WSET Level 2 Flashcards
What style of Port “must” be decanted?
Vintage
Which style of sherry is refortified to 17% partially through the aging process?
Amontillado
What style of Sherry does not show oxidative characters of walnut and caramel?
Fino
Cava refers to:
A bottle-fermented sparkling wine from Spain
What is added to a base wine to inaugurate a second-fermentation in a bottle-fermented sparkling wine?
Sugar and yeast
Generally speaking, how much will the alcohol of a base wine increase during secondary fermentation?
1-2%
The term ‘Classico’ on an Italian wine label indicates:
The wine comes from a historic centre of a wine region
What is the main grape of a Valpolicella blend?
Corvina
Typical aromas and flavors of Fiano inculde
peach, melon, mango
The main grape of Gavi DOCG is
Cortese
Gavi DOCG is located in which part of Italy?
Piedmont
The grape of Soave is
Garganega
Which variety native to Bordeaux is widely grown in Chile?
Carmenére
Name the pair of regions that is home to many old vine Grenache
Barossa Valley and McLaren Valley
Give the basic description for Grenache grapes.
high sugars, thin skins, low acidity
The classic region for Syrah is
The northern Rhône
Which region has established itself has a source of distinctively minty Cab Sauv in Australia?
Coonawarra
The climate of Bordeaux is best described as
Moderate maritime
Which Chilean region typically produces medium-bodied Merlots from high yields?
Central Valley
Which river divides Bordeaux into a left and right bank?
Gironde
Merlot is originally from
Bordeaux
Which AOC is home to the finest examples of Viognier?
Condrieu AOC
What contributes most to the stylistic differences between Pinot Gris and Pinot Grigio?
Grape-growing choices
What pair of regions in South Africa are famous for Sauv Blanc?
Constantia and Elgin
What Bordeaux AOC is home to top quality Sauv Blanc?
Pessac-Léognan AOC
What region is considered the heart of Burgundian Chardonnay?
Côte de Bueane
Describe a typical warm climate Chardonnay
Full body, medium acidity, primary characters of pineapple/banana
Sauternes wines are based on which variety?
Semillon
True or False:
A Tokaji wine made from Furmint can be made dry
True
Which Prädikatswein translates to “late harvest” in English
Spätlese
Naturally high acidity in Riesling means:
It is suitable for late-harvesting when conditions are right
What best describes a red Zinfindel?
Full body, high alcohol, primary flavor of blackberry
Blending Pinot Noir with other grapes is common in:
Champagne
Good examples of Pinot Noir in California are generally not found in:
Napa
“Vendanges Tardives” indicates a wine made from:
late-harvest grapes
The challenge of low yields is:
commercial viability
An ice bucket will efficiently chill a wine if:
the bucket is filled with equal parts ice and cold water
How are Reserve Ruby ports different from Ruby ports?
Reserve Ruby ports are generally of high quality.
Better grapes are used and they are matured longer than Ruby ports
What are the 3 most important styles of Dry Sherry?
- Fino
- Oloroso
- Amontillado
What is the grape in Fino, Oloroso and Amontillado sherries?
Palomino
Because of how Amontillado is made (biologically, the oxidatively) what flavors help define it?
bread/bread dough/biscuit (like Finos)
nuts/caramel/dried fruits (lik Oloroso)
What is significant or particular about Amontillado sherry and how it ages?
Amontillado starts of aging biologically (under flor) but it’s refortified to Oloroso levels (17%). This refortification kills the flor and the wine ends up aging oxidatively.
Besides PX, what are the other styles of sweet sherry?
- Pale cream (made from Fino)
- Medium (made from Amontillado)
- Cream (made from Oloroso)
Describe the profile of Fino Sherry
dry
low alcohol (for a fortified wine)
pale in color (pale lemon)
notes of green apple
light oxidative notes (yeast, biscuit, almond)
Describe the profile of a Tawny port
sweet
high alcohol
full body
dried fruits
oxidative flavors (nuts, caramel)
Describe the profile of Cortese
dry
light body
high acid
gentle floral notes (blossom)
light citrus (lemon)
crisp orchard fruit (pear, apple)
Where is Cortese the most important grape variety?
