WSET Diploma D1 Recap

Relief. Joy. *takes a deep breath*

I am so happy to have my WSET D1 exam for the WSET Diploma behind me!

To be completely honest, I was afraid I wasn’t prepared enough. Did I know enough detail? How many rootstocks could I discuss from memory? Was it the dagger nematodes or the sharpshooters that cause Pierce’s Disease? These were just a few of the questions running through my mind over the past few weeks as I prepared for my exam on August 1st.

I am thrilled that when I got to the exam, I opened my test and the knowledge just flowed out of me onto the paper. I couldn’t have done it without having my best friend as a study buddy, but most of all, I cannot express how much I loved taking WSET D1 with the Napa Valley Wine Academy. I honestly do not think I would have been prepared for the exam without them.

For anyone looking to take the WSET Diploma, I wanted to share a bit of my experience with NVWA and tips to prepare for the exam!

All of our classes were taught online via zoom with different instructors focusing on specific segments within the book. A live class was held weekly and the sessions were recorded for you to go back and reference at any time. All the exams must be taken in person in Napa, even if you take the online course. I’m never one to say no to a trip to Napa so this wasn’t a problem for me!

In addition to classes taught by multiple professors from winemakers to MWs, you are also given access to an amazing woman named Noelle who manages the WSET Diploma program and students as a whole. Not only is she a wonderful resource who will answers any questions you have along the way, but she took the time to meet with our class and discuss mock exam questions, how to get to the root of what the question was asking and what a pass, fail and pass with marks answer looked like.

The exam is comprised of essay questions ranging from 3-5 questions that total 100 points. For example, my exam had 5 questions: three worth 15 points, one worth 30 points and one worth 25 points. In order to pass, you need to be able to budget your time in asnwering these questions and be sure to give enough detail depending on how many points the question is worth

Here are some key tips in my opinion to preparing for the WSET D1 exam (caveat that I am still awaiting my results!!)

1. Make time to study!! – I cannot stress this enough. I read the book twice during the course of the class, but did not truly feel prepared until I spent over 60 hours with the work sheets, flashcards I created as well as the material.
2. Flashcards! – Part two to this study tip is make flashcards. I made over 500 flashcards for this exam ranging from extremely basic vocab, pro & con lists for vineyard management techniques, to cause and effects of pests and viruses. If flashcards aren’t your style, use whatever works best for you. The key is to really take the time to sit and dissect the material and be able to provide examples to back up your responses.
3. Be ready to talk about certain topics in practice vs. reciting your vocab words. For example, don’t just be able to list off the main techniques used to avoid frost in the vineyard. Be able to tell them WHY they are used. What temperature are these practices implemented? Do certain techniques have a specific effect on the environment or procure additional costs? Would a certain technique be better suited to a large, mass production winery vs. a small family owned estate? These are all small details you should be sure to mention in your essay questions no matter which question you are given.
4. Read the questions carefully!! – NVWA does an amazing job helping students breakdown exam questions to determine what the question is really asking. This came in extremely helpful in my exam. For one of my questions, I finished all I felt like I had to say, but thought my answer was too short. I went back to the breakdown technique and realized there was an entire extra piece to the question that I had not answered originally.
5. Pay attention to detail – It’s easy to gloss over small details in such a large text book, but in this class, it’s essential you can speak to small details. Can you name the different materials that can be used to fine a wine? Which root stocks are limestone tolerant? What are the pros and cons of shipping wine in bulk vs in bottle? Taking the time to learn these nuances will be extremely helpful when it comes to exam day.
6. RELAX! The night before my exam, my best friend (who was also taking the exam with me) rented a small B&B in downtown Napa. We did a few tasting during the day, then ordered Dominos to our room, quizzed each other for 30 minutes and passed out watching Schitt’s Creek by 9pm. It’s all about BALANCE! If you have studied and put in the time, cramming will do you no good. Do whatever self care you need to do to go into that exam with a clear mind.

Overall, I cannot recommend taking the WSET Diploma enough with Napa Valley Wine Academy. While the outcome of your exam is truly up to you and the amount of time you dedicate to the material and your studies, NVWA gives you so many tools and resources to set you up for success. Make sure you take advantage and don’t hesitate to reach out if you have any questions!

Grab a discount on your next WSET course with Napa Valley Wine Academy by clicking here or using the code h2kqstrohwset at checkout.

Cheers!

Hayley

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