Checked 6 November 2026. WSET revises its specifications. The grape and region lists were read on wsetglobal.com on 6 November 2026 in the Level 2 Award in Wines Specification Issue 2.1 (2026), and compared with Issue 2 (2023), which the course page links: the lists are the same. Check the issue your course follows.
The WSET Level 2 specification names 8 principal grape varieties (four black, four white) and 22 regionally important ones (12 black, 10 white), each with the regions you need to know it in. The principal grapes are Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Pinot Noir and Syrah/Shiraz, and Chardonnay, Pinot Grigio/Pinot Gris, Riesling and Sauvignon Blanc. Together, the two grape learning outcomes carry 31 of the 50 exam questions. Below is the whole list from the specification, region by region, with our one-line summary of each grape, the places that appear under several grapes, and a free quiz to test yourself.
ProSyllabus is an independent study site. It is not part of WSET (the Wine & Spirit Education Trust), and nothing here is a WSET exam question or WSET study material. The grape and region lists come from WSET’s Level 2 specification, read on 6 November 2026 and listed at the foot of the page; the counts, the one-line traits and the worked examples are ours.
From the WSET Level 2 Award in Wines Specification, Issue 2.1 (2026), read 6 November 2026. The 22 is our count of the specification’s list.
For the exam itself (50 multiple-choice questions in an hour, 55% to pass) and a study plan, see our WSET Level 2 exam guide; this page sticks to the grapes and their places.
FreeTests: LO3: Principal grape varieties · LO4: Regional grape varieties · LO6: Storage, service and food pairing
WSET Level 2 Essentials: free sample
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The eight principal grapes and their regions
Learning outcome 3 asks you to describe each principal grape, how climate, harvest time and winemaking change it, and the styles it makes in the named regions, and to compare those regions. The regions are the specification’s list; the traits are our short summary to hang the regions on, not WSET wording.
| Grape | Regions named in the specification | Typical traits (our summary) |
|---|---|---|
| <strong>Cabernet Sauvignon</strong> (black) | <strong>France:</strong> Pays d’Oc (PGI), Bordeaux, Haut-Médoc, Pauillac, Margaux, Graves, Pessac-Léognan<br><strong>USA:</strong> California, Napa Valley, Oakville, Rutherford, Calistoga, Sonoma<br><strong>Chile:</strong> Central Valley, Maipo Valley, Colchagua Valley<br><strong>South Africa:</strong> Stellenbosch<br><strong>Australia:</strong> Coonawarra, Margaret River<br><strong>New Zealand:</strong> Hawke’s Bay | Thick skins: deep colour, high tannin and high acidity, with blackcurrant fruit. Needs a moderate or warm climate to ripen. |
| <strong>Merlot</strong> (black) | <strong>France:</strong> Pays d’Oc (PGI), Bordeaux, Saint-Émilion, Pomerol<br><strong>USA:</strong> California, Napa Valley, Sonoma<br><strong>Chile:</strong> Central Valley<br><strong>South Africa:</strong> Stellenbosch<br><strong>Australia:</strong> Margaret River<br><strong>New Zealand:</strong> Hawke’s Bay | Usually softer in tannin than Cabernet Sauvignon, with plum and other red or black fruit; often blended with Cabernet Sauvignon in Bordeaux. |
| <strong>Pinot Noir</strong> (black) | <strong>France:</strong> Bourgogne/Burgundy, Gevrey-Chambertin, Nuits-Saint-Georges, Beaune, Pommard<br><strong>USA:</strong> Sonoma, Los Carneros, Santa Barbara County, Oregon<br><strong>Chile:</strong> Casablanca Valley<br><strong>South Africa:</strong> Walker Bay<br><strong>Australia:</strong> Yarra Valley, Mornington Peninsula<br><strong>New Zealand:</strong> Martinborough, Marlborough, Central Otago | Thin skins: usually pale, with low to medium tannin and red fruit such as strawberry and raspberry. Most at home in cool and moderate climates. |