Piedmont, NW Italy
Brunello is the name for what in Montalcino?
Sangiovese
Why is port always sweet?
Fermentation is interrupted and stopped by the addition of alcohol (neutral grape spirit) which kills the yeasts, leaving the wine very sweet and high in alcohol
Describe the profile of Brunello di Montalcino
dry
high alcohol
full body
high tannin
concentrated red-fruit profile
always matured in oak (mostly neutral) for long period prior to release (notes of clove, cedar)
great aging potential
Where is the town of Montalcino in Tuscany?
southern Tuscany
Corvina is the most important grape in which Italian region?
Veneto, in the NE
Name some reasons why a young Barbera is generally more approachable than young Nebbiolo
Barbera displays: lower tannin, more ample, plush fruits, many are unoaked and less complex
What is Barbera’s most famous DOCG?
Barbera d’Asti DOCG
Describe the profile of Montepulciano
dry
high tannin
medium acid
black fruits (plum, cherries)
most affordable with no oak
some concentrated styles will see oak
What is the most famous DOC in Abruzzo for the Montepulciano grape?
Montepulciano d’Abruzzo
What are the 2 most prominent grape varietals in Central Italy?
- Sangiovese
- Montepulciano
What is the minimum requirement of lees aging for a non-vintage Champagne?
12
Where does Prosecco DOC come from?
Veneto, NE Italy
Describe the profile of Sangiovese
dry
high tannin
high acid
red fruits (cherries, plums)
dried herbal notes (pizza herbs: oregano, basil)
most simple/affordable with no oak
some concentrated styles of Classico and Reserva will see oak
Which mountain range runs down the length of Italy, basically splitting the country down the middle of the boot?
The Apennines
Describe the profile of a vintage Champagne
dry
high acid
mature citrus
bruised apple/pear notes
medium to pronounced autolytic aromas and flavors
honey
caramel
mushrooms
extremely age-worthy
benefits from bottle aging
What is the coolest growing areas in South Africa planted to Chardonnay?
Walker Bay
Name 2 villages in the Côte dé Beaune that are famous for their Chardonnays
- Meursault AOC
- Puligny-Montrachet AOC
Describe the style of Semillon that is typical for Hunter Valley
dry
light bodied
low alcohol
neutral flavors in youth
honeyed and nutty flavors when aged
What white grape goes into Gavi DOCG?
Cortese
Describe the character profile of Pinotage
dry
medium to full body
medium tannin
high acidity
bright red fruits (strawberry, red cherry, red licorice, crunchy raspberry)
may or may not have oak influence
What is the term for the very youngest style of aged wine in Spain?
Joven
Describe a Reserva red wine from Spain
dry
softened tannins
developing secondary and tertiary aromas and flavors
-caramel, earth, mushrooms
-both fresh and dried or cooked fruit
Describe the profile of a non-vintage Champagne
dry
high acid
under ripe/just ripe citrus
fresh apple/crunchy pear notes
light autolytic flavors/aromas
not particularly age worthy-better drunk young
Besides Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, what other grape in South Africa is widely used in Méthode Cap Classique?
Chenin Blanc
What are the 4 most important DOC/DOCGs for Sangiovese in Tuscany?
- Chianti DOCG
- Chianti Classico DOCG
- Chianti Classico Reserva DOCG
- Brunello di Montalcino DOCG
Describe the profile of Fiano
dry
medium to full body
medium acid
peach/stone fruits
melon/tropical fruits
if Sur-lie aged, notes of bread, biscuit, smoke
What central Italian region is famous for Montepulciano?
Abruzzo
In which region is Fiano di Avellino DOCG?
Campania
Describe the profile of Verdicchio
dry
medium body
high acid
fennel/anise
lemon/citrus
green orchard fruit (apple, pear)
developed wines show notes of honey and nuts
Which region in Italy is known for Verdicchio?
Marche
Describe the profile of Amarone della Valpolicella
dry to off dry
full body
high alcohol (15%+ abv)
high tannin
high acid
dried fruits (figs, raisins, prunes)
ripe red fruits (cherries)
What winemaking technique is widely used in the Veneto region?
