Decoding the WSET Level 2: Your Comprehensive Guide

Embarking on a wine education journey can be both exciting and a bit daunting. The Wine & Spirit Education Trust (WSET) Level 2 Award in Wines and Spirits offers a fantastic starting point for enthusiasts and professionals alike. This guide aims to provide a detailed overview of the WSET Level 2 course, answering common questions and offering insights to help you succeed.

Is WSET Level 2 Right for You?

The Level 2 course is tailored for individuals with a beginner to intermediate level of wine knowledge. Many students choose to begin their WSET journey at Level 2, even without prior experience. Level 1 is quite brief and basic. If you possess some familiarity with wine grapes and regions but desire greater confidence, Level 2 is an excellent place to start. Be aware that Level 3 represents a significant jump in complexity and depth of knowledge compared to Level 2.

This qualification provides a solid understanding of wine, introducing you to major grape varieties, key wine regions, different wine styles, important classifications, and labeling terms. You'll also develop your tasting skills through a range of wines. The course is suitable for both interested consumers and wine and spirit employees, providing excellent all-around product knowledge.

What You'll Learn in the WSET Level 2 Curriculum

The WSET Level 2 curriculum covers a range of essential topics:

Systematic Approach to Tasting Wine (SAT)

You'll learn how to taste and describe wine using the WSET's Systematic Approach to Tasting Wine (SAT). This structured system provides a foundation for assessing a wine's flavors, aromas, and structure (body, acidity, and tannins).

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Key Grape Varieties and Regions

The course focuses on the key grape varieties and regions of the world. You'll learn about the characteristics and styles of wines produced from both white and black grape varieties, including:

Key white grape varieties: Riesling. Other White Grape Varieties: Albariño, Chenin Blanc, Gewürztraminer, Pinot Grigio/Gris, Semillon, Torrontés, Trebbiano, Verdicchio, Viognier. Other White Wines: Muscadet, Soave, Gavi.
Key black grape varieties: Cabernet Sauvignon, Grenache, Merlot, Pinot Noir, Shiraz. Other black grape varieties: Aglianico, Barbera, Carmenère, Gamay, Malbec, Montepulciano, Nebbiolo, Pinotage, Sangiovese, Tempranillo, Zinfandel/ Primitivo. Other red wines: Douro, Valpolicella.

Factors Influencing Wine Style and Quality

You'll study the factors that influence the style, quality, and price of wine in the vineyard and winery. This includes grape growing and basic winemaking practices.

Wine Pairing

Discover the key considerations for successful food and wine pairing.

Spirits and Liqueurs (Level 2 Award in Wines & Spirits)

If you're taking the Level 2 Award in Wines & Spirits, you'll also gain an overview of the principal varieties of spirits.

Course Structure and Study Time

The WSET recommends a minimum of 28 hours of study time for Level 2, broken down as follows:

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16+ hours with your WSET course provider (either in classroom or online)
11+ hours of personal study/revision time
A one-hour examination, in person - OR - new, WSET have added the option to take your exam online for Level 2

The timeline for in-person classes can range from a one-weekend intensive course to 8 weeks long.

The WSET Level 2 Exam

The exam consists of a one-hour closed-book test with 50 multiple-choice questions. No wines are tasted during the exam, and there are no written answers required. The test is based entirely on the material in the class textbook, "Wines: Looking behind the label."

Pass Marks

Mark of 85% and more = Pass with Distinction
Mark of between 70% - 84% = Pass with Merit
Mark of between 55% - 69% = Pass
Mark of between 45% - 54% = Fail
Mark of 44% and under = Fail unclassified

Globally, WSET’s average pass rate for this level is 90%.

Challenging a Grade or Getting an Explanation for a Fail

You can challenge a grade or ask for more detail on your result using an Enquiry and Feedback form provided by your school. There is a fee charged by WSET for this service. The completed form must be received by WSET within 6 weeks of your exam date.

Rescheduling or Resitting the Exam

Most schools require at least 15 business days' notice to register you for an upcoming exam date. Expect to pay approximately $120USD to resit a previously failed exam, or about $175USD to reschedule an exam that you needed to withdraw from. Some schools will organize a private exam if needed, for a fee.

Read also: Proper Wine Consumption

Choosing a WSET School

Selecting the right Approved Program Provider (APP) is crucial for your learning experience. Consider the following factors:

Number of Sessions and Class Time: More sessions and class time are generally better.
Wines Tasted: Inquire about the number of wines tasted and if the school can provide a list. Ideally, they should be using high-quality samples that offer a broad foundation in tasting. Check the school's Instagram or IG tags to see the wines being tasted.
Instructor: Ideally you can talk to someone who’s learned with the instructor before. Passion communicating about wine is key, even more so than impressive wine credentials!
Pass Rate: Look for a pass rate to be quoted by your school/APP, as it can be a sign that their teaching is better than average. For example, San Francisco Wine School says their WSET Level 2 pass rate is 95%, and Fine Vintage quotes a pass rate of 94%.

