WSET L2 Exam 03 – Factors influencing dry/sweet white wines Riesling, Furmint, Chenin Blanc, Semillon, Pinot Gris/Grigio, Gewurztraminer, Viognier, Albarino

Question 1

Which gas is given off during alcoholic fermentation?

a) Sulphur Dioxide.
b) Nitrogen Dioxide.
c) Carbon Dioxide.
d) Hydrogen Dioxide.

Answer 1

Which gas is given off during alcoholic fermentation?

c) Carbon Dioxide.

Question 2

Where is Margaret River?

a) USA.
b) Australia.
c) Chile.
d) Argentina.

Answer 2

b) Australia.

Question 3

Gewurztraminer is typically?

a) Full body, low to medium acid.
b) Light body, low to medium acid.
c) Full body, high acid.
d) Light body, high acid.

Answer 3

a) Full body, low to medium acid.

• FIO:*
• Gewurztraminer is grown in Alsace in France and in Europe etc.*
• Gewürztraminer is an aromatic wine grape variety, used in white wines, and performs best in cooler climates. Gewürztraminer is a variety with a pink to red skin colour, which makes it a “white wine grape” as opposed to the blue to black-skinned varieties commonly referred to as “red wine grapes”.*
• The variety has high natural sugar and the wines are white and usually off-dry, with a flamboyant bouquet of lychees.*
• Indeed, Gewürztraminer and lychees share the same aroma compounds.*
• Dry Gewürztraminers may also have aromas of roses, passion fruit and floral notes. It is not uncommon to notice some spritz (fine bubbles on the inside of the glass).*
• Gewürztraminer’s sweetness may offset the spice in Southeast Asian cuisine.*

Question 4

Vouvray Demi-sec is?

a) Full bodied, high acid, sweet
b) Light body, medium acid, sweet
c) Medium body, high acid, off-dry
d) Full bodied, low acid, dry

Answer 4

c) Medium body, high acid, off-dry
* FIO:*

Vouvray = Loire Valley, France.

Grape = Chenin Blanc

• The Appellation d’origine contrôlée (AOC) is dedicated almost exclusively to Chenin blanc; the obscure and minor grape Arbois is permitted but rarely used.*
• Vouvray = Chenin Blanc grape (Vouvray is in the Loire Valley)*

Question 5

The acidity and body of Sauternes is?

ACIDITY BODY
a. High Light

b. Low Full
c. High Full
d. Low Medium

Answer 5

ACIDITY BODY

c. High Full
* FIO:*
* Sauternes = Graves section in Bordeaux, France.*
* Sauternes is a French sweet wine. Sauternes wine is made from sémillon, sauvignon blanc, and muscadelle grapes that have been affected by Botrytis cinerea, also known as noble rot.*
* This causes the grapes to become partially raisined, resulting in concentrated and distinctively flavored wines. Due to its climate, Sauternes is one of the few wine regions where infection with noble rot is a frequent occurrence. Even so, production is a hit-or-miss proposition, with widely varying harvests from vintage to vintage. Wines from Sauternes, especially the Premier Cru Supérieur estate Château d’Yquem, can be very expensive, largely due to the very high cost of production.*

Question 6

Condrieu flavours are typically?

a) Blossom, apple, grapefruit.
b) Blossom, peach, vanilla.
c) Cloves, smoke, rose.
d) Blackberry, vanilla, violet.

Answer 6

b) Blossom, peach, vanilla.

FIO:

*Condrieu = France in Northern Rhône
Condrieu = flavours Blossom, peach, vanilla.*

• Condrieu is a French wine-growing Appellation d’Origine Contrôlée (AOC) located in the northern Rhône, near Vienne and to the south of the Côte-Rôtie AOC.*
• The vineyards are situated in the seven communes of Limony, Chavanay, Malleval, Saint-Michel-sur-Rhône, Saint-Pierre-de Boeuf, Vérin, and Condrieu.*
• These communes are in the French departments of Ardèche, Rhône and Loire on the steep slopes of the foothills of the Massif Central on the right bank of the Rhône.*
• The four southernmost communes can also produce wine under the Saint-Joseph AOC. The wines made in this AOC are exclusively white, from the Viognier grape, which may have originated in the region. Within Condrieu is the enclave AOC of Château-Grillet, producing wines that are also 100% Viognier. The Condrieu AOC was officially created in 1940.*

