France is the most complex and most tested country in the WSET Level 2 syllabus — and for good reason. Bordeaux, Burgundy, Champagne, the Rhône, Loire, and Alsace each have their own grape varieties, classification systems, wine styles, and geographic quirks that you need to understand at a meaningful level of detail.
Jesse spent time making wine in Burgundy, which gave us an appreciation for just how specific French appellation knowledge gets. The Grand Cru/Premier Cru hierarchy in Burgundy, the Left Bank/Right Bank distinction in Bordeaux, the Northern vs. Southern Rhône split — these aren’t arbitrary bureaucracy. They reflect genuine differences in terroir, variety, and style that show up in the glass.
This quiz targets the French wine regions section of the WSET Level 2 syllabus. Questions cover key appellations, permitted grape varieties, aging requirements, classification systems, and the wine styles each region produces. It’s ideal for identifying the areas of France where your knowledge needs reinforcing before the exam.
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Study Tips for WSET Level 2: Wine Regions of France
France is large and complicated, but the Level 2 syllabus is organized in a way that makes it manageable if you approach it systematically.
Start with the six main regions in order. Bordeaux, Burgundy, Champagne, Rhône, Loire, Alsace. Learn the climate, key varieties, and main wines of each before drilling into sub-regional detail. The overview makes the details stick better.
For Bordeaux: Left Bank vs. Right Bank is everything. Left Bank = Cabernet Sauvignon dominant (Médoc, Graves); Right Bank = Merlot dominant (Pomerol, Saint-Émilion). The 1855 classification applies to the Médoc and one Graves château (Haut-Brion). Saint-Émilion has its own classification, revised periodically. Pomerol has no official classification.
For Burgundy: understand the hierarchy. Regional → Village → Premier Cru → Grand Cru. The appellation on the label tells you the quality tier. Chablis, Côte de Nuits, Côte de Beaune, Côte Chalonnaise, and Mâconnais are the five main zones — each with distinct styles.
For Champagne: NV, Vintage, and Prestige Cuvée. Know the three Champagne grapes (Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Meunier), the four main sub-zones, and the difference between Blanc de Blancs and Blanc de Noirs.
Also try our world wine regions quiz and the full WSET Level 2 practice exams.
WSET Level 2 covers Bordeaux (Left and Right Bank), Burgundy (Chablis through Mâconnais), Champagne, the Northern and Southern Rhône, key Loire sub-regions (Muscadet, Sancerre, Pouilly-Fumé, Vouvray, Chinon), and Alsace.
You should understand that the 1855 Classification ranked Médoc châteaux into five growths, and that Mouton-Rothschild was elevated to first growth in 1973. Deep memorization of all classified châteaux is not required at Level 2.
Most students find Burgundy more challenging because of the fine geographic detail (individual villages and vineyards) and the Pinot Noir-only approach for reds. Bordeaux has cleaner Left/Right Bank distinctions that are easier to frame as a story.