WSET DIPLOMA D1 EXAM ACTUAL COMPLETE REAL
EXAM (2026 UPDATE) | COMPREHESIVE STUDY GUIDE
QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS ( EXPERT
VERIFIED AND DETAILED ANSWERS) FOR QUARANTEED
PASS | ALREADY A+ GRADED | NEWEST UPDATE 2026 !!!
GET IT 100% ACCURATE!!
Most important North American grape species - ANSWER-Vitis
labrusca, Vitis riparia, Vitis berlandieri and Vitis rupestris
Four main sections of a grape vine - ANSWER-the main shoots,
one-year-old wood, permanent wood and the roots
What comprises the canopy of a vine? - ANSWER-The main shoots
and all of their major structures - stem, buds, leaves, lateral shoots,
tendrils and inflorescences/grape bunches
What do the main shoots grow from, and when? - ANSWER-The
main shoots on the vine grow in spring from buds retained from the
previous year
Where are carbohydrates stored in a vine? - ANSWER-Stems,
trunks, roots
Define lignify - ANSWER-Green shoots become woody and rigid,
they are then called canes
Where do buds form? - ANSWER-between the leaf stalk (petiole)
and the stem
,Define the two types of buds - ANSWER-- Compound buds (form in
one growing season and break open the following growing season,
producing main shoots; typically a primary, secondary, and maybe
tertiary)- Prompt buds (form and break open same season, form
lateral shoots)
- Prompt buds (form and break open same season, form lateral
shoots)
What is the main function of lateral shoots? When are they
desirable/undesirable? - ANSWER-- to allow the plant to carry on
growing if the tip of the main shoot has been damaged or eaten
- can provide an additional source of leaves for photosynthesis
(useful if the laterals are near the ends of the main shoots)
What is second crop? - ANSWER-Lateral shoots often produce
inflorescences, which can be known as a 'second crop'
- Growth of laterals nearer the base of the main shoot can be
undesirable as they impede air flow and can shade the fruit too
much
What is green harvesting? - ANSWER-Removal of second crop
during summer
Define one-year-old wood - ANSWER-the main shoots from the last
growing season that were kept at pruning, supports compound
buds; cane or spur
Define permanent wood - ANSWER-woody parts of the vine that
are older than one year, including the trunk
where are most roots found? - ANSWER-top 50cm of soil
what distinguishes PN clone 115? - ANSWER-low yield, small
grapes, good for high quality of red wines
,what distinguishes PN clone 521? - ANSWER-high yield, bigger
grapes, good for sparkling wine production
When is leaf fall and dormancy? - ANSWER-Nov-March
When is budburst? - ANSWER-March-April
When is shoot and leaf growth? - ANSWER-March-July
When is flowering and fruit set? - ANSWER-May-June
When is grape development? - ANSWER-June-Oct
When is harvest? - ANSWER-Sept-Oct
How does the vine support itself during dormancy? - ANSWER-
starch in the roots, trunk, and branches
Below what temp can vines be severly damaged? die? - ANSWER-
-15C, -25C
What factors determine the timing of budburst? - ANSWER-- air
temp (>10C)
- soil temp (higher encourages earlier budburst)
- variety
- human factors (e.g. winter pruning late -> later budburst)
Why is high continentality good for budburst? - ANSWER-marked
differences in temp can result in uniform budburst
what determines the vigor of a vine? - ANSWER-rate of shoot
growth
when does the fastest rate of shoot growth typically occur? –
ANSWER-between budburst and flowering
, what could cause low carb levels in roots, trunk, and branches? -
ANSWER-
- excessive leaf removal
- water stress
- high crop loads in previous season
what can slow initial shoot growth rates? - ANSWER-low carb
levels
what supports shoot growth in later stages? - ANSWER-
photosynthesis
at what point of the vine growing cycle is water stress not desired?
- ANSWER-late stages of shoot growth (can affect photosynthesis)
what can stunted shoot growth lead to? - ANSWER-- weak shoots
- reduction in leaf number/smaller leaves
- inflorescences that do not flower properly
what can limit bud fruitfulness? - ANSWER-- low temp (<25C)
- water stress
- shading
- nutrient deficiency
how long after budburst does flowering typically take place? -
ANSWER-8 weeks (temp dependent)
why are warm conditions (>17C) desired during flowering? -
ANSWER-speeds up flowering (occurs within a few days)
what % of flowers become grapes typically? - ANSWER-30%
what temp does pollen germination require? - ANSWER-26-32C
EXAM (2026 UPDATE) | COMPREHESIVE STUDY GUIDE
QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS ( EXPERT
VERIFIED AND DETAILED ANSWERS) FOR QUARANTEED
PASS | ALREADY A+ GRADED | NEWEST UPDATE 2026 !!!