| <strong>Syrah/Shiraz</strong> (black) | <strong>France:</strong> Pays d’Oc (PGI), Crozes-Hermitage, Hermitage, Côte Rôtie, Minervois<br><strong>Australia:</strong> South Eastern Australia, Barossa Valley, Hunter Valley | Deep colour, medium to high tannin and black fruit; black pepper is common in cooler sites, riper and fuller styles in warm ones. |
| <strong>Chardonnay</strong> (white) | <strong>France:</strong> Pays d’Oc (PGI), Bourgogne/Burgundy, Chablis, Puligny-Montrachet, Meursault, Mâcon, Pouilly-Fuissé<br><strong>USA:</strong> California, Sonoma, Los Carneros, Napa Valley, Santa Barbara County, Oregon<br><strong>Chile:</strong> Central Valley, Casablanca Valley<br><strong>South Africa:</strong> Western Cape, Walker Bay<br><strong>Australia:</strong> South Eastern Australia, Yarra Valley, Adelaide Hills, Margaret River<br><strong>New Zealand:</strong> Marlborough, Hawke’s Bay | Fairly neutral in aroma, so climate and winemaking (oak, malolactic conversion, lees) show clearly: green apple and citrus when cool, riper stone and tropical fruit when warm. |
| <strong>Pinot Grigio/Pinot Gris</strong> (white) | <strong>Italy:</strong> Veneto (PGI), Delle Venezie, Friuli-Venezia Giulia<br><strong>France:</strong> Alsace | The Italian wines are usually light, crisp and fairly neutral; Alsace Pinot Gris is usually fuller, riper and sometimes off-dry. |
| <strong>Riesling</strong> (white) | <strong>France:</strong> Alsace<br><strong>Germany:</strong> Mosel, Rheingau, Pfalz<br><strong>Australia:</strong> Clare Valley, Eden Valley | Aromatic, with high acidity whatever its sweetness; made from bone dry to very sweet, and rarely aged in new oak. |
| <strong>Sauvignon Blanc</strong> (white) | <strong>France:</strong> Pays d’Oc (PGI), Sancerre, Pouilly-Fumé, Touraine, Bordeaux, Graves, Pessac-Léognan<br><strong>USA:</strong> Napa Valley<br><strong>Chile:</strong> Central Valley, Casablanca Valley<br><strong>South Africa:</strong> Elgin, Constantia<br><strong>Australia:</strong> Adelaide Hills, Margaret River<br><strong>New Zealand:</strong> Marlborough | Aromatic, with high acidity and green or herbaceous notes; usually unoaked, though some Bordeaux whites blend it with Semillon and age it in oak. |
From the specification, Learning Outcome 3, read 6 November 2026. “(PGI)” marks the two names the specification lists as PGI production, Pays d’Oc and Veneto; the other European names are listed as PDOs, and the rest are geographical indications from outside the EU. Napa Valley is listed for Cabernet Sauvignon with three of its sub-areas, Oakville, Rutherford and Calistoga.
Our count of the places listed under each grape in Learning Outcome 3 (Napa Valley and its three sub-areas counted separately). More places means more pairings to learn, not more exam questions: WSET does not split the 19 questions by grape.
Label terms that go with the principal grapes
| Where | Terms named in the specification |
|---|---|
| Burgundy | Premier Cru, Grand Cru |
| Bordeaux | Bordeaux, Bordeaux Supérieur, Cru Bourgeois, Grand Cru Classé |
| Alsace | Grand Cru |
| Germany | Prädikatswein, Kabinett, Spätlese, Auslese, Beerenauslese (BA), Trockenbeerenauslese (TBA), Eiswein; Trocken, Halbtrocken |
From the specification, Learning Outcome 3. The order of the German ripeness levels and what each term means are in our WSET Level 2 practice questions guide.
