WSET Level3 Practice Short Written Answer Questions (Spain)

Answer

In hot, continental climates, heat and water scarcity are key challenges for grape cultivation. Growing vines at low density maximizes the amount of water available to each vine, addressing water scarcity. Training vines as bush vines without trellising allows the leaves to provide shade for the grapes, protecting them from excessive sunlight and mitigating heat stress.

Grading Criteria

• For stating that in hot, continental climates, “heat” is a cultivation challenge, you get 1 point.
• For stating that in hot, continental climates, “water scarcity” is a cultivation challenge, you get 1 point.
• For explaining that low-density planting “maximizes the amount of water available to each vine,” addressing water scarcity, you get 1 point.
• For explaining that bush training “allows the leaves to shade the grapes, protecting them from excessive sunlight,” addressing heat stress, you get 1 point.

Answer

Region 1: Rioja
Rioja benefits from the moderating influence of the Atlantic Ocean, which mitigates the risks of water scarcity and grape overripeness common in Spain’s hot, dry continental climate. The Cantabrian Mountains shield the region from excessive rainfall, reducing the risk of fungal diseases, while the abundant sunlight supports fruit ripening. Additionally, Rioja’s vineyards are at high altitudes, leading to cooler nighttime temperatures and significant diurnal temperature variation, which helps retain acidity and sugar in the grapes.

Region 2: Ribera del Duero
Ribera del Duero is surrounded by mountains, which block moisture-laden air from the Atlantic and Mediterranean, reducing the risk of fungal diseases and ensuring abundant sunshine for fruit ripening. Like Rioja, Ribera del Duero’s high-altitude vineyards experience cooler nighttime temperatures and large diurnal temperature swings, preserving acidity and sugar in the grapes, essential for high-quality wine production.

Grading Criteria

• Region 1:
  • For naming a specific region, such as “Rioja,” you get 1 point.
  • For explaining a geographical feature, such as “moderation from the Atlantic Ocean,” you get 1 point.
  • For describing how the Cantabrian Mountains “shield the region from excessive rain and reduce fungal risks while ensuring sunlight for ripening,” you get 1 point.
  • For mentioning that “high altitudes lead to cooler nights and significant diurnal temperature variation,” you get 1 point.
  • For explaining that diurnal variation “preserves acidity and sugar,” which contributes to high-quality wine, you get 1 point.
• Region 2:
  • For naming a specific region, such as “Ribera del Duero,” you get 1 point.
  • For describing a geographical feature, such as “mountain ranges blocking moisture from the Atlantic and Mediterranean,” you get 1 point.
  • For explaining that the mountains “reduce fungal risks and ensure abundant sunshine for ripening,” you get 1 point.
  • For mentioning that “high altitudes lead to cooler nights and significant diurnal temperature variation,” you get 1 point.
  • For explaining that diurnal variation “preserves acidity and sugar,” which contributes to high-quality wine, you get 1 point.

Answer

A winemaking method that could be used is semi-carbonic maceration. In this process, whole bunches of grapes are placed into a tank. The weight of the grapes at the top crushes those at the bottom, releasing juice. Yeast in the juice begins fermentation, producing carbon dioxide. The carbon dioxide fills the tank, causing the intact grapes to undergo intracellular fermentation, which enhances vibrant red fruit aromas in the wine. Once the intact grapes start to burst, the grapes are pressed, and fermentation continues in the usual manner.

Grading Criteria

• For identifying the method as “semi-carbonic maceration,” you get 1 point.
• For stating that “whole bunches of grapes are placed into a tank,” you get 1 point.
• For explaining that “grapes at the bottom are crushed under the weight of those above, releasing juice,” you get 1 point.
• For mentioning that “yeast in the juice begins fermentation,” you get 1 point.
• For stating that the fermentation produces “carbon dioxide, which fills the tank,” you get 1 point.
• For explaining that this causes the “intact grapes to undergo intracellular fermentation,” you get 1 point.
• For stating that once the intact grapes burst, they are “pressed, and fermentation continues in the usual manner,” you get 1 point.

Answer

Garnacha is a late-ripening variety, but Priorat’s long, hot, and dry summers provide the necessary sunlight and extended growing season for full ripeness. Additionally, Priorat has very low annual rainfall, which further ensures favorable conditions for Garnacha to reach optimal maturity.

Grading Criteria

• For stating that Garnacha is a “late-ripening variety,” you get 1 point.
• For describing Priorat as having “long, hot summers,” you get 1 point.
• For mentioning that Priorat has “very low annual rainfall,” you get 1 point.
• For explaining that these conditions provide “sufficient sunlight and a long growing season,” which allow Garnacha to fully ripen, you get 1 point.

Answer

Priorat wines are expensive for several reasons. The vineyards are located on steep slopes, which makes machine harvesting impossible, requiring labor-intensive hand harvesting. The vines are often bush-trained, further complicating mechanical harvesting and increasing labor costs. The region’s soils are nutrient-poor, and many vines are old, resulting in low yields. Additionally, Priorat wines are often aged in new oak barrels, which increases costs due to the expense of purchasing and maintaining the barrels. Finally, as Priorat is a DOCa wine, it benefits from strong branding and high demand, which also contributes to its high price.

Grading Criteria

For each reason that combines a characteristic of Priorat with an explanation of how it increases wine costs, award 1 point:

• For stating that “steep slopes make machine harvesting impossible, requiring hand harvesting,” you get 1 point.
• For explaining that “bush-trained vines further complicate harvesting, increasing labor costs,” you get 1 point.
• For mentioning that “nutrient-poor soils and old vines result in low yields,” you get 1 point.
• For stating that “new oak barrel ageing increases costs due to the expense of barrels,” you get 1 point.
• For explaining that “Priorat’s DOCa status strengthens its branding and drives high demand,” you get 1 point.

Other valid points about Priorat’s characteristics and their impact on cost may also earn marks, up to a maximum of 4 points.