WSET DIPLOMA D1 EXAM ACTUAL
EXAM | ALL QUESTIONS AND
CORRECT ANSWERS | VERIFIED
ANSWERS | GRADED A+ | LATEST
EXAM 2026
Most important North American grape species - Vitis labrusca, Vitis riparia, Vitis berlandieri and
Vitis rupestris
Four main sections of a grape vine - the main shoots, one-year-old wood, permanent wood and
the roots
What comprises the canopy of a vine? - 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? - The main shoots on the vine grow in spring
from buds retained from the previous year
Where are carbohydrates stored in a vine? - Stems, trunks, roots
Define lignify - Green shoots become woody and rigid, they are then called canes
Where do buds form? - between the leaf stalk (petiole) and the stem
Define the two types of buds - - 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? - - 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? - 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? - Removal of second crop during summer
Define one-year-old wood - the main shoots from the last growing season that were kept at
pruning, supports compound buds; cane or spur
Define permanent wood - woody parts of the vine that are older than one year, including the
trunk
where are most roots found? - top 50cm of soil
what distinguishes PN clone 115? - low yield, small grapes, good for high quality of red wines
what distinguishes PN clone 521? - high yield, bigger grapes, good for sparkling wine production
When is leaf fall and dormancy? - Nov-March
When is budburst? - March-April
,When is shoot and leaf growth? - March-July
When is flowering and fruit set? - May-June
When is grape development? - June-Oct
When is harvest? - Sept-Oct
How does the vine support itself during dormancy? - starch in the roots, trunk, and branches
Below what temp can vines be severly damaged? die? - -15C, -25C
What factors determine the timing of budburst? - - 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? - marked differences in temp can result in
uniform budburst
what determines the vigor of a vine? - rate of shoot growth
when does the fastest rate of shoot growth typically occur? - between budburst and flowering
what could cause low carb levels in roots, trunk, and branches? - - excessive leaf removal
, - water stress
- high crop loads in prev season
what can slow initial shoot growth rates? - low carb levels
what supports shoot growth in later stages? - photosynthesis
at what point of the vine growing cycle is water stress not desired? - late stages of shoot growth
(can affect photosynthesis)
what can stunted shoot growth lead to? - - weak shoots
- reduction in leaf number/smaller leaves
- inflorescences that do not flower properly
what can limit bud fruitfulness? - - low temp (<25C)
- water stress
- shading
- nutrient deficiency
how long after budburst does flowering typically take place? - 8 weeks (temp dependent)
why are warm conditions (>17C) desired during flowering? - speeds up flowering (occurs within
a few days)
what % of flowers become grapes typically? - 30%
what temp does pollen germination require? - 26-32C
EXAM | ALL QUESTIONS AND
CORRECT ANSWERS | VERIFIED
ANSWERS | GRADED A+ | LATEST
EXAM 2026
Most important North American grape species - Vitis labrusca, Vitis riparia, Vitis berlandieri and
Vitis rupestris
Four main sections of a grape vine - the main shoots, one-year-old wood, permanent wood and
the roots
What comprises the canopy of a vine? - 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? - The main shoots on the vine grow in spring
from buds retained from the previous year
Where are carbohydrates stored in a vine? - Stems, trunks, roots
Define lignify - Green shoots become woody and rigid, they are then called canes
Where do buds form? - between the leaf stalk (petiole) and the stem
Define the two types of buds - - 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? - - 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? - 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? - Removal of second crop during summer
Define one-year-old wood - the main shoots from the last growing season that were kept at
pruning, supports compound buds; cane or spur
Define permanent wood - woody parts of the vine that are older than one year, including the
trunk
where are most roots found? - top 50cm of soil
what distinguishes PN clone 115? - low yield, small grapes, good for high quality of red wines
what distinguishes PN clone 521? - high yield, bigger grapes, good for sparkling wine production
When is leaf fall and dormancy? - Nov-March
When is budburst? - March-April
,When is shoot and leaf growth? - March-July
When is flowering and fruit set? - May-June
When is grape development? - June-Oct
When is harvest? - Sept-Oct
How does the vine support itself during dormancy? - starch in the roots, trunk, and branches
Below what temp can vines be severly damaged? die? - -15C, -25C
What factors determine the timing of budburst? - - 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? - marked differences in temp can result in
uniform budburst
what determines the vigor of a vine? - rate of shoot growth
when does the fastest rate of shoot growth typically occur? - between budburst and flowering
what could cause low carb levels in roots, trunk, and branches? - - excessive leaf removal
, - water stress
- high crop loads in prev season
what can slow initial shoot growth rates? - low carb levels
what supports shoot growth in later stages? - photosynthesis
at what point of the vine growing cycle is water stress not desired? - late stages of shoot growth
(can affect photosynthesis)
what can stunted shoot growth lead to? - - weak shoots
- reduction in leaf number/smaller leaves
- inflorescences that do not flower properly
what can limit bud fruitfulness? - - low temp (<25C)
- water stress
- shading
- nutrient deficiency
how long after budburst does flowering typically take place? - 8 weeks (temp dependent)
why are warm conditions (>17C) desired during flowering? - speeds up flowering (occurs within
a few days)
what % of flowers become grapes typically? - 30%
what temp does pollen germination require? - 26-32C
