WSET Level 2 Wines 2020 excluding GI/PDOs, profiles, sparkling and fortified Flashcards
WSET Level 2 Wines 2020 excluding GI/PDOs, profiles, sparkling and fortified
Colour of aged white wine (before brown)?
Amber.
Colour of aged red wine (before tawny)?
Garnet.
Effect of umami on wine (red especially)?
Drying and bitter, and more acidic.
Apart from warmth, carbon dioxide, and water, what are the 2 other requirements for ripening grapes?
Sunlight
Nutrients in soil
What word describes the creation of sugars from carbon dioxide (CO2) and water using light energy?
Photosynthesis
What happens to acidity levels as grapes ripen?
The acidity drops
becomes riper tasting as the acidity drops and sugar levels increase
What flavours are associated with wine made from extra ripe grapes?
Dried-fruit character (raisins for example).
Identify 3 methods for concentrating sugars for the creation of sweet wine.
- Extra ripening (eg, Late Harvest wine/ see Vendange Tardives in Alsace, and Spatlese of Germany)
- Botrytis/noble rot
- Frozen grapes
What are the ideal conditions for noble rot/botrytis and the avoidance of grey rot? Misty mornings and what sort of afternoon?
Warm and dry to limit growth of fungus which could destroy the grapes.
Which method for producing sweet wines results in pure varietal character?
Frozen grapes.
ie, no noble rot flavour, or dried-fruit flavour.
A moderate climate has what average growing season temperature?
16.5°C to 18.5°C
62°F-65°F
Which grape ripens successfully in warm climates only?
Grenache
Which grapes grows well in cool, moderate and warm climates? x2
Chardonnay
Chenin Blanc
Most vineyards are located between what latitudes?
30° and 50°
Not too cold and not too hot. In both hemispheres.
What happens to the temperature at higher altitudes?
It gets cooler.
Hence fresher styles can come from these areas.
Large bodies of water create extremes or moderate extremes?
Moderate.
Not as cold in the winter and not as hot in the summer (ocean and lakeside breezes).
Less likely to see a snowman on the beach.
Cloud, fog and mist has what effect on ripeness levels?
Slows down ripening as less sunlight for photosynthesis.
How can soil affect the ripeness of grapes?
Stony soils retain warmth and so continue to ripen grapes late in the day. This is useful in cooler climates.
Dilution through high levels of rain (or irrigation) can result in dilute, simple tasting wines. What factor can reduce this effect?
Soil.
Well drained stony soil holds less water.
What might be used to provide water in dry wine regions?
Irrigation.
What 2 weather hazards can destroy a vine’s grapes, or potential for grapes (buds)?
Hail.
Frost.
Sprays are used to combat what 3 challenges in the vineyard?
Pests such as insects.
Fungal diseases.
Weeds.
Note, Organic wines are made without the use of these chemicals.
Where in a grape is acidity to be found?
The pulp
Where in a grape is sugar to be found?
The pulp
What is contained with grape skins that have an influence on wine style?
Tannins
Colour
Flavour
From which 2 parts of a grape is flavour to be found?
Skins
Pulp
Which word is used to represent the time when grapes change colour during ripening?
Veraison
Is the quality of wine defined by the method of harvesting?
No.
High quality wine can be made from both hand harvested and machine harvested grapes. For the machine harvested grapes the quality grapes can be selected at the winery.
When is hand harvesing essential?
On steep slopes
When whole bunches of grapes are required
When selection of noble rotted grapes is required.
What term is used in Europe to represent GI Geographical Indications?
PDO (Protected Designation of Origin) - for the more famous wines.
PGI (Protected Geographical Indication) - less strict regulations for larger regional wines, and often high volume inexpensive wines.
What do GIs and PDOs represent?
Place of origin
Often that only permitted grape varieties are used
Are Late Harvest wines always sweet?
No, they can be dry when the sugars are all fermented. This of course results in a high alcohol wine (up to 15%).
Does the labeling term Old Vines/Vieilles Vignes have a legal basis?
No.
It implies higher quality but not guaranteed.
Which country uses AOP/AOC instead of PDO?
France
Which country uses DOC/ DOCG instead of PDO?
Italy
Which country uses DO/DOCa instead of PDO?
Spain
Which country uses Qualitatswein and Pradikatswein instead of PDO?
Germany
What is required to create alcohol?
Yeast and sugar.
What else is created in an alcoholic fermentation? x3
CO2 and warmth
New flavours
Most wines are fermented to between what two levels? of alcohol?
11.5%-16%
What are the stages for red wine making…
Crush - ferment - drain /option to press
Identify 2 methods for helping extract colour, flavour and tannin from the cap/red grape skins.
Punching down
Pumping over
Which method for creating a rosé is legal in Europe
Short maceration
not the blending option
What are the stages for white wine making…
Crushing - pressing - fermentation
2 examples of sweet wine made from noble rot/botrytis?
