WSET 3 Basics

Question 1

What is the ideal temperature for long-term wine storage?

Answer 1

10 to 15°C (50-59°F)

Question 2

Why is wine stored on its side?

Answer 2

To keep the wine in contact with the cork

Question 3

What is the correct service temperature for medium/full-bodied, Oakton, white wines, for example, white burgundy, fumé blanc?

Answer 3

Lightly chilled, 10 to 13°C/50 to 55°F

Question 4

What is the correct service temperature for light/medium bodied, white wines, for example, muscadet, Pinot Grigio, New Zealand, Sauvignon Blanc, Fino sherry?

Answer 4

Chilled, 7 to 10°C, 45 to 50°F

Question 5

What is the correct service temperature for sweet wines, for example, Sauternes, Eiswein?

Answer 5

Well chilled, 6 to 8°C, 43 to 46°F

Question 6

What is the correct service temperature for sparkling wines, including champagne, cava, asti?

Answer 6

Well, child, 6 to 10°C, 43 to 50°F

Question 7

What is the correct service temperature for light bodied, red wines, including Beaujolais, Valpolicella?

Answer 7

Lightly chilled, 13°C or 55°F

Question 8

What is the correct service temperature for medium/full bodied, red wines, including red Bordeaux, Rioja, Australian Shiraz, château neuf-du-pape, Barolo, Amarone della Vallolicella, vintage port?

Answer 8

Room temperature, 15 to 18°C, 59 to 64°F

Question 9

Which wines must always be decanted?

Answer 9

Those with heavy deposit

Question 10

How many 125 mL glasses are in a standard 75 cL bottle of wine?

Answer 10

6

Question 11

How many 175 mL glasses are in a standard 75 cL bottle of wine?

Answer 11

4

Question 12

How many 250 mL glasses are in a standard 75 cL bottle of wine?

Answer 12

3

Question 13

What is the main Eurasian species of vine?

Answer 13

Vitis vinifera

Question 14

What is phylloxera?

Answer 14

A wine pest that attacks a vine’ roots

Question 15

Define grape variety

Answer 15

A group of individual plants that can all trace their lineage back through a series of cuttings, and/or layerings to a single plant

Question 16

Define a cutting

Answer 16

A section of a vine, shoot, that is planted and then grows as a new plant

Question 17

Define layering

Answer 17

Layering takes place in the Vineyard. A cane is bent down, and a section of it is buried in the ground. The cane tips points upward out of the ground. The berry dissection takes route, and, once these roots are established, the cane linking the new growth to the original plant is cut.

Question 18

Why do wineries choose to use cuttings instead of layering?

Answer 18

To prevent phylloxera

Question 19

What is cross-fertilization?

Answer 19

Where Paulin from the mail, part of a flower of one vine is transferred to the female part of the flower of another vine and fertilization occurs.

Question 20

What are the four sections of a vine?

Answer 20

Green parts of the vine
One-year old wood
Permanent wood
Roots

Question 21

What is included in the green parts of a vine?

Answer 21

Tendrils
Buds
Leaves
Flowers and berries

Question 22

What is a crossing?

Answer 22

When a new variety is produced from two parents of the same species 

Question 23

Name a significant “crossing.”

Answer 23

Cabernet Franc is a crossing of Cabernet Sauvignon and Sauvignon Blanc

Punitive is a crossing of Pinot Noir and Cinsault

Question 24

What is a hybrid?

Answer 24

Divine whose parents come from two different vine species

Question 25

What is head grafting?

Answer 25

A form of grafting, which is used if a grape Groehler with an established vineyard, decides to switch to a different great variety between seasons. The existing vine is cut back to its trunk and a bud, or cutting of the new variety is grafted onto the trunk.

Question 26

Why would a vineyard choose head grafting?

Answer 26

It takes a newly planted vine, a minimum of three years to be able to produce a commercial crop, head grafting can allow the grower to adjust quickly in changes in market demand. It is also considerably cheaper than re-planting an entire vineyard, and the new variety starts with life of an established root system 

Question 27

What is aspect?

Answer 27

The direction in which a slope faces

Question 28

What is the effect of ocean currents on vines?

Answer 28

Major currents, transport, large volumes of warm or cold water across the surface of the ocean, leading to localized, warming or cooling in certain regions. Regions that might otherwise be too hot or cold for grape growing may warm or cool, based on ocean currents.

Question 29

What effect does fog have on vines?

Answer 29

Fog can cool in area that may otherwise struggle to produce high-quality grapes

Question 30

At what temperature is it too cold for a vine to grow?

Answer 30

10°C or 50°F

Question 31

Between which latitude do most vineyards lie?

Answer 31

30° and 50° north and south of the equator 

Question 32

How does altitude affect vineyards?

Answer 32

It decreases temperature, allowing some regions closer to the equator to grow vines successfully

Question 33

What is continentality?

Answer 33

The temperature difference between the coldest and the hottest month of the year

Question 34

What is diurnal range?

Answer 34

Difference between daytime and nighttime temperatures

Question 35

What are the four main types of protection from spring frost?

Answer 35

Heaters Wind machines Sprinklers Thoughtful vineyard design

Question 36

What is the temperature classification for cool climates?

Answer 36

Regions with an average growing season, temperature of 16.5°C (62°F) or below

Question 37

What is the temperature classification for moderate climates?

Answer 37

Regions with an average growing season, temperature of 16.5-18.5°C (62-65°F).

Question 38

What is the temperature classification for warm climates?

Answer 38

Regions with an average growing season, temperature of 18.5-21°C (65-70°F).

Question 39

What is the temperature classification for hot climates?

Answer 39

Regions with an average growing season, temperature of 21°C (70°F) or more.

Question 40

Define a continental climate

Answer 40

Climates with the greatest difference in temperature between the hottest and coldest months of the year, short summers with large, rapid temperature drop in autumn.

Question 41

Define a maritime climate

Answer 41

Characterized by cool to moderate temperatures and low annual difference between the hottest and coldest months, rainfall tends to be evenly spread throughout the year and moderate temperature.

Question 42

Define a Mediterranean

Answer 42

Low temperature difference between the hottest and coldest months but the summers tend to be warm and dry

Question 43

Name two types of vine training.

Answer 43

Head training Cordon training

Question 44

What is head training?

Answer 44

These vines have relatively little permanent wood, some only have a trunk. Others have a few short arms of permanent wood growing from the top of the trunk. They can either be spur, pruned, or replacement cane pruned.

Question 45

What is cordon training?

Answer 45

These fines typically have a trunk with one or more permanent horizontal arms or Cordons.

Question 46

Name two types of vine pruning.

Answer 46

Spur pruning Replacement cane pruning

Question 47

What is spur pruning?

Answer 47

Spurs are short sections of one-year-old. Would that have been cut down to only 2 to 3 buds.

Question 48

What is replacement cane pruning?

Answer 48

Canes are longer sections of one-year-old wood and can have anything between eight and 20 buds. Typically only one or two cans are retained, and each cane is tied horizontally to the trellis for support.