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WSET > WSET Level 2 Exam > Flashcards

WSET Level 2 Exam Flashcards

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1
Q

If a wine is “off” it is referred to as ______ .

A

out-of-condition

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2
Q

The most common fault that can be discovered on the nose is?

A

Cork taint:

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3
Q

Wines that are slightly sweet are called?

A

off-dry

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4
Q

Tannin is present is grapes skins. High levels of tannins indicate what type of climate?

A

warm/hot climate

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5
Q

What is the body of the wine?

A

“mouth-feel”; richness, weight or viscosity

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6
Q

What characteristics indicate a good wine?

A

well balanced, smooth, complexity, layers to wine

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7
Q

What wine would match a rich heavyweight food?

A

full-bodied wines. Preferably red wine, but full-bodied white can go well

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8
Q

What does a wine need to match tomatoes, olive oil and vinegar?

A

high acidity

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9
Q

If you have a dry wine with a dessert what happens to the wine?

A

it will seem tart and over-acidic

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10
Q

What component in wine is a good match with protein?

A

wines with high levels of tannin

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11
Q

a, b, c, d, e”

A

a. Carbon dioxide (CO2)

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12
Q

What affects the style and quality of wine each year?

A

Climate; weather conditions vary from year to year

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13
Q

What are four vineyard activies?

A
  1. careful pruning
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14
Q

Lower yields result in ________ grapes

A

riper; with more concentrated flavors

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15
Q

What are two pests in the vineyard?

A

Animal pests (birds

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16
Q

When does harvesting occur?

A

once the grapes have ripened. End of September or end of August if it’s a good summer

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17
Q

White wines and red wines are both crushed but what extra step happens to white wines after they have been crushed?

A

they are pressed to separate juice from skins

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18
Q

What temperature does white wine get fermented at?

A

12-22 Celsius (53.6-71.6 Fahrenheit): preserves delicate fruit aromas

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19
Q

What temperature does red wine get fermented at?

A

20-32 Celsius (68-89.6 Fahrenheit)

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20
Q

What vessels can wine mature in?

A

barrels or large neutral wooden or stainless steel vats, concrete. Also takes place in bottle after bottling

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21
Q

What vessels allow oxidation?

A

new and old vats or barrels (oak)

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22
Q

What vessels do not allow oxidation?

A

bottles, cement, and stainless steel vats

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23
Q

What does vintage mean?

A

the year the grapes were harvested

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24
Q

The European Union divides its wine into 2 categories that are:

A

a. wines with a geographical location (GI)

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25
Q

d. Germany”

A

a. Appellation d’Origine Controlee (AOC)

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26
Q

e. Quality Level”

A

Cabernet Sauvignon

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27
Q

What are estate, chateau, domaine, and weingut?

A

wines produced only using grapes that been grown on its own land

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28
Q

What is a merchant or negotiant?

A

they blend together wines and/or grapes bought in from winemakers and grape farmers

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29
Q

What is a co-op, co-operative cellar or cantina sociale?

A

a wine-making facility whose ownership is shared by a number of grape farmers

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30
Q

Chardonnay likes cool, moderate and hot climates. Give an example of each of these regions.

A

Hot: Australia

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31
Q

Dairy flavors are the side products of a process called?

A

malolactic fermentation

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32
Q

What are lees?

A

dead yeast cells left behind after fermentation has finished

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33
Q

What are the areas in Burgundy that make classic Chardonnay?

A

a. Maconnais - Pouilly-Fuisse

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34
Q

What are six other countries that make Chardonnay?

A
  1. Australia - Margaret River, Adelaide Hills, Yarra Valley,
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35
Q

What are the two climates that Pinot Noir likes?

A

cool or moderate

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36
Q

What are four characteristics of Pinot Noir?

A

Thin skins, light in color with low to medium levels of tannin. Red fruit, vegetal and animal nuances. Most are consumed young and still fruity

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37
Q

Generic Pinot Noir can come from Burgundy AC (Bourgogne AC) but what are four specific areas that make top quality Pinot Noir in Burgundy?

A
  1. Gevrey-Chambertin
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38
Q

What is Pinot Noir referred to in Germany?

A

Spatburgunder

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39
Q

What area in the US does Pinot Noir do well?

A

California: Carneros, Sonoma, Santa Barbara - full-bodied, intensely fruity, some display pronounced animal/vegetal characteristics

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40
Q

Why is Pinot Noir not so successful in Australia?

A

Australia is too hot for Pinot Noir.