Tokaji Aszu
Sauternes
An example of a medium sweet rosé wine made from partially fermented grape juice?
White Zinfandel
For what purpose is the addition of sugar permitted?
Raising alcohol levels where grapes are insufficiently ripe.
Red wines are fermented at what temperature?
20°C to 32°C
68°F-90°F
White wines are fermented at what temperature?
12°C to 22°C
54°F-72°F
Rosé wines are fermented at what temperature?
12°C to 22°C
54°F-72°F
Which type of oak barrel will have the most effect on a wine? Large or small?
Small
surface area
Which type of oak barrel will have the most effect on a wine? New or old?
New - more chemical flavour in the oak.
What flavours are associated with oak fermented/aged wine?
Vanilla, coconut
also charred wood and spice
If oxygen interacts with a red wine what effect does it have on the tannins?
smooths them out/soften them.
If oxygen interacts with a red or white wine what effect does it have on flavour?
causes flavours such as caramel, dried fruit, and nuts.
What can be used instead of oak barrels for creating oak flavour character?
Oak chips,
Oak staves
What effect does a malolactic fermentation have on a wine?
lowers the acidity
creates buttery flavour
Which white grape is typically allowed to undertake a malolactic fermentation?
Chardonnay
NB Chardonnay as a Chablis being an exception.
The use of lees (leaving wine to est on the dead yeast cells - the lees) can create what flavours? x2
Bread and biscuit
Why might a wine maker blend different wines? x2
Consistency
Complexity
What can preserve a wine, allowing it to develop during maturation?
High acidity
High tannins
As some red wines mature in the bottle they can result in what flavours? x3
Mushrooms, leather, meat (also wet leaves; and for sweet red wines, figs and prunes).
As some white wines mature in the bottle they can result in what tertiary flavours? x3
Dried apricot, honey, nuts (and spice) (Petrol for Riesling)
How can the use of lees (leaving wine to est on the dead yeast cells - the lees) affect the body of a white wine?
Adds texture/body
As red wines age their colour changes to what?
red to garnet, then to tawny
The highest quality wines often comes from vineyards with what characteristics?
On slopes, to avoid dilution as the rain drains away.
Aspect facing south (N. hemisphere), or north (S.hemisphere) in cool to moderate climates.
In Burgundy/Bourgogne, which labeling term indicates the highest quality?
Grand Cru (Premier Cru comes second - strange but true)
Which regions in France use the labeling term, Grand Cru
Bordeaux, Burgundy, Alsace (The BBA)
Which red grape is most suited to cool to moderate climates?
Pinot Noir
Which country uses Qualitätswein and Prädikatswein classifications?
Germany
‘Trocken’ translates as what?
Dry (on a sweetness scale)
Put these Prädikatsweins in the correct order, from least ripe to most ripe. Spätlese Trockenbeerenauslese Kabinett Auslese Beerenauslese
From least ripe to most ripe: Kabinett Spätlese Auslese Beerenauslese Trockenbeerenauslese
Eiswein translates as what?
Ice wine
Which sweet wine is graded by ‘Puttonyos’?
Tokaji Aszu
Three white grapes often fermented or aged in oak?
Semillon
Chardonnay
Chenin Blanc
What level of acidity is associated with most sweet white wine?
High
This is partly because acidity is concentrated along with sweetness in the grapes, but also because it’s needed to balance the sweetness for a refreshing but sweet style.
Three wine making techniques used for creating complexity in Chardonnay, Chenin Blanc, Semillon?
Oak fermentation or maturation.
Using the lees
Allowing malolactic fermentation
A white grape sometimes used for blending with Chardonnay?
Semillon
What might a wine maker do to soften the tannins of a Cabernet Sauvignon? x3
Blend in some Merlot
Age in oak to allow some oxygen to soften the tannins
Be less extractive in the wine making (less rigorous punching down and pumping over).
Which region uses the quality label ‘Cru Bourgeoise’
Bordeaux
What is a Cape Blend?
Taking the ‘Bordeaux blend’ of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, and adding Pinotage.
Spanish labeling term Crianza, Reserva, and Gran Reserva represent what?
Ageing in oak barrels.
Not necessarily quality
Is this the correct order for Spanish wine labels, from youngest to eldest?
Crianza, Reserva, and Gran Reserva
Yes
What Italian labeling term is used to denote those wines that come from the historic centre of a region, typically at higher altitude on slopes?
Classico
Slopes = ?
Usually higher quality, as rainwater drains off allowing for more concentrated styles of wine.
What Italian label term indicates that a wine has been made from dried grapes, and so will be sweet?
Recioto
Which Italian DOC;s make Recioto wine?
Valpolicella
Soava
Appassimento is a term used to describe the process of drying grapes indoors. True or False?
True
Which Valpolicella is made with the most dried grapes?
Valpolicella Recioto.(sweetest) Valpolicella Amarone (off dry)
