Eight weeks ago I started classes for my WSET Level 2, and this week it came to a close with my final exam. WSET Level 2 was something I’ve been meaning to do for two years now but I kept making excuses and not finding the time. But when COVID-19 hit and classes started being taught online, there was a golden opportunity for me to finally get off my butt and get studying!
WSET Level 2, for those who aren’t aware (I mean you wouldn’t be unless you are really into wine), is a beginner to intermediate level qualification about wines. It is given by the Wine Spirit Education Trust which is in England, one of two major schools in the world for wine. It aims to give industry professionals and wine enthusiasts a good base knowledge around wine – how to taste it, grapes and wines of the world and styles. The course itself is a mix of tasting wines, studying theory and there is a final multi-choice exam to get your certification. You only need 55% to pass this but they also award merits and distinctions.
So while I wait for my test to be sent back to England to be marked and for my result in three to four weeks, I thought it would be a good opportunity to reflect on my experience of WSET Level 2 through five areas. I’ve had a few questions since starting the course about whether I recommend it or think people should do it, so I hope this article might offer some perspective and help you decide if you want to do it yourself!
It helps you be more curious
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I have to be honest with you. When I first started this course, I felt like the tasting technique was, well, a bit wanky. They introduce you to the Systematic Approach to Tasting, which seeks to provide a common language for describing wine. This means that if what your tasting isn’t on the list, it isn’t a taste you can have.
Before WSET Level 2 I would drink wine and enjoy it, but I wouldn’t pay too much attention to why, and certainly not try to find the flavours in the wine. However, I found as I went on in the course I started really enjoying discovering what was in my glass in a new way. It really opened up my eyes to the differences between wines and helped me be more curious towards the different flavours and balance in my wine. Now, this doesn’t mean I’m sitting there for 5-10 minutes being a wine snob on every glass I drink. But it’s helped me open up a dialogue for myself, and really added a new layer of enjoyment to the wine.
The other great thing about the Systematic Approach to Tasting is that it creates a common language for everyone. It helps to open up discussion, and I really enjoyed the group tastings where everyone was describing what they were tasting. Just seeing the difference in what everyone was identifying was so much fun. While I’m not going to be getting out my tasting mat every time I drink wine, I really enjoyed this aspect. I also won’t ever stop using some of my favourite non-WSET words like ‘funky’.
You’ll learn a lot of French
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I drove my partner absolutely wild while I was studying. My learning style is via speaking, so you would find me pacing our apartment speaking to myself. So many joked that the course must not be that hard because it is about wine, and wine is fun right? Well, yes, it is, and there are plenty of fun moments to the course, especially the tastings. But there is actually a lot to learn in terms of base knowledge. If you don’t know it for the exam you might struggle a bit.
One thing I noticed was particularly important to learn was all the different regions. In Australia, it isn’t such a big deal because we don’t name our wines after their regions. However, in Europe, wine is named by its region and not by its grape variety. They’ll ask you what a ‘Pugliny-Montrachet’ tastes like, and you have to know the grape variety and the flavour profile of this region.
Most of the principal grape varieties are from France. So you have to learn A LOT of French region names. There are so many ‘Pouilly-x’ regions that it is easy to get confused. If you haven’t learnt them you’ll have a tough time on the exam! So make sure you focus in on learning all the French regions, their varieties and their flavour profile. I’m certainly glad in Australia we call a Shiraz a Shiraz!
It is great for plugging gaps in your knowledge
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WSET Level 2 plugged gaps in my knowledge. This is the main reason I recommend it for. If you are a wine lover like me, but you’ve never done formal training, this course is a great option. All of my wine knowledge came from going on winery tours, reading and learning on my own. I had a pretty good base level of knowledge going into the course. But I learnt so much that really helped to plug the gaps and bring it all together.
Although there is a lot of theory, and I don’t say that lightly, if you love wine I think you’ll enjoy learning it. It helps to open up the world of wine. I have found some of the things I’ve learnt have really helped me make connections about why wines taste the way they do. I feel like I knew a fair bit about wine going in, but now I have a much better understanding across the board. So if you are wanting to learn more about wine, this is why I recommend this course. You get to try a range of wines to see the difference between their flavours. Also, you learn a great base for winemaking and grape growing, and about the different grape characteristics.
The knowledge is good for baseline but is a little rigid
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Now, although it is great to develop a baseline, I think some of the teachings are a little rigid. This course teaches you very particular things about wine. While it is great to learn the basics of what goes into wine, they are quite rigid on wine tasting and regions. For example, you’ll learn that Pinot Noir only grows in the Yarra Valley and Mornington Peninsula in Australia. Now, we Australians know that although these regions are great for Pinot Noir, they aren’t the only regions. There are a few things like this that are a little more rigid than wine is. I mean, if you can get an incredible Pinot Noir from another region, why not right?
WSET Level 2 teaches you a good baseline of knowledge. But wine is a moving feast, and not everything is going to fit in. The baseline helps you understand a lot more than you would without it!
Take it with a grain of salt, personal preference should be key
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The Systematic Approach to Tasting creates alignment in describing wine. They use these terms to explain the characteristics of each variety eg. Pinot Noir has raspberry, red cherry and strawberry flavours. The Systematic Approach to Tasting is good as it opens a dialogue. But to me, the most important thing about wine is drinking what you like to drink. If that is a $10 Pinot Noir from Limestone Coast, then go for it!
Sure, a wine may be ‘ranked’ outstanding because of x, y, z characteristic. But if you’re not going to go back for another glass, it isn’t outstanding to you. And that should be ok! The course creates a consistent tasting language but wine is so subjective. You personally may not like a wine that others love. So you should really just drink what you love. Don’t worry about whether the acid level is too high.
Final thoughts on WSET Level 2
I really enjoyed studying my WSET Level 2. If you are wanting to learn a lot about the ins and outs of wine I definitely recommend it. If you just want to learn a little more, there are so many great resources online for free that you can use to get started. I recommend starting with this, and then if you are still hungry for knowledge go for it! This course is a great way to develop a baseline of knowledge. You’ll also learn a lot of geography and French along the way!