Q: How much does the bundle actually save me?
A: $85. The WSET Level 1 Wine On-Demand course is $289 and the WSET Level 2 Wine On-Demand course is $595, which is $884 bought separately against $799 for the bundle. You also only pay once and enroll once, rather than coming back to buy Level 2 after you finish Level 1.
Q: Can I share the bundle with someone else?
A: No. Both courses in this bundle must be used by the same student, because both enrollments and both exam registrations are issued in one name. If you want to certify two people, buy two separate courses or two bundles — group discounts apply automatically at checkout: 5% for two, 8% for three and 10% for four or more.
Q: Can I get a refund if I change my mind?
A: No. On-demand courses cannot be cancelled and all sales are final, because both courses are released to you the moment you enroll. We would rather say that plainly here than in an email afterwards. If you want a cancellation window, buy our instructor-led courses instead, which can be cancelled up to 14 business days before they start.
Q: Do I have to complete Level 1 before starting Level 2?
A: No — both courses open at once and you can work through them in whatever order and at whatever pace you like. We would still recommend Level 1 first, because Level 2 assumes you already recognise the major grape varieties and can taste systematically, and Level 1 is where you build both. But nothing is locked, and there is no waiting period between the two exams.
Q: How long do I have to finish both?
A: 12 months from purchase, covering both courses, both eBooks and both exam registrations. That is a realistic window rather than a generous-sounding one: Level 1 takes most people 8 to 12 hours and Level 2 around 28, so the constraint is rarely the calendar. Work backwards from your exam dates rather than the 12-month deadline.
Q: Are there live webinars, classes or an instructor?
A: No. Both courses in this bundle are fully self-paced on-demand courses — no cohort, no start date, no scheduled sessions and no assigned instructor. What you get instead is the whole of both courses open from day one, video lectures, interactive activities, guided home tastings and automatically graded quizzes. If you want a real instructor in real time, our instructor-led Level 1 and Level 2 courses are the ones to buy.
Q: What happens right after I buy?
A: Your logins arrive by email within about 30 minutes and both courses open immediately. The WSET Level 1 digital textbook is downloadable from the first Level 1 module, and your Level 2 eBook is accessed through the WSET Global Reader. Your exam registration module is where you will later choose your sitting dates for both exams.
Q: How much study should I plan for?
A: Around 40 hours in total. WSET specifies a Total Qualification Time of 6 hours for Level 1 and 28 hours for Level 2 — 17 guided learning hours plus 11 hours of private study. Our courses add video lectures, activities and practice questions on top of those minimums, so plan on 8 to 12 hours for Level 1 and roughly 28 for Level 2. Level 2 is a genuine step up in volume, not just in difficulty.
Q: Are the textbooks included?
A: Yes, both, in digital form. The WSET Level 1 textbook is a download from your first Level 1 module. The WSET Level 2 study materials are accessed through the WSET Global Reader on web, iOS and Android, and there are device requirements worth checking before you enroll — iOS 16+ or Android 13.0+ on a reasonably recent tablet or phone, or simply use the web reader. There is no printed book included, and none is required.
Q: Do I have to buy wine, and how much?
A: Wines are not included and you should not skip them — both qualifications are assessed partly on your ability to describe what is in the glass. Level 1 works through six wines and Level 2 through twelve, and we publish recommended lists for both so you can source the styles at any decent wine shop. Alternatively you can buy curated 100 mL sample kits from our partner Small Lot Bottles: six for Level 1 and twelve for Level 2.
Q: Should I buy the bundle or just start with Level 1?
A: Buy Level 1 alone at $289 if you are not yet sure wine study is for you, or if Level 1 is the credential your job actually asks for. Buy the bundle if you already know you want Level 2 — it saves $85, and more usefully it removes the decision point where most people stall after passing Level 1. If you buy Level 1 first and later add Level 2, you will pay $884 in total rather than $799.
Q: Can I skip Level 1 and go straight to Level 2?
A: Yes. WSET sets no mandatory prerequisite for the Level 2 Award in Wines, and if you already work in wine or have been drinking attentively for years, Level 2 alone may be the better purchase. Level 2 assumes you can already recognise the major grape varieties and classic regions. If you are unsure, download the Level 1 specification from this page and test yourself against it — that is a faster answer than guessing.
