Free WSET Grape Varieties & Still Wines Test 3 — Questions and Answers

Question 1: Chenin Blanc, Sémillon, and Furmint are often used to produce high-quality:

Sparkling wines made using the traditional method
Red wines that are often matured in oak
Sweet wines made from noble rot (Correct answer)
Wines that are fortified after fermentation

Correct answer: Sweet wines made from noble rot

Chenin Blanc (Loire Valley, South Africa), Sémillon (Bordeaux, Hunter Valley), and Furmint (Tokaj, Hungary) are all highly susceptible to noble rot (Botrytis cinerea). This fungus dehydrates the grapes, concentrating their sugars and acids, leading to the production of some of the world's most exquisite sweet wines.

Question 2: The grape variety used to make a Vouvray is:

Chenin Blanc (Correct answer)
Furmint
Sémillon
All of the above

Correct answer: Chenin Blanc

Vouvray is an AOC in the Loire Valley, France, and is exclusively dedicated to wines made from the Chenin Blanc grape variety. Chenin Blanc's versatility allows Vouvray to produce a range of styles from dry to sweet, and still to sparkling.

Question 3: The style of wine from Vouvray AOC is:

Dry to off-dry
Medium to Sweet
Sparkling
All of the above (Correct answer)

Correct answer: All of the above

Chenin Blanc, the sole grape of Vouvray, is incredibly versatile due to its naturally high acidity. Wines from Vouvray can be produced in dry, off-dry, medium, or sweet styles, and also as sparkling wines, showcasing the grape's ability to express different levels of ripeness and residual sugar.

Question 4: Sauvignon Blanc is typically blended with:

Chenin Blanc
Sémillon/Semillon (Correct answer)
Furmint
None of the above

Correct answer: Sémillon/Semillon

Sauvignon Blanc is most commonly blended with Sémillon, particularly in Bordeaux, to produce both dry white wines (like Bordeaux Blanc) and world-renowned sweet wines (like Sauternes). Sémillon adds body, richness, and ageability to the blend, complementing Sauvignon Blanc's aromatic intensity.

Question 5: Which term is an indication of sweetness in a wine from Tokaj?

Beerenauslese
Classico
Puttonyos (Correct answer)
Reserva

Correct answer: Puttonyos

'Puttonyos' is a traditional unit of measurement used in Tokaj, Hungary, to indicate the sweetness level of Tokaji Aszú wines. It refers to the number of baskets (puttony) of noble rot-affected grapes (aszú berries) added to a barrel of base wine, with higher puttonyos numbers indicating greater sweetness and concentration.

Question 6: South Africa’s most widely planted white grape variety is:

Chenin Blanc (Correct answer)
Furmint
Semillon
None of the above

Correct answer: Chenin Blanc

Chenin Blanc is South Africa's most widely planted white grape variety, where it is often referred to as 'Steen.' It is used to produce a wide range of styles, from refreshing dry wines to rich, barrel-fermented versions and sweet dessert wines, showcasing its versatility and importance to the country's wine industry.

Question 7: Which region is not known for its botrytis-affected sweet wines?

Hunter Valley (Correct answer)
Sauternes AOC
Tokaj
Vouvray AOC

Correct answer: Hunter Valley

Hunter Valley in Australia is renowned for its distinctive dry, unoaked Sémillon wines, which are typically high in acidity and develop complex toast and honey notes with age. Unlike regions such as Sauternes, Tokaj, and Vouvray, Hunter Valley is not traditionally known for producing sweet wines affected by Botrytis cinerea, also known as noble rot. These other regions specialize in concentrated, lusciously sweet wines made from grapes shriveled by this beneficial fungus.

Question 8: A Tokaji wine made from Furmint can be dry.

TRUE (Correct answer)
FALSE

Correct answer: TRUE

While Tokaj is world-famous for its luscious, botrytis-affected sweet wines like Tokaji Aszú, the region's primary grape, Furmint, is also used to produce excellent dry wines. These dry Furmint wines are characterized by high acidity, minerality, and often notes of apple and citrus. They showcase the versatility of the grape beyond its sweet wine reputation.

Question 9: Sauternes wines are based on which variety?

Chenin Blanc
Furmint
Riesling
Sémillon (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Sémillon

Sauternes wines are primarily based on the Sémillon grape, which is highly susceptible to Botrytis cinerea (noble rot), essential for concentrating sugars and flavors. While Sauvignon Blanc and Muscadelle are also permitted and contribute acidity and aromatic complexity, Sémillon forms the backbone of these renowned sweet wines, providing body and a rich texture.

Question 10: Which best describes a Semillon from the Hunter Valley? (Sweetness - Body - Oak Use)

Dry Full Oak-matured
Dry Light Unoaked (Correct answer)
Sweet Full Oak-matured
Sweet Medium Unoaked

Correct answer: Dry Light Unoaked

Sémillon from Hunter Valley is unique for its production style: it is typically picked early, fermented dry, and almost always unoaked. These wines are light-bodied with high acidity and citrus notes when young, but famously evolve over many years to develop complex flavors of toast, honey, and lanolin, without any oak influence. This profile distinguishes it from most other Sémillon styles globally.

Question 11: Which of the following statements about Chardonnay is false?

Chardonnay is always oaked (Correct answer)
Chardonnay is the grape of Chablis
Chardonnay is grown in a range of climates
Chardonnay can show a range of primary fruit characters

Correct answer: Chardonnay is always oaked

The statement 'Chardonnay is always oaked' is false because Chardonnay is a highly versatile grape that can be produced in a wide range of styles. While many famous Chardonnays, particularly from Burgundy and California, are oaked, unoaked styles like Chablis or many New World examples are also very popular. These unoaked wines emphasize the grape's pure fruit character and minerality.

Free WSET Grape Varieties & Still Wines Test 3

Chenin Blanc, Sémillon, and Furmint are often used to produce high-quality: