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
What are the two subdivisions of the GIs inside the European Union?
Protected Designation of Origin (PDO)
Protected Geographical Indication (PGI)
What is a PDO?
This term covers relatively small areas and have tightly defined regulations. Many of the most famous and prestigious wines in Europe are classified with this term.
What is a PGI?
This term covers a much wider area and has less strict regulations compared with PDOs
What are two French terms for PDO?
Appellation d’origine protegee (AOP)
Appellation d’origine controlee (AOC)
What are two French terms for PGI?
Indication geographique protegee (IGP)
Vin de pays (VdP)
What are two Italian terms for PDO?
Denominazione di Origine Controllata (DOC)
Denominazione di Origine Controllata e Garantita (DOCG)
What is the Italian term for PGI?
Indicazione Geografica Tipica (IGT)
What are the Spanish terms for PDO?
Denominacion de Origen (DO)
Demoninacion de Origen Calificada (DOCa)
What is the Spanish term for PGI?
Vino de la Tierra
What are two German terms for PDO?
Qualitatswein
Pradikatswein
What is the German term for PGI?
Landwein
What does the term Old Vine indicate?
A term not legally defined, that is often used to indicate that a wine has a higher quality
What does the term Late Harvest indicate?
It indicates that the grapes have not been harvested at the normal time, but have been left on the vine and picked much later.
What term indicates that the grapes have been affected by noble rot?
Botrytis-Noble Rot
What products are required for alcoholic fermentation?
Sugar and Yeast
What are the products of alcoholic fermentation?
Alcohol and Carbon Dioxide
What is Crushing?
Crushing involves splitting the grapes skins to release some of the grape juice
What is Pressing?
Crushed grapes are squeezed in a machine called a press in order to extract as much liquid as possible. This can happen either before or after fermentation.
What order do the steps of production occur for red winemaking?
Crushing Alcoholic Fermentation Draining Pressing Storage and Maturation Packaging
What order do the steps of production occur for white winemaking?
Crushing Pressing Alcoholic Fermentation Storage and Maturation Packaging
What order do the steps of production occur for Rose winemaking?
Crushing Alcoholic Fermentation during which time the wine is drained off the skins after a short maceration Pressing Storage and Maturation Packaging
What is punching down?
A plunger is used to push the cap down into the fermenting grape juice, facilitating the extraction of color and tannins.
What is pumping over?
Liquid from the bottom of the fermentation vessel being pumped up through a hose and sprayed over the cap, facilitating the extraction of color and tannin.
Tokaji Aszu is an example of a sweet wine made from which method?
Concentrated sugars, through extra-ripening or botrytis infection
White Zinfadel in an example of a sweet wine made from which method?
Removing the yeast through filtering
Port is an example of a sweet wine made from which method?
Killing the yeast by adding additional alcohol
When might a winemaker adjust the sugar levels in wine?
in cool climates or cool vintages the level of sugars in grapes can be too low. The wines made from these grapes are low in alcohol and lacking in body. It is possible to increase the level of sugar in the grape juice. This results in a wine with a higher level of alcohol.
When might a winemaker adjust the acid levels in wine?
in warm climates the acid levels in the grapes can become low during ripening. Wines made from these grapes would be unbalanced due to low acidity.
In cool climates the level of acid in the grapes can be too high. In this instance the winemaker can neutralise the acid.
What temperatures are red wines usually fermented at?
20C to 32C (68F to 90F)
What temperatures are white wines usually fermented at?
12C to 22C (54F to 72F)
What are the effects of stainless steel or other inert vessels on wine?
Do not add any flavor to the wine
They can also be airtight, therefore preventing oxygen from interacting with the wine and causing flavors to change.
What are the effects of oak vessels on wine?
Oak can add flavors directly to the wine and it can also allow flavors to evolve as a result of the interaction of the wine with oxygen during maturation
What flavors can oak fermentation and maturation add to wine?
Vanilla
Coconut
Charred Wood
Spice
What flavors does interaction with oxygen during oak maturation impart to wine?
