Free WSET Level 2 Cheat Sheet
Exploring the world's major grape varieties and regions. Build your knowledge with our independent study guide, interactive flashcards, and realistic practice questions.
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Free WSET Level 2 flashcards and mock exam
- Free WSET Level 2 flashcards (94 free of 480)
- Free WSET Level 2 mock exam (50 questions)
Key topics
Latitude and Climate
Vineyard Latitude: 30° to 50° North and South.
Cool Climate: High acid, low alcohol, green fruit.
Moderate Climate: Balanced acid/sugar, stone fruit.
Warm Climate: Low acid, high alcohol, tropical fruit.
The Noble Grapes
Chardonnay: Versatile, cool (apple) to warm (pineapple).
Pinot Noir: Thin skin, low tannin, high acid, red fruit.
Cabernet Sauvignon: Thick skin, high tannin/acid, blackcurrant.
Syrah: Thick skin, med/high tannin/acid, black fruit, pepper.
Labeling Terminology
PDO: AOC (France), DOCG (Italy), DO (Spain).
PGI: IGP (France), IGT (Italy), VT (Spain).
Quality Terms: Reserva, Gran Reserva, Classico, Riserva.
Winemaking Factors
Oak: Imparts vanilla, smoke, and spice flavours.
Malolactic Conversion: Softens acid, adds butter/cream.
Lees Aging: Adds body and biscuit/bread notes.
Blending: Consistency, complexity, and balance.
Sparkling Methods
Traditional Method: 2nd fermentation in bottle (Champagne, Cava).
Tank Method: 2nd fermentation in tank (Prosecco).
Bottle Fermentation: Autolytic notes (biscuit, bread).
Fortified Styles
Sherry: Fino (Flor, dry), Oloroso (Oxidative, dry), PX (Sweet).
Port: Ruby (Fruity), Tawny (Nutty), Vintage (Bottle aged).
Fortification: Adding spirit to stop or after fermentation.
Grape varieties
| Grape | Sweetness | Acidity | Tannin | Body | Typical flavours | Oak |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chardonnay | Dry | High to Med | N/A | Light to Full | Green apple, Citrus, Pineapple | Often |
| Sauvignon Blanc | Dry | High | N/A | Light to Med | Grass, Gooseberry, Passion fruit | Rarely |
| Pinot Grigio/Gris | Dry | High | N/A | Light to Med | Pear, Lemon, Peach | Rarely |
| Riesling | Dry to Sweet | High | N/A | Light to Full | Floral, Lime, Peach, Petrol | Rarely |
| Pinot Noir | Dry | High | Low to Med | Light to Med | Strawberry, Cherry, Raspberry | Sometimes |
| Merlot | Dry | Medium | Medium | Med to Full | Plum, Blackberry, Herbal | Often |
| Cabernet Sauvignon | Dry | High | High | Full | Blackcurrant, Bell pepper, Cedar | Often |
| Syrah/Shiraz | Dry | Med to High | Med to High | Med to Full | Black fruit, Pepper, Liquorice | Often |
| Gamay | Dry | High | Low | Light | Raspberry, Cherry, Banana | Rarely |
| Grenache/Garnacha | Dry | Low to Med | Low to Med | Full | Strawberry, Spice, Toffee | Sometimes |
| Tempranillo | Dry | Medium | Med to High | Med to Full | Strawberry, Plum, Leather | Often |
| Nebbiolo | Dry | High | High | Full | Cherry, Rose, Tar | Often |
| Sangiovese | Dry | High | High | Med to Full | Red cherry, Plum, Herbal | Often |
| Zinfandel/Primitivo | Dry to Off-dry | Medium | Med to High | Full | Blackberry, Prune, Raisin | Often |
| Malbec | Dry | Medium | Med to High | Full | Blackberry, Plum, Clove | Often |
| Chenin Blanc | Dry to Sweet | High | N/A | Light to Full | Apple, Honey, Wet wool | Sometimes |
| Sémillon/Semillon | Dry to Sweet | Med to High | N/A | Med to Full | Lemon, Honey, Toast | Often |
| Gewurztraminer | Dry to Sweet | Low to Med | N/A | Full | Lychee, Rose, Ginger | Rarely |
| Furmint | Dry to Sweet | High | N/A | Med to Full | Apple, Apricot, Honey | Often |
Wine regions
| Country | Region | Grape | Characteristics |
|---|---|---|---|
| France | Bourgogne / Burgundy (Chablis, Côte d'Or) | Chardonnay, Pinot Noir | Cool (Chablis) to Moderate (Côte d'Or) continental. Chablis: high acid, green fruit, citrus. Côte d'Or: high acid, red fruit (Pinot), stone fruit/oak (Chardonnay). |
