WHAT TO EXPECT FROM A WSET LEVEL 1 COURSE

If you're considering taking a WSET Level 1 course, you're probably wondering whether it will be overwhelming, whether you need prior wine knowledge, and whether you'll feel out of place.

The honest answer is that most students arrive a little nervous.

Wine can feel intimidating before you ever learn anything about it. People worry they won’t be able to taste properly, that they’ll say the wrong thing, or that everyone else in the room will somehow know more.

One of the most important parts of teaching WSET Level 1 is recognizing that anxiety and making sure it never gets in the way of learning.

Wine education should be enjoyable and interesting. If it is not, you do not have the right instructor. My job is to make wine feel accessible, not exclusive.

That shift from intimidation to curiosity is usually the first transformation students experience.

Who Takes WSET Level 1?

WSET Level 1 is often misunderstood as an industry-only course, but in reality many students are complete beginners working in other fields.

We regularly see students from tech, healthcare, law, finance, education, and creative industries. Very few have formal wine training. What they share is a desire to feel more confident around wine.

They are not trying to become sommeliers. They are trying to:

• Feel comfortable ordering wine at a restaurant

• Understand what they actually enjoy drinking

• Be the wine person among friends or clients

• Make better decisions when traveling or dining

• Explore a new interest in a structured and welcoming way

  
  

About 10-15 percent of students continue on to another WSET level, but for most, Level 1 is about confidence rather than career change.

What You Learn in WSET Level 1

The course gives you a structured foundation for understanding wine without overwhelming detail.

You will learn:

• Major wine styles and how they differ

• Key grape varieties

• Basic winemaking principles

• Classic wine regions

• Food and wine pairing fundamentals

• Proper serving and storage

  
  

One of the biggest breakthroughs for students is learning how to navigate European wine regions.

Names like Chablis, Sancerre, Chianti, and Rioja stop feeling abstract and start becoming meaningful. Students begin to understand what is in the glass before they even taste it.

That alone changes how they approach a restaurant wine list.

What Wine Tasting Is Actually Like

Most new students are anxious about tasting.

They assume there is a right answer they are supposed to find.

There is not.

Instead, WSET tasting is about building a structured way to observe what is in your glass. It is about learning language and confidence, not judgment.

The shift I see most often is that students stop trying to be correct and start trusting their own perception.

By the end of the day, most people are:

• More confident describing what they taste

• More open-minded about different grapes and styles

• Better at recognizing broad differences between wines

  
  

Many students also discover wines they never would have chosen on their own.

Interested in the tasting methodology? Check out our other post on tasting.

What Makes Our WSET Level 1 Course Different

At the Texas Wine School- Austin, our WSET Level 1 course is designed to give students more depth and more confidence than the standard format.

The most obvious difference is tasting. Students taste a whopping 17 wines, compared to the more typical minimum requirement of six. This allows for comparison, repetition, and pattern recognition, which significantly improves learning.

We also keep pricing intentionally accessible at 325 dollars, making it one of the most competitively priced Level 1 courses available.

The biggest difference, however, is who is teaching the class.

Many of our instructors are WSET Diploma holders with years of teaching experience. They understand not just wine, but how beginners actually learn wine. That experience shapes everything about how the course is delivered.

A Real Classroom Experience

One of my most memorable Level 1 classes had 30 students, the largest group I have ever taught.

From the moment class started, the energy in the room was different. People arrived with curiosity and a lot of fun questions. There was excitement rather than hesitation.

Most of the group were women, which stood out to me not because of the number itself, but because it reflects how much wine education has broadened since I first started teaching.

Halfway through the tasting, something subtle but important happened.

We poured an aged Rioja.

One student paused completely absorbed, trying to describe what she was experiencing. The look on her face said everything. She was not just tasting wine, she was discovering something new in it. The tertiary aromas had completely captured her attention.

That moment is what wine education is really about. Not memorization, but recognition. Not performance, but curiosity.

