Q: I do not really know anything about wine. Is this course actually for me?
A: Yes - that is exactly who Level 1 is built for. There is no prerequisite, no entry restriction and no previous wine knowledge required. It starts from the beginning: how to taste systematically, what makes wines taste different, how to store and serve them, and the basics of food and wine pairing. The only requirement is that you are at least 21 years of age.
Q: Should I buy this course or the $289 on-demand version?
A: Forty dollars and a calendar separate them. Both cover the identical syllabus, lead to the identical qualification and end in the identical exam, and your certificate does not record which you took. This course gives you a dedicated instructor for four weeks, three live 60-minute webinars with guided tastings, and a cohort moving at the same pace as you. The on-demand course opens the moment you pay, has no cohort and no live sessions at all, and is $289. Buy this one if a fixed schedule is the thing that would make you finish; buy on demand if a fixed schedule is the thing that would stop you. Note that on-demand purchases are final, while this course can be cancelled up to 14 business days before it starts.
Q: Should I start at Level 1 or jump to Level 2?
A: Start at Level 1 if wine is largely new to you, or if you have never used a structured tasting method. Level 2 assumes you already recognise the major grape varieties and classic regions, and it moves at a considerably faster pace across a much wider syllabus. If you can already name what you like and why, Level 2 may suit you better - but there is no shame in the foundation, and Level 1 is four weeks and $329 rather than five weeks and $679.
Q: Is the course self-paced, or does it run to a schedule?
A: Both. It is a four-week semi-synchronous course with a fixed start and end date: the video lectures, interactive activities and quizzes are available 24/7, while three live instructor-led webinars happen at set dates and times. You also get a full 12 months of access to the online course platform, counted from your course start date, so nothing disappears when the four weeks end.
Q: When are the webinars, and do I have to attend live?
A: Three instructor-led Zoom webinars of 60 minutes each, with dates and times listed in the first module of your online course. Attendance is not mandatory and every session is recorded and posted afterwards. Do attend live if you can, though - they include orientation, guided tastings and the chance to ask your instructor questions directly, which is the part a recording cannot replace.
Q: Who will be teaching my cohort?
A: A dedicated WSET-certified educator for the full four taught weeks. Desiree Harrison-Brown teaches our Level 1 and Level 2 courses, holds WSET Level 3 and was named to Wine Enthusiast's 2022 Future 40 list of emerging industry leaders; she also founded the wine lifestyle brand Wino Shop. Jean Cox is a WSET Certified Educator, Certified Sommelier, French Wine Scholar, Spanish Wine Scholar and Napa Valley Wine Expert. Both come from a faculty that also includes Masters of Wine, Master Sommeliers and working Napa Valley winemakers.
Q: How does the exam work?
A: Thirty multiple-choice questions in 45 minutes, sat online with remote invigilation, meaning a proctor observes you throughout. There is no tasting exam and no written paper at Level 1. Your registration and exam fee are included in the course price, but the sitting is separate from the four taught weeks - you book it yourself from the published dates, and it is worth booking early because places are capped at 50 per sitting and exam orders are placed with WSET about four weeks before each date.
Q: What equipment do I need for the online exam?
A: More than people expect, so check before you book. You need a laptop or desktop computer - tablets are not permitted - with a working webcam, microphone and speakers, plus a reliable broadband connection. You will also need a mobile phone to act as a secondary camera for most sittings, photo ID, and a quiet room where you cannot be interrupted or overlooked. Test the setup in advance rather than on exam morning.
Q: Can I sit the exam in person instead?
A: Not as standard, but it is not impossible. In-person sittings are available only by prior request and additional fees may apply. If sitting online will not work for you - unreliable internet, no suitable second device, a disability or an accommodation - email support@napavalleywineacademy.com before you enroll so we can tell you what is possible and what it would cost. It cannot be arranged at short notice.
Q: When do I need to book my exam by?
A: Within 12 months of your course start date. That is a full year, so there is no pressure - but book while the material is fresh rather than leaving it to the final month, and remember that each sitting holds only 50 places. If you are approaching the end of your window and have not yet sat, contact us before it closes rather than after.
Q: What is the pass mark? Are there Merit and Distinction grades?
A: The pass mark is 70%, which is 21 correct answers out of 30. Level 1 is graded pass or fail only - unlike Levels 2 and 3, there are no Merit or Distinction grades at this level, so there is no higher tier to chase. Note the pass mark is higher than Level 2's 55%, which surprises people; the questions are more straightforward, but you need more of them right.
