Free WSET Level 3 Cheat Sheet
Advanced proficiency in wine styles, quality, and production. Build your knowledge with our independent study guide, interactive flashcards, and realistic practice questions.
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Free WSET Level 3 flashcards and mock exam
- Free WSET Level 3 flashcards (160 free of 800)
- Free WSET Level 3 mock exam (50 questions + 4 short answers)
Key topics
Natural Factors in the Vineyard
Climate: Latitude, Altitude, Aspect, Water, Soil.
Weather: Variations from year to year.
Soil: Nutrients, water retention, and heat absorption.
Human Factors: Viticulture
Planting: Clonal vs Mass Selection.
Training & Pruning: Guyot (cane) vs Spur pruning.
Harvest: Manual vs Mechanical.
Human Factors: Winemaking
Must Adjustments: Acidification, De-acidification, Chaptalization.
Fermentation: Vessel choice, temperature control, yeast selection.
Maturation: Oak (origin, age, toast), Lees aging, Oxidation.
The Systematic Approach to Tasting (SAT)
Appearance: Clarity, Intensity, Colour.
Nose: Condition, Intensity, Aroma characteristics.
Palate: Sweetness, Acidity, Tannin, Alcohol, Body, Intensity, Finish.
Grape varieties
| Grape | Sweetness | Acidity | Tannin | Body | Typical flavours | Oak |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cabernet Sauvignon | Dry | High | High | Full | Blackcurrant, Mint, Cedar, Bell pepper | Very Common |
| Merlot | Dry | Medium | Medium | Medium to Full | Plum, Blackberry, Herbal (in cooler years) | Common |
| Chardonnay | Dry | High to Medium | N/A | Light to Full | Apple (Cool), Peach (Mod), Pineapple (Hot) | Often |
| Pinot Noir | Dry | High | Low to Medium | Light to Medium | Cherry, Strawberry, Raspberry (Tertiary: Forest floor, Mushroom) | Sometimes |
| Sauvignon Blanc | Dry | High | N/A | Light to Medium | Grass, Gooseberry, Asparagus, Passion fruit | Rarely (except Fumé Blanc) |
| Syrah / Shiraz | Dry | Medium to High | Medium to High | Medium to Full | Black fruit, Black pepper (Cool), Chocolate/Spice (Hot) | Common |
| Grenache / Garnacha | Dry | Low to Medium | Low to Medium | Full | Strawberry, Raspberry, White pepper, Spice | Sometimes |
| Riesling | Dry to Sweet | High | N/A | Light to Full | Floral, Lime, Green apple, Peach, Petrol (Aged) | Rarely |
| Chenin Blanc | Dry to Sweet | High | N/A | Medium to Full | Apple, Quince, Honey, Wet wool (Aged) | Sometimes |
| Nebbiolo | Dry | High | High | Full | Red cherry, Rose, Tar, Smoke | Common (Slavonian or Barrique) |
| Sangiovese | Dry | High | High | Medium to Full | Red cherry, Plum, Dried herbs, Tea | Common |
| Tempranillo | Dry | Medium | Medium to High | Medium to Full | Strawberry, Red plum, Leather, Tobacco (Aged) | Very Common (American/French) |
| Malbec | Dry | Medium | Medium to High | Full | Blackberry, Plum, Clove, Vanilla (Oak) | Common |
| Pinotage | Dry | Medium | Medium to High | Full | Raspberry, Coffee, Rubber (if handled poorly) | Often |
| Carmenère | Dry | Medium | High | Full | Blackberry, Green Bell Pepper (if underripe) | Often |
| Zinfandel / Primitivo | Dry to Medium-sweet | Medium | Medium to High | Full | Blackberry, Raisin, Prune, Pepper | Often |
| Grüner Veltliner | Dry | High | N/A | Medium to Full | Green fruit, White pepper, Stone fruit | Sometimes |
| Albariño | Dry | High | N/A | Medium | Peaches, Apricots, Grapefruit | Rarely |
| Furmint | Dry to Sweet | High | N/A | Full | Apple, Apricot, Honey, Ginger | Often |
| Garganega | Dry to Sweet | High | N/A | Medium | Lemon, Almond, Apple | Rarely |
| Viognier | Dry | Low to Medium | N/A | Full | Apricot, Peach, Honeysuckle, Spice | Sometimes |
Wine regions
| Country | Region | Grape | Characteristics |
|---|---|---|---|
| France | Bordeaux (Left Bank) | Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot | Moderate maritime climate. Gravelly soils. Médoc, Haut-Médoc, Pauillac, Margaux, Graves. |