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41
Q

Bulk Pinot Noir comes from this small Eastern European country?

A

Romania

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42
Q

Cabernet Sauvignon has aromas of __________ and had high levels of _________.

A
  1. black fruits (black cherry, black currant)
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43
Q

A bit further south of Bordeaux is another region that makes great red and this is called ________ and has the very famous village Pessac Leognan (white wine) within it.”

A

Southwest

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44
Q

On the right bank of Bordeaux are the two famous areas of: a,b

A

a. St. Emillion

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45
Q

Merlot is a little less _______ than Cabernet Sauvignon but has more _______ and ________

A

tannic

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46
Q

Cabernet Sauvignon does very well in this valley in California?

A

Napa Valley

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47
Q

What is Carmenere?

A

an important black fruit grape variety originally from Bordeaux

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48
Q

c. Hawkes Bay”

A

a. Australia

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49
Q

a,b,c,d”

A

a. South Africa (Western Cape)

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50
Q

Sauvignon Blanc typically has the following characteristics:

A

strong aromas of green fruit and vegetation, high in acidity, medium-bodied, almost always dry

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51
Q

What are the two towns in the Loire Valley that make Sauvignon Blanc?

A
  1. Sancerre
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52
Q

Sauvignon Blanc is blended with Semillon and Muscadelle to make dry and sweet white wines in this area?

A

Bordeaux

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53
Q

Where is Marlborough?

A

New Zealand

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54
Q

What are two other countries that make Sauvignon Blanc in the New World?

A

South Africa

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55
Q

What are the characteristics of Riesling?

A

aromatic, fruity

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56
Q

In Germany basic Rieslings are generally classified as _________ and above this in quality is ________.

A

Qualitatswein

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57
Q

What is the order of sweetness levels in German Pradikatswein?

A

Kabinett

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58
Q

Mosel, Germany produces what type of Rieslings?

A

Kabinett

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59
Q

Rheingau produces what type of Rieslings?

A

Kabinett, Spatlese,

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60
Q

Where is Pflaz?

A

Southern Germany (lies close to Alsace, France)

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61
Q

What are the two valleys in Australia that produce Riesling?

A

Clare Valley

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62
Q

What are other countries that produce Riesling?

A

France, Austria,

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63
Q

Are Welschriesling, Laski Riesling and Olasrizling Rieslings?

A

NO

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64
Q

What are the characteristics of Syrah?

A

thick skins, deeply colored, with medium or high levels of tannins and medium acidity. Full-bodied with black fruit and dark chocolate flavors

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65
Q

What are the characteristics of Grenache?

A

thin skinned, seldom deep in color, very full-bodied, red fruit flavors with spicy notes. With age, spicy notes evolve into toffee

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66
Q

What are three areas in Northern Rhone famous for Syrah?

A
  1. Cote-Rotie
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67
Q

What are the blends often referred to in the Southern Rhone?

A

Grenache with Syrah, Mourvedre and Cinsault

68
Q

What is Chateauneuf du Pape?

A

A southern Rhone appellation: mostly Grenache but can have up to 13 different varietals in wine –> typically full-bodied, medium tannins, low acidity, and intense, complex red fruit

69
Q

What is a famous area in Australia that makes Syrah/Shiraz?

A

Barossa Valley (number one)

70
Q

Grenache (Grenacha) is often blended with Tempranillo to make ________ but when it dominates the blend or is even 100% it is made in __________ in Spain.

A

Rioja

71
Q

Bulk Syrah and Grenache are made in which areas of Southern France?

A

Languedoc

72
Q

What white wine is added to Syrah to soften the blend?

A

Viognier

73
Q

The main form of branding in Bordeaux is _______?

A

Chateau

74
Q

The main in Bordeaux if often referred to as __________.

A

Grand Vin

75
Q

If a wine is regional in Bordeaux it will be called ____________.

A

Bordeaux AC

76
Q

What happened in 1855?

A

The French government ranked all of the best wines in Medoc. Rankings still stand today.

77
Q

What are the 6 communes in Medoc (Bordeaux)?

A

Medoc AC

78
Q

Red grapes of Bordeaux:

A

Cabernet Sauvignon

79
Q

Green grapes of Bordeaux:

A

Sauvignon Blanc

80
Q

Grapes of Burgundy:

A

Chardonnay

81
Q

Cote d’Or in Burgundy is made up of the _________ in the North and the __________ in the South.

