The WSET (Wine Spirit Education Trust) training is a benchmark qualification in the world of wine. If you are interested in wine, taking the WSET is surely an excellent idea to validate your knowledge, improve yourself or even change careers. Learning wine is crucial to being able to appreciate it: the WSET is an excellent way to do that. You can also join The Club at Wine Makers Show to learn wine easily.

What is the WSET training?

First, we have to answer the question: “what does WSET mean?”. WSET is the acronym for Wine and Spirit Education Trust. Founded in 1969 in London, it is a benchmark organisation in wine education around the world. This organisation provides wine courses as well as certifications recognised worldwide by wine professionals.

The levels of the WSET training

The WSET is organised into different levels of difficulty and learning. From level 1 to level 4, it is aimed at everyone, whether you are a curious amateur or a passionate taster. The difficulty is of course increasing across these four different levels.

WSET level 1

The first level of the WSET is dedicated to people with little or no prior knowledge of wine. It can be an excellent qualification if you deal with wine at a distance in your job and want to know more. It can also be useful to take WSET level 1 if you are starting to take an interest in wine and want to acquire the basics of the field. You will discover what wine is. By the end of WSET level 1, you will be able to:

The total duration of WSET level 1 is 6 hours, including 45 minutes of assessment. For level 1, no tasting is required. However, for the sake of your learning, it is recommended to taste at least three reds, two whites, a sweet wine and a rosé with different characteristics. If you are interested in wine, that shouldn’t be too hard. What’s more, to avoid having to buy bottles, you can ask for tasting measures in a wine bar.

WSET level 2

WSET level 2 is aimed at people without much experience in the world of wine. So you need to have taken at least a minimum of interest in it beforehand, but you can be at the start of your learning. What’s more, WSET level 2 is often recommended for people in roles with more contact with wine. This is often the case for people in sales roles in wine or hospitality. Naturally, WSET level 2 is more advanced than level 1. In this qualification you will learn:

  • The growth of the vine and how to make wine;
  • Reading a wine label;
  • The aging of a bottle of wine;
  • The characteristics of a wine according to the regions representative of the main grape varieties;
  • Understanding the basics of food and wine pairing.

The workload to take WSET level 2 is also greater. The body indicates 16 hours of classes, 11 hours of personal study and 1 hour of exam. To take WSET level 2 you will have to answer a multiple-choice test of 50 questions. Finally, to follow the WSET level 2 training, the body recommends tasting around forty wines representative of the major producing regions. You can also prepare for the exam thanks to this online WSET 2 course.

WSET level 3

The WSET level 3 training is far more demanding. As a result, it is aimed at people seeking advanced expertise in understanding wine. This training includes 30 hours of guided instruction, around 50 hours of personal study and a 2.5-hour exam. Suffice it to say that this training requires significant work and a real commitment on your part. The WSET level 3 assessment is made up of a multiple-choice test of 50 questions and a blind tasting of two wines. What’s more, the WSET level 3 training is made up of two units. The first unit is theoretical, the second unit is practical. During unit 1 of WSET level 3, you will learn:

  • The natural and human factors in wine production;
  • The main characteristics of wine in many regions of the world;
  • To advise and give information about wine to a customer or a member of your team.

The second unit of WSET level 3 requires that you be able to correctly describe two wines tasted blind.

WSET level 4

The WSET level 4 training is the most advanced. It is aimed at people wanting a very thorough understanding of the world of wine. The minimum time dedicated to theoretical learning is 116 hours, to which you must add 370 hours of personal study and assessments for a total duration of around 12 hours. By the end of this WSET training, there is a strong chance you will be a wine specialist. WSET level 4 is made up of six learning units:

  1. Wine production;
  2. The wine business;
  3. The wines of the world;
  4. Sparkling wines;
  5. Fortified wines;
  6. A research assignment.

How to take the WSET training?

To take the WSET, you can opt for two training options. On one hand, distance learning, and on the other, in-person training.

WSET: distance learning

If you want to take the WSET flexibly, without travelling and for less money, you can opt for online training. This online training can save you a little money. However, it won’t have escaped you that you have to taste wine to take the WSET. So you will need to add the cost of the bottles of wine you will have to buy to follow your course to the price of your training. We therefore recommend choosing this option at levels 1 and 2. The number of wine tastings to do there is limited. So you can easily use the online WSET course. For the higher levels, in-person training may be the best solution.

WSET in person

You can also take in-person classes to sit the WSET. There are many schools and training centres that can welcome you to pass on all the knowledge of the WSET training and let you take this certification in the best possible time. Levels 3 and 4 of the WSET require tasting wines. As a result, choosing in-person training for these levels can be a good idea.

Where to take the WSET?

While it is possible to follow the WSET training remotely, it may be necessary to go to an exam centre to take the certification.

WSET training Paris

To take the WSET in Paris, we recommend:

WSET training Bordeaux

To take the WSET in Bordeaux, you can turn to the following providers:

WSET training Lyon

In Lyon, you can take the WSET by getting in touch with these bodies:

WSET training Marseille

You can also take the WSET in Marseille by contacting the following organisations.

There are many other bodies in other towns that can support you in taking the WSET. You can get a full list on the official WSET website.

How much does the WSET training cost?

The price of the WSET varies depending on the level of training you choose. So a WSET course costs:

  • Between 150 and 250 euros for WSET level 1;
  • Approximately 500 to 800 euros for WSET level 2;
  • Between 700 and 1,200 euros for WSET level 3;
  • Around 5,000 euros for WSET level 4.

It should be noted that you can use your personal training account to fund your WSET. The WSET training can also be prescribed to you by your job centre adviser as part of a career change.

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