®

SpecificationSpecification for the

WSET® Level 1Awardin Wines

www.wsetglobal.com

‘confidence for front line staff’‘confidence for front line staff’

ISSUE 9.1

Contents

1-6 Introduction

7-8 WSET® Level 1 Award in Wines

9-10 Wine Product Knowledge

12 Example Questions and Assessment Task

13-15 Examination Regulations

16 Notes

This specification contains necessary information for both candidates and programme

providers about the WSET® Level 1 Award in Wines.

The main part of the document is a detailed statement of learning outcomes. These

outcomes should be used by providers to prepare programmes of learning, and by

candidates to plan their studies, because the examination is set to test these outcomes.

The specification also provides syllabus weighting, study and examination guidance

including the examination regulations.

The WSET® Level 1 Award in Wines

1

‘confidence for front line staff ’‘confidence for front line staff ’

2 Introduction

The Wine & Spirit Education Trust QualificationsWSET® Awards is the

qualifications division of the

Wine & Spirit Education Trust.

We provide quality-assured qualificationsthat help people to know more aboutalcoholic beverages and to develop theirtasting skills. We do this by:

• liaising with the drinks industryto set suitable specifications

• approving programme providersto offer our qualifications

• setting examinations

• issuing certificates tosuccessful candidates.

The development and awarding of WSET®

regulated qualifications is the soleresponsibility of WSET® Awards, theAwarding Body of The Wine & SpiritEducation Trust.

The UK Government has established aregulatory authority, the Office of

Qualifications and Examinations

Regulation (Ofqual), which regulatesAwarding organisations that offer qualifications.

Some WSET qualifications are listedbelow.

Full Title : The WSET® Level 1 Award in Wines

Ofqual number : 600/1504/4

Description : This qualification provides a basic introduction to the main styles of wines available to front-line staff involved in the service or sale of wine. The qualification aims to provide the basic product knowledge and skills in the storage and service of wines required to prepare a person for their first job in wine hospitality or retail.

3Introduction continued

Full Title : The WSET® Level 1 Award in Wine Service

Description : This qualification builds on the knowledge and skills taught in the Level 1 Award in Wines, and shows how these can be used in a restaurant workplace. It is ideal for anyone who needs to gain basic skills in wine service, including those wishing to make their first steps into a career as a sommelier.

Full Title : The WSET® Level 1 Award in Spirits

Ofqual number : 600/1501/9

Description : This qualification provides a basic introduction to the main categories ofspirits available to front-line staff involved in the service or sale of spirits. The qualification aims to provide basic product knowledge to prepare a person for a role in hospitality or the spirits industry.

Full Title : The WSET® Level 2 Award in Spirits

Ofqual number : 600/1507/X

Description : This qualification offers a greater breadth and depth of knowledge in the specific area of spirits and liqueurs than that offered by the broader-based Level 2 Award in Wines and Spirits. This qualification offers focused coverage of all product categories in the field of spirits, end use of the identified products together with the theory of tasting technique.

Full Title : The WSET® Level 2 Award in Wines and Spirits

Ofqual number : 600/1508/1

Description : This qualification offers broad coverage of all product categories in the field of alcoholic drinks, together with the theory of tasting technique. It is suitable for those with little previous experience.

4 Introduction continued

Full Title : The WSET® Level 3 Award in Wines

Ofqual number : 601/6352/5

Description : The Level 3 Award in Wines gives more comprehensive coverage of thewines and spirits of the world, with an increased focus on tasting technique.

Full Title : The WSET® Level 4 Diploma in Wines and Spirits

Description : This is a specialist qualification where detailed knowledge is combined with commercial factors and a thorough system for the professional evaluation of wines and spirits. The Diploma is recommended by the Institute of Masters of Wine for candidates wishing to pursue membership.

BS EN ISO 9001:2008

WSET® Awards operates a Quality Management System whichcomplies with the requirements of BS EN ISO 9001:2008 for themanagement of awards for qualifications and examinations in theproduct knowledge and tasting competence of alcoholic beverages. BS EN ISO 9001:2008

FS 66504

5Introduction continued

The WSET® Level 1 Award in Winesdoes not specifically assess any of thekey skills. However, it is consideredthat there are opportunities forstudents to develop certain key skillsand generate evidence for portfoliopresentation.