Q: Who is this bundle wrong for?
A: Anyone who needs a deadline and a class to stay on track. Two self-paced courses and 12 months of runway is a lot of rope, and a course you never open costs the same as one you finish. It is also wrong if you were hoping to sit the exams whenever you liked, because both exams are scheduled and invigilated regardless of how you studied.
Q: How old do I have to be?
A: At least 21, because that is the legal minimum age for the retail purchase of alcohol in the United States and both qualifications involve tasting wine. WSET verifies your identity against government-issued photo ID when you sit each remotely invigilated exam, so make sure the name on your enrollment matches the name on your ID.
Q: What can I do once I hold both?
A: Level 2 is the qualification the wine trade most commonly asks for, and holding it signals you can talk about grape varieties, regions and styles with a working vocabulary rather than an enthusiast's one. It is the standard credential for retail, tasting-room, restaurant floor and distribution roles. From there the next step is the WSET Level 3 Award in Wines, which adds a blind tasting exam and a considerably larger syllabus.
Q: Can I speak to someone before I buy?
A: Yes, and given that on-demand purchases are final we would much rather you did. Email support@napavalleywineacademy.com or visit our Help Center and our student support team will tell you honestly whether the bundle, Level 1 alone or Level 2 alone is the right purchase for where you are now.
Q: Are both exams included in the price?
A: Yes — registration and the WSET exam fee for both the Level 1 and the Level 2 examination are included in the $799, for the same student. You register for each one separately from inside your online course, and you must register within 12 months of purchase.
Q: What is the Level 1 exam like?
A: A closed-book examination of 30 multiple-choice questions in 45 minutes, sat online under remote invigilation. There is no tasting component and no written-answer component. The pass mark is 70%, which on a 30-question paper means 21 correct answers, and Level 1 is graded pass or fail only — there is no Merit or Distinction at this level.
Q: What is the Level 2 exam like?
A: A closed-book examination of 50 multiple-choice questions in 60 minutes, also sat online under remote invigilation, with no separately assessed tasting component. The pass mark is 55%, which is 28 of 50. A mark of 70% to 84% — 35 to 42 correct — is a pass with Merit, and 85% or above, 43 to 50 correct, is a pass with Distinction. Note the pass mark is lower than Level 1's, but the syllabus is far wider.
Q: When can I sit the exams?
A: Both are offered on a regular schedule through the year, and the first available dates are typically about 30 days out because we place exam orders with WSET roughly four weeks before each sitting. Places are capped per sitting, so register early rather than late. Current dates for both levels are on our exam dates pages and inside your course.
Q: What equipment do I need for the online exams?
A: More than for the courses, so check before you book either one. Each exam must be sat on a laptop or desktop with a working webcam, microphone and speakers — tablets are not permitted — and for most sittings you also need a mobile phone positioned as a secondary camera showing the room. You will need photo ID and a quiet space you will not be interrupted in. Our Help Center carries the full specification and a walkthrough video.
Q: What are your pass rates?
A: 97.0% at Level 1 — 3,419 passes from 3,524 graded exam sittings between 2024 and 2026 — and 96.1% for the Level 2 Award in Wines, 3,061 from 3,186 over the same period. We publish the denominators because a pass rate without one is not a claim, it is an advertisement.
Q: What happens if I do not pass one of them?
A: You resit that examination and you do not need to buy the course again. At both levels the resit is the whole paper rather than a component. The WSET Level 1 exam fee for a resit is $150 and the Level 2 resit fee is $220. There is no limit on attempts and no waiting period beyond the next available sitting, and your 12 months of course access means the material is still there while you revise.
Q: When do I get my results and certificates?
A: Level 1 results are released approximately 4 weeks after the exam date, and Level 2 results follow a similar timeline. WSET issues digital certificates and badges rather than shipping paper certificates and physical pins, so you can share each credential on LinkedIn or with an employer the day it is issued. On passing you are entitled to describe yourself as WSET Level 1 Certified and, in turn, WSET Level 2 Certified in Wines.
