Level 3 Award in Wines: Course Specifications & Policies

What’s you’ll learn:

Unit 1:

• Key factors in the production of wine: location, grape growing, winemaking, maturation and bottling
• How these key factors influence the key characteristics of the principal still, sparkling and fortified wines of the world
• How to apply your understanding to explain wine style and quality

Unit 2:

• How to taste wines, describe their characteristics and evaluate their quality, using the WSET Level 3 Systematic Approach to Tasting Wine® (SAT)

Course format:

• 30 hours of in-person guided learning with a WSET course provider culminating in a closed book exam
  • Classes are held either 2 hours a week over 15 weeks or 8 hour weekend days over 4 weeks.  Detailed schedules are sent upon enrollment.
• 54 hours of personal study will be required in addition to the guided learning time
• Exam has 50 multiple choice questions, a short-written answer paper and assessment by a blind tasting of 2 wines. Total exam time is 2.5 hours.

Fees and Materials:

• $1,600 (inquire directly for industry and teaching assistant options)
• Course fee includes:
  • All course materials
  • Enrollment fee
  • Exam fee
  • In-person classroom instruction
  • Certificate
  • At least 6 wines tasted for each of the units studied
  • WSET certificate and lapel pin

Added benefits of this course:

• Able to use associated WSET certified logo
• Currently only public course offered in Sonoma County, shortened travel for Sonoma and Mendocino residents
• Opportunity to meet guest winemakers- subject to availability
• Invitation to post-course happy hour hosted by wineries at Bacchus Landing

For more details, check out Level 3 Specifications