Q: What is Napa Valley Wine Academy's WSET Level 1 pass rate?
A: 97.0% - that is 3,419 passes from 3,524 graded exam sittings between 2024 and 2026, our highest pass rate at any level. If you work through the material and take the weekly quizzes seriously, passing Level 1 is a realistic expectation rather than a hope.
Q: What do I get when I pass?
A: A digital certificate and badge from WSET as soon as your result is issued, which you can share on LinkedIn or send to an employer straight away. WSET no longer ships paper certificates or physical pins. You are then entitled to say you hold the WSET Level 1 Award in Wines - a globally recognised qualification, not a certificate of attendance.
Q: Are the wines included, or do I buy them?
A: Wines are not included in the course fee. We publish a list of recommended wines you can source locally - a Central Coast Chardonnay, a Bourgogne Rouge, a Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, an Italian Pinot Grigio, an Australian Shiraz and a Sauternes - or you can buy a 6 x 100 mL sample kit from our partner Small Lot Bottles, which is considerably cheaper than six full bottles.
Q: How many wines will I taste, and what if my kit arrives late?
A: Six, matching the recommended list and the sample kit, chosen to calibrate your palate to the WSET Level 1 Systematic Approach to Tasting®. Allow 7 to 10 days for kit delivery and order as soon as you enroll. If your wines arrive after a tasting webinar you have not missed it - every session is recorded, so you can taste along with the recording once they land.
Q: What is included in the $329 price?
A: A dedicated instructor for the four taught weeks, three live webinars with instructor-led tastings and theory review, video lectures with interactive activities, quizzes and a mock exam, the downloadable Level 1 textbook, 12 months of platform access from your course start date, and your online exam registration and fee. Group discounts apply automatically when booking together: 5% for two students, 8% for three and 10% for four.
Q: Is there a textbook, and how do I get it?
A: Yes, and it is included. The Level 1 textbook is downloadable from the first module of your online course, so you have it immediately - there is nothing to wait for in the post and no printed copy to buy. Levels 2 and 3 use the WSET Global Reader eBook instead; Level 1 is simply a download.
Q: When do I get access after I buy?
A: Email links to the first module arrive within 30 minutes of purchase, so you can download the textbook and start reading straight away. Your 12 months of platform access is counted from your course start date, so anything you do between buying and the cohort beginning is extra time rather than time spent.
Q: How much study time should I budget?
A: Plan on 10 to 12 hours in total, spread across the four weeks - roughly three hours a week. WSET specifies a Total Qualification Time of just 6 hours as its minimum for this qualification; our course deliberately adds live webinars, video lectures and quizzes on top of that, which is part of why our pass rate is 97.0%.
Q: What happens if I do not pass?
A: You can resit without retaking the course. A Level 1 resit costs $150 and is booked the same way as your first attempt. At a 97.0% pass rate this is an uncommon outcome, but it is worth knowing the route exists before you sit.
Q: Can I cancel or move to a later cohort?
A: Yes, if you act at least 14 business days before your cohort start date. Cancellations in that window are refunded as store credit after a $50 administration fee plus the cost of any study materials, exam fees and wine kits already committed, and one transfer per person per course is permitted on the same deadline and fee. Within 14 business days of the start, or once the course has begun, no refunds or transfers are available. Our General Policies page carries the full terms.
Q: I need a reasonable adjustment for a disability or learning difficulty. How do I arrange it?
A: Reasonable adjustments are available, but WSET must approve them before we can implement them, and applications need to reach WSET at least six weeks before your exam date. Contact us as early as you can at support@napavalleywineacademy.com and we will help you prepare the application. Because you book your own exam sitting on this course, you have more room to plan this than on a course where the exam date is fixed for you.
Q: What comes after Level 1?
A: The WSET Level 2 Award in Wines, available online over five weeks or in person over two days in Napa, Nashville or Tampa. Level 2 is the qualification the wine trade most commonly asks for, so if you are studying with a career in mind it is the natural next step. Plenty of students stop at Level 1 quite happily, though - it is a real qualification, not just a stepping stone.
Q: Can I speak to someone before enrolling?
A: Yes. Email support@napavalleywineacademy.com and our student support team will help you decide whether Level 1 or Level 2 is the right starting point, whether the instructor-led or on-demand format suits you better, whether an in-person exam sitting can be arranged, and which cohort fits your schedule.
