WSET FAQs
By Tim Powers and Kim Simone
You've seen us mention WSET over and over again, but if you're not in the beverage or hospitality professions, you may not know what we're talking about. Here are a few frequently asked questions you have sent us about this program, what it means, and who it can benefit!
What is WSET?
WSET is short for the Wine & Spirit Education Trust, and it is a certifying organization based in London, England that is recognized the world over for Wine, Spirits, and Sake education and accreditation. It was started in 1969, and has expanded to include over 70 countries and 9 current certifying levels. The Level 4 Diploma in Wine is viewed as a prerequisite to qualify for the coveted Master of Wine program. And although we've heard it called "Weset" or "Double-U Set" the correct way to pronounce it is by just sounding out all the letters W-S-E-T.
I just started my first wine job. Why should I choose the WSET program?
Although there are many wine education programs available to you, WSET is recognized and respected around the world, so with their certification on your resume any future wine job you apply for will automatically know that you have solid wine credentials.
The courses encompass a staggering amount of technical detail, historical context, and industry insights, as well as theory and practice, and loads of time tasting different wines. By pairing their courses with their proprietary wine tasting grid, the Systematic Approach to Tasting®, WSET is able to expand their students' theoretical knowledge, while building their practical sensory evaluation capabilities. So not only will you be able to incorporate what you are learning with what you are tasting, but you'll be able to communicate that to others, both at work and for fun.
There are so many levels...where do I start?
We get this questions A LOT! Deciding which level of certification to register for is an important and personal decision.
With the exception of Level 4 (the Diploma Program), there are no prerequisites to enroll in a WSET wine course. The Level 1 certification is designed to be an introductory level course in order to create a low-stakes, judgment free learning environment for individuals who are new to wine, spirits, and sake.
If you feel like you have some understanding of the topic, (for example you know that Chardonnay makes a white wine, and tequila is made from agave), we would encourage you to look at the Level 2 certification. Level 2 provides a strong foundation of the beverages and their flavors, as well as the regions, laws, and customs associated with them.
If you feel strongly confident in your knowledge, you may choose to start with the Level 3 certification which asks students to apply the knowledge that they learned in Level 2 (or applicable industry experience) critically. Instead of merely remembering facts, Level 3 asks how those facts, the raw materials, the regions, and the laws & traditions come together to create the resulting beverage.
This can be an in-depth and personal conversation, and we would be happy to answer any questions you may have! Reach out to Tim Powers at tim@commonwealthwineschool.com and he'll be able to walk you through all of this.