WSET Level 3 Bordeaux: practice questions with answers
These are real questions from The Wine Goat bank on Bordeaux, written to the WSET Level 3 Award in Wines syllabus. Answer them, read the explanation, then practise the full set of 78 questions in the free app, where your mistakes come back until you know them.
Sample questions with answers
1 Which traditional French term is more often seen on labels instead of AOP?
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Answer: Appellation d'origine contrôlée (AC/AOC)
Why: One plot may be covered by a generic and a more prestigious appellation; the producer chooses yearly.
2 What are French wines without a GI called?
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Answer: Vin de France
Why: IGP is the French PGI; the old term Vin de Pays is still seen.
3 What climate does Bordeaux have?
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Answer: Moderate maritime, benefiting from the Gulf Stream
Why: It extends the season: spring frost is rare and ripening continues into October.
4 What protects Bordeaux vineyards from the worst Atlantic storms?
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Answer: The Landes forest and coastal dunes
Why: The Atlantic still brings rain and humidity that can disrupt flowering, promote rot and dilute grapes.
5 What is the most widely planted variety in Bordeaux?
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Answer: Merlot (black)
Why: It succeeds on the cool clays of Saint-Émilion and Pomerol; its softness makes it dominant in inexpensive wines.
6 How many grape varieties are permitted in Bordeaux, and how many really predominate?
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Answer: Thirteen permitted; in practice three black and two white predominate
Why: Black: Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot (+ minor Petit Verdot); white: Semillon, Sauvignon Blanc (+ Muscadelle).
Practise all of it in the free app
Your answers are saved to your profile, the app builds your day-by-day study plan up to the exam and brings back your weak points until you master them.
78 questions on this topic in the app
Frequently asked questions
How many questions on Bordeaux are in The Wine Goat?
The app has 78 multiple-choice questions on Bordeaux, each with an explanation, plus short written answer questions and flashcards on the same topic.
Is Bordeaux important for the WSET Level 3 exam?
Yes. The 50 multiple-choice questions cover the whole syllabus and the 4 short written answers often focus on one region or process, so every topic, including Bordeaux, can come up.
More WSET Level 3 resources
- WSET Level 3 practice questions with answers
- WSET Level 3 mock exam: free practice test
- WSET Level 3 short written answer questions: examples and model answers
- The WSET Level 3 Systematic Approach to Tasting (SAT): how to write a tasting note
- WSET Level 3 flashcards: grapes, regions, numbers and key terms
- How to pass WSET Level 3 first time: study plan and tips
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