Level 3 · Wine & Spirits Exam Prep
Grape Varieties
Advanced study of principal and minor grape varieties used in fine wine production.
Topics covered
- Vinifera varieties
- Crossing and hybridisation
- Aromatic compounds
- Clonal selection
Level 3 Study Guide
Burgundy — Appellations and Styles
Quick Revision
- Crossing: vinifera × vinifera
- Hybrid: vinifera × other species
- Pinot family = mutations (Noir/Gris/Blanc/Meunier)
- Cab Sauv = Cab Franc × Sauv Blanc (DNA)
- Old vines: low yield, concentrated flavour
- Clonal selection: choose vine characteristics
Key Facts for the Exam
- Variety vs clone: clonal selection within a variety allows winemakers to choose specific characteristics
- Crossings vs hybrids: a crossing is two Vitis vinifera parents (e.g. Pinotage); a hybrid crosses vinifera with another species
- Mutations: Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris, Pinot Blanc, and Pinot Meunier are all mutations of the same original vine
- DNA profiling has revealed many variety relationships and corrected historical misidentifications
- International vs indigenous varieties: international (Chardonnay, Cab Sauv) vs local (Assyrtiko, Touriga Nacional)
- Old vine viticulture: vines 40+ years old naturally reduce yields and concentrate flavour
Level 3 Exam Tips
- 1.Crossing = vinifera × vinifera (e.g. Pinotage = Pinot Noir × Cinsault). Hybrid = vinifera × other species.
- 2.The Pinot family mutations (Noir, Gris, Blanc, Meunier) sharing DNA is a classic exam question.
- 3.Old vines = lower yield = more concentrated wine — explain the mechanism.
- 4.DNA profiling knowledge: Cabernet Sauvignon = Cabernet Franc × Sauvignon Blanc.
Common Exam Mistakes
- ✗Confusing crossing (two vinifera varieties) with a hybrid (vinifera + non-vinifera species)
- ✗Thinking indigenous varieties are lower quality — Assyrtiko and Nebbiolo are world-class
- ✗Forgetting that Carmenère was mistakenly identified as Merlot for over a century
Related Topics
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is the difference between a grape crossing and a hybrid?
- A crossing combines two Vitis vinifera grape varieties — for example, Pinotage is a crossing of Pinot Noir and Cinsault. Both parent varieties are within the same species. A hybrid crosses Vitis vinifera with a different vine species (such as Vitis labrusca or Vitis rupestris). Hybrids were developed to resist phylloxera and disease, but are banned in many premium wine appellations.