Home / WSET Level 1 Award in Wines
WSET Level 1 Award in Wines
Start here — no previous wine knowledge needed. Take it in one day in person, over four weeks online with an instructor, or entirely at your own pace. The exam is included in every format and sat online from home.
WSET Level 1 Award In Wines | In-Person
WSET Level 1 Wine Online | Instructor-Led Course
WSET Level 1 Wine Online | On-Demand Course
The WSET Level 1 Award in Wines is the first of WSET's four wine qualifications. It assumes no previous wine knowledge, takes roughly 6–12 study hours depending on the format you choose, and is assessed by a single 30-question multiple-choice exam with a 70% pass mark. Napa Valley Wine Academy teaches it three ways — one day in person, four weeks instructor-led online, or fully self-paced on demand — and every format includes the WSET textbook, exam registration and the exam fee.
Compare the three WSET Level 1 formats
| In Person | Instructor-Led Online | On-Demand Online | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition | $425 | $329 | $289 |
| Format | In person | Online | Online |
| Schedule | One day, 10am–4pm | Four weeks on fixed cohort dates | Start any time — no cohort, no start date |
| Study hours | 4–6 hours of online prep, then a full day in class | 10–12 hours, around three a week | 8–12 hours |
| Live teaching | A full day with an instructor in the room | Three live 60-minute webinars, all recorded | None — 1-on-1 mentoring can be booked separately |
| Where | Napa CA, Nashville TN or Tampa FL | Online | Online |
| Wines tasted | 8 wines poured in class | 6 wines — source your own, or buy a tasting kit from our partner Small Lot Bottles | 6 wines — source your own, or buy a tasting kit from our partner Small Lot Bottles |
| Online access | Pre-class prep course included | 12 months from your cohort start date | 12 months from enrollment |
| Best if you want | To learn by tasting alongside a group | A structured timetable and live instructor access | To fit study around an unpredictable schedule |
The course listings at the top of this page always carry the live price and the next available start dates. Group savings apply automatically — 5% off for two students, 8% for three, 10% for four or more.
What you'll learn
- The basic principles of wine production
- The main types and styles of wine
- The principal factors that shape a wine's flavours and aromas
- How to store and serve wine correctly
- How to describe a wine using the WSET Level 1 Systematic Approach to Tasting® (SAT)
- The principles of pairing food and wine
Entry requirements
- None. No previous study or wine knowledge is assumed.
- Students must be at least 21 years of age to taste alcohol on any US course.
What's included
- The official WSET Level 1 Award in Wines study materials and textbook
- Exam registration and the exam fee
- Video lectures, interactive activities and graded knowledge checks on our online platform
- Your WSET certificate and lapel pin on passing
Tasting samples are not included in the online formats and are purchased separately.
The exam
All three formats are assessed the same way: 30 multiple-choice questions in 45 minutes, taken online by remote invigilation. The pass mark is 70% — 21 of 30 correct. There is no tasting paper and no written paper at Level 1, and you do not need to travel to sit it.
Upcoming sittings are published on our WSET Level 1 exam dates page — worth checking before you pick a cohort, so your course finishes in time for the date you want.
Why study WSET Level 1 with Napa Valley Wine Academy
- 96.5% pass rate. In the 2024–25 academic year, 96.5% of our 1,269 Level 1 candidates passed at the first attempt. See our published WSET pass rates, including the method behind every figure.
- Winner of the Riedel Trophy for the WSET Educator of the Year in 2016 and 2019.
- A wide choice of dates and locations, so you can find a class that fits your schedule.
- Group savings: 5% off for two students, 8% for three, 10% for four or more.
WSET Level 1 in spirits, beer and sake
WSET runs a separate Level 1 qualification for each drinks category, and we teach all of them online. Explore the WSET Level 1 Award in Spirits, the WSET Level 1 Award in Beer or the WSET Level 1 Award in Sake.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to know anything about wine before I start?
No. WSET Level 1 assumes no previous study. You only need to be at least 21 years of age.
How long does WSET Level 1 take?
Between 6 and 12 study hours depending on the format. The in-person course is 4–6 hours of online prep plus one day in class; the instructor-led online course runs over four weeks at roughly three hours a week; the on-demand course takes 8–12 hours whenever you choose to do them.
Is there a tasting exam?
No. The Level 1 exam is 30 multiple-choice questions in 45 minutes. Tasting is taught and practised during the course, but it is not examined until WSET Level 2 and above.
Do I have to travel to sit the exam?
No. The exam is taken online by remote invigilation, so you can sit it from home even if you took the course in person.
Which format should I choose?
Choose in person if tasting wines alongside an instructor and a group matters most to you. Choose instructor-led online if you want live teaching and a set timetable without travelling. Choose on-demand if your schedule is unpredictable and you want to start immediately.
Is a wine tasting kit included?
On the in-person course, the 8 wines are poured for you in class. On both online courses the 6 required wines are not included in the fee. You can source them yourself from the list we provide, or buy the WSET Level 1 Award in Wine Tasting Kit ($70) from Small Lot Bottles, our tasting-sample partner. Kits are ordered, fulfilled and shipped by Small Lot Bottles, not by Napa Valley Wine Academy.
What comes after Level 1?
Most students progress to the WSET Level 2 Award in Wines, which goes deeper into grape varieties, wine regions and the SAT.