GET IT 100% ACCURATE!!
Most important North American grape species - ANSWER-Vitis
labrusca, Vitis riparia, Vitis berlandieri and Vitis rupestris
Four main sections of a grape vine - ANSWER-the main shoots,
one-year-old wood, permanent wood and the roots
What comprises the canopy of a vine? - ANSWER-The main shoots
and all of their major structures - stem, buds, leaves, lateral shoots,
tendrils and inflorescences/grape bunches
What do the main shoots grow from, and when? - ANSWER-The
main shoots on the vine grow in spring from buds retained from the
previous year
Where are carbohydrates stored in a vine? - ANSWER-Stems,
trunks, roots
Define lignify - ANSWER-Green shoots become woody and rigid,
they are then called canes
Where do buds form? - ANSWER-between the leaf stalk (petiole)
and the stem
,Define the two types of buds - ANSWER-- Compound buds (form in
one growing season and break open the following growing season,
producing main shoots; typically a primary, secondary, and maybe
tertiary)- Prompt buds (form and break open same season, form
lateral shoots)
- Prompt buds (form and break open same season, form lateral
shoots)
What is the main function of lateral shoots? When are they
desirable/undesirable? - ANSWER-- to allow the plant to carry on
growing if the tip of the main shoot has been damaged or eaten
- can provide an additional source of leaves for photosynthesis
(useful if the laterals are near the ends of the main shoots)
What is second crop? - ANSWER-Lateral shoots often produce
inflorescences, which can be known as a 'second crop'
- Growth of laterals nearer the base of the main shoot can be
undesirable as they impede air flow and can shade the fruit too
much
What is green harvesting? - ANSWER-Removal of second crop
during summer
Define one-year-old wood - ANSWER-the main shoots from the last
growing season that were kept at pruning, supports compound
buds; cane or spur
Define permanent wood - ANSWER-woody parts of the vine that
are older than one year, including the trunk
where are most roots found? - ANSWER-top 50cm of soil
what distinguishes PN clone 115? - ANSWER-low yield, small
grapes, good for high quality of red wines
,what distinguishes PN clone 521? - ANSWER-high yield, bigger
grapes, good for sparkling wine production
When is leaf fall and dormancy? - ANSWER-Nov-March
When is budburst? - ANSWER-March-April
When is shoot and leaf growth? - ANSWER-March-July
When is flowering and fruit set? - ANSWER-May-June
When is grape development? - ANSWER-June-Oct
When is harvest? - ANSWER-Sept-Oct
How does the vine support itself during dormancy? - ANSWER-
starch in the roots, trunk, and branches
Below what temp can vines be severly damaged? die? - ANSWER-
-15C, -25C
What factors determine the timing of budburst? - ANSWER-- air
temp (>10C)
- soil temp (higher encourages earlier budburst)
- variety
- human factors (e.g. winter pruning late -> later budburst)
Why is high continentality good for budburst? - ANSWER-marked
differences in temp can result in uniform budburst
what determines the vigor of a vine? - ANSWER-rate of shoot
growth
when does the fastest rate of shoot growth typically occur? –
ANSWER-between budburst and flowering
, what could cause low carb levels in roots, trunk, and branches? -
ANSWER-
- excessive leaf removal
- water stress
- high crop loads in previous season
what can slow initial shoot growth rates? - ANSWER-low carb
levels
what supports shoot growth in later stages? - ANSWER-
photosynthesis
at what point of the vine growing cycle is water stress not desired?
- ANSWER-late stages of shoot growth (can affect photosynthesis)
what can stunted shoot growth lead to? - ANSWER-- weak shoots
- reduction in leaf number/smaller leaves
- inflorescences that do not flower properly
what can limit bud fruitfulness? - ANSWER-- low temp (<25C)
- water stress
- shading
- nutrient deficiency
how long after budburst does flowering typically take place? -
ANSWER-8 weeks (temp dependent)
why are warm conditions (>17C) desired during flowering? -
ANSWER-speeds up flowering (occurs within a few days)
what % of flowers become grapes typically? - ANSWER-30%
what temp does pollen germination require? - ANSWER-26-32C