| France | Bordeaux (Right Bank) | Merlot, Cabernet Franc | Moderate maritime. Clay/Limestone soils. Saint-Émilion, Pomerol. |
| France | Bordeaux (Sweet) | Sémillon, Sauvignon Blanc | Humid mornings for Noble Rot. Sauternes, Barsac. |
| France | Burgundy (Chablis) | Chardonnay | Cool continental. Kimmeridgian clay. High acid, citrus, flinty. |
| France | Burgundy (Côte d'Or) | Pinot Noir, Chardonnay | Moderate continental. Côte de Nuits (Red), Côte de Beaune (White). |
| France | Burgundy (Mâconnais) | Chardonnay | Warmer southern Burgundy. Pouilly-Fuissé. |
| France | Beaujolais | Gamay | Moderate continental. Granite soils. Carbonic maceration. 10 Crus (Morgon, Fleurie, etc.). |
| France | Alsace | Riesling, Gewurztraminer, Pinot Gris | Cool to Moderate continental. Vosges rain shadow. Dry, aromatic. |
| France | Loire Valley (Upper Loire) | Sauvignon Blanc | Cool continental. Sancerre, Pouilly-Fumé. |
| France | Loire Valley (Touraine/Anjou) | Chenin Blanc, Cabernet Franc | Maritime influence. Vouvray (Chenin), Chinon (Cab Franc). |
| France | Loire Valley (Nantais) | Melon Blanc | Atlantic maritime. Muscadet Sèvre et Maine sur lie. |
| France | Northern Rhône | Syrah, Viognier | Moderate continental. Steep slopes. Côte Rôtie, Hermitage, Condrieu. |
| France | Southern Rhône | Grenache, Syrah, Mourvèdre | Warm Mediterranean. Mistral wind. Châteauneuf-du-Pape (Galets). |
| France | Southern France | Grenache, Syrah, Mourvèdre, Carignan | Warm/Hot Mediterranean. Languedoc, Provence (Rosé). |
| Germany | Mosel | Riesling | Cool continental. Very steep slate slopes. High-acid, low-alcohol. |
| Germany | Rheingau / Pfalz | Riesling | Moderate continental. Fuller-bodied Rieslings than Mosel. |
| Austria | Wachau / Weinviertel | Grüner Veltliner, Riesling | Moderate continental. High quality dry whites. |
| Hungary | Tokaj | Furmint | Moderate climate. Volcanic soils. Famous for Aszú sweet wines. |
| Italy | Northern Italy | Nebbiolo, Barbera, Cortese, Pinot Grigio | Piemonte (Barolo), Alto Adige (Pinot Grigio), Veneto (Soave/Valpolicella). |
| Italy | Central Italy | Sangiovese | Tuscany (Chianti, Brunello). Warm Mediterranean. |
| Italy | Southern Italy | Aglianico, Primitivo, Negroamaro | Hot Mediterranean. Campania (Taurasi), Puglia. |
| Spain | Upper Ebro | Tempranillo, Garnacha | Moderate. Rioja, Navarra. |
| Spain | Duero Valley | Tempranillo (Tinta del País) | High altitude continental. Ribera del Duero, Toro. |
| Spain | Catalunya | Garnacha, Cariñena | Warm. Priorat (Llicorella soils), Penedès (Cava). |
| Spain | North West (Galicia) | Albariño | Cool maritime. Rías Baixas. |
| Portugal | Douro Valley | Touriga Nacional, Tinta Roriz | Hot continental. Schist soils. Port and dry red wines. |
| USA | California (Napa/Sonoma) | Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Zinfandel | Warm Mediterranean moderated by fog/ocean. |
| USA | Oregon / Washington | Pinot Noir, Riesling, Merlot | Oregon (Cool/Mod), Washington (Continental). |
| Australia | South Australia | Shiraz, Cabernet, Riesling | Barossa (Hot), Clare/Eden Valley (Riesling), Coonawarra (Terra Rossa). |
| Australia | Victoria / NSW | Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Semillon | Yarra Valley (Cool), Hunter Valley (Semillon). |
| New Zealand | Marlborough / Central Otago | Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Noir | Marlborough (Cool Maritime), Central Otago (Cool Continental). |
| Chile | Central Valley | Cabernet Sauvignon, Carmenère | Warm Mediterranean. Maipo, Rapel. |
| Argentina | Mendoza | Malbec | Arid/Continental. High altitude. Luján de Cuyo, Uco Valley. |
| South Africa | Western Cape | Chenin Blanc, Pinotage, Cabernet | Mediterranean. Stellenbosch, Paarl, Swartland. |