| France | Bordeaux (Left Bank - Médoc, Graves) | Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot | Moderate maritime. High tannin, high acid, blackcurrant, cedar, gravelly soils for drainage and heat. |
| France | Bordeaux (Right Bank - Saint-Émilion, Pomerol) | Merlot, Cabernet Franc | Moderate maritime. Medium tannin, plum, blackberry, clay-based soils that stay cool. |
| France | Northern Rhône (Hermitage, Côte Rôtie) | Syrah, Viognier | Moderate continental. Syrah: black fruit, pepper, meat, steep slopes. Viognier: low acid, high alcohol, apricot, honeysuckle. |
| France | Southern Rhône (Châteauneuf-du-Pape) | Grenache, Syrah, Mourvèdre | Warm Mediterranean. Grenache: high alcohol, low acid, strawberry, spice, galets (large stones). |
| France | Loire (Sancerre, Pouilly-Fumé, Vouvray) | Sauvignon Blanc, Chenin Blanc | Cool continental. Sancerre: high acid, green fruit, herbaceous. Vouvray: high acid, dry to sweet, apple, honey. |
| France | Alsace | Riesling, Gewurztraminer, Pinot Gris | Cool to moderate continental. Dry, high acid, aromatic, protected by Vosges mountains (rain shadow). |
| France | Beaujolais | Gamay | Moderate continental. High acid, low tannin, raspberry, cherry, banana (carbonic maceration). |
| Italy | Piemonte (Barolo, Barbaresco, Gavi, Asti) | Nebbiolo, Cortese, Moscato | Moderate continental. Nebbiolo: high tannin/acid, rose, tar. Cortese (Gavi): high acid, green apple. Moscato (Asti): sweet, low alcohol, grapey. |
| Italy | Tuscany (Chianti, Brunello di Montalcino) | Sangiovese | Warm Mediterranean. High acid, high tannin, red cherry, plum, herbal notes, oak-aged. |
| Italy | Veneto (Soave, Valpolicella, Prosecco) | Garganega, Corvina, Glera | Moderate. Soave: high acid, floral. Valpolicella: cherry, herbal. Prosecco: tank method, apple, melon. |
| Spain | Rioja | Tempranillo, Garnacha | Moderate. Tempranillo: medium acid/tannin, strawberry, plum, oak-matured (vanilla, coconut, leather). |
| Spain | Ribera del Duero | Tempranillo | Moderate continental. High altitude, deep color, high tannin, black fruit, intense sun. |
| Spain | Priorat | Garnacha, Cariñena | Warm. Deep color, high tannin, high alcohol, black fruit, liquorice, llicorella (slate) soils. |
| Spain | Rías Baixas | Albariño | Cool/Moderate maritime. High acid, citrus, stone fruit (peach), refreshing. |
| Germany | Mosel, Rheingau, Pfalz | Riesling | Cool continental. High acid, low alcohol, floral, green fruit (Mosel) to stone fruit (Pfalz), slate soils. |
| Australia | Barossa Valley, McLaren Vale | Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon, Grenache | Warm. Shiraz: full body, high alcohol, black fruit, spice, chocolate, old vines. |
| Australia | Coonawarra, Margaret River | Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay | Moderate. Coonawarra: terra rossa soil, mint, blackcurrant. Margaret River: maritime, elegant. |
| Australia | Hunter Valley, Yarra Valley | Semillon, Pinot Noir, Chardonnay | Hunter: warm/humid, low alcohol Semillon. Yarra: cool/moderate, elegant Pinot Noir. |
| New Zealand | Marlborough, Central Otago | Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Noir | Cool maritime/continental. Marlborough: intense passion fruit. Central Otago: high alcohol, intense red fruit Pinot. |
| USA | Napa Valley, Sonoma, Oregon | Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir | Warm (Napa) to Cool (Oregon). Napa: full body Cabernet. Oregon: high acid, elegant Pinot Noir. |
| Chile | Maipo Valley, Casablanca Valley | Cabernet Sauvignon, Sauvignon Blanc | Warm (Maipo) to Cool (Casablanca). Casablanca: high acid, citrus, peach Sauvignon Blanc. |
| South Africa | Stellenbosch, Walker Bay | Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir, Chardonnay | Warm (Stellenbosch) to Cool (Walker Bay). Walker Bay: high acid, elegant Pinot Noir. |
| Hungary | Tokaj | Furmint | Moderate. High acid, dry to sweet (Aszú), apple, apricot, honey, noble rot. |