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 beer and 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 hospitality 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.