WSET DIPLOMA D1 ACTUAL EXAM PAPER
2026 QUESTIONS WITH ANSWERS
GRADED A+
◍ What is the main function of lateral shoots? When are they
desirable/undesirable?.
Answer: - to allow the plant to carry on growing if the tip of the main shoot
has been damaged or eaten- can provide an additional source of leaves for
photosynthesis (useful if the laterals are near the ends of the main shoots)-
Growth of laterals nearer the base of the main shoot can be undesirable as
they impede air flow and can shade the fruit too much
◍ what is eutypa dieback? what does it do? how is it spread? how does it
infect?.
Answer: - aka Dead Arm- fungal trunk disease that leads to rotten wood in
vines and can affect whole vineyards- reduces yields significantly and kills
vines over a ten-year period if not tackled- spread by wind over long
distances- through pruning wounds in moderate temperatures and especially
during rain
◍ what is RDI? when is water deficit usually scheduled? what are potentially
detrimental effects of RDI?.
Answer: - Regulated deficit irrigation: a system of timing and regulating the
amount of irrigation so that the vine is put under mild to moderate water
stress for a specified time within the growing season- between fruit set and
veraison- lower yields, smaller berries
◍ what are 3 options for producing wines with RS?.
Answer: - concentrating grape must- stopping fermentation- blending in a
sweetening component
,◍ what % of new oak flavors is lost by a barrel after 1 use?.
Answer: 50%
◍ how is deacidification achieved?.
Answer: adding calcium carbonate (chalk) or potassium carbonate
◍ what % of European vineyards are farmed organically? what % of organic
viticulture takes place in Europe?.
Answer: - 10%- 85%
◍ What are 4 advantages of adding a sweetening component to create a wine
with residual sugar?.
Answer: Less susceptible to microbial spoilageWinemaker has more control
over the sweetness levelGreater consistency of finished productMore
reliable volume of final wine
◍ The length of the ripening stage will depend on:.
Answer: - variety- climatic conditions- vine & vineyard management- time
of harvest
◍ what are advantages of glass bottles? disadvantages?.
Answer: - inert, impermeable to O2, sterile, inexpensive, recyclable- high
carbon footprint, heavy, fragile, rigid (rapid oxidation once opened),
contents can suffer from light strike
◍ What are 4 methods for concentrating grape must?.
Answer: Drying grapes on the vineDrying grapes off the vineDevelopment
of noble rotFreezing grapes
◍ Where are carbohydrates stored in a vine?.
Answer: Stems, trunks, roots
◍ why do vines need calcium? what are the effects of too little?.
Answer: - needed for structure of cells, photosynthesis- low: poor fruit set
◍ what does fining do?.
Answer: removes a small proportion of unstable colloids from solution,
helps to stabilize wine (charge related; fining agent must have opposite
, charge of colloid)
◍ why are American barrels less expensive than French barrels?.
Answer: American oak can be sawn to create staves, while French oak must
be hand-split
◍ What comprises the canopy of a vine?.
Answer: The main shoots and all of their major structures - stem, buds,
leaves, lateral shoots, tendrils and inflorescences/grape bunches
◍ What weather is needed for healthy shriveling of grapes?.
Answer: Long dry autumns
◍ what is Preparation 500?.
Answer: Horn Manure: cow manure in put into a cow's horn & buried, then
dug up and the contents are "dynamised" (stirring the contents of the horn
into water (creating a vortex and then reversing it) so that the water
memorizes the power of the preparation), then sprayed onto the soil as a
homeopathic compost
◍ Generally, the vine needs a minimum of ______ mm of rainfall per year in
cool climates and at least ______ mm in warm regions.
Answer: - 500- 750
◍ how is microbiological stability typically achieved?.
Answer: - sterile filtration- sorbic acid + SO2 addition- Velcorin (DMDC)
◍ what determines the vigor of a vine?.
Answer: rate of shoot growth
◍ what is the direct press method? what style of wine does it make?.
Answer: - immediate pressing of black grapes for rose production- some of
the lightest-colored roses
◍ define warm climate.
Answer: regions with an average GST of 18.5-21°C (65-70°F)
◍ what is the typical range of TA in a wine?.
Answer: 5.5-8.5 g/l
, ◍ what elements develop in grapes during stage 1 of grape formation and
development?.
Answer: - tartaric and malic- some aroma compounds and aroma precursors
(methoxypyrazines)- tannins (promoted by sunshine on grapes - sunscreen)
◍ what happens during grape ripening?.
Answer: - cells expand rapidly- sugar and water accumulate- acid levels fall
(respiration of malic acid)
◍ define weather.
Answer: annual variation that happens relative to the climatic average
◍ where is powdery mildew during the winter?.
Answer: in buds, on canes
◍ what does seasoning do to oak? how long is this process?.
Answer: - lowers the humidity levels in the wood, reduces bitter flavours
and increases some aroma compounds, such as those that give flavours of
cloves- 2-3 years
◍ Below what temp can vines be severly damaged? die?.
Answer: -15C, -25C
◍ what conditions are optimal for downy mildew? what are its symptoms?.
Answer: - rainfall- T = 20C- yellow, circular 'oil spots' and then white,
downy fungal growth on the underside of leaves
◍ what is stage 4 of grape growth and ripening?.
Answer: extra ripening
◍ what happens during stage 4 of grape growth and ripening?.
Answer: - No more sugar or water are imported to the grape by the phloem
at this stage, but water loss in the grape through grape transpiration means
that sugars are concentrated- Extra-ripe aromas can also develop
◍ what fining agents removes phenolics?.