What Students Say After Class

By the end of the day, the feedback is remarkably consistent:

"I am really enjoying myself!"

"Now I know what wines I like and how to order them."

"I think I want to move onto Level 2!"

As an educator, I LOVE hearing comments like these. It's why I have been an educator for over a decade.

What the Day Actually Feels Like

WSET Level 1 is an 8 hour course, but it does not feel like sitting in a lecture.

It is a mix of:

• Guided tasting

• Interactive discussion

• Short theory sections

• Practical food and wine pairing concepts

  
  

You will taste throughout the day, build your vocabulary, and gradually connect ideas to what is in your glass.

At the end there is a short exam with 30 multiple choice questions.

It is designed to be approachable, not intimidating.

Students should expect to pay attention during class and spend a small amount of time reviewing afterward, but not months of preparation.

Should You Take WSET Level 1?

WSET Level 1 is a great fit if:

• You are new to wine and want a structured introduction

• You feel intimidated by wine lists or terminology

• You want to build confidence in social or professional settings

• You enjoy learning in a guided and interactive environment

  
  

You may want to skip Level 1 and go directly to Level 2 if:

• You already have a solid baseline knowledge of wine

• You regularly attend tastings or work in wine adjacent roles

• You are comfortable identifying major grapes and regions

  
  

Level 1 is not about proving knowledge. It is about building it from the ground up.

If you are exploring different wine experiences, including 90-minute wine courses and other WSET Levels, you can also browse our list of classes.

FAQ: WSET Level 1

Is WSET Level 1 hard?

WSET Level 1 is designed to be an introductory course, so it is not considered too difficult. Most students are complete beginners. The material is structured and supported throughout the course, and the exam is multiple choice. The challenge is not difficulty, it is absorbing a lot of new information in a short time.

Do I need wine knowledge before taking WSET Level 1?

No. You do not need any prior wine knowledge. The course is designed specifically for beginners or anyone who feels intimidated by wine. We assume no baseline knowledge and build everything from the ground up.

How long is WSET Level 1?

The course includes approximately 8 hours of instruction plus a 45 minute multiple choice exam at the end.

At Somm Space, we rarely teach Level 1 as a single day. Instead, it is typically split into either:

• Two 4 hour sessions

• Three 3 hour sessions

  
  

This structure helps students absorb the material more effectively and gives space between classes for reflection.

How many wines will I taste in WSET Level 1?

Students typically taste a limited number of wines in standard WSET Level 1 courses. At Somm Space, students taste 17 wines total.

This expanded tasting format allows for comparison and helps students build confidence more quickly by experiencing differences side by side.

What is the WSET Level 1 exam like?

The exam consists of 30 multiple choice questions taken at the end of the course. It is based entirely on what is covered in class and the provided study materials. Most students who attend class and review a little afterward feel well prepared.

Is WSET Level 1 worth it?

Yes, especially if you are new to wine and want structure and confidence. Most students leave with a practical framework for understanding wine, improved confidence in restaurants, and a clearer sense of what they enjoy drinking.

Should I take WSET Level 1 or Level 2?

If you are completely new to wine or feel intimidated, Level 1 is the right starting point. If you already have a solid understanding of grape varieties, wine regions, and basic tasting, you may be ready for Level 2. About 10 percent of Level 1 students continue to the next level.

How do I register?

You can view the WSET calendar here and pick out the class that works best for your schedule.

Final Thoughts

The biggest transformation I see in WSET Level 1 students is not technical skill. It is confidence.

People arrive unsure of themselves.

They leave with language, structure, and curiosity.

Most importantly, they leave understanding that wine is not an exclusive subject reserved for experts. It is something that becomes more enjoyable the more accessible it is.

That is always the goal in my classroom.

Wine education should be enjoyable and interesting. If it is not, you do not have the right instructor.

My job is to make wine feel accessible, not exclusive.