26. WSET Level 3 Bootcamp - Lessons from the Vineyard (Part 2)

Resources & Links

• Sign up for the Wine Educate Newsletter: www.wineeducate.com/newsletter-signup

• Level 3 Bootcamp: www.wineeducate.com/trips

How to Contact Us

• Website: www.wineeducate.com

• Email: joanne@wineeducate.com

• Instagram & Facebook: @wineeducate

Episode Description

In this episode of Wine Educate, host Joanne Close continues the Lessons from the Vineyard series, focusing on winemaking (vinification) at Château Camplazens. During the WSET Level 3 Bootcamp, students got a firsthand look at the winery's fermentation process, barrel aging choices, and the fascinating mobile bottling van.

Each lesson is tied to a Level 3 essay question, helping students apply their vineyard experiences to WSET exam prep. Joanne also shares details about the next Level 3 Bootcamp, happening April 6–11, 2026.

What's in This Episode? 1. Understanding Extraction in Fermentation

• Cement fermentation tanks – why they're used and how they're epoxy-lined to remain inert.

• Punching down on a mechanized track – a technique used at the winery to control extraction efficiently.

• WSET Level 3 Essay Question: Name four processes for increasing extraction during fermentation in red wine production.

• Possible answers: Punching down, pumping over, rack and return, rotary fermenters.

2. Barrel Aging and Oak Selection

• Visiting the barrel room, where students observed different barrels, oak sources, and toasting levels.

• How the winery uses first, second, and third-year barrels to influence the wine's complexity.

• A fun moment: One student wished she could bottle the scent of the barrel room as a perfume – Eau de Oak!

• WSET Level 3 Essay Question: Name two ways aging wine in barrels affects the wine.

• Possible answers: Softens tannins through oxidation and adds oak flavors (cedar, spice, smoke).

3. The Magic of the Mobile Bottling Van

• A rare opportunity – the group got to see the mobile bottling van in action!

• Why medium-sized wineries hire mobile bottling companies instead of owning expensive bottling lines.

• Inside the bottling truck: Watching wine move from tanks to labeled, sealed, and boxed bottles—like a Willy Wonka factory for wine!

• WSET Level 3 Essay Question: What are the advantages of using a screw cap over a cork for rosé wine?

• Possible answers: Screw caps prevent cork taint (TCA) and preserve aromatic fruit flavors better for young wines.

Next WSET Level 3 Bootcamp – April 6–11, 2026

• The next Bootcamp dates are confirmed!

• Limited to 12 participants for an intimate and immersive learning experience.

• Sign up at: www.wineeducate.com/trips

Resources & Links

• Sign up for the Wine Educate Newsletter: www.wineeducate.com/newsletter-signup

• Level 3 Bootcamp: www.wineeducate.com/trips

How to Contact Us

• Website: www.wineeducate.com

• Email: joanne@wineeducate.com

• Instagram & Facebook: @wineeducate

🎧 Thanks for listening!