Question 7

Tokaji Aszú’s is typically?

a. Sweet, dried apricots, caramel
b. Medium-sweet, pineapples
c. Dry, fresh/dried apricots, caramel
d. Sweet, strawberries, vanilla

Answer 7

a. Sweet, dried apricots, caramel
* FIO:*

Tokaji Aszú’s main grape is FURMINT.

Tokaji Aszú’s Taste = Sweet, dried apricots, caramel.

• Tokaji (Hungarian) or Tokay is the name of the wines from the Tokaj wine region in Hungary or the adjoining Tokaj wine region in Slovakia. This region is noted for its sweet wines made from grapes affected by noble rot, a style of wine which has a long history in this region. The “nectar” coming from the grapes of Tokaj is also mentioned in the national anthem of Hungary.*
• Main grape is FURMIT but there are a total of Six grape varieties are officially approved for Tokaji wine production:*

* Furmint (accounts for 60% production)
* Hárslevelű (only accounts for 30% production)
* Yellow Muscat (Hungarian: Sárgamuskotály)
* Zéta (previously called Oremus – a cross of Furmint and Bouvier grapes)
* Kövérszőlő
* Kabar (a cross of Hárslevelű and Bouvier grapes)

Furmint accounts for 60% of the area and is by far the most important grape in the production of Aszú wines. Hárslevelű stands for further 30%. Nevertheless, an impressive range of different types and styles of wines are produced in the region, ranging from dry whites to the Eszencia, the world’s sweetest wine.

Question 8

Gevrey-Chambertin tastes of?

a) Cherries and strawberries.
b) Blackcurrants and blackberries.
c) Lemons and peaches.
d) Grassy and herbaceous.

Answer 8

a) Cherries and strawberries.

FIO:

Gevrey-Chambertin = Burgundy in France. Characteristics are:
Colour and Intensity = Pale Garnet
Taste = Cherries and Strawberries

• Gevrey-Chambertin wine is produced in the communes of Gevrey-Chambertin and Brochon in the Côte de Nuits subregion of Burgundy. The Appellation d’origine contrôlée (AOC) Gevrey-Chambertin may be used only for red wine with Pinot noir as the main grape variety. There are nine Grand Cru vineyards within the commune of Gevrey-Chambertin, Chambertin and eight others called Chambertin in combination with something else, such as Chapelle-Chambertin. While Gevrey-Chambertin also has several highly regarded Premier Cru vineyards, it has a particularly large amount of vineyards at the village level for a Côte de Nuits appellation.*
• Gevrey-Chambertin wines are highly colourful and potent for Burgundies, with intense aromas and flavours evoking blackcurrant, cherry, musk and liquorice, among others. The potency of Gevrey-Chambertin wines makes it a suitable accompaniment to stews and strong-flavoured cooking, such as grilled red meat, leg of mutton, beef Bourguignon, rabbit stew, coq au vin, coq au Chambertin, and strong cheeses, such as Époisses.*

Question 9

Old oak vats

1) add the flavour of oak to a wine.
2) allow oxygen to dissolve in the wine.
3) allow the tannins in red wine to soften.
a. 1 and 2 only.
b. 1 and 3 only.
c. 2 and 3 only.
d. 1, 2 and 3.

Answer 9

c. 2 and 3 only.
* FIO:*
* Only NEW Oak Vats can add flavour to the wine.*

Question 10

Which one of the following regions has a reputation for premium quality Pinot Gris?

a. Burgundy.
b. Alsace.
c. Rioja.
d. Vouvray.

Answer 10

b. Alsace.