FreeTests: LO3: Principal grape varieties · LO4: Regional grape varieties · LO6: Storage, service and food pairing
WSET Level 2 Essentials: free sample
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The 22 regionally important grapes
Learning outcome 4 is lighter: describe each grape, the styles and quality of its wines in the named places, and the label terms listed with it. Most of these grapes come with only one to three places, so a one-line note per grape goes a long way.
| Grape | Places named in the specification | Label terms listed with it | Typical traits (our summary) |
|---|---|---|---|
| <strong>Gamay</strong> (black) | <strong>France:</strong> Beaujolais, Beaujolais Villages, Beaujolais Cru (Fleurie) | – | Light, low in tannin and high in acidity, with red fruit. |
| <strong>Grenache/Garnacha</strong> (black) | <strong>France:</strong> Côtes du Rhône, Côtes du Rhône Villages, Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Minervois, Côtes de Provence<br><strong>Spain:</strong> Rioja, Navarra, Priorat<br><strong>Australia:</strong> Barossa Valley, McLaren Vale | – | Ripens to high sugar, so the wines can be high in alcohol, with red fruit; often blended. |
| <strong>Tempranillo</strong> (black) | <strong>Spain:</strong> Rioja, Ribera del Duero, Catalunya | Joven/Genérico, Crianza, Reserva, Gran Reserva | Medium acidity and tannin with red fruit; often aged in oak, which the Spanish ageing terms describe. |
| <strong>Nebbiolo</strong> (black) | <strong>Italy:</strong> Barolo, Barbaresco | – | Pale in colour but high in tannin and acidity. |
| <strong>Barbera</strong> (black) | <strong>Italy:</strong> Barbera d’Asti | – | Deep colour and high acidity, but low tannin. |
| <strong>Sangiovese</strong> (black) | <strong>Italy:</strong> Chianti, Chianti Classico, Brunello di Montalcino | Riserva | High acidity, medium to high tannin and red cherry fruit. |
| <strong>Corvina</strong> (black) | <strong>Italy:</strong> Valpolicella, Amarone della Valpolicella, Recioto della Valpolicella | Classico | Light-bodied with red cherry; dried grapes give the richer Amarone (dry) and Recioto (sweet). |
| <strong>Montepulciano</strong> (black) | <strong>Italy:</strong> Montepulciano d’Abruzzo | – | Deep colour, black fruit and plenty of tannin. |
| <strong>Zinfandel/Primitivo</strong> (black) | <strong>USA:</strong> California<br><strong>Italy:</strong> Puglia | – | Ripens to high sugar, so the wines are often full-bodied and high in alcohol, with ripe black fruit. |
| <strong>Pinotage</strong> (black) | <strong>South Africa:</strong> Western Cape | Cape Blend | South Africa’s own black grape: deep colour and medium to high tannin. |
| <strong>Carmenère</strong> (black) | <strong>Chile:</strong> Central Valley | – | Deep colour and black fruit; green pepper notes if it is not fully ripe. |
| <strong>Malbec</strong> (black) | <strong>Argentina:</strong> Mendoza | – | Deep colour, black fruit and medium to high tannin. |
| <strong>Chenin Blanc</strong> (white) | <strong>France:</strong> Vouvray<br><strong>South Africa:</strong> Western Cape | – | High acidity; made dry, off-dry, sweet and sparkling. |
| <strong>Sémillon/Semillon</strong> (white) | <strong>France:</strong> Sauternes<br><strong>Australia:</strong> Hunter Valley, Barossa Valley | – | Sweet with noble rot in Sauternes; light, dry and long-lived in the Hunter Valley. |
| <strong>Viognier</strong> (white) | <strong>France:</strong> Condrieu | – | Full-bodied and aromatic (peach, apricot, blossom), with low to medium acidity. |
| <strong>Gewurztraminer</strong> (white) | <strong>France:</strong> Alsace, Alsace Grand Cru | – | Very aromatic (rose, lychee), deeper in colour and low in acidity. |
| <strong>Verdicchio</strong> (white) | <strong>Italy:</strong> Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi | – | High acidity with citrus and green fruit. |
| <strong>Cortese</strong> (white) | <strong>Italy:</strong> Gavi | – | Light-bodied and high in acidity, with citrus and green apple. |
| <strong>Garganega</strong> (white) | <strong>Italy:</strong> Soave, Recioto di Soave | Classico | Dry Soave shows citrus and stone fruit; Recioto di Soave is sweet, from dried grapes. |
