WSET Level 2
Both Tank and Bottled-Fermented Sparking Wines start with what? - correct answer Still Base Wine, usually light in alchohol, and processes add approximately 1-2% abv
What is Tank Method? - correct answer part of fermentation takes place in sealed tank, which prevents any carbon dioxide gas from escaping
True or False: The base wine could be partially fermented must, where the last part of the
fermentation takes place in a sealed tank - correct answer True
What is Prosecco? - correct answer A sparkling wine from NE Italy, and it's usually made using the tank method
What grape variety is used for Prosecco? - correct answer The Glera grape, which gives a medium body, dry or off dry sparkling wine with stone fruit flavor
What does Spumante mean? - correct answer fully sparkling wine
What does frizzante mean? - correct answer lightly sparkling wine
What is Conegliano-Valdobbiadene DOCG? - correct answer a premier sparking wine from NE Italy
What is Asti DOCG? - correct answer a sweet fruity light bodied sparkling wine from Piedmont, and it's made from Muscat
Flavors: peach, grape, rose
What is Sekt? - correct answer German word for sparkling wine, both made in Germany and Austria What are characteristics of Sekt? - correct answer Most are simple, inexpensive tank-
method wine
Medium/Dry, light in body, floral and fruity
Generally uses cheap base wines sourced from anywhere in the EU
What is the main quality advantage of Bottled Fermentation? - correct answer Through extended contact with dead yeast, the wines can gain bready, biscuity flavors
What is a base wine? - correct answer A still wine that is blended with sugar and yeast and then bottled, sealed and stored.
What is second fermentation? - correct answer Takes place, in which the wine increases slightly in alcohol, and CO2, which cannot escape from the sealed bottle, becomes dissolved in the wine.
What is yeast autolysis? - correct answer Most important part of bottle fermentation. The yeast self digest, release flavours into the wine. Flavours are described as autolytic.
What is disgorge? - correct answer The process of removing the yeast sediments after fermentation and aging in bottle.
What is the traditional method? - correct answer Bottle is slowly tipped and jiggled so the yeast cells slide into the neck of the bottle. The plug of yeast in the neck is frozen, and pops out when the bottle is unsealed. The bottle is topped up with wine and sugar.
What is dosage? - correct answer The amount of sugar added, which determines the sweetness of the final bottled product.
What is Brut? - correct answer A very small amount of sugar is used
What is the transfer method? - correct answer Method to remove the yeast. Empty the entire contents of the bottles into a tank under pressure, then filtered, and rebottled. Not permitted in Champagne or Cava. Which grape varieties are used in Champagne to make sparkling wine? - correct answer Pinot Noir, Meunier, Chardonnay
What is Champagne's condition like? - correct answer Cool climate, chalky soils, which allow sparkling wines to have high acidity, medium body, and light alcohol. The weather varies from vintage to vintage, and the grapes do not fully ripen.
What are non-vintage wines? - correct answer a blend of different vintages for quality and consistency
What is vintage Champagne? - correct answer A portion of the best wine of exceptional years make vintage Champagne.
What is the minimum legal period of yeast autolysis? - correct answer 15 months
What are Grandes Marques? - correct answer famous Champagne houses
Describe Vintage Champagne - correct answer Complex, intense fruity and autolytic flavors with vegetal, nutty or honeyed complexity from bottle age.
What is Cremant? - correct answer Indicates sparkling wine made in France. The Loire is a major region for production.
Where in the Loire Valley is Cremant made? - correct answer Saumur, where Chenin Blanc is the main grape variety. It has high acidity, green and citrus fruit flavors, with some autolytic character.
What is Cava? - correct answer Spanish term for traditional-method sparkling wines. The main grape varieties are local Spanish ones.
What are Cava's characteristics? - correct answer Fairly neutral fruit flavors, hint of pear, medium acidity, and very little autolytic complexity Characteristics of Sparkling Reds in Australia? - correct answer made with Shiraz, full bodied, with medium acidity, and intense black and red berry fruit notes.
What are 3 ways for yeast to stop processing sugar into alcohol? - correct answer 1. Remove yeast, using a fine filter to ensure none remain
2.Yeast could be poisoned using sulfur dioxide
3. Fortify (add alcohol) during fermentation
What are Vin Doux Naturels? - correct answer Sweet fortified wines from Southern France such as:
Muscat de Beaumes de Venise
Muscat de Rivesaltes
What are characterisitcs of Muscat de Beaumes de Venise and Muscat de Rivesaltes? - correct answer unaged, intense fruity aromas (grape, peach, perfume). Medium/full-
bodied, and sweet, with high alcohol and medium or low acidity
Where is Moscatel de Valencia from? - correct answer Spain
Where is Rutherglen Muscat from? - correct answer Northern Victoria, Australia
What are the tasting notes for Rutherglen Muscat? - correct answer Aged for a long period in oak, which oxydizes. Dried fruit and kernel flavors (raisin, prune, fig, dried apricot, coffee, toffee). Sweet, full bodied, with high alcohol and med or low acidity
What is süssreserve? - correct answer unfermented grape juice, used to sweeten medium or sweet German wines
When do yeasts die? - correct answer When alcohol reaches 15%
What are 3 ways to concentrate sugar in grapes? - correct answer 1. Dry the grapes
2. Noble Rot
3. Freeze the grapes
