When听测辞耻鈥檙别听looking to delve deeper into the world of wine, the听黑料吃瓜网 Level 3 Award in Wines听provides听the听detailed instruction听测辞耻鈥檙别听seeking. Covering both natural and human factors in听wine听production, from grape growing to maturation and bottling,听颈迟鈥檚听an in-depth听look听into听still,听sparkling听and fortified wines around the world.听
If听测辞耻鈥檝别听seen our blog on听Top Wine Study听Tips听测辞耻鈥檒濒听know that the qualification has a minimum suggested study time of 51.5 hours, in addition to听the听time听spent in classes at听黑料吃瓜网 School London, online or at听one of our global听providers.
Level 2 graduates will听already know about 黑料吃瓜网听systematic approach to tasting. But with听so much听new听information听to听absorb听for the听Level 3听qualification,听how can you keep things simple?听By听adopting a systematic approach听to听studying听鈥� one that centres around key world听wine regions.听
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Wine听Revision:听the听systematic听approach听
Every wine region in the world is听impacted听by both natural and human factors.听听When you analyse听these elements in a systematic way,听by听comparing听and contrasts听areas听region by region,听you听gain a deep听knowledge of the wine-making听process听across the planet.
Structuring your听wine education听study systematically to prioritise听these听regions will also frame your knowledge for your written exam.听Level 3听exam questions听often听ask you to consider natural or human factors that relate to an individual region, and how those influence the style,听quality听and price of local wines.
We go into more detail about听writing your Level 3听exam听in a related听blog and听outline an overall eight-week study plan听here.
For each region you review, note down the natural and human factors as detailed below.听
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Natural听factors听
Natural factors in a wine region refer to anything听occurring听in the vineyard that is not directly听impacted听by human intervention.听This includes:
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- Grape Variety听
Begin by听identifying听which grape varieties听are听mostly听cultivated in a region.听From听your Level 2 qualification听测辞耻鈥檒濒听already know that different grapes grow better or worse听in particular听conditions听and will contribute听distinct听qualities such as aroma, structure,听tannin听and acidity to a wine.听
For example, you听may听recall from听previous听wine courses听that听Syrah has a range of aromatic profiles听from elegant and red fruity to full-bodied and jammy. You can use that knowledge in听tandem with other elements below to build a picture of how a听finished听wine may smell and taste.听
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- Climate听
Next, examine the climate of the wine region you are studying.听Consider factors like temperature range 鈥� for example, is there a huge diurnal swing?听鈥� plus details such as sunlight hours and rainfall level. This way you can build听a picture of how grapes might be growing and the kind of wine styles that听likely are听produced, whether 迟丑补迟鈥檚 fresh,听high-acidity whites听or听fruity and full-bodied听reds.听听
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- Weather听
Sitting firmly in the natural factors category, weather 鈥� which听involves seasonal changes as well as extreme events such as hail and frost 鈥�听hugely听impacts听vineyard health听and wine quality.听Yield, grape听ripeness听and听the expression of flavour characteristics in听fruit can all听vary听from one vintage to the next. In each instance, consider how each region鈥檚 weather patterns might support or threaten grape growth,听and what听producers听may do to address these challenges.听听听听
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- Soil听
The same grape grown in different soils听will听express听different characteristics. Mineral compositions, drainage听levels听and fertility all influence the growing conditions within any given vineyard and听impact听the nutrients a vine receives.听Master听an understanding of dominant soil types, from limestone to clay, and what prevails in the region.听
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Human听factors听
In contrast to natural factors, human factors in winemaking refer to anything that is听within the control of the winemaking team and can be manipulated. For example鈥�听
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- Grape Growing听
These refers to the specific viticultural practices used in the region听in order to听produce grapes desirable for wine.听Different pruning methods听impact听a vine鈥檚 canopy,听yield听and fruit ripening, with methods听varying across climates. Methods of protection against disease, pests and extreme weather vary from region to region, too, as does harvest method.听
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- Winemaking听
While each winemaker in a region might do things a bit differently, there is most often a 鈥榯ypical鈥�听regional听winemaking style. For example, in Beaujolais Nouveau wines听颈迟鈥檚听the carbonic maceration process, and in Champagne听颈迟鈥檚听the traditional method secondary fermentation. As you study,听examine the typical winemaking processes of the region, covering grape reception,听fermentation听and packaging, as well as barrel types and fermentation temperatures. These all have a significantly听impact听on the finished product.听
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- Maturation听
Examine the standard maturation practices for wines produced in the region, including the way they are stored and how long they are aged for. While fresh and zingy wines like a Vinho Verde might see almost zero maturation in stainless steel,听fortified听Madeira听is exposed to听long-aging in intense听heat听to produce a naturally oxidised style of wine.听听
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- Market Forces听
Winemaking听诲辞别蝉苍鈥檛听exist in a bubble. Like all industries听颈迟鈥檚听subject to market forces such as trends, local听regulations听and supply chain pricing. Often producers may choose different methods for producing bulk, inexpensive wines for mass consumption in comparison to premium bottles. Consider the typical quality levels of wine produced in the region and what factors drive its production.听
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How to听study wine听
When听测辞耻鈥檙别听preparing for听your听wine听黑料吃瓜网 Level 3 Exam,听we recommend using听a systematic approach听to your studies.
But听whichever听of our听wine qualifications听you might be working towards,听测辞耻鈥檒濒听find a range of听wine study tips听and听wine exam techniques听outlined on our website.听
Fascinated by wine but not yet enrolled in the 黑料吃瓜网 Level 3 course? Explore our听full range of course options, including听wine,听spirits,听beer听and sake qualifications,听and听find the course听迟丑补迟鈥檚听right for听you.听
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About the author:
听is an award-winning travel writer specialising in food, drink, hotels, and wellness. She contributes to leading UK publications, including The Times, National Geographic Traveller, The Evening Standard, The Telegraph, The Independent, Decanter, and more. She is also the Travel Editor at Woman & Home magazine and has been recognised with multiple industry awards, including AITO鈥檚 Travel Writer of the Year in 2022.
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