What is WSET Wine Education? Breaking Down the 4 Levels
Interested in furthering your wine education, but not sure if WSET is the right path for you?
Or maybe you’ve just gotten into wine and have no idea what WSET even means.
I’m breaking down all four levels to show you what you can expect to learn and help you decide if this is right for you. I’m also sharing the pricing for each level for your reference!
If you’d like to know how much studying is really required of each level, check out this post for study tips and requirements.
WSET stands for Wine & Spirit Education Trust and is a globally recognized education system for wines, spirits, and sake. They offer classes all over the world (and online), but all tests are shipped to London to be graded by the officials...pretty intense, I know.
The truth is, it is intense. Awards in wines reach up to Level 4 Diploma, with each ascending level increasing immensely in difficulty.
If you’re pursuing a career in wine, this program looks great on your resume.
And if you’re just looking to learn the basics of wine, I hope I didn’t scare you away yet! Level 1 offers a comprehensive, approachable introduction into the wine world. Enroll in WSET or another wine class with Napa Valley Wine Academy and use code LexSte2022 for a discount!
Or, you can book a wine tasting with me and we’ll go over the basics!
What is WSET Wine Education? Breaking Down the 4 Levels of WSET
Here’s a summary of how the courses and exams are structured for each level, along with pricing, so you know what to expect.
Keep in mind, wine tasting is included in all levels!
By the way, I’ve only taken WSET classes in person, and I know there are online options for each level, but here I’m just describing the in-person versions based on my experience.
Level 1
This is the perfect level for the everyday wine enthusiast! You don’t need any knowledge of wine to take this class.
Even if you don’t work in the industry and don’t plan on pursuing further levels, this is a great way to become a better taster and more informed wine drinker.
And there’s no outside studying required, so it’s not too much of a commitment.
The class:
The in-class time is about 6 hours. If you take this at an institute, you’ll most likely just go for a full day on the weekend.
What you’ll learn:
In this level, you’ll gain a general, well-rounded knowledge of wine. Your instructor will walk you through wine tasting basics, food and wine pairing 101, and a summary of the most common wine grapes.
The test:
The test is a 30-question multiple choice exam at the end of class. You won’t need to do any outside studying, as you’ll just take this quick quiz at end of the day.
The price:
This class costs around $300.
Level 2
If you’ve taken Level 1 and you like the structure of this education system, maybe it’s time to advance to the next level!
Just know that this level will increase in commitment and difficulty, and you’ll now have to do some studying outside of class.
The class:
This level involves around 16 hours of class time. For my program, this included three Saturdays in a row, from about 9:30am to 4pm (with a lunch break included).
What you’ll learn:
The theory becomes more in depth here, so it’s recommended to study outside of class and read the textbook thoroughly.
By the end of this course, you’ll be able to:
Describe the winemaking processes for still, sparkling, and fortified wines
Identify the eight main grape varieties and how external factors influence wines
Name the principal grape-growing regions of the world and the wines which define them
Properly taste wines and describe them using the WSET Wine Lexicon
Read and understand wine labels from the major wine regions of the world
Understand the basic rules of food and wine pairing
Describe proper wine storage and service practices
The test:
This exam is composed of 50 multiple choice questions.
The test will be at the end of the last day of class, so make sure you have finished the book beforehand!
The price:
The price is around $800.
Level 3
Ah, Level 3…one of the most stressful, yet rewarding, times of my life.
Level 3 really threw me for a loop, you guys. I knew it was going to be hard and take a ton of studying, but I don’t think I was really prepared for the amount of information you’re expected to learn in such a short period of time.
Again, this was a super rewarding experience for me, and I’m so glad I did it! I’m here to let you know that it’s going to be tough and you’re going to have to study A LOT, but it’ll be worth it.
I wouldn’t recommend this level to anyone who isn’t pursuing a career in the wine industry. By Level 2, you already have a good basis of wine knowledge to go out on your own and be an informed, everyday wine-drinker.
But if you’re a full-time wine enthusiast like me, do Level 3! Just know what to expect.
The WSET website suggests an estimated amount of outside study hours (54 hours), but read my study tips blog post so you truly know how much you’ll need to study.
The class:
This level requires 30 hours of class time with an instructor. My class was split up into Tuesday or Thursday evenings after work and all day Saturday’s for a few weeks.
In addition to class, it’s also suggested you form a blind tasting group with your fellow classmates and meet once a week to practice.
What you’ll learn:
Level 3 revisits the topics from the first two levels, but focuses more on applying this knowledge to explain wine style and quality.
This is also the first level to introduce the concept of blind tasting, where you are given an unidentified wine and are expected to describe its key characteristics.
The test:
The exam is divided into three parts:
Blind tasting of two wines
50 multiple choice questions
Four short essay questions
The price:
This level costs about $1,300.
While this level was the most time-consuming and challenging for me, I view this experience as the most valuable education toward my career thus far.
I now feel confident in my blind tasting abilities (still practicing, though), and have an in-depth knowledge of winemaking, wine regions, and the key grape varieties.
That being said, I’m not an expert yet and that’s the beautiful thing about wine - there is always more to learn!
Level 4
You’ve made it. This is the final level of WSET, the Diploma in Wines.
To enroll in this course, you must have completed and passed WSET Level 3.
I haven’t started this level yet, so I don’t have much to add here, but I have a general understanding of what’s required.
I’m hoping to enroll in Level 4 soon, so stay tuned for more on my first-hand experience!
Once you’ve completed Level 4, you can go on to achieve an MW certification - Master of Wine.
The class:
This diploma is divided into six units and requires 116 hours of class with an instructor.
It can take anywhere from 18 months to three years to complete, depending. From my understanding, you must pass each unit’s test before moving onto the next, so that’s probably why it can take a bit longer.
With wine tastings included in each class, you’ll taste over 250 wines by the end.
What you’ll learn:
The 6 units are categorized as follows:
Wine Production
Wine Business
Wines of the World
Sparkling Wines
Fortified Wines
Independent Research Assignment
The test:
Each of the 6 units is concluded with an exam - a mix of theory and tasting assessments, depending on the unit.
The price:
This level is priced at around $3,000.
Ready to further your wine education? Enroll in a WSET class today and use code LexiStephens for a discount.
Do you have any questions on the 4 levels of WSET? Comment below or shoot me an email.
Maybe you’re not ready to commit to WSET, but you’re ready to learn more about wine - book a wine tasting with me! Whether you’re a beginner wine taster, or you need some practice tasting before your WSET test, I’m here to help.
If you’re already enrolled in WSET, check out my study tips and recommendations for levels 1-3.