What is the Wine & Spirit Education Trust (WSET)
The Wine and Spirit Education Trust or “WSET” for short, is a London-based accrediting body that has learning opportunities and programs in wine, spirits, and sake. Established in 1969, classes are taught by instructors all over the world in multiple countries and online. WSET is the most notable accreditor out of the small handful of others. Their awards in wine and spirits are recognized worldwide. One of the benefits of WSET over other courses is that the material is presented in a way that is friendly to both consumers and those employed in the industry. So, whether you're looking to increase your knowledge for personal use or need to learn more for your job, WSET can deliver on both ends.
As an independent, not-for-profit organization, their educational products offer impartial and sound learning on which individuals and businesses can build knowledge and expertise. The classes range in difficulty becoming progressively more difficult. For our purposes we will talk about just the wine certifications. The entire program ranges from the Level One Award in Wines and goes to the Level Four Diploma in Wines. Level four is known to be one of the hardest exams in the field.
Level One: This is for individuals new to wine study. This qualification provides a hands-on introduction to the world of wine. You’ll explore the main types and styles of wine through sight, smell, and taste, while also gaining the basic skills to describe wines accurately and make food and wine pairings.
Level Two: You’ll gain knowledge of the principal and regionally important grape varieties of the world, the regions in which they are grown, and the styles of wine they produce. Through a combination of tasting and theory, you’ll explore the factors that impact style and quality and learn how to describe these wines with confidence.
Level Three: This qualification provides a detailed understanding of grape growing and wine making. Upon completion you will be able to assess wines accurately, using your understanding to confidently explain wine style and quality.
Level Four: This level deepens your understanding of how and why wine production and business factors influence the style, quality, and price of wines. Your expertise is built both theoretically, through comprehensive study of a large number of wine regions, and practically, by developing your wine tasting skills to an expert level. Successful graduates acquire exceptional analytical skills and proficiency in evaluative wine tasting, gaining global recognition as authoritative wine specialists.
For more information on this amazing program, check out the WSET website at: www.wsetglobal.com.
