WSET Level 2 Wines · Sample questions
Free WSET Level 2 Wines sample questions
Try these eight questions, then click each one to reveal the answer. Score yourself honestly.
These questions are original and written in the style of Level 2. They are not taken from any real exam. Pick your answer first, then open the answer underneath.
1. Which grape variety is used for red Burgundy?
A. Merlot B. Pinot Noir C. Syrah D. Grenache
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B. Pinot Noir. Red Burgundy is made from Pinot Noir. Gamay is used in Beaujolais, which is part of the wider Burgundy area but has its own rules.
2. In the traditional method, where does the second fermentation take place?
A. In a large pressurised tank B. In the bottle in which the wine is sold C. In oak barrels D. It does not have a second fermentation
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B. In the traditional method the second fermentation happens in the bottle, which creates the bubbles. The tank method does it in a pressurised tank.
3. Barolo is made from which grape variety?
A. Sangiovese B. Barbera C. Nebbiolo D. Montepulciano
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C. Nebbiolo. Barolo comes from Piedmont in northwest Italy and is known for high tannin and high acidity.
4. Which wine would normally be served at the warmest temperature?
A. Sparkling wine B. Light-bodied dry white C. Rosé D. Full-bodied red
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D. Full-bodied red. Full-bodied reds are usually served at cool room temperature, roughly 15-18 °C. Sparkling, light whites and rosés are served chilled.
5. Port is produced in which region?
A. Jerez B. The Douro Valley C. Rioja D. Marsala
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B. The Douro Valley in Portugal. Port is a fortified wine made by adding grape spirit during fermentation, which leaves residual sugar. Jerez is the home of Sherry.
6. What does malolactic conversion do?
A. Turns sugar into alcohol B. Turns malic acid into softer lactic acid C. Removes tannin D. Adds sweetness
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B. It converts sharper malic acid into softer lactic acid and can add a creamy, buttery character. It is not the same as alcoholic fermentation.
7. Served with a very sweet dessert, a dry wine will taste:
A. Sweeter B. Less sweet and more acidic C. Exactly the same D. Higher in alcohol
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B. Sweetness in food makes a wine taste less sweet and more acidic, which is why dessert wines should be at least as sweet as the dish.
8. Which grape typically dominates the red blends of the Médoc in Bordeaux?
A. Cabernet Sauvignon B. Pinot Noir C. Gamay D. Tempranillo
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A. Cabernet Sauvignon. The Left Bank of Bordeaux is Cabernet Sauvignon territory, often blended with Merlot. The Right Bank leans toward Merlot.
How did you do?
Seven or eight correct is a good sign. Five or six means a few topics need work. Fewer than five means more study time, especially on grapes, regions and production. The full Cellar Prep Level 2 module has many more questions plus timed practice exams.
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