WSET Diploma D1 Question and Answer [2026] |
UPDATED ACTUAL Exam | Detailed Answer
Explanations
• Factors important in rootstock selection . CORRECT ANSWER: resistance to
pests
suitability to soil texture, depth and fertility
compatible with soil's salinity, pH, lime content
anticipated soil water availability, drainage
vigour moderation or enhancement
• Rootstocks resistant to root-knot nematodes . CORRECT ANSWER: Ramsey
and Dog Ridge (both vitis champini)
• Rootstocks resistant to draught . CORRECT ANSWER: 110 R(ichter), 140
R(uggeri)
hybrids of v. rupestris and v. berlandieri
they root deeply and quickly
• Rootstocks tolerant to waterlogged soils (high rainfall/soils retaining water) .
CORRECT ANSWER: v. riparia (Riparia Gloire)
• Rootstocks tolerant to salinity in soils . CORRECT ANSWER: 1103 Paulsen
• Rootstocks tolerant to acidic soils . CORRECT ANSWER: 99 Richter
110 Richter
hybrids of v. rupetris and v. berlandieri
,• Main grape varieties . CORRECT ANSWER: vitis vinifera (native to Eurasia)
Vitis Riparia
v. Berlandieri
v. rupestris
above mainly used for rootstocks
• Anatomy of the vine: main elements . CORRECT ANSWER: roots
permanent wood (trunk)
one year old wood
main shoots
• Structure of the shoots . CORRECT ANSWER: Main shoots
the stem
nodes
canes - lignified green shoots
buds
petiole (leaf stalk)
• kinds of buds . CORRECT ANSWER: Compound buds (latent buds) - break
open in the following season
Prompt buds - form and break in the same growing season, produce lateral shoots
• canopy elements . CORRECT ANSWER: lateral shoots
tendrils
leaves
, inflorences
bunches
grapes (pulp, skin seeds)
• Vine propagation . CORRECT ANSWER: 1. Cutting - allows usage of
rootstocks, can be treated for disease
2. Layering - burying a cane and cutting it off once it establishes root; cannot be
grafted
• Why use different clones? . CORRECT ANSWER: yields
berry size
resistance to disease
skin thickness
• Mass selection (Selection Massale) . CORRECT ANSWER: growers cultivate
their own cuttings
expensive and labor intensive, takes a long time
• What is a cross? . CORRECT ANSWER: when parents of the variety are of the
same species (Pinot Noir+Cinsault=Pinotage)
• What is a hybrid? . CORRECT ANSWER: When parents are of different species
(Ugni Blanc+Seibel=Vidal Blanc)
• Vine growth cycle . CORRECT ANSWER: Dormancy (jan-march/may-sept)
Budburst (march-april/sept-oct)
Shoot and leaf growth (march-julysept-jan)
UPDATED ACTUAL Exam | Detailed Answer
Explanations
• Factors important in rootstock selection . CORRECT ANSWER: resistance to
pests
suitability to soil texture, depth and fertility
compatible with soil's salinity, pH, lime content
anticipated soil water availability, drainage
vigour moderation or enhancement
• Rootstocks resistant to root-knot nematodes . CORRECT ANSWER: Ramsey
and Dog Ridge (both vitis champini)
• Rootstocks resistant to draught . CORRECT ANSWER: 110 R(ichter), 140
R(uggeri)
hybrids of v. rupestris and v. berlandieri
they root deeply and quickly
• Rootstocks tolerant to waterlogged soils (high rainfall/soils retaining water) .
CORRECT ANSWER: v. riparia (Riparia Gloire)
• Rootstocks tolerant to salinity in soils . CORRECT ANSWER: 1103 Paulsen
• Rootstocks tolerant to acidic soils . CORRECT ANSWER: 99 Richter
110 Richter
hybrids of v. rupetris and v. berlandieri
,• Main grape varieties . CORRECT ANSWER: vitis vinifera (native to Eurasia)
Vitis Riparia
v. Berlandieri
v. rupestris
above mainly used for rootstocks
• Anatomy of the vine: main elements . CORRECT ANSWER: roots
permanent wood (trunk)
one year old wood
main shoots
• Structure of the shoots . CORRECT ANSWER: Main shoots
the stem
nodes
canes - lignified green shoots
buds
petiole (leaf stalk)
• kinds of buds . CORRECT ANSWER: Compound buds (latent buds) - break
open in the following season
Prompt buds - form and break in the same growing season, produce lateral shoots
• canopy elements . CORRECT ANSWER: lateral shoots
tendrils
leaves
, inflorences
bunches
grapes (pulp, skin seeds)
• Vine propagation . CORRECT ANSWER: 1. Cutting - allows usage of
rootstocks, can be treated for disease
2. Layering - burying a cane and cutting it off once it establishes root; cannot be
grafted
• Why use different clones? . CORRECT ANSWER: yields
berry size
resistance to disease
skin thickness
• Mass selection (Selection Massale) . CORRECT ANSWER: growers cultivate
their own cuttings
expensive and labor intensive, takes a long time
• What is a cross? . CORRECT ANSWER: when parents of the variety are of the
same species (Pinot Noir+Cinsault=Pinotage)
• What is a hybrid? . CORRECT ANSWER: When parents are of different species
(Ugni Blanc+Seibel=Vidal Blanc)
• Vine growth cycle . CORRECT ANSWER: Dormancy (jan-march/may-sept)
Budburst (march-april/sept-oct)
Shoot and leaf growth (march-julysept-jan)
