WSET DIPLOMA D1 COMPREHENSIVE
STUDY GUIDE 2026 QUESTIONS WITH
ANSWERS GRADED A+
⩥ What are the sweetness level regulations for Cava Gran Reserva and
Cava de Paraje Calificado? Answer: Brut, Extra Brut, or Brut Nature
⩥ What are the sweetness level regulations for Cava and Cava Reserva?
Answer: Can be produced in a range of sweetness levels
⩥ What are the entities that Consejo Regulador del Cava govern?
Answer: Growers Producers of base wines Storekeepers of base wines
Cava producers
⩥ What percentage of all finished Cava do Freixenet and Codorníu
produce cumulatively? Answer: Around 75%
⩥ What is Cava de Paraje Calificado? What are its qualifications?
Answer: Single estate or vineyard Cava, produced and bottled at estate
(introduced in 2017) Grapes must come from one estate and are owned
by the wine producer Vines must be at least 10 years old Maximum
production yield of 8000 kg/ha Maximum juice yield of 48 hL/ha Wine
cannot be acidified Finished wine must be aged at estate of minimum 36
months Must be Brut, Extra Brut, Brut Nature
,⩥ What does the legally recognized producer group Corpinnat do?
Answer: Makes traditional method sparkling wines Uses 100% organic
grapes in Penedès Hand harvested grapes and vinified on winery
premises 90% of grapes must be local approved varieties Three
categories of minimum lees aging (18, 30, 60 months)
⩥ What is Clàssic Penedès? Answer: 2014-introduced category
Sparkling wines made from certified organic grapes in Penedès DO
Made in traditional method with minimum 15 months lees aging
⩥ What is Espumoso de Calidad de Rioja? Answer: 2017-introduced
category in Rioja DOCa, implemented in 2019 Traditional method
sparkling wine made from hand harvested grapes
⩥ What are the three tiers of Espumoso de Calidad de Rioja? Answer:
Crianza - minimum 15 months lees aging Reserva - minimum 24 months
lees aging Gran Añada - minimum 36 months lees aging
⩥ Which countries are the major export markets for Cava? Answer:
Germany, UK, USA, France, and Japan
⩥ Which sparkling wines are made from the tank method in Italy?
Answer: Prosecco, Lambrusco, Asti (special method)
,⩥ Which sparkling wines are made from the traditional method in Italy?
Answer: Franciacorta and Trentodoc
⩥ What is the principal grape variety that Prosecco is made of? Answer:
Glera
⩥ List the characteristics of Prosecco DOC Answer: Light to medium-
intensity apple and pear aromas Light body Medium to medium+ acidity
Brut to Demi-Sec sweetmesses, with Extra Dry being classic style
Spumante and frizzante in styles
⩥ What regulations were enforced for Prosecco DOC in 2009? Answer:
Former IGTs (Indicazione Geografica Tipica) devoted to Prosecco
combined and expanded to become Prosecco DOC
⩥ What regulations were enforced for Conegliano Valdobbiadene
DOCG in 2009? Answer: The historic area between Conegliano and
Valdobbiadene were combined from DOC to DOCG Can be labeled
'Superiore' and omit 'Prosecco' if spumante
⩥ What are the climatic conditions of Prosecco DOC? Answer: Warm
and moderately continental Moderate rainfall Affected by moist air and
fog from nearby rivers Sprays needed to combat disease
, ⩥ What are the climatic conditions of Conegliano Valdobiaddene
DOCG? Answer: Hillier area compared to Prosecco DOC Cooling
influences from altitude Higher diurnal temperature ranges leading to
slower ripening
⩥ What do the climatic conditions do for Conegliano Valdobiaddene do
for its resulting wine? Answer: Higher acidity More intense fruit flavors
⩥ Describe the characteristics and hazards of the Glera grape Answer:
Vigorous, semi-aromatic variety Very high yields Susceptible to
millerandage, powdery and downy mildew, drought, grapevine yellows
⩥ What is the training and trellising like in the vineyard in Prosecco
DOC? Answer: First two buds do not bear much fruit Trained long on
vertically trellised systems with 8-12 buds Low to medium planting
densities due to the variety's vigor High permitted yields
⩥ Describe the Sylvoz vine training system Answer: High cordon
system with shoots hanging downwards Suited for high vigor sites
Inexpensive to create initially Suitable for machine harvesting Protection
from frost and minimizes winter pruning May encourage overcropping
⩥ Describe the double-arched cane vine training system Answer: Form
of cane pruning where the canes are bent into arches Improves the
evenness of growth and the fruitfulness of Glera Increases ventilation of
the canopy Reduced incidence of fungal diseases Individual branches
STUDY GUIDE 2026 QUESTIONS WITH
ANSWERS GRADED A+
⩥ What are the sweetness level regulations for Cava Gran Reserva and
Cava de Paraje Calificado? Answer: Brut, Extra Brut, or Brut Nature
⩥ What are the sweetness level regulations for Cava and Cava Reserva?