Question 11

Tokaji Aszú’s main grape is?

a. Furmint
b. Semillon
c. Pinot Gris
d. Pinot Noir

Answer 11

a. Furmint

• FIO:*
• Tokaji Aszú’s main grape is FURMINT.*
• Tokaji Aszú’s Taste = Sweet, dried apricots, caramel.*
• Tokaji (Hungarian) or Tokay is the name of the wines from the Tokaj wine region in Hungary or the adjoining Tokaj wine region in Slovakia. This region is noted for its sweet wines made from grapes affected by noble rot, a style of wine which has a long history in this region. The “nectar” coming from the grapes of Tokaj is also mentioned in the national anthem of Hungary.*
• Main grape is FURMIT but there are a total of Six grape varieties are officially approved for Tokaji wine production:*

* Furmint (accounts for 60% production)
* Hárslevelű (only accounts for 30% production)
* Yellow Muscat (Hungarian: Sárgamuskotály)
* Zéta (previously called Oremus – a cross of Furmint and Bouvier grapes)
* Kövérszőlő
* Kabar (a cross of Hárslevelű and Bouvier grapes)

Furmint accounts for 60% of the area and is by far the most important grape in the production of Aszú wines. Hárslevelű stands for further 30%. Nevertheless, an impressive range of different types and styles of wines are produced in the region, ranging from dry whites to the Eszencia, the world’s sweetest wine.

Question 12

Which one of the following is true of Riesling?

a. It only makes low quality wines.
b. It has a lot of colour and lots of tannin.
c. Typical flavours include black fruit and pepper.
d. It is at its best in cool to moderate climates.

Answer 12

d. It is at its best in cool to moderate climates.
* FIO:*
* In cool climates (such as many German wine regions), Riesling wines tend to exhibit apple and tree fruit notes with noticeable levels of acidity that are sometimes balanced with residual sugar.*
* A late-ripening variety that can develop more citrus and peach notes is grown in warmer climates (such as Alsace and parts of Austria).*
* In Australia, Riesling is often noted for a characteristic lime note that tends to emerge in examples from the Clare Valley and Eden Valley in South Australia.*
* Riesling’s naturally high acidity and pronounced fruit flavors give wines made from the grape exceptional aging potential, with well-made examples from favorable vintages often developing smokey, honey notes, and aged German Rieslings, in particular, taking on a “petrol” character.*

Question 13

Which grapes makes a low alcohol, high acid wine in Hunter Valley?

1) Pinot Gris.
2) Chardonnay.
3) Gewurztraminer.
4) Sémillon.

Answer 13

4) Sémillon.

FIO:

Hunter Valley = New South Wales, Australia.

• Hunter Valley Semillon is widely considered the iconic wine of the region (but the Hunter Valley also produces wine from a variety of grapes including Shiraz, Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon and Verdelho).*
• Under Australia’s wine appellation system, the Hunter Valley zone Australian Geographical Indication (GI) covers the entire catchment of the Hunter River and its tributaries.*
• With its northerly latitude and close oceanic influences, the Hunter Valley is one of Australia’s hottest and wettest wine regions.*
• Flanked by mountains to the west and north the Hunter Valley acts as a funnel, pulling cool ocean breezes into the area. This effect is similar to the cooling that Napa Valley receives from San Pablo Bay in California.*
• Without these cooling breezes, quality wine grape production would be nearly impossible. However, with those cooling breezes also comes heavy rainfall and periodic cyclonic storms in the summer and autumn months.*

Question 14

Bordeaux dry white wines are usually?

a. Sauvignon Blanc and Chenin Blanc.
b. Chardonnay and Sémillon.
c. Chenin Blanc and Chardonnay.
d. Sauvignon Blanc and Sémillon.

Answer 14

d. Sauvignon Blanc and Sémillon.

Question 15

The acidity and body of Albarino is typically?

ACIDITY BODY

a. High Full
b. Low Full
c. High Medium
d. Low Medium.

Answer 15

c. High Medium

FIO:

Spain produces Albariño to a significant degree in the Rías Baixas DO, especially in the town of Cambados, Condado do Tea and in Barbanza e Iria.

In Portugal it is common in the Vinho Verde region, but it is only authorized to be grown in Monção and Melgaço.