For the benefit of tutors and students,a mapping key for the six key skillshas been produced. The mapping keywill give examples where, in thenatural course of study for a WSET®

Level 1 Award in Wines, it is possibleto practice and generate evidence forportfolios in key skills. It should benoted that the opportunities fordeveloping key skills and generatingevidence might be affected by themode of study adopted.

Not all key-skills requirements arecovered by the WSET® Level 1 Awardin Wines. We, therefore, advise thatany student who wishes to completethe key-skills requirements shouldcontact a specialist key-skills advisorwho should be able to give suitableadvice for the completion of tasks.

However, two of the key skills havebeen identified where it is possible todevelop and practice key skills:

• communication

• improving own-learningand performance.

How to prepare for the Level 1Award in Wines

WSET® qualifications can only beoffered by organisations approved byWSET® Awards, known as ApprovedProgramme Providers (APPs) andstudents wishing to study for aWSET qualification must enrol withan APP. The student’s relationship iswith their APP and the APP isresponsible for the delivery of thecourse and administering theexamination, which is set by WSET®

Awards.

Group study with an APP is the bestway of learning how to taste, butsome APPs also prepare candidatesfor our examinations by distancelearning.

A list of Approved ProgrammeProviders (APPs) in the United Kingdomand overseas is published on theWSET® website (www.wsetglobal.com).Please contact the APP directly tofind out about their programmes.

Development of Key Skills

• Key Skills

The UK Government, through theOffice of the Qualifications andExaminations Regulator, has definedlevels of attainment in six key skills:communication, application of number,information technology, working withothers, improving own-learning andperformance, problem solving.

Assurance Manager, WSET® Awards.

Customer Service Statement

The quality and scope of servicecustomers can expect from WSET®

Awards is published in our CustomerService Statement. A copy can beobtained from the Centres Co-ordinatorand Quality Assurance Manager, WSET®

Awards.

In the unlikely event of anydissatisfaction with the service received,please contact the registered APP in thefirst instance. If the issue is not resolvedplease contact the Centres Co-ordinatorand Quality Assurance Manager, WSET®

Awards.

Scholarship Scheme

For those candidates employed in thedrinks business in the UK, as well asfor a more limited number of candidates from the general public andoverseas, WSET® Awards manages ascheme to match outstanding candidates in their examinations toscholarship awards made available byindustry sponsors. The awards are typically visits to wine or spiritproducing regions. In a number ofc a s e s , further interviews are held to determinesuitable candidates.

Please note that these scholarships donot take the form of financial grants tofund studies, but are a recognition ofexamination performance.

Further information and a current list ofscholarships are published on theWSET® website (www.wsetglobal.com).

To aid the key-skills tutor and student,we have created tracking guides for thekey skills a student should be able todemonstrate when undertaking aWSET® Level 1 Award in Wines, andthese are available in the APPHandbook and from the WSET®website(www.wsetglobal.com).

The guides identify key-skillopportunities which will occur whenusing the recommended WSET® TutorGuides and Level 1 study pack as partof the course of study for the WSET®

Level 1 Awardin Wines. Tutors who adopt alternativeapproaches to teaching may generatedifferent opportunities for thedevelopment and demonstration of keyskills.

Diversity and Equality Policy

WSET® Awards fully supports theprinciple of diversity and equality and isresponsible for ensuring that allcandidates for its qualifications aretreated fairly and on an equal basis.A copy of our diversity and equalitypolicy can be obtained from theCentres Co-ordinator and Quality

6 Introduction continued

7The WSET® Level 1 Award in Wines

The qualification aims to providethe basic product knowledge andskills in the service of wines requiredto prepare a person with theknowledge to underpin the job skillsand competences, for example, inpositions in the sale and service ofwine in restaurants and bars, and forstore and call-centre staff in wineretail or wholesale.

Qualification aims

The Level 1 course is for thosepreparing for, or employees starting,their first job in wine. The course willintroduce them, at a very basic level,to the main styles of wine available,wine storage and service and thepairing of food with wine. This willenable students to meet workplaceor Realistic Working Environment(RWE) wine service standards anddeal with basic customer enquiries.The course aims to provide studentswith product and service informationrelevant to their place of employmentor study.

necessary for the award of aqualification, it is made up of GLH andprivate study time. GLH include alltutor-supervised learning andsupervised assessments.

The TQT for the Level 1 Award inWines is 6 hours, all as GLH. Thisincludes the 45 minutes for theexamination.