Answer: - egg white (gentle)- gelatin (harsh)- casein- isinglass (may create a
protein haze)- vegetable protein products (vegan)- PVPP
2026 QUESTIONS WITH ANSWERS
GRADED A+
◍ What is the main function of lateral shoots? When are they
desirable/undesirable?.
Answer: - to allow the plant to carry on growing if the tip of the main shoot
has been damaged or eaten- can provide an additional source of leaves for
photosynthesis (useful if the laterals are near the ends of the main shoots)-
Growth of laterals nearer the base of the main shoot can be undesirable as
they impede air flow and can shade the fruit too much
◍ what is eutypa dieback? what does it do? how is it spread? how does it
infect?.
Answer: - aka Dead Arm- fungal trunk disease that leads to rotten wood in
vines and can affect whole vineyards- reduces yields significantly and kills
vines over a ten-year period if not tackled- spread by wind over long
distances- through pruning wounds in moderate temperatures and especially
during rain
◍ what is RDI? when is water deficit usually scheduled? what are potentially
detrimental effects of RDI?.
Answer: - Regulated deficit irrigation: a system of timing and regulating the
amount of irrigation so that the vine is put under mild to moderate water
stress for a specified time within the growing season- between fruit set and
veraison- lower yields, smaller berries
◍ what are 3 options for producing wines with RS?.
Answer: - concentrating grape must- stopping fermentation- blending in a
sweetening component
,◍ what % of new oak flavors is lost by a barrel after 1 use?.
Answer: 50%
◍ how is deacidification achieved?.
Answer: adding calcium carbonate (chalk) or potassium carbonate
◍ what % of European vineyards are farmed organically? what % of organic
viticulture takes place in Europe?.
Answer: - 10%- 85%
◍ What are 4 advantages of adding a sweetening component to create a wine
with residual sugar?.
Answer: Less susceptible to microbial spoilageWinemaker has more control
over the sweetness levelGreater consistency of finished productMore
reliable volume of final wine
◍ The length of the ripening stage will depend on:.
Answer: - variety- climatic conditions- vine & vineyard management- time
of harvest
◍ what are advantages of glass bottles? disadvantages?.
Answer: - inert, impermeable to O2, sterile, inexpensive, recyclable- high
carbon footprint, heavy, fragile, rigid (rapid oxidation once opened),
contents can suffer from light strike
◍ What are 4 methods for concentrating grape must?.
Answer: Drying grapes on the vineDrying grapes off the vineDevelopment
of noble rotFreezing grapes
◍ Where are carbohydrates stored in a vine?.
Answer: Stems, trunks, roots
◍ why do vines need calcium? what are the effects of too little?.
Answer: - needed for structure of cells, photosynthesis- low: poor fruit set
◍ what does fining do?.
Answer: removes a small proportion of unstable colloids from solution,
helps to stabilize wine (charge related; fining agent must have opposite
, charge of colloid)
◍ why are American barrels less expensive than French barrels?.
Answer: American oak can be sawn to create staves, while French oak must
be hand-split
◍ What comprises the canopy of a vine?.
Answer: The main shoots and all of their major structures - stem, buds,
leaves, lateral shoots, tendrils and inflorescences/grape bunches
◍ What weather is needed for healthy shriveling of grapes?.
Answer: Long dry autumns
◍ what is Preparation 500?.
Answer: Horn Manure: cow manure in put into a cow's horn & buried, then
dug up and the contents are "dynamised" (stirring the contents of the horn
into water (creating a vortex and then reversing it) so that the water
memorizes the power of the preparation), then sprayed onto the soil as a
homeopathic compost
◍ Generally, the vine needs a minimum of ______ mm of rainfall per year in
cool climates and at least ______ mm in warm regions.
Answer: - 500- 750
◍ how is microbiological stability typically achieved?.
Answer: - sterile filtration- sorbic acid + SO2 addition- Velcorin (DMDC)
◍ what determines the vigor of a vine?.
Answer: rate of shoot growth
◍ what is the direct press method? what style of wine does it make?.
Answer: - immediate pressing of black grapes for rose production- some of
the lightest-colored roses
◍ define warm climate.
Answer: regions with an average GST of 18.5-21°C (65-70°F)
◍ what is the typical range of TA in a wine?.
Answer: 5.5-8.5 g/l
, ◍ what elements develop in grapes during stage 1 of grape formation and
development?.
Answer: - tartaric and malic- some aroma compounds and aroma precursors
(methoxypyrazines)- tannins (promoted by sunshine on grapes - sunscreen)
◍ what happens during grape ripening?.
Answer: - cells expand rapidly- sugar and water accumulate- acid levels fall
(respiration of malic acid)
◍ define weather.
Answer: annual variation that happens relative to the climatic average
◍ where is powdery mildew during the winter?.
Answer: in buds, on canes
◍ what does seasoning do to oak? how long is this process?.
Answer: - lowers the humidity levels in the wood, reduces bitter flavours
and increases some aroma compounds, such as those that give flavours of
cloves- 2-3 years
◍ Below what temp can vines be severly damaged? die?.
Answer: -15C, -25C
◍ what conditions are optimal for downy mildew? what are its symptoms?.
Answer: - rainfall- T = 20C- yellow, circular 'oil spots' and then white,
downy fungal growth on the underside of leaves
◍ what is stage 4 of grape growth and ripening?.
Answer: extra ripening
◍ what happens during stage 4 of grape growth and ripening?.
Answer: - No more sugar or water are imported to the grape by the phloem
at this stage, but water loss in the grape through grape transpiration means
that sugars are concentrated- Extra-ripe aromas can also develop
◍ what fining agents removes phenolics?.
Answer: - egg white (gentle)- gelatin (harsh)- casein- isinglass (may create a
protein haze)- vegetable protein products (vegan)- PVPP
