The WSET Level 1 Award in Wines tastes six styles: a light or medium-bodied unoaked Sauvignon Blanc, a full-bodied oaked Chardonnay, a light-bodied unoaked Pinot Noir, a medium-bodied oaked Merlot, a full-bodied Cabernet Sauvignon and a sweet Sauternes. Below is a style-by-style shopping list, with a bottle to start with for each.
For individuals new to wine study, this qualification is a hands-on introduction to the world of wine. You explore the main types and styles of wine through sight, smell and taste, and learn the basic skills to describe wines accurately and make food and wine pairings. Find out more about the qualification.
At a glance
A crisp, unoaked French Sauvignon Blanc shows the grape's fresh acidity and aromatic character without oak influence.
Shop French Sauvignon Blanc under $20
A California Chardonnay with oak contact shows how barrel aging adds body and flavor, a useful contrast with the unoaked Sauvignon Blanc.
Shop California Chardonnay, $20-$30
A red Burgundy-style Pinot Noir from France is the light-bodied red of the set, with soft tannins and red fruit.
Shop French Pinot Noir, $10-$25
A Bourgogne Pinot Noir from Louis Jadot, a major Burgundy house: a light-bodied French Pinot Noir in the style the Level 1 specification asks for.
A California Merlot aged in oak sits between the Pinot Noir and the Cabernet in body, with ripe fruit and softer tannins.
Shop California Merlot, $15-$30
A California Cabernet Sauvignon is the fullest red of the set, with more tannin and concentration.
Shop California Cabernet Sauvignon, $15-$25
Sauternes, the sweet white wine of Bordeaux, rounds out the course as the sweet style.
Shop French dessert wine under $45
A Sauternes for the sweet-wine style in the Level 1 specification, in a 375 ml half-bottle, the common size for dessert wine. Rated 92 by Wine Enthusiast.
Six styles: an unoaked Sauvignon Blanc, an oaked Chardonnay, an unoaked Pinot Noir, an oaked Merlot, a full-bodied Cabernet Sauvignon and a Sauternes.
People new to wine study. It is a hands-on introduction to the main types and styles of wine.
How to explore wines through sight, smell and taste, describe them accurately, and make food and wine pairings.