WSET DIPLOMA D1 CERTIFICATION EXAM
PAPER 2026 QUESTIONS WITH ANSWERS
GRADED A+
◉ Four main sections of a grape vine. Answer: the main shoots, one-
year-old wood, permanent wood and the roots
◉ 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 do the main shoots grow from, and when? Answer: The main
shoots on the vine grow in spring from buds retained from the previous
year
◉ Where are carbohydrates stored in a vine? Answer: Stems, trunks,
roots
◉ Define lignify. Answer: Green shoots become woody and rigid, they
are then called canes
,◉ Where do buds form? Answer: between the leaf stalk (petiole) and the
stem
◉ Define the two types of buds. Answer: - Compound buds (form in one
growing season and break open the following growing season,
producing main shoots; typically a primary, secondary, and maybe
tertiary)- Prompt buds (form and break open same season, form lateral
shoots)
- Prompt buds (form and break open same season, form lateral shoots)
◉ 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)
◉ What is second crop? Answer: Lateral shoots often produce
inflorescences, which can be known as a 'second crop'
- 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 green harvesting? Answer: Removal of second crop during
summer
,◉ Define one-year-old wood. Answer: the main shoots from the last
growing season that were kept at pruning, supports compound buds;
cane or spur
◉ Define permanent wood. Answer: woody parts of the vine that are
older than one year, including the trunk
◉ where are most roots found? Answer: top 50cm of soil
◉ what distinguishes PN clone 115? Answer: low yield, small grapes,
good for high quality of red wines
◉ what distinguishes PN clone 521? Answer: high yield, bigger grapes,
good for sparkling wine production
◉ When is leaf fall and dormancy? Answer: Nov-March
◉ When is budburst? Answer: March-April
◉ When is shoot and leaf growth? Answer: March-July
◉ When is flowering and fruit set? Answer: May-June
, ◉ When is grape development? Answer: June-Oct
◉ When is harvest? Answer: Sept-Oct
◉ How does the vine support itself during dormancy? Answer: starch in
the roots, trunk, and branches
◉ Below what temp can vines be severly damaged? die? Answer: -15C,
-25C
◉ What factors determine the timing of budburst? Answer: - air temp
(>10C)
- soil temp (higher encourages earlier budburst)
- variety
- human factors (e.g. winter pruning late -> later budburst)
◉ Why is high continentality good for budburst? Answer: marked
differences in temp can result in uniform budburst
◉ what determines the vigor of a vine? Answer: rate of shoot growth
◉ when does the fastest rate of shoot growth typically occur? Answer:
between budburst and flowering
PAPER 2026 QUESTIONS WITH ANSWERS
GRADED A+
◉ Four main sections of a grape vine. Answer: the main shoots, one-
year-old wood, permanent wood and the roots
◉ 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 do the main shoots grow from, and when? Answer: The main
shoots on the vine grow in spring from buds retained from the previous
year
◉ Where are carbohydrates stored in a vine? Answer: Stems, trunks,
roots
◉ Define lignify. Answer: Green shoots become woody and rigid, they
are then called canes
,◉ Where do buds form? Answer: between the leaf stalk (petiole) and the
stem
◉ Define the two types of buds. Answer: - Compound buds (form in one
growing season and break open the following growing season,
producing main shoots; typically a primary, secondary, and maybe
tertiary)- Prompt buds (form and break open same season, form lateral
shoots)
- Prompt buds (form and break open same season, form lateral shoots)
◉ 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)
◉ What is second crop? Answer: Lateral shoots often produce
inflorescences, which can be known as a 'second crop'
- 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 green harvesting? Answer: Removal of second crop during
summer
,◉ Define one-year-old wood. Answer: the main shoots from the last
growing season that were kept at pruning, supports compound buds;
cane or spur
◉ Define permanent wood. Answer: woody parts of the vine that are
older than one year, including the trunk
◉ where are most roots found? Answer: top 50cm of soil
◉ what distinguishes PN clone 115? Answer: low yield, small grapes,
good for high quality of red wines
◉ what distinguishes PN clone 521? Answer: high yield, bigger grapes,
good for sparkling wine production
◉ When is leaf fall and dormancy? Answer: Nov-March
◉ When is budburst? Answer: March-April
◉ When is shoot and leaf growth? Answer: March-July
◉ When is flowering and fruit set? Answer: May-June
, ◉ When is grape development? Answer: June-Oct
◉ When is harvest? Answer: Sept-Oct
◉ How does the vine support itself during dormancy? Answer: starch in
the roots, trunk, and branches
◉ Below what temp can vines be severly damaged? die? Answer: -15C,
-25C
◉ What factors determine the timing of budburst? Answer: - air temp
(>10C)
- soil temp (higher encourages earlier budburst)
- variety
- human factors (e.g. winter pruning late -> later budburst)
◉ Why is high continentality good for budburst? Answer: marked
differences in temp can result in uniform budburst
◉ what determines the vigor of a vine? Answer: rate of shoot growth
◉ when does the fastest rate of shoot growth typically occur? Answer:
between budburst and flowering