Appassimento
Name 4 important DOC/DOCGs whose wines are dominated by the black grape Corvina
- Valpolicella DOC
- Valpolicella Classico DOC
- Amarone della Valpolicella DOCG
- Recioto della Valpolicella DOCG
Describe the profile of Corvina
dry to off dry, depending on the DOC/DOCG
light body (Valpolicella DOC) to full body (Amarone Valpolicella DOCG)
low to medium tannin (can be high tannin for Amarone)
high acid
red fruits (cherries, plums, fresh figs)
gentle florals (hibiscus)
What 2 international grape varietals are allowed in Spanish Cava?
What do they add?
- Chardonnay
- Pinot Noir
Both add acidity and fruit character to Cava
Which region in Australia uses Merlot in their Bordeaux red blends?
Margaret River
What are the main grape varieties in Sauternes?
Semillon and Sauv Blanc
To be labeled Qualitätswein or Prädikateswein, what requirements must the grapes meet?
Qualitaswein:
must come from one of the 13 wine regions
grapes must achieve high levels of ripeness than Landwein
Prädikateswein:
must come from on of the 13 wine region
grapes must have a higher level of sugar than Qualitätswein
In what region and country does Primitivo live?
Puglia, Italy
Where is Sauternes AOC?
it is a sub-region of Bordeaux
Which appellation on New Zealand’s north island is know for Chardonnay?
What is the climate there?
Hawke’s Bay
Moderate climate
What region of Chile is known for experiencing Pacific breezes and morning fog?
Casablanca Valley
What helps differentiate the 3 dry styles of sherry?
length in the solera
environmental conditions around and in the solera, including humidity and heat
What does it mean when a wine is fortified?
alcohol is added to the wine to: protect it from spoiling and to bolster its body, warmth and sturdiness
Where is sherry produced?
in SW Spain in and around the town of Jerez de la Frontera
List the most ubiquitous styles of port. Of these, which style is going to be the most oxidative?
- Ruby-style port
- Ruby port
- Reserve Ruby port
- LBV port
- Vintage port
- Tawny-style port (most oxidative)
What grape goes into Asti DOCG?
100% Moscato
What does the final dosage (liquer d’ expédition) do besides top up the bottle?
dictates the final sweetness level of the wine
Which region in Argentina has the highest density of Malbec plantings?
Mendoza
Describe the profile of Barbera
dry
low to medium tannin
high acid
plush red fruits (cherries, plums)
occasional black pepper
Which region of Italy has the highest density of Barbera plantings?
Piedmont, in the NW
Which direction do the vineyards of Barolo face?
south
Describe the profile of Nebbiolo
dry
full body
high tannin
high alcohol
red fruits (red cherry, plum)
gentle florals (violet, rose)
developing aromas include; leather, truffles, tar/tobacco
Which river crosses all of northern Italy, starting in Piedmont and ending in Veneto?
Pò River
Describe the profile of ripe Carmenére
dry
full body
high tannin
medium to high acidity
black fruits (dark plum, blackberry, black raspberry)
herbal (eucalyptus)
if oak matured, notes of coffee, chocolate, mocha
What style of wine is Recioto di Soave DOCG?
a sweet wine made w/ dried grapes
most of which are Garganega using the appassimento process
What is the well known DOCG for Fiano in Southern Italy?
Fiano di Avellino DOCG
Nebbiolo is the only black grape allowed in the wines from what 2 Piedmont DOCGs?
- Barolo DOCG
- Barbaresco DOCG
Which mountain range runs along the northern border of Italy, protecting it from very cold, northerly winds?
The Alps
In which Italian region are Soave DOC and Soave Classico DOC found?
Veneto, in the NE
Soave DOC and Soave Classico DOC are made to
age in bottle for many years?
drink young and fresh?
drinks young and fresh
What is the typical range of alcohol in a dry wine?
11.5%-16% abv
Name 2 appellations in the southern Rhône known for simple, affordable, and approachable Grenache-based blends.
Which one is more likely to be a touch more complex and interesting?
- Côtes du Rhône AOC
- Côtes du Rhône Villages AOC (will be more complex and interesting)
Describe the profile of Garganega
dry
medium body
high acid
peach
light citrus (lemon)
green orchard fruit (pear, apple)