WSET Level3 Practice Short Written Answer Questions (USA)

Answer

White Zinfandel is a pale rosé wine with pronounced fruity flavors, particularly strawberry. It is medium-sweet, low in alcohol, and light-bodied. This wine is not suitable for ageing and is intended for early drinking.

Grading Criteria

For describing the style of White Zinfandel, award 1 point for each of the following features, up to a maximum of 5 points:

• For identifying it as a “rosé wine,” you get 1 point.
• For stating that the wine is “pale” in color, you get 1 point.
• For mentioning fruity flavors such as “strawberry,” indicating red fruit primary aromas, you get 1 point.
• For describing the sweetness level as “medium-sweet,” you get 1 point.
• For stating that the wine has “low alcohol,” you get 1 point.
• For describing the wine as “light-bodied,” you get 1 point.
• For mentioning that the wine is “not suitable for ageing” and is an “early drinking wine,” you get 1 point.

Answer

Zinfandel wines made from unevenly ripened grapes often include shriveled berries with concentrated sugars and flavors. These berries contribute to a higher alcohol content, dried berry-like flavors, and a full-bodied style. Additionally, underripe berries may impart delicate herbaceous aromas, adding complexity to the wine.

Grading Criteria

• For stating that shriveled grapes contribute to “higher alcohol content” in the wine, you get 1 point.
• For explaining that shriveled grapes add “dried berry-like flavors” to the wine, you get 1 point (varied expressions are acceptable).
• For describing that shriveled grapes result in a “full-bodied style,” you get 1 point.
• For explaining that these changes are due to the shriveled grapes having “concentrated sugars and flavors,” you get 1 point.
• For stating that underripe berries may contribute “delicate herbaceous aromas,” you get 1 point.

Answer

Inexpensive: Central Valley. The Central Valley has a very hot and dry climate with little influence from the ocean.

High-Quality: Russian River Valley. The Russian River Valley is a very cool climate region due to the strong influence of the cold ocean.

Grading Criteria

• Inexpensive:
  • For identifying an AVA like “Central Valley” as a region producing inexpensive Chardonnay wines, you get 1 point.
  • For describing the climate as “very hot and dry,” you get 1 point.
  • For explaining that this climate is due to “minimal influence from the ocean,” you get 1 point.
• High-Quality:
  • For identifying an AVA like “Russian River Valley” as a region producing high-quality Chardonnay wines, you get 1 point.
  • For describing the climate as “very cool,” you get 1 point.
  • For explaining that this climate is due to the “strong influence of the cold ocean,” you get 1 point.

Answer

Chardonnay can be grown and ripened without major problems in a wide range of climates, from cool to warm and hot. In cool climates it shows green fruit (apple) and citrus (lemon) flavors, while in warm and hot climates it shows stone fruit (peach) and ripe tropical fruit (banana, pineapple) flavors, so the style of the wine changes with the climate. Its subtle, neutral aromas and flavors make it an ideal base for many different winemaking options, such as malolactic fermentation, lees contact and oak, so depending on the winemaker’s choices it is used for anything from inexpensive, high-volume wines to premium wines. Wines from such neutral varieties are also acceptable to a wide range of consumers, which is another reason it is planted in so many countries and regions.

Grading Criteria

Award 1 point for each of the following, up to a maximum of 5 points:

• For stating that Chardonnay can be “grown and ripened in a wide range of climates,” you get 1 point.
• For explaining that the style changes with the climate, for example “green fruit and citrus” in cool climates and “stone fruit and tropical fruit” in warm or hot climates, you get 1 point.
• For stating that its aromas and flavors are “subtle” or “neutral,” you get 1 point.
• For mentioning that many winemaking options can be applied, such as “malolactic fermentation,” “lees contact” or “oak,” you get 1 point (1 point even if you list more than one).
• For stating that it is used for anything from “inexpensive, high-volume wines” to “premium wines,” you get 1 point.
• For mentioning that wines from neutral varieties are “acceptable to a wide range of consumers,” you get 1 point.

Answer

Oakville:
In Oakville, cool air and fog flowing from San Pablo Bay moderate the high temperatures, creating a more temperate climate and larger diurnal temperature variations. The moderated temperatures extend the ripening period, allowing flavors to develop more fully. The large diurnal temperature range helps retain acidity and aromatic complexity in the grapes, both of which contribute to the production of high-quality wines.

Howell Mountain:
Howell Mountain benefits from its high altitude, which lowers overall temperatures, extending the ripening period and allowing for the development of complex flavors. Additionally, west-facing slopes receive increased sunlight, promoting fruit ripeness. These climatic factors contribute to producing grapes with excellent acidity, flavor concentration, and ripeness, leading to high-quality wines.

Grading Criteria

• Oakville:
  • For mentioning that cool air and fog flow from “San Pablo Bay,” you get 1 point.
  • For stating that this moderates the “high temperatures,” you get 1 point.
  • For explaining that temperature moderation “extends the ripening period, aiding flavor development,” you get 1 point.
  • For mentioning that the “diurnal temperature range is large,” you get 1 point.
  • For explaining that diurnal variation “helps retain acidity and aromatic complexity,” you get 1 point.
• Howell Mountain:
  • For mentioning that Howell Mountain is at “high altitude,” you get 1 point.
  • For explaining that high altitude “lowers overall temperatures,” you get 1 point.
  • For stating that lower temperatures “extend the ripening period, aiding flavor development,” you get 1 point.
  • For mentioning that Howell Mountain has “west-facing slopes,” you get 1 point.
  • For explaining that these slopes “increase sunlight exposure,” you get 1 point.
  • For stating that increased sunlight “promotes fruit ripeness,” contributing to high-quality wines, you get 1 point.

Answer

Grapes used for premium wines in the Finger Lakes are grown near glacial lakes. These lakes store heat and release it during the autumn, warming the surrounding vineyards. This extends the growing season, allowing grapes to achieve full ripeness.

Grading Criteria

• For stating that premium wine grapes in the Finger Lakes are “grown near glacial lakes,” you get 1 point.
• For explaining that the lakes “store heat and warm the surrounding vineyards during the autumn,” you get 1 point.
• For describing that this warming “extends the growing season and aids grape ripening,” you get 1 point.