| <strong>Fiano</strong> (white) | <strong>Italy:</strong> Fiano di Avellino | – | Medium to full body with stone fruit and a waxy texture. |
| <strong>Albariño</strong> (white) | <strong>Spain:</strong> Rías Baixas | – | High acidity, with citrus and stone fruit. |
| <strong>Furmint</strong> (white) | <strong>Hungary:</strong> Tokaj | Aszú | High acidity; Tokaj’s sweet Aszú wines are made with noble-rot grapes. |
From the specification, Learning Outcome 4, read 6 November 2026. The specification groups the French Grenache places into the Southern Rhône (Côtes du Rhône, Côtes du Rhône Villages, Châteauneuf-du-Pape) and Languedoc-Roussillon and Provence (Minervois, Côtes de Provence), and puts Condrieu in the Northern Rhône. For orientation (our note): Vouvray is in the Loire and Sauternes in Bordeaux.
11 of the 22 are named for a single place only, which makes them quick wins: Barbera (Barbera d’Asti); Montepulciano (Montepulciano d’Abruzzo); Pinotage (Western Cape); Carmenère (Central Valley); Malbec (Mendoza); Viognier (Condrieu); Verdicchio (Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi); Cortese (Gavi); Fiano (Fiano di Avellino); Albariño (Rías Baixas); Furmint (Tokaj). That is our count from the list.
Sparkling wine grapes
Learning outcome 5, on sparkling and fortified wines, names five grape varieties for sparkling wines: Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Meunier, Moscato (Muscat) and Glera. Chardonnay and Pinot Noir are principal grapes as well; Meunier, Moscato and Glera appear only here. The sparkling wines it names are Champagne, Asti, Prosecco and Cava, plus sparkling wines from South Africa, the USA, Australia and New Zealand. Sherry and Port are named without grape varieties.
From the specification, Learning Outcome 5, read 6 November 2026.
One place, several grapes: where a region name alone is not enough
Several places in the specification are named for more than one grape, so a question that gives only a region needs another clue: the colour, the style or a label term. These are all the places listed under two or more grapes in learning outcomes 3 and 4.
| Place | Grapes the specification names it for | How many |
|---|---|---|
| Central Valley | Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Carmenère | 5 |
| Pays d’Oc | Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah/Shiraz, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc | 5 |
| California | Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Chardonnay, Zinfandel/Primitivo | 4 |
| Margaret River | Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc | 4 |
| Napa Valley | Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc | 4 |
| Sonoma | Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Pinot Noir, Chardonnay | 4 |
| Alsace | Pinot Grigio/Pinot Gris, Riesling, Gewurztraminer | 3 |
| Barossa Valley | Syrah/Shiraz, Grenache/Garnacha, Sémillon/Semillon | 3 |
| Bordeaux | Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Sauvignon Blanc | 3 |
| Casablanca Valley | Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc | 3 |
| Hawke’s Bay | Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Chardonnay | 3 |
| Marlborough | Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc | 3 |
| Western Cape | Chardonnay, Pinotage, Chenin Blanc | 3 |
| Adelaide Hills | Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc | 2 |
| Bourgogne/Burgundy | Pinot Noir, Chardonnay | 2 |
| Graves | Cabernet Sauvignon, Sauvignon Blanc | 2 |
| Hunter Valley | Syrah/Shiraz, Sémillon/Semillon | 2 |
| Los Carneros | Pinot Noir, Chardonnay | 2 |
| Minervois | Syrah/Shiraz, Grenache/Garnacha | 2 |
| Oregon | Pinot Noir, Chardonnay | 2 |
| Pessac-Léognan | Cabernet Sauvignon, Sauvignon Blanc | 2 |
| Rioja | Grenache/Garnacha, Tempranillo | 2 |
| Santa Barbara County | Pinot Noir, Chardonnay | 2 |
| South Eastern Australia | Syrah/Shiraz, Chardonnay | 2 |
| Stellenbosch | Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot | 2 |
| Walker Bay | Pinot Noir, Chardonnay | 2 |
| Yarra Valley | Pinot Noir, Chardonnay | 2 |
Our list, computed from the specification’s Learning Outcomes 3 and 4 (Alsace Grand Cru counted with Alsace). Chile’s Central Valley and the Pays d’Oc PGI top it, with five grapes each.
