Level 1 · Wine & Spirits Exam Prep
Types and Styles of Wine
Understanding still, sparkling, fortified, and sweet wines.
Topics covered
- Still wines
- Sparkling wines
- Fortified wines
- Sweet and dessert wines
Level 1 Study Guide
Major Grape Varieties
Quick Revision
- Still = no bubbles; dry/medium/sweet
- Sparkling = CO₂ bubbles (Champagne, Prosecco, Cava)
- Fortified = spirit added (Port, Sherry)
- Sweetness = residual sugar (RS)
- Body = weight in the mouth
- Tannin = drying sensation in reds
Key Facts for the Exam
- Still wines have no significant carbonation; they can be dry, medium, or sweet
- Sparkling wines contain dissolved CO₂, which creates bubbles — e.g. Champagne, Prosecco, Cava
- Fortified wines have grape spirit added to raise alcohol — e.g. Port (16–22% ABV), Sherry
- Sweetness in wine comes from residual sugar (RS) — sugar not converted to alcohol during fermentation
- Body refers to the weight and fullness of wine in the mouth — influenced by alcohol, sugar, and extract
- Tannin is a mouth-drying sensation found mainly in red wines from grape skins and seeds
Level 1 Exam Tips
- 1.Know the three main categories: still, sparkling, fortified — and one example for each.
- 2.Dry vs sweet is about residual sugar, not grape sweetness — this trips up many students.
- 3.Body is mainly driven by alcohol content: higher alcohol = fuller body.
- 4.Tannin only comes from reds (mainly) — white wines are low tannin unless skin-contact.
Common Exam Mistakes
- ✗Thinking sweet wine = made from sweet grapes — sweetness is about residual sugar after fermentation
- ✗Confusing tannin with acidity — tannin dries your gums, acidity makes you salivate
- ✗Saying Prosecco is Champagne — both are sparkling but from different countries and methods
Related Topics
Key Terms
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is the difference between dry and sweet wine?
- Dry wine has very little residual sugar — most of the grape sugar was converted to alcohol during fermentation. Sweet wine retains more residual sugar, either by stopping fermentation early or using very ripe grapes. Sweetness is measured in grams of sugar per litre (g/L).
- How is Champagne different from other sparkling wines?
- Champagne is a sparkling wine made in the Champagne region of France using the traditional method (méthode champenoise), where a second fermentation occurs in the bottle. Prosecco (Italy) and Cava (Spain) are also sparkling wines but made differently and in different regions.
- What makes a wine "full-bodied"?
- Body refers to the weight and richness of wine in your mouth, similar to comparing skimmed milk to whole milk. Higher alcohol, more extract, and residual sugar all contribute to fuller body. Light-bodied wines like Pinot Grigio feel much lighter than full-bodied Cabernet Sauvignon.