Caramel
Dried Fruit
Nuts- hazelnuts, almonds, walnut.
Helps soften tannin in red wine
What is malolactic conversion?
The conversion of Malic acid to Lactic acid
lowers the acidity
Buttery flavors
What are lees?
After alcoholic fermentation, the yeast die and fall to the bottom of the fermentation vessel, forming a layer of dead cells that is called lees. If the winemaker chooses to keep the wine in contact with the lees, they can be stirred up through the wine during maturation
Why might a winemaker blend wines from different vintages?
To achieve consistency to maintain a brand’s style, or to add complexity to a blend
What changes can occur in red wine during bottle aging?
The color will change over time from ruby to garnet to tawny and become paler in intensity. The tannins can also become softer and smoother. Tertiary characteristics such as fig, prune, meat and wet leaves can develop.
What changes can occur in white wine during bottle aging?
The color will change over time from lemon to gold to amber. The intensity of the color will also become deeper. With bottle age, tertiary characteristics can develop such as dried apricot, honey, nut and spice.
What are the four principal white grape varieties?
Chardonnay
Riesling
Pinot Griogio/Gris
Sauvignon Blanc
What two principal white grape varieties come from the pGI South of France?
Sauvignon Blanc
Chardonnay
Which French PDOs are known for producing Chardonnay?
Burgundy Chablis Puligny-Montrachet Meursault Macon Pouilly-Fuisse
Which GIs outside of the European Union are known for producing Chardonnay?
USA: California, Sonoma, Carneros, Napa Valley, Santa Barbara County, Oregon
Chile: Central Valley, Casablanca Valley,
South Africa: Western Cape, Walker Bay
Australia: South Eastern Australia, Yarra Valley, Adelaide Hills, Margaret River
New Zealand: Marlborough, Hawke’s Bay
Which PDOs are known for producing Riesling?
France: Alsace
Germany: Mosel, Rheingau, Pfalz
Which GIs outside of the European Union are known for producing Riesling?
Australia: Clare Valley, Eden Valley
Which PDOs are know for producing Sauvignon Blanc?
France
Loire: Sancerre, Pouily-Fume, Touraine
Bordeaux: Bordeaux, Graves, Pessac-Leognan
Which GIs outside of the European Union are known for producing Sauvignon Blanc?
USA: Napa Valley Chile: Central Valley, Casablanca Valley South Africa: Elgin, Constantia Australia: Adelaide Hills, Margaret River New Zealand: Marlborough
Which PDOs are known for producing Pinot Grigio/ Pinot Gris?
France: Alsace
Italy: Friuli-Venezia, Giulia
What does the labelling term Grand Cru indicate?
An appellation that can be used in Alsace for Pinot Gris, Riesling and Gewurztraminer wines
What does the labelling term Vendanges tardives (VT) indicate?
An appellation that can only be used in Alsace. It means Late Harvest
What does the labelling term Landwein indicate?
This is the term for a PGI wine in Germany. These wines are typically light-bodied and dry to off-dry in style.
What does the labelling term Qualitatswein mean?
An appellation used in Germany to indicate that a wine comes from one of the 13 wine regions in Germany
What does the labelling term Pradikatswein indicate?
A term used in Germany to indicate that a wine has been made from grapes with a required level of sugar at harvest. The grapes must come from a single region.
What are the sic Pradikat categories?
Kabinett Spatlese Auslese Beerenauslese Trockenbeerenauslese Eiswein
What are GIs for Chennin Blanc?
France: Loire Valley - Vouvray
South Africa
What are GIs for Semillon?
Bordeaux
Australia: Hunter Valley, Barossa Valley
What is a French PDO for Viognier?
French : Northern Rhone - Condrieu
What are French PDOs for Gewurztraminer?
Alsace
Alsace Grand Cru
What is an Italian PDO for Verdicchio?
Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi
What is an Italian PDO for Cortese?
Gavi
What are Italian PDOs for Garganega?