Progression Routes

WSET®

Level 2 Award

in Wines and Spirits

This qualification offers broadcoverage of all product categoriesin the field of alcoholic drinks,together with a more detailed tastingtechnique.

8 The WSET® Level 1 Award in Wines continued

Enrolment

There are no restrictions on entryto the WSET® Level 1 Award in Wines.Students who are under the legalminimum age for the retail purchaseof alcoholic beverages in the countrywhere the examination is being heldwill not be allowed to sample anyalcoholic beverage as part of theircourse, but this is not a barrier tosuccessfully completing thequalification. Similarly, students whochoose not to taste alcohol for health,religious or other reasons will notfind this a barrier to successfullycompleting the qualification.

Total Qualification Time (TQT) andGuided Learning Hours (GLH)

TQT is an estimate of the total amountof time, measured in hours that alearner would reasonably need to beable to show the level of achievement

Qualification Unit and Learning Outcome Table

Unit Title Learning Outcome Learning Outcome Code Title

Wine Product

Knowledge

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

Understand the main types and styles ofwine available

Know how to store wine

Know how to serve wine to customers

Understand the basic principles of food andwine pairing

Understand the issues relating to the safeconsumption of wine

9Wine Product Knowledge

Recommended Tasting Samples

Candidates are expected to taste a minimum of six wines including a minimumof two white wines made from the principal white grape varieties stated aboveand a minimum of three red wines made from the principal red grape varietiesstated above.

TYPES AND STYLES OF WINES

Types Light, fortified, sparkling

Styles Colour: white, rosé, redSweetness: dry, medium, sweetBody: light, medium, fullOther factors: oak, acidity, tannin

FACTORS THAT DETERMINE THE MAIN STYLES OF LIGHT WINES

Climate Hot, cool

How wine is made White, rosé, red, use of oak

Principal grape White: Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Rieslingvarieties Red: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Pinot Noir, Syrah / Shiraz

STYLE AND CHARACTERISTICS OF WINES

Named wines White: Pinot Grigio, Soave, Sancerre, Chablis, Sauternes Red: Bordeaux, Beaujolais, Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Rioja,ChiantiSparkling: Champagne, CavaFortified: Port, Sherry

WSET LEVEL 1 SYSTEMATIC APPROACH TO TASTING®

Style Colour: red – rosé – whiteCondition: clean – uncleanSweetness: dry – medium – sweetBody: light – medium – fullFlavour characteristics: e.g. fruits – flowers – spices –vegetables – oak – otherOther: acidity – tannin

LEARNING OUTCOME ONE – UNDERSTAND THE MAIN TYPES AND STYLES

OF WINE AVAILABLE

Assessment Criteria

1. Identify the main types and styles of wines available.

2. Identify the factors that determine the main styles of wine.

3. State the main characteristics of the principal grape varieties.

4. Describe the styles and characteristics of wines made from theprincipal grape varieties.

Copyright Wine & Spirit Education Trust 2012

LEARNING OUTCOME TWO – KNOW HOW TO STORE WINE

Assessment Criteria

1. State the correct procedures for the storage of wines.

LEARNING OUTCOME THREE – KNOW HOW TO SERVE WINE TO CUSTOMERS

Assessment Criteria

1. State the appropriate service temperatures for the main styles of winesavailable.

2. State the correct procedures for opening and serving still and sparkling wines.

3. Identify common faults found in wines.

10 Wine Product Knowledge continued

STORAGE AND SERVICE OF WINE

Storage Storage conditions

SERVICE OF WINE

Service Red, rosé, white, sparkling and fortified winestemperatures

Opening and Still and sparkling wineserving corkscrews, ice buckets, glassware

Common faults Wine faults

11

LEARNING OUTCOME FOUR – UNDERSTAND THE BASIC PRINCIPLES

OF FOOD AND WINE PAIRING

Assessment Criteria

1. State the basic food and wine pairing principles.

2. Pair wines by style with food considering basic taste interactions

and individual preferences and sensitivities.