Exam traps in the grape list
Five traps we see in the list (our reading)
- Two names, one grape. The specification gives both names for Syrah/Shiraz, Pinot Grigio/Pinot Gris, Grenache/Garnacha, Zinfandel/Primitivo, Sémillon/Semillon and Moscato (Muscat). An option may use either.
- Grape in the name, or not. Barbera d’Asti, Montepulciano d’Abruzzo, Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi and Fiano di Avellino name their grape. Barolo, Barbaresco, Gavi, Soave, Condrieu, Vouvray, Rías Baixas and Tokaj do not: you have to know it.
- Same place, different colour. The Hunter Valley is named for Shiraz and Semillon, the Barossa Valley for Shiraz, Grenache and Semillon, and Graves and Pessac-Léognan for both Cabernet Sauvignon and Sauvignon Blanc. Read whether the question asks about a red or a white.
- Sweet or dry from one grape. Corvina gives Valpolicella, Amarone and the sweet Recioto della Valpolicella; Garganega gives Soave and the sweet Recioto di Soave; Sémillon gives sweet Sauternes and dry Hunter Valley; Furmint gives Tokaj and the label term Aszú.
- Place names that sound alike. Pouilly-Fumé (Sauvignon Blanc) and Pouilly-Fuissé (Chardonnay) sit under different grapes. More pairs like this, with how to tell them apart, are in our practice questions guide.
Test yourself: two worked examples
Both are our own questions about the specification’s list. Try them before you open the answers.
Worked example 1 · one multiple-choice question
The Level 2 specification lists each wine region under the grape it is studied with. Which of these wines is listed under one of the regionally important grapes, rather than under one of the eight principal grapes?
- (A) Chablis
- (B) Pomerol
- (C) Soave
- (D) Sancerre
Show the answer
Answer: (C). Soave is listed under Garganega, one of the regionally important white grapes (learning outcome 4). The other three sit under principal grapes in learning outcome 3: Chablis under Chardonnay, Pomerol under Merlot and Sancerre under Sauvignon Blanc.
An original ProSyllabus question written on the WSET Level 2 specification’s grape list. Not a WSET exam question.
Worked example 2 · one multiple-choice question
In the Level 2 specification, Marlborough in New Zealand is named for three of the eight principal grapes. Which principal grape is it NOT named for?
- (A) Pinot Noir
- (B) Chardonnay
- (C) Sauvignon Blanc
- (D) Riesling
Show the answer
Answer: (D). The specification names Marlborough for Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc. Its Riesling regions are Alsace, the Mosel, the Rheingau, the Pfalz, the Clare Valley and the Eden Valley. The question is about the specification’s list, not about what is planted in Marlborough.
An original ProSyllabus question written on the WSET Level 2 specification’s grape list. Not a WSET exam question.
Free cheat-sheet quiz
Once you have the list, quiz yourself on it. These free questions come from the ProSyllabus WSET Level 2 Essentials practice pack, and they play in our timed practice player with the reason behind every answer:
FreeTests: LO3: Principal grape varieties · LO4: Regional grape varieties · LO6: Storage, service and food pairing
WSET Level 2 Essentials: free sample
Answer 3 questions against the clock, like the real exam. You then see the right answer, the reason and your time on each. About 5 minutes · free · no sign-in.
