Free WSET Level 1 Cheat Sheet

A beginner's guide to the world of wine. Build your knowledge with our independent study guide, interactive flashcards, and realistic practice questions.

Vino Academy is an independent study platform and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or approved by WSET.

Free WSET Level 1 flashcards and mock exam

Key topics

The Components of a Grape

Skin: Provides colour, tannin.
Pulp: Water, sugar, acid.

Grape Growing

Key Stages: Flowering, grape ripening.
Climate: Cool climate, warm climate.

Alcoholic Fermentation

Requirements: Sugar, yeast.
Products: Alcohol, carbon dioxide.

Production of Still Wines

White Wine: Grapes (white), Stages (crushing, pressing, fermentation, maturation, bottling).
Red Wine: Grapes (black), Stages (crushing, fermentation, draining, pressing, maturation, bottling).
Rosé Wine: Grapes (black), Stages (crushing, fermentation, draining, maturation, bottling).

Storage of Wine

Ideal conditions: Temperature, light, position of bottle.
Preserving wine: Vacuum system, blanket system.

Service temperatures

Well chilled: Sparkling wines, sweet wines.
Chilled: Light- and medium-bodied white and rosé.
Lightly chilled: Full-bodied white, light-bodied red.
Room temperature: Medium- and full-bodied red.

Grape varieties

WSET Level 1 grape varieties and typical wine styles
GrapeSweetnessAcidityTanninBodyTypical flavoursOak
ChardonnayDryHigh to MedN/ALight to FullApple, Citrus, TropicalOften
Sauvignon BlancDryHighN/ALight to MedGreen fruit, Grass, Passion fruitRarely
Pinot GrigioDryHighN/ALightPear, LemonRarely
RieslingDry to SweetHighN/ALight to FullFloral, Lime, ApricotRarely
Cabernet SauvignonDryHighHighFullBlackcurrant, CedarOften
MerlotDryMediumMediumMedium to FullPlum, BlackberryOften
Pinot NoirDryHighLow to MedLight to MedCherry, StrawberrySometimes
Syrah / ShirazDryMed to HighMed to HighMed to FullBlack fruit, PepperOften

Wine regions

WSET Level 1 wine regions
CountryRegionGrapeCharacteristics
FranceSancerreSauvignon BlancWhite, Still (Dry)
FranceChablisChardonnayWhite, Still (Dry)
FranceBurgundy (white)ChardonnayWhite, Still (Dry)
FranceBurgundy (red)Pinot NoirRed, Still (Dry)
FranceBordeauxCabernet Sauvignon, MerlotRed, Still (Dry)
FranceChampagneChardonnay, Pinot NoirWhite/Rosé, Sparkling (Dry)
FranceSauternesN/AWhite, Still (Sweet)
FranceBeaujolaisN/ARed, Still
FranceCôtes du RhôneN/ARed, Still
FranceChâteauneuf-du-PapeN/ARed, Still
ItalyChiantiN/ARed, Still
ItalyProseccoN/AWhite, Sparkling
SpainRiojaN/ARed, Still
SpainCavaN/AWhite, Sparkling
SpainSherryN/AWhite, Fortified
USACalifornia (White Zinfandel)N/ARosé, Still (Medium)
PortugalPortN/ARed, Fortified (Sweet)