Are you wondering how to study for WSET Level 1 in wine? Taking your first wine exam can be a daunting process, particularly if you have not formally studied wine before. In this guide we’ll help you with:
- Deciding how much personal study time you need
- Calculating how much time to spend in each topic area
- Identifying the key information to focus on
- Finding practice exams – perfect as a learning tool and to ensure that you are fully prepared for your exam
Studying For WSET Level 1
Recommended hours
The recommended classroom time for the WSET Level 1 in wine qualification is 6 hours. This includes the 45 minutes for the examination. Unlike other levels, there is no guided learning hours outside of the classroom. Despite this, if you are able to study outside of classroom time (either buy obtaining your book early or by taking the exam at a later date) it would be very beneficial!
How To Spend Your Learning Time
If you are able to study outside of the classroom, you should normally split your time in line with the question weightings:
- 20% Learning outcome 1 – Grape Growing and Winemaking
- 60% Learning outcome 2 – Principal Grape Varieties and Other Wines
- 20% Learning outcome 3 – Storage and Service of Wine
So if you have 5 hours available for personal study time you should spend 1 hour on grape growing and winemaking, 3 hours on principal grape varieties and other wine and 1 hour on the storage and service of wine.
Of course, if you are particularly strong or weak in one area you may wish to adjust these timings. For example, candidates with service experience may wish to spend less time on learning outcome 3 and instead focus on the other two areas.
Key areas of focus
When deciding how to study for WSET level 1 it is important to focus on the most important areas. The below gives you a high level guide as to the knowledge you should have in order to pass your level 1 exam.
Grape Growing and Winemaking
- The grape skin gives color and tannin
- The grape pulp give water, sugar and acid
- Yeast and sugar are used in fermentation. Alcohol and carbon dioxide are produced
It is also important to understand the effect of climate on wines – how will a cool climate wine differ from a warm climate wine.
Principal Grape Varieties and Other Wines
| White Grape Varieties | Black Grape Varieties |
| Chardonnay | Cabernet Sauvignon |
| Sauvignon Blanc | Merlot |
| Pinot Grigio | Pinot Noir |
| Riesling | Shiraz (Syrah) |
In addition to the main grape varieties, you will also cover some of the more high profile wines from around the world:
| Name | Wine Type |
| Sancerre | Sauvignon Blanc |
| Chablis | Chardonnay |
| White Burgundy | Chardonnay |
| Sauternes | Sweet wine (white) |
| White Zinfandel | Rose |
| Red Burgundy | Pinot Noir |
| Bordeaux | Merlot or Cabernet Sauvignon |
| Champagne, Cava, Prosecco | Sparkling wines |
In addition to the above, you should also have a high level understanding of the fortified and other red wines discussed in the book.
Storage and Service of Wine
The final consideration in how to study for WSET level 1 is the service and storage section. The key components to this section are:
- An understanding of how to store (and how not to store) wine
- Service temperatures depending on the type of wine
- How to open still and sparkling wine
- Pairing wine with food – what food flavors are usually good for pairing with wines, and what food components are high risk
WSET Level 1 in Wine – Learning Aids
Please contact us if you are interested in receiving flashcards and revision aids for your WSET Level 1 exam.
WSET Level 1 – Practice Exams
Practice exams can be a great way to ensure that you are ready for the exam. They help by:
- Highlighting any areas of weakness or gaps in your knowledge
- Giving you practice under exam conditions, including the timing that you will face on exam day
- Getting you familiar with the process and building your confidence. This will make you much less likely to panic on exam day!
Fortunately we spent a lot of time putting together level 1 practice exams. These exams have the same format as the real exam – 45 minutes to complete 30 multiple choice questions. You’ll also receive feedback on which questions you got right and wrong. You can access them for here.