3 questions to answer
Start nowabout 5 minThis one is free · no sign-in needed
Your result shows how long each question took you.
The questions are our own, written on the Level 2 learning outcomes, not WSET exam questions, and a practice score does not predict an exam result.
How to learn the list
- Start with the eight principal grapes. They carry 19 of the 50 questions. For each, learn its traits first, then its regions in two groups: France (or Italy and Germany) and the rest of the world.
- Learn each region with its climate. Learning outcome 3 asks how climate and growing choices shape each grape. As a rule of thumb (ours, not WSET’s), a cool place keeps acidity and fresher fruit, and a warm one gives riper fruit and more alcohol.
- Then the 22 regionally important grapes, one line each: colour, one trait, its places and any label term. Start with the eleven named for one place only.
- Finish with the shared places in the table above, because those are where a question can catch you out.
- Test, don’t reread. Cover the regions column and say them aloud, then take a short quiz and note every miss.
Our suggestions. For a week-by-week plan, see our WSET Level 2 exam guide; if you are still choosing a level, see WSET levels explained.
Ready for timed practice?
The ProSyllabus WSET Level 2 Essentials practice pack has exam-style questions on all six learning outcomes, grapes and regions included, with the reason behind every answer. The questions are our own, not WSET’s.
FreeTests: LO3: Principal grape varieties · LO4: Regional grape varieties · LO6: Storage, service and food pairing
WSET Level 2 Essentials: free sample
Answer 3 questions against the clock, like the real exam. You then see the right answer, the reason and your time on each. About 5 minutes · free · no sign-in.
3 questions to answer
Start nowabout 5 minThis one is free · no sign-in needed
Your result shows how long each question took you.
Frequently asked questions
How many grape varieties are on WSET Level 2?
The specification names 8 principal grape varieties and 22 regionally important ones (our count of its list), and learning outcome 5 adds Meunier, Moscato (Muscat) and Glera for sparkling wines.
What are the eight principal grapes in WSET Level 2?
Black: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Pinot Noir and Syrah/Shiraz. White: Chardonnay, Pinot Grigio/Pinot Gris, Riesling and Sauvignon Blanc.
What are the regionally important grapes in WSET Level 2?
Black: Gamay, Grenache/Garnacha, Tempranillo, Nebbiolo, Barbera, Sangiovese, Corvina, Montepulciano, Zinfandel/Primitivo, Pinotage, Carmenère and Malbec. White: Chenin Blanc, Sémillon/Semillon, Viognier, Gewurztraminer, Verdicchio, Cortese, Garganega, Fiano, Albariño and Furmint.
How many exam questions are on grape varieties?
Learning outcome 3, the principal grapes, carries 19 of the 50 questions, and learning outcome 4, the regionally important grapes, carries 12: 31 in all.
Do I need to know every region on the list?
The specification names these places for each grape, and WSET says its exam questions are based on the published learning outcomes. Our advice: learn them all, the principal grapes first.
Has the grape list changed in the 2026 specification?
No. We compared Issue 2.1 (2026) with Issue 2 (2023), which the course page links, on 6 November 2026: the grape and region lists are the same.
Is there a free WSET Level 2 grape quiz?
Yes, on this page: a few free questions from our WSET Level 2 Essentials practice pack, played in a timed practice player. They are our own questions, not WSET’s.
More in this series
Sources
- official — WSET: Level 2 Award in Wines Specification, Issue 2.1 (2026), PDF, Learning Outcomes 3 to 5 and the examination weighting (read 6 Nov 2026)
- official — WSET: Level 2 Award in Wines Specification, Issue 2 (2023), PDF, as linked from the course page (read 6 Nov 2026)
- official — WSET: Level 2 Award in Wines, course page (read 6 Nov 2026)
official = a document published by the conducting body. reported = a news or coaching site we could not check against an original. Where sources disagree this page says so rather than picking one.
