Year: 2021

How to Prepare for the WSET Level 3 Tasting Exam

WSET Level 3 is an intense 10-week wine course that dives into many elements of wines of the world.

As we've talked about WSET courses many times on this site, in this one we wanted to turn our attention to the exams specifically. Unlike the exams for WSET Level 1 and WSET Level 2, which have multiple-choice sections only, WSET Level 3 consists of a tasting exam and essay portion as well.

So here, we wanted to dive a bit more into the WSET Level 3 tasting exam- what you can expect and tips and tricks on preparing.

Hint: it involves drinking wine!

Note: I took the WSET Level 3 exam in April 2021. Test material and structure can and does change over time. I passed the tasting portion with merit.

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Standing Stone Saperavi Rose 2019 Review – Crisp and Refreshing

The Gerogian grape Saperavi is quickly becoming a favorite of producers in the Finger Lakes. One of the first plantings of this grape came at Standing Stone vineyard and they have been excelling at this particular varietal for a while now.

One variant the winery offers is a rose made from this grape, and with a crisp acidity and strong red fruit flavors, we have to say it was a pretty delicious rose!

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The Truth About Additives in Wine from Chemical Engineers

As chemical engineers, one of the things we love about wine is the science of it all. The steps that go into transforming a simple grape into the alcoholic beverage we know and love are incredibly interesting to us, and learning about it is often one of our favorite parts of WSET wine classes.

But as our consumption of wine has increased, so has our consumption of wine-related media- print, online, and targeted ads that we otherwise did not want to see. What we've noticed is that there is a subset within the industry that pushes a narrative that conventionally processed wines have certain ingredients, additives specifically, that are bad for you and that natural, additive-free wines are inherently better.

While we personally have nothing against natural and additive-free wines (and regularly drink them- they can be quite good), there is one thing you should know- any business that discusses additives negatively is likely trying to take advantage of you to get you to buy their product.

The simple truth is that virtually everything you own or consume has additives in it up to and including the drinking water that comes out of your tap (the very same water used often in natural wines).

We see the chemical paranoia online almost every day and shake our heads at how unwarranted it is in most cases. Yes, there are some cases worth discussing in greater detail (of which we will do below), but most of the time it is complete garbage and deserves to be called out.

Anyone up to talk science? We are!

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How to Pass the WSET Multiple Choice Exam (Levels 1, 2, and 3)

When it comes to taking WSET wine courses, the fun part is learning about wine (plus tastings, naturally). But as with any good course, there is one aspect of it that most students dread- the final exam.

I know we were afraid of our WSET Level 2 exam after hearing some stories about questions on it, and I was equally afraid of my Level 3 exam for similar reasons.

But in a way, whether you are taking Level 1, 2, or 3 is a bit immaterial as the multiple-choice exam for each level follows a similar setup and logic system (although note that Level 3 has other exam components that we will discuss in separate articles). As far as the exam is concerned, the main difference between levels is simply the sheer number of topics that you may be asked about- Level 3 is more robust than Level 2 which is more involved than Level 1.

Overall, the same basic structure applies. So in this one, we wanted to share a bit more of the logic that goes into the multiple-choice WSET exams, and the best way to approach them independent of the level you are studying for.

Before jumping into things, we have a few upfront notes you need to keep in mind. First, we are not affiliated with WSET other than being students. Likewise, we skipped WSET Level 1 and do not have experience with the exact exam. Finally, we both took our Level 2 in 2020 and I took Level 3 in 2021. Testing structures and content can and does change regularly. As such, any individual concept below should be discussed with your instructor.

Note: Test material and structure can and does change over time. I took Level 2 in late 2020 and Level 3 in early 2021. I passed all theory portions with distinction.

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Warre’s LBV Port 2002 Review – Stellar Flavors for the Price

It is always a good day when you can crack open a port, and it is an exceptionally good day when that port is worth every penny you paid for it.

Warre's LBV 2002 was just that.

This one is a blend of many grapes including Tinta Cao, Tinta Francisca, Touriga Nacional, Tinta Roriz (Tempranillo), and Tinta Barroca and offered a delightful balance of fruit and tertiary flavors all at a rather respectable price point considering its age.

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Chateau Musar Pere et Fils 2012 Review – A Great Find

Chateau Musar is one of those wineries that we have to buy a bottle of every time we find them in a liquor store- especially the aged bottles which the winery does not release until they are ready to drink (making them somewhat hard to come by).

Our first experience with this winery was enjoying a lovely '98 at Wine Bar George at Disney Springs, and ever since then we've been on the hunt for bottles. We found a great Chateau Musar 2006 at a store locally and struck gold when visiting family in Ohio where we found half case of Chateau Musar 2010 and the Pere et Fils 2012 as well.

We bought one of each, went back to my mom's house, cracked open the 2012, and knew we had to go back to the store the next day to buy more- this Carignan, Grenach, Cinsaut, and Cabernet Sauvignon blend offered everything we love about the winery in an attractive price point as well!

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Which WSET Course is Right For You? Levels 1, 2, 3, or 4

If you are looking to take a formal wine education course, odds are good you've come across the Wine And Spirit Education Trust– or WSET for short. This London-based school has programs for wine, spirits, and even sake that are taught by instructors all over the world.

One of the highlights 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 will deliver on both ends.

As Angie and I are past students of WSET Level 2 in wine, and I have completed Level 3 and WSET Diploma (often referred to as Level 4), we thought it'd be appropriate to break down what you can expect in each level. This should not only help guide you on which level you may want to start at (as we skipped Level 1), but also give you an idea of how far you may wish to go based on your interest level in wine.

Let's get started discussing WSET Level 1!

Note: Test material and structure can and does change over time. I took and passed Level 2 in late 2020, Level 3 in early 2021, and WSET Diploma in 2021-2023.

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Wines of Ilyria Stone Cuvee 2016 Review – Minerals Abound

A few months back we were fortunate enough to try Wines of Illyria Vranac and really enjoyed this red varietal from Bosnia.

While we received that particular bottle as a gift, we were pretty pleased to find a full spread of wine from Wines of Illyria at a local liquor store with many new varietals to us (a great win for our quest). Naturally, I picked up a bottle of the Wines of Illyria Stone Cuvee as it was made with 90% Zilavka and 10% Bena- two new grapes for us.

While this one was not as pleasurable as the Vranac, we have to admit it had some nice stone and tropical fruits all the same with a strong, lingering minerality on the finish.

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