Course Costs

The price of the WSET Level 2 course can vary, with in-person classes generally costing more than online courses due to the wine tastings involved. Tuition typically includes registration fees, a student study kit (textbook, laminated tasting sheet, and a study workbook), exam fee, and course tuition. Some schools provide glassware, but most offer ISO tasting glasses for purchase.

Here are some examples of in-person course costs (exclusive of taxes and current as of 2022):

IWC, New York: $862.43USD
Capital Wine School, Washington DC: $695USD
Florida Wine Academy: $895USD
Napa Valley Wine Academy, Napa: $889USD
Fine Vintage, Vancouver: $995CAD
Neptune Wine, SoCal: $830USD
San Francisco Wine School: $895USD
The Wine & Spirit Archive, Seattle: $755USD
Texas Wine School: $679USD
East London Wine School: 385GBP

Entry Requirements

There are no entry requirements for the L2 qualification; you can start here without doing Level 1. You must be of legal drinking age in the country where you attend the course, as you will be tasting wines.

Online Course Details

American Wine School, for example, offers a unique online format that provides students with maximum study flexibility and 1-on-1 feedback. These Flex-Study courses begin with a live, instructor-led Zoom session. Students then move through the program online at their own pace via access to the AWS Study Portal, which contains pre-recorded lectures, videos, practice quizzes, tasting note assignments, instructor feedback, and more. Exams are held in-person in Detroit & Chicago, with Level 1 and 2 students also having the option to take their exam online from their office or home. A suggested tasting list is provided to help students select spirits to purchase locally.

System Requirements

Students taking online courses will require access to a computer with the following minimum requirements:

Internet Explorer 9, Firefox 9, Chrome 10 or equivalent with Javascript enabled.
Adobe Reader XI or equivalent.
Adobe Flash Player 11.

Level 2 Award in Spirits

For individuals wishing to develop their expertise in spirits and liqueurs, the WSET Level 2 Award in Spirits course covers the fundamental production methods and principal raw materials, discovering how they are used to make the key spirit styles. You’ll also explore the key practices and principles of serving spirits and the use of spirits in cocktails.

What You'll Learn

The main categories of spirits and liqueurs
The influences of production methods on the different styles available in each category
How to systematically taste spirits
The use of spirits in cocktails

Course Assessment

The course is assessed via a 60-minute, 50-question, multiple-choice exam. Successful candidates will receive a digital certificate.

Example Questions

To give you an idea of the questions asked, here are some examples:

Which of the following is the typical ABV (alcohol by volume) range for a fortified wine?a. 10-15% abvb. 25-30% abvc. 35-40% abv
Which of the following statements is true regarding a column still?a. The plate at the bottom of a column still has the highest concentration of ethanol.b. Liquid flows up a column still.c. It is possible to have three simultaneous collection points from a column still.
Which of the following spirits is NOT aged?a. Piscob. VS Cognacc. Calvados
Which of the following is an indication of age for Tequila?a. Reposadob. Straightc. VSOP
Which of the following is a sour cocktail?a. Mojitob. Daiquiric. Manhattan

Level 1 Award in Wines

The WSET Level 1 Award in Wines class is designed for consumers and those new to the wine and hospitality business. No previous experience with wine is required. This class covers the main types of wine, the most common grape varieties, wine service, storing and serving wine, tasting technique, how to describe the smell and taste of wine, and the basics of pairing food and wine. During the class, students taste eight different wines. At the end of the program, students take a 45-minute, multiple-choice exam.

Level 3 Award in Wines

The WSET Level 3 Award in Wines Certification Course is more demanding than the WSET Level 2 Certification Course. This qualification is open to students who hold the WSET Level 2 Award in Wines & Spirits or can demonstrate the equivalent level of knowledge. It is recommended that students complete the Level 2 Award in Wines & Spirits before progressing to the Level 3 Award. The aim of the course is to provide detailed analysis of the principal wines of the world. Students will also benefit from in-depth tastings where they will learn to identify product style and quality. Emphasis is given to tasting assessment skills.

Level 4 Diploma in Wines & Spirits

The WSET Level 4 Diploma is the WSET’s flagship qualification, designed to prepare those in the trade for senior positions within the wines and spirits business. This qualification is also suitable for the dedicated wine enthusiast wishing to build on knowledge gained at Level 3 and acquire further expertise in wine tasting.

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