See the questions and wines from this year’s Master of Wine exam

Paper 1 – tasting: whites

Question 1

Wines 1-4 are from two different countries. They may be blends or single varieties, but one variety is common to all.

With reference to all four wines:

a) Identify the common grape variety. (20 marks)

For each wine:

b) Identify the origin as closely as possible. (4 x 10 marks)

c) Comment on quality and style with reference to winemaking. (4 x 10 marks)

Question 2

Wines 5-6, 7-8 and 9-10 are paired by country. Each pair is from a different country.

For each wine:

a) Identify the origin and grape variety(ies) as closely as possible. (6 x 12 marks)

b) What are the key winemaking techniques used in the wine’s production? (6 x 7 marks)

c) Comment on the quality. (6 x 6 marks)

Question 3

Wines 11-12 are from two different Old World countries.

With reference to each wine:

a) Comment on the winemaking. (2 x 10 marks)

b) Discuss the wine’s style, quality and commercial potential. Do not spend time thinking about the wine’s specific origin. (2 x 15 marks)

And the wines were…

1.Sancerre Les Boucauds, Claude Riffault, 2017. Loire, France (13%)

2.Sauvignon Blanc Reserve, Clifford Bay, Villa Maria, 2018. Awatere Valley, Marlborough, New Zealand (13%)

3.Château La Louvière, 2013. Pessac-Léognan, France (12.5%)

4.Sauvignon Blanc, The Doctors’, 2017. Marlborough, New Zealand (9.5%)

5.Rioja Blanco, Allende, 2015. Rioja, Spain (13.5%)

6.Albarino, Santiago Ruiz, 2017. Rias Baixas, Spain (13%)

7.Grillo, Isola della Fiamma, 2018. Sicily, Italy (12.5%)

8.Moscato d’Asti, Elio Perrone, 2017. Piedmont, Italy (5.5%)

9.Watervale Riesling, Mount Horrocks, 2018. Clare Valley, Australia (12.5%)

10.M3 Chardonnay, Shaw and Smith, 2016. Adelaide Hills, Australia (13%)

11.Chinuri, Iago, 2016. Kartli, Georgia (12.5%)

12.Vecchio Samperi, Marco de Bartoli, NV. Sicily, Italy (16.5%)