WSET Level 3 Sherry: practice questions with answers
These are real questions from The Wine Goat bank on Sherry, written to the WSET Level 3 Award in Wines syllabus. Answer them, read the explanation, then practise the full set of 54 questions in the free app, where your mistakes come back until you know them.
Sample questions with answers
1 In which towns must Sherry be matured?
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Answer: Jerez, Sanlúcar or El Puerto
Why: Current rule: Jerez, Sanlúcar or El Puerto. A reform awaiting EU approval would allow ageing anywhere in the DO, except Fino in Sanlúcar (that is Manzanilla).
2 Where does most PX used for Sherry come from?
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Answer: The neighbouring Montilla-Moriles region
Why: Its thin skin suits sun-drying; used for sweet Sherry. Little is planted in Jerez.
3 To what strength are wines for biological ageing fortified?
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Answer: 15–15.5%, ideal for flor
Why: 95% neutral spirit is used. Oxidative wines go to 17%, where flor dies.
4 Why are Sherry butts only five-sixths full?
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Answer: To encourage contact with oxygen and leave room for flor
Why: 600 L oak butts, often seasoned to remove oak flavour. Bodegas have thick walls, high ceilings and damp floors.
5 Which of these grapes are generally used for Sherry? 1. Muscat 2. Palomino 3. Pedro Ximénez (PX)
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Answer: 1, 2 and 3
Why: Sherry: Palomino (base), PX and Moscatel (sweet styles).
6 Which of these statements is true?
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Answer: Flor cannot develop if a wine is fortified to 17% abv
Why: Flor: 15–15.5% abv yes, 17% no. Oloroso = oxidative.
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.
54 questions on this topic in the app
Frequently asked questions
How many questions on Sherry are in The Wine Goat?
The app has 54 multiple-choice questions on Sherry, each with an explanation, plus short written answer questions and flashcards on the same topic.
Is Sherry 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 Sherry, 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
WSET 3 questions by region and topic
- Tasting and the SAT
- Food and wine pairing
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- The vine and grape varieties
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- White wines
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- Sparkling: Champagne, Prosecco, Cava
- Sherry
- Port and fortified wines