Answer: Can be produced in a range of sweetness levels
⩥ What are the entities that Consejo Regulador del Cava govern?
Answer: Growers Producers of base wines Storekeepers of base wines
Cava producers
⩥ What percentage of all finished Cava do Freixenet and Codorníu
produce cumulatively? Answer: Around 75%
⩥ What is Cava de Paraje Calificado? What are its qualifications?
Answer: Single estate or vineyard Cava, produced and bottled at estate
(introduced in 2017) Grapes must come from one estate and are owned
by the wine producer Vines must be at least 10 years old Maximum
production yield of 8000 kg/ha Maximum juice yield of 48 hL/ha Wine
cannot be acidified Finished wine must be aged at estate of minimum 36
months Must be Brut, Extra Brut, Brut Nature
,⩥ What does the legally recognized producer group Corpinnat do?
Answer: Makes traditional method sparkling wines Uses 100% organic
grapes in Penedès Hand harvested grapes and vinified on winery
premises 90% of grapes must be local approved varieties Three
categories of minimum lees aging (18, 30, 60 months)
⩥ What is Clàssic Penedès? Answer: 2014-introduced category
Sparkling wines made from certified organic grapes in Penedès DO
Made in traditional method with minimum 15 months lees aging
⩥ What is Espumoso de Calidad de Rioja? Answer: 2017-introduced
category in Rioja DOCa, implemented in 2019 Traditional method
sparkling wine made from hand harvested grapes
⩥ What are the three tiers of Espumoso de Calidad de Rioja? Answer:
Crianza - minimum 15 months lees aging Reserva - minimum 24 months
lees aging Gran Añada - minimum 36 months lees aging
⩥ Which countries are the major export markets for Cava? Answer:
Germany, UK, USA, France, and Japan
⩥ Which sparkling wines are made from the tank method in Italy?
Answer: Prosecco, Lambrusco, Asti (special method)
,⩥ Which sparkling wines are made from the traditional method in Italy?
Answer: Franciacorta and Trentodoc
⩥ What is the principal grape variety that Prosecco is made of? Answer:
Glera
⩥ List the characteristics of Prosecco DOC Answer: Light to medium-
intensity apple and pear aromas Light body Medium to medium+ acidity
Brut to Demi-Sec sweetmesses, with Extra Dry being classic style
Spumante and frizzante in styles
⩥ What regulations were enforced for Prosecco DOC in 2009? Answer:
Former IGTs (Indicazione Geografica Tipica) devoted to Prosecco
combined and expanded to become Prosecco DOC
⩥ What regulations were enforced for Conegliano Valdobbiadene
DOCG in 2009? Answer: The historic area between Conegliano and
Valdobbiadene were combined from DOC to DOCG Can be labeled
'Superiore' and omit 'Prosecco' if spumante
⩥ What are the climatic conditions of Prosecco DOC? Answer: Warm
and moderately continental Moderate rainfall Affected by moist air and
fog from nearby rivers Sprays needed to combat disease
, ⩥ What are the climatic conditions of Conegliano Valdobiaddene
DOCG? Answer: Hillier area compared to Prosecco DOC Cooling
influences from altitude Higher diurnal temperature ranges leading to
slower ripening
⩥ What do the climatic conditions do for Conegliano Valdobiaddene do
for its resulting wine? Answer: Higher acidity More intense fruit flavors
⩥ Describe the characteristics and hazards of the Glera grape Answer:
Vigorous, semi-aromatic variety Very high yields Susceptible to
millerandage, powdery and downy mildew, drought, grapevine yellows
⩥ What is the training and trellising like in the vineyard in Prosecco
DOC? Answer: First two buds do not bear much fruit Trained long on
vertically trellised systems with 8-12 buds Low to medium planting
densities due to the variety's vigor High permitted yields
⩥ Describe the Sylvoz vine training system Answer: High cordon
system with shoots hanging downwards Suited for high vigor sites
Inexpensive to create initially Suitable for machine harvesting Protection
from frost and minimizes winter pruning May encourage overcropping
⩥ Describe the double-arched cane vine training system Answer: Form
of cane pruning where the canes are bent into arches Improves the
evenness of growth and the fruitfulness of Glera Increases ventilation of
the canopy Reduced incidence of fungal diseases Individual branches