LEARNING OUTCOME FIVE – UNDERSTAND THE ISSUES RELATING TO THE

SAFE CONSUMPTION OF WINE

Assessment Criteria

1. State the legal issues relating to the consumption of wine.

2. State the social, health and safety issues relating to the consumptionof wine.

Wine Product Knowledge continued

LEGAL, SOCIAL, HEALTH AND SAFETY ISSUES

Social Safe consumption of alcoholresponsibility

PRINCIPLES OF FOOD AND WINE PAIRING

Wine Sweetness, acidity, tannins/oak, complexity,considerations fruitiness, alcohol level

Food Sweetness, acidity, umami, salt, bitterness,considerations chili heat, fat, flavour intensity

WINE STYLES

Wines by style Colour: red, rosé, whiteSweetness: dry - medium - sweetBody: light - medium - fullFlavour characteristics: fruits, flowers, spices, vegetables, oak, otherOther: acidity, tannin

12 Example Questions and Assessment Task

To give students an idea of the sort of questions which might be asked, here isa selection. The examination consists of 30 questions similar to these, to becompleted in a maximum of 45 minutes.

Examples of Level 1 Award Examination Questions

The Wine & Spirit Education Trust does not release past papers for the WSET®

Level 1 Award examination.

The multiple-choice examination papers are carefully compiled to reflect theweighting given to the elements of the Unit. The chart below gives a breakdown ofthe allocation of examination questions to each of the elements of the Unit.

2. What style of wine is Chablis?

a) Dry white.

b) Dry red.

c) Sweet white.

d) Sweet red.

Answers to example questions:

1) d.

2) a.

1. Which one of the following wineswould you recommend to acustomer requiring a white wine?

a) Cabernet Sauvignon.

b) Pinot Noir.

c) Syrah.

d) Chardonnay.

Unit Learning Outcome QuestionsTitle Title per Paper

Wine Product

Knowledge 1. Understand the main types and styles of wine available

2. Know how to store wine

3. Know how to serve wine to customers

4. Understand the basic principles of food and wine pairing

5. Understand the issues relating to the safe consumptionof wine

Total Questions

13

6

8

3

30

13Examination Regulations

2 Format and Results

2.1 Candidates will be required to pass asingle-unit examination:

A closed-book examination thatconsists of 30 multiple-choice questions worth one mark each. Atotal mark of 70% is required toachieve a pass.

2.2 All examination questions are basedon the published learning outcomesand the recommended study materialscontain the information required toanswer these questions correctly.

2.3 Results for successful candidates willbe issued to APPs within 2 weeksfrom receipt of the completed scripts.

2.4 WSET® Awards does not offer aegrotatawards, all assessment requirementsof the qualification must be met.

3 Reasonable Adjustments

Examination candidates who have specialexamination requirements, which aresupported by independent writtenassessment, are requested to notify theexaminations officer at their APP of anysuch requirement at the time of enrolment.Further guidance for examination officersand candidates is available from WSET®

Awards as required.

It is the policy of WSET® Awards that suchcandidates should not be placed at adisadvantage in the examinations.

Candidates are responsible for informingtheir APP of any such requirement beforeevery assessment.

4 Resits

Candidates may apply to resit if they areunsuccessful. There is no limit on thenumber of attempts that may be made.

Candidates who have passed units are notpermitted to retake them to improve theirgrade.

1 Entry Requirements

1.1 Eligibility

1.1.1 Candidates applying to sit theexamination must be over the legal minimum age for the retail purchaseof alcoholic beverages in the countrywhere the examination is being held,or be preparing for the examinationas part of a recognised full-timeprogramme of study, or haveobtained parental consent.

1.1.2 There are no restrictions on entry tothe Level 1 Award in Wines throughoverlaps with other qualifications orparts of qualifications.

1.1.3 Students who are under the legalminimum age for the retail purchaseof alcoholic beverages in the countrywhere the examination is being heldwill not be allowed to sample anyalcoholic beverage as part of theircourse, but this is not a barrierto successfully completing thequalification. Similarly, students whochoose not to taste alcohol forhealth, religious or other reasons willnot find this a barrier to successfullycompleting the qualification.

1.2 Recommended Prior Learning

1.2.1 There are no requirements forcandidates to have previousknowledge or previous experience ofalcoholic beverages.

1.2.2 The indicative levels of literacy andnumeracy required for theexamination are as follows:

literacy: Level 1 of the UK basic skillsnational standards, or equivalentlevel of literacy in the language usedfor the examination.

numeracy: Level 1 of the UK basicskills national standards, orequivalent.

14 Examination Regulations continued

• any candidate who is suspected ofmisconduct will be advised to leavethe examination hall immediately andtheir examination paper will besubmitted to the Examination Panelto determine its validity and any futureban on sitting papers

• no examination question papers areto be removed from the examinationhall, candidates who fail to submitthe question paper with their answersheet will be deemed guilty ofmisconduct.

