On this page, you can review the content of each chapter from the WSET textbook in a practice short written answer question format tailored to the WSET exam style.
This chapter focuses on Growing Environment.
Question 1
Part 1
The style of wine is significantly influenced by the diurnal range of a region. Identify and explain two factors that affect the diurnal range.
Factor 1
Factor 2:
6 points
View answer
Answer
Factor 1: Large bodies of water, such as seas or lakes, influence nearby vineyards by sending cool breezes during the day and releasing stored heat at night, reducing the diurnal range.
Factor 2: Regions with high cloud cover experience a smaller diurnal range due to the insulating effect of clouds, which trap heat and prevent rapid cooling at night.
Grading Criteria
- For naming a factor such as “large bodies of water” or “cloud cover,” award 1 point per factor.
- For correctly stating whether the factor “increases or decreases the diurnal range,” award 1 point per factor.
- For explaining how the factor influences the diurnal range, such as “bodies of water provide cool breezes during the day and release heat at night” or “clouds have an insulating effect,” award 1 point per factor.
Question 2
Part 1
Water is essential for grape growth, but producers sometimes restrict water supply moderately during the ripening phase. Explain how moderate water restriction affects grape growth.
3 points
View answer
Answer
Moderate water restriction encourages grapes to focus their energy on ripening fruit rather than growing shoots, which promotes better fruit maturity. Additionally, restricting water limits shoot growth, reducing canopy size, and allowing more sunlight to reach the grapes, further aiding ripening.
Grading Criteria
- For stating that moderate water restriction “promotes better fruit maturity,” award 1 point.
- For explaining that this occurs because “grapes focus energy on ripening fruit rather than growing shoots,” award 1 point.
- For mentioning that water restriction “limits shoot growth, reducing canopy size and increasing sunlight exposure to the grapes,” award 1 point.
Have you prepared for the multiple-choice questions?
If not, they could unexpectedly trip you up. Practicing multiple-choice questions not only helps you tackle them effectively but also deepens your understanding of the chapter, benefiting your preparation for the written questions as well.
Click here for the multiple-choice questions for this chapter.