A

Cote de Nuits (North)

82
Q

Which is better quality? Premier Cru or Grand Cru?

A

Grand Cru

83
Q

What is a domaine?

A

a producer that makes wine exclusively from grapes grown in their own vineyards

84
Q

e. Nuits St. Georges”

A

a. Red (Pinot Noir)

85
Q

Beaujolais is made from which grape?

A

Gamay

86
Q

Place the Beaujolais appellation’s in order of quality, starting with the highest quality.

A
  1. Beaujolais Crus (10 famous villages such as Morgon and Moulin a Vent AC)
87
Q

Why is Alsace so warm, sunny, and dry?

A

Vosges mountains on west protect from rain/wind. Vines are planted on the eastern foothills, and benefit from the morning sun.

88
Q

What is Alsace Grand Cru AC?

A

a wine from a superior vineyard site

89
Q

What are two famous grapes from Alsace?

A

Riesling

90
Q

What is the white wine (Loire Valley) that is often left sur lie?

A

Muscadet

91
Q

What are the two grapes that dominate the Touraine and Anjou-Saumur region in the Loire Valley?

A

red: Cabernet Franc

92
Q

The Central Vineyards (Loire Valley) make Sauvignon Blanc in these two towns:

A
  1. Sancerre
93
Q

The Northern part of the Rhone Valley is a monoculture with only really this grape:

A

Syrah

94
Q

The Southern part of the Rhone Valley is all about blending with these grapes:

A

Grenache

95
Q

SKIP. The majority of France’s vin de pays wines are made in the Rhone and they are referred to as (Vin de Pays ____).

A

IGP

96
Q

What are the main appellations in Languedoc-Roussillon?

A

Languedoc AC

97
Q

What do the terms Grosses Gewachs, Erstes Gewachs, and Erste Lage mean?

A

a high quality dry wine from a single named vineyard

98
Q

If you see Classic or Selection on a German wine label this indicates the wine is a ______ style.

A

dry

99
Q

How many regions (anbaugebeite) in Germany are there?

A

13 quality regions

100
Q

What is Liebfraumilch?

A

German bulk wine

101
Q

What is Hock?

A

Same as Liebfraumilch (German bulk wine) but does not have to be a QbA (Qualitatswein)

102
Q

b. Riserva”

A

a. heartland. Indicates the historic center of many DOC and DOCG regions. Located on the hills, these are usually the best sites and produce the best wine

103
Q

f. Montepulciano D’Abruzzo DOC”

A

a. Piedmont (R) , Nebbiolo (G)

104
Q

Primitivo, Aglianico, and Negroamaro”

A

South

105
Q

Where does Pinot Grigio do well in Italy?

A

Northeastern area (Trentino

106
Q

What are other white Italian varietals?

A

Trebbiano - most planted white grape

107
Q

c. Orvieto”

A

a. Gargenega

108
Q

c. Gran Reserva”

A

a. 1 year

109
Q

The DOC region Rioja (Spain) uses which varietals?

A

Tempranillo

110
Q

The Ribera del Duero DOC area in Spain used which grape varietals?

A

Tempranillo

111
Q

In Navarro (Spain) the grape Tempranillo is often blended with ____________.

A

international varieties such as: Merlot

112
Q

What type of wine does Catalunya in Spain make?

A

Tempranillo, Garnacha,

113
Q

What color are the wines from Rias Baixas and Rueda in Spain?

A

white

114
Q

What type of wine comes from La Mancha, Valdepenas and Valencia in Spain?

A

bulk wine

115
Q

These areas in Portugal produce quality reds: a,b,c

A

a. Barraida

116
Q

Most exported wine comes from this region in the Southeast part of Portugal?

A

Alentejo

117
Q

What is Vinho Verde DOC (Portugal)?

A

white, un-oaked, light-bodied with light alcohol, high acidity, and a slight fizz

118
Q

What are the two specific grapes in South Africa?

A
  1. Black: Pinotage
119
Q

What varietal does very well in the Hunter Valley in Australia?

A

Semillon

120
Q

d. Coonawara”

A

a. Shiraz

121
Q

What is the black grape indigenous to California?

A

Zinfandel

122
Q

What are the two grapes from Argentina?

A

black: Malbec

123
Q

What varietal makes Asti DOCG?

A

Muscast

124
Q

What is Prosecco?

A

a dry, white sparkling wine made in NE Italty in Veneto

125
Q

What is the difference between Sekt and Deutscher Sekt?