5.2 Candidates also agree to abide by theinvigilator’s instructions. Failure to doso may render a candidate’s resultsinvalid.

5.3 Examination papers submitted formarking become the property ofWSET® Awards and will not bereturned to candidates.

5 Examination Conditions and Conduct

5.1 It is a condition of entry thatcandidates agree to the followingspecific conditions:

• at the start of the examination allcandidates must supply the invigilatorwith proof of identity in the form ofphotographic ID

• the examination is to be completedin a maximum of 45 minutes

• no reference is to be made to anymaterial, in whatever form, other thanthe examination question paper andanswer sheet

• no communication of any kindbetween candidates is permitted

• the use of electronic devices of anykind is prohibited

• the use of dictionaries of any kindis prohibited

• the use of audible “alarms” on anyclock or watch is prohibited

• candidates who arrive after thepublished start time may be allowedto enter the room at the discretion ofthe invigilator and only if othercandidates are not compromised

• candidates may not leave the roomuntil the first 15 minutes of theexamination time have elapsed

• candidates who complete theexamination/assessment early mayleave the examination room up untilthe last 10 minutes providing they donot disturb other candidates, no re-admission is permitted

• invigilators have no authority tocomment upon, interpret, or express anopinion on any examination question

15Examination Regulations continued

7 Student Satisfaction

Should any student have concerns thattheir APP is not providing the service thatthey expect, or is behaving in a way thatis inconsistent with the standards requiredin terms of administration, tuition orexaminations they should first take this upwith their APP. If this does not lead to asatisfactory resolution, students are askedto contact our Quality AssuranceManager, by email at awards@wset.co.uk.Please note that all complaints will be dealtwith confidentially, but WSET® Awardscannot act on anonymous complaints.

8 WSET® Awards Regulations

WSET® Awards reserves the right to addto, or alter, any of these regulations as itthinks fit.

6 Examination Feedback, Enquiries

and Appeals

Candidates requiring feedback and/or anenquiry (re-mark) on their examinationpaper should contact their APP andrequest an Application Form for Feedbackand Enquiries Against Examination Results.The form must be completed andsubmitted to WSET® Awards along with theappropriate fee within 6 weeks of the dateof the examination. Any request receivedoutside of this time frame will not bereviewed. Feedbacks and enquiries will beissued within 2 weeks of receipt by WSET® Awards.

Any candidate unsatisfied with the result ofan enquiry of an examination paper shouldcontact the APP and request an Appealagainst Examination Results ApplicationForm, which must be completed andreturned to WSET® Awards, together withthe appropriate fee, no more than 10 working days following notification of theenquiry decision. Appeals received outsideof this time frame will not be reviewed.Appeals will be issued within 2 weeks ofreceipt by WSET® Awards.

16 Notes

Wine and Spirit Education Trust39-45 Bermondsey Street, London SE1 3XF United KingdomEmail: wset@wset.co.ukInternet: www.wsetglobal.com

© Wine & Spirit Education Trust 2012Issue 9, 2012Issue 9.1 (update with minor amendments), 2017

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means,electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording or any information storage or retrieval system, withoutthe prior permission in writing from the publishers.

Design and artwork by Design Study Limited 020 8763 2582

To obtain a list of Approved Programme Providers (APPs) closest to you, where youcan study or sit an examination, please see the WSET® website: www.wsetglobal.com

To obtain the APP Registration Pack, a copy of our Diversity and Equality Policy andour Customer Service StatementContact WSET

®Awards

Telelphone: +44 (0)20 7089 3840 • Fax: +44 (0)20 7089 3846email: awards@wset.co.uk

WSET® Contacts

Wine & Spirit Education TrustInternational Wine & Spirit Centre • 39-45 Bermondsey Street • London • SE1 3XF • United Kingdom

Wine & Spirit Education Trust

International Wine & Spirit Centre39-45 Bermondsey StreetLondon SE1 3XF

Telephone: +44 (0)20 7089 3800

Fax: +44 (0)20 7089 3847

email: wset@wset.co.uk

website: www.wsetglobal.com

WSET® gratefully acknowledges the support of the following CORPORATE PATRONS in helping to promote excellence in wineand spirit product training and qualifications:

SILVER Patrons

BRONZE Patrons

GOLD Patrons

For any other enquiries,please see the WSET®

website: www.wsetglobal.com

or contact WSET® Awards