s color refer to?
How ‘Pale’, ‘medium’, or ‘deep’ a wines color is
What range of color descriptors can be used to describe white wine?
Lemon
Gold
Amber
What range of color descriptors can be used to describe red wine?
Ruby
Purple
Garnet
Tawny
What range of color descriptors can be used to describe rose wine?
Pink
Pink-Orange
Orange
Where do primary flavors and aromas come from?
Grapes or the fermentation process
Where do Secondary aromas and flavors come from?
Post-fermentation winemaking process
Where do tertiary aromas and flavors come from?
Aging Process
What descriptors are used to identify the sweetness in a wine?
Dry
Off-dry
Medium
Sweet
What effect does acidity in wine have when you sip it?
A mouthwatering effect
What effect do tannins in wine have when you sip it?
They make your mouth feel dry and can taste bitter
What structural component of wines can alcohol contribute to?
Body
What is the body of a wine?
Body is an overall impression of how the wine feels in the mouth using the sense of touch rather than taste
What is the finish of a wine?
The finish is the collection of sensations after you have swallowed or spat the wine out
What should your ideal tasting environment look like?
free of strong odors
well-lit
enough space for samples and spittoon
white space such as table cloth or paper
What is the suggested wine sample size?
WSET suggests a 5cl (1.7 US oz) samples.
What are the ideal storage conditions for wine?
cool and constant temperature
away from direct sunlight
if sealed with a cork it should be on it’s side
if sealed with a stelvin it should be stored upright
What temperature should light-, medium-bodied white wine and rose wine be served at?
Chilled 7-10C (45-50F)
What temperature should sparkling wine be served at?
Well chilled 6-10C (43-40F)
What temperature should sweet wine be served at?
Well chilled 6-8C (43-46F)
What temperature should full-bodied white wine be served at?
Lightly chilled 10-13C (50-55F)
What temperature should light-bodied red wine be served at?
Lightly chilled 13-18C (55-64F)
What temperature should medium- and full-bodied red wine be served at?
Room temperature 15-18C (59-64F)
What chemical can cause cork taint?
Trichloroanisole
What is failure of closure?
A wine fault resulting from unwanted oxygen interacting wine the wine
What can heat damage do to a wine?
The wine can lose its freshness quickly, lack the expected fruit character, and taste dull and stale.
What is a vacuum system?
Vacuum systems rely on a pump to remove the air from inside the bottle.
What is a blanket system?
These systems pump gas into the bottle, which pushes the air out of the bottle. The gas will not harm the wine.
What effect can sweet food have on wine?
It can make wine seem more drying, bitter and acidic, and less sweet and fruity.
What effect can salty food have on wine?
It can make wine seem less drying, bitter and acidic, and have more fruitiness and body.
What effect can highly flavored food have on a wine?
Wine can seem overwhelmed by the food
What does the skin of the grape contribute to winemaking?
Color
Tannins
Flavor
What does the pulp of the grape contribute to winemaking?
Sugar
Acids\
Water
Flavors
What do the stem and seeds of the grape contribute to winemaking?
Tannins
Which kind of grape has higher levels of color and tannins in the skin?
Black Grapes
What does a vine require to grow?
Water
Sunlight and Warmth
Nutrients
Carbon Dioxide
What are the different stages of grape formation?
Flowering
Fruit Set
Veraison
Ripening
What is extra ripening?
The process of leaving grapes on the vine past the point when they might normally be harvested, so that the sugars and acids are concentrated in the grapes.
Extra ripened grapes are often used to make sweet wines.
What is botrytis/noble rot?
A fungus that can grow on grapes which makes tiny holes in the skin of the grapes, causing the water to evaporate.
This has the effect of concentrating acids, sugars and flavors in grapes, which are then used to make sweet wine.
Why would a winemaker allow grapes to remain on the vine in the winer and freeze?
To freeze the water in the grapes, thus concentrating acids, sugars and flavors.
Wine made from grapes frozen on the vine is called Icewine/Eiswein.
What is the temperature range of cool grape-growing climates?
16.5C (62F) or below
What is the temperature range of moderate grape-growing climates?
16.5C (62F) - 18.5C (65F)
What is the temperature range of warm grape-growing climates?
18.5C (65F) - 21C (70F)
What changes occur in grapes as they ripen?
Grapes swell with water, acidity drops, sugar increases and signature flavors develop
How do the flavors of white grapes change as they ripen?
Flavors develop from green fruit to stone fruit to tropical fruit
How do the flavors of black grapes change as they ripen?
Flavors develop from fresh fruit to cooked fruit.
What latitudes are most wine-growing regions located between?
30 and 50 degrees North or South of the equator
How does altitude influence growing conditions?
Temperatures drop with altitude
How does proximity to seas influence growing conditions?
Ocean currents can cool warm regions or warm cool regions
How does proximity to rivers influence growing condition?
Rivers reflect sunlight, helping grapes to ripen. They can also retain warmth in cooler seasons, providing warmth to vineyards
How do could, fog and mist affect growing conditions?
Cloud, fog and mist can protect vineyards from sunlight and moderate warmer climates
How does proximity to mountains affect growing conditions?
Mountains can protect growing regions from clouds, rain and cold winds
How does slope and aspect affect growing conditions?
In moderate and cool climates, vineyards sloped towards the equator receive more heat and light.
How does soil affect growing conditions?
Soil needs to store enough water and nutrients to provide for the vine. Stony soils can also absorb heat and warm a vineyard.
What weather extremes can cause problems for grape growers?
Drought Temperature Sunlight Frost Hail Rain
What are training and pruning?
Training ensures vines grown on trellises, while pruning ensures that vines retain their shape/ Both are necessary to ensure the vine produces a viable crop.
What is irrigation?
Providing vines with the water they need
Why might vines need to be sprayed?
To protect them from fungal diseases and small insects
What is yield?
The measure of the number of grapes produced per unit of area
What choices might a grape grower need to make about harvests?
The grape grower will need to decide how long to let the grapes ripen for, as this will affect the style of the wine made.
What do GIs indicate outside the European Union?
These terms indicate where the grapes used to make the wine were grown
What do GIs indicate inside the European Union?
These terms indicate where the grapes are grown. Every GI comes with extra regulations that can regulate what grapes may be grown, as well as how the wines should be made