WSET Level 1 Award in Wines – In Person

$495 | 6 hours of guided in-person learning, including the exam

This one-day course meets in person at the Capital Wine School on Saturday, March 14, 2026, and typically runs from 9:00 a.m. to approximately 3:30 p.m. The exact end time may vary based on instructor pacing, group discussion, and other factors. The schedule includes a 30-60 minute lunch break (at the instructor’s discretion) and concludes with a 45-minute exam.

Included: The registration fee includes six hours of guided instruction, a digital WSET Level 1 study guide, a tasting of nine wines selected by Jay Youmans MW, a food and wine pairing exercise, and the WSET Level 1 Award in Wines examination. The class is led by a certified Capital Wine School instructor, and students who pass the exam receive a digital WSET certificate.

Learning Outcomes: The course covers the main types of wine, common grape varieties, wine service and storage, basic tasting technique, how to describe the aroma and flavor of wine, and the fundamentals of food and wine pairing. During the class, students taste nine different wines.

Exam: The exam consists of 30 multiple-choice questions, with 45 minutes allotted for completion.

Additional Information

Although no advance reading or study is required to participate in the course or successfully sit the exam, registered participants will receive access to the WSET Level 1 online e-book approximately 5 – 7 days prior to the class session, if registration is completed on or before March 3. Due to WSET processing timelines, students who register after March 3  will receive their e-book after the class has taken place, once registration has closed. Please note that instructors do not teach directly from the study guide during the class, and no prior reading is expected. The e-book is hosted on a Kindle-style platform (no print functionality) and expires one year from the date of redemption.

Lunch is not included in the registration fee. Students are welcome to bring their own lunch or visit one of the nearby eateries.

Please also note that the building in which we are located does not have an elevator, and access to our second-floor classrooms requires navigating several sets of stairs.

Interactive Food & Wine Pairing Exercise
In addition to guided wine tasting, this course includes a hands-on food and wine pairing exercise designed to demonstrate how salt, acidity, sweetness, spice, smoke, and fat affect the way wine tastes. Participants will work with items such as smoked salmon, cheddar cheese, lemon, chili, salt, and shortbread to experience these interactions in real time. Participants should email info@capitalwineschool.com in advance of class with any food allergies to the items noted above.

We recommend reviewing the WSET Level 1 Award in Wines specification in advance of the course; a PDF copy is available for download via the link provided. WSET lapel pins are available upon request for students who pass the exam and may be picked up at a future Capital Wine School event or mailed within the U.S. for a $10 shipping and handling fee.

If you are purchasing this course as a gift and use your own email address during registration, you must email info@capitalwineschool.com afterward to provide the participant’s email address for exam registration purposes. Failure to do so may result in delays or issues with exam registration and certificate issuance.

To ensure a quality experience, each course requires a minimum number of registrations. If this minimum is not met, the session may be canceled; registered students will be notified as soon as possible and offered the option to reschedule or receive a full refund.

By purchasing ticket(s), you agree to our payment, refund, cancellation, and reschedule policy.