Soave
Soave Classico
Recioto di Soave
What is an Italian PDO for Fiano?
Fiano di Avellino
What is a Spanish PDO for Albarino?
Spain: Rias Baixas
What is a PDO for Furmint?
Hungary: Tokaj
What are the four principal black grape varieties?
Merlot
Cabernet Sauvignon
Pinot Noir
Syrah/Shiraz
Which principal black grape varieties are produced in the PGI South of France?
Cabernet Sauvignon
Merlot
Syrah
Which French PDOs are known for producing Merlot
Bordeaux
Saint-Emillion
Pomerol
Which GIs outside of the EU are known for producing Merlot?
USA: California, Napa. Sonoma Chile: Central Valley South Africa: Stellenbosch Australia: Margaret River New Zealand: Hawke's Bay
Which French PDOs are known for producing Cabernet Sauvignon?
Bordeaux, Medoc, Haut-Medoc, Pauillac, Margaux, Graves, Pessac-Leognan
Which GIs outside of the EU are known for producing Cabernet Sauvignon?
USA: California, Napa Valley, Sonoma Chile: Central Valley, Maipo Valley, Colchagua Valley South Africa: Stellenbosch Australia: Coonawarra, Margaret RIver New Zealand: Hawke's Bay
Which French PDOs are known for producing Syrah/Shiraz?
Crozes-Hermitage
Hermitage
Cote Rotie
Which GIs outside of the EU are known for producing Syrah/Shiraz
Australia: Hunter Valley, Barossa Valley, SE Australia
Which French PDOs are known for producing Pinot Noir?
Burgundy, Gevrey-Chambertin, Nuits-Saint-Georges, Beaune, Pommard
Which GIs outside the EU are known for producing Pinot Noir
USA: Sonoma, Carneros, Santa Barbara County, Oregon
New Zealand: Marlborough, Martinborough, Central Otago
Chile: Casablanca Valley
South Africa: Walker Bay
Australia: Yarra Valley, Mornington Peninsula
Which French PDOs are known for producing Gamay?
Beaujolais, Beaujolais Villages, Beaujolais Cru
Which GIs are known for producing Grenache/Garnacha?
France: Cotes du Rhone, Cotes du Rhone Villages, Chateauneuf-du-Pape, Minervois
Spain: Rioja, Navarra, Catalunya
Australia: Barossa Valley, McLaren Vale
Which Spanish PDOs are known for producing Tempranillo?
Rioja
Ribera del Duero
Catalunya
What does the labelling term Joven indicate?
Typically young and fruity
Not subject to minimum aging requirements
What does the labelling term Crianza indicate?
Aged in oak barrels prior to release
What does the labeling term Reserva indicate?
Extended aging in barrel and bottle before release
Which PDOs are known for producing Nebbiolo?
Barolo
Barbaresco
Which PDOs are known for producing Barbera?
Barbera d’Asti
Barbera d’Alba
Which Italian PDOs are known for producing Sangiovese?
Chainti
Chianti Classico
CHianti Classico Riserva
Brunello di Montalcino
Which Italian PDOs are known for producing Corvina?
Valpolicella
Valpolicella Classico
What does the labeling term Classico indicate?
It indicates the grapes are grown in the hilliest parts of the region producing more concentrated and riper grapes.
What does the labelling term Amarone indicate?
Apassimento method - dried grapes after picking
high alcohol
dry to off dry
What does the labelling term Recioto indicate?
Sweet wine
grapes dried on matts to concentrate sugar
Which Italian PDO is known for producing Montepulciano?
Montepulciano d’Abruzzo
Which GIs are known for producing Zinfandel/Primitivo?
USA: California
Italy: Puglia
Which GIs are known for producing Pinotage?
South Africa: Western Cape
What does the labelling term Cape Blend indicate?
Blend of Pinotage and and other grapes such as Cabernet Sauvignon or Merlot
Which GIs are known for producing Carmenere?
Chile: Central Valley
Which GIs are known for producing Malbec?
Argentina: Mendoza