A

Sekt is German word for sparkling wine. Labeled Sekt uses wines from anywhere in EU. Deutscher Sekt can only be made from German base wines (typically Rieslings)

126
Q

What is the traditional method?

A

the bottle is slowly tipped and jiggled so that the yeast cells slid into the neck of bottle. Tipping/jiggling can be done by hand or machine

127
Q

What is the transfer method?

A

empty entire contents of the bottles into a tank under pressure. It is then filtered to remove the yeast, dosaged, and rebottled

128
Q

Most Champagne is __________.

A

non-vintage

129
Q

Cava is from _________.

A

Spain

130
Q

Muscat de Beaumes de Venise and Muscat de Rivesaltes are called _________________.

A

Vins Doux Naturels

131
Q

Where is Moscatel de Valencia from?

A

Spain

132
Q

To concentrate the grapes you can do the following: Give an example of each:

A

a. Dried: PX Sherry

133
Q

c. BA”

A

a. Noble Rot

134
Q

What is the system called that matures sherry?

A

Solera aging system

135
Q

What is Fino?

A

pale, dry Sherry

136
Q

What is a Pale Cream Sherry?

A

Fino Sherry that has been sweetened

137
Q

What is an Amontillado Sherry

A

Fino Sherry with more alcohol (less flor, therefore oxidises slightly)

138
Q

Oloroso Sherries are fortified after fermentation to 18% abv so a _______ does not develop.

A

flor

139
Q

If Oloroso’s are sweetened they are referred to as __________ or __________.

A

Cream Sherry or Oloroso Dulce

140
Q

Which is better quality - ruby port or reserve ruby port?

A

reserve ruby port

141
Q

Late Bottled Vintage (LBV) Ports come from a single _________.

A

vintage

142
Q

Traditional style LBV need to be __________.

A

decanted

143
Q

Vintage Ports and Single Quinta Vintage Ports come from the best ____________ and are only made in the _______ years.

A

Vineyards

144
Q

Tawny Ports can come in three quality levels, what are they?

A
  1. Tawny
145
Q

What are the two most common types of still?

A
  1. Pot Still
146
Q

c. Tails”

A

the alcohol that evaporates during distillation

147
Q

What is Cognac?

A

an oak-aged grape brandy from a delimited region to the north of Bordeaux. Must be made using a copper pot still. Generally have distinctly fruity-floral aromas, medium to light in body, with smooth alcohol

148
Q

What is Armagnac?

A

an oak-aged grape brandy from a delimited area to the south of Bordeaux. Most is made using a version of the column still that gives a relatively low-strength spirit that is quite harsh but full of character. Dried-fruit aromas, medium to full bodied, with sometimes harsh alcohol

149
Q

c. XO”

A

a. Very Special - 2 years

150
Q

What region of Spain makes Brandy?

A

Jerez

151
Q

What is a malt whiskey?

A

made using only malted barley. distillation takes place in copper pot stills

152
Q

What is a single malt whiskey?

A

a malt whiskey that comes from just one distillery

153
Q

What is a blended Scotch Whiskey?

A

blend of malt

154
Q

What is Bourbon?

A

American whiskey. Made using a mixture of grains (majority must be maize). Made using combo of column and pot still. Low-spirit strength with harsh alcohol and robust flavors. Aged in heavily charred new American oak barrels

155
Q

What is the difference about Tennessee whiskey compared to Bourbon?

A

produced in a similar way, but is filtered through maple wood charcoal before bottling. Results in smoother spirit, adds sweet, smoky flavors

156
Q

f. Cognac”

A

a. grain

157
Q

d. Plata (Silver)”

A

a. older than 1 year

158
Q

Cheap gins cold compound with botanicals such as juniper - what do the more upmarket distilled gins and London dry gins do?

A

they do a second distillation

159
Q

Pernod, Ricard, Pastis, Ouzo, and Absinthe all have a flavor of _______.

A

anise

160
Q

What are bitters?

A

a bitter or bittersweet type of spirit made from different herbs, roots and plants. Used to flavor and add a dry zest to cocktails. high alcohol. helps the digestive system and should be consumed after a meal

161
Q

k. Amaretto”

A

a. fruit (black currant)

162
Q

For long term storage of wine the temp should be ____________.

A

consistent

163
Q

c. Well Chilled ______ degrees Celsius”

A

a. 10-13

164
Q

Room temperatures

A

15-18 degrees Celsius

165
Q

Sensible Drinking: Men and Women

A

USA 14g = 1 unit

WSET (18 decks)

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