Nobody needs an industry credential to enjoy and learn about wine…but what if you just want one?
Today, I thought I’d write a bit about my experience studying and preparing for the Wine & Spirits Education Trust Level 2 Award in Wines. I’m planning to take the exam in just over three weeks (January 2025).
Why WSET?
WSET is an international organization for certificates in the wine, beer, spirits, and sake. They offer courses and awards to people pursuing a career in the beverage industry, as well as those who just want to expand their knowledge.
There are four levels within the wine program: Level 1 is an introductory course, Level 2 is for people with a bit more wine experience, Level 3 is geared toward industry pros and more advanced oenophiles, and Level 4 is the Diploma which requires extensive knowledge and research in the world of wine.
Based in London, WSET has approved course providers all over the world. You can take many of the classes and exams either online, or in person at the school of your choice. (Tasting exams have to be scheduled in person…Earth’s technology does not currently support the instant transmission of wine samples over the internet.)
For in-person students, you will taste wines in class that are chosen by the instructor to complement the syllabus. Online students pay a reduced course fee and are given a list of suggestions for purchasing their own wines for study.
As it turns out, I live just across town from a shop and wine learning center which offers in-person instruction for Wine Levels 1, 2, and 3. Registering was as easy as signing up online and paying the course fee. A few days later, I received the course materials for the Level 2 Award in Wines in the mail: A skinny textbook, a laminated tasting guide, and spiral-bound workbook to bring to class. The maps and charts in the book are less detailed than the ones provided for Level 3, and more detailed than those from Level 1.
Taking WSET Level 1 before Level 2 is optional. Technically, taking Level 2 before Level 3 is also optional–but it’s not recommended unless you have significant experience or training in wine. If you’re not sure if WSET Level 2 is too hard or too easy for you, WSET’s official website has a nifty mini quiz with 5 sample exam questions to help you decide.
As for myself, I’ve always loved wine, since the first sip. I drank a fair amount of terrible wine as an undergrad, but my relationship to wine has been about exploration and discovery over quantity. I have an adventurous palate and enjoy tasting a lot of different styles. I attended culinary school in 2005-2006 and worked full-time as a line cook and sous chef for eight years, until 2014. While my career focus was on food and not wine, I held a TABC (Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission) serving license and occasionally worked with a bar manager on wine/food pairings. After mulling it over, I decided to start with Level 2 because I’m reasonably confident in my understanding of basic wine styles, concepts, and vocabulary.
Why does an amateur taster and blogger need a wine industry credential? The truth is, I don’t. I have a day job and no immediate plans to go to work in a wine-related field. I registered for the WSET program three months ago as a gift to myself. It’s one part personal challenge (I want to prove to myself that I can still learn new things) and one part scheduled leisure (I want to set aside time for a hobby I enjoy, and perversely, having a deadline helps with that).
I decided to get serious about wine only this year, 2024. Maybe it’s a slow-release bite from the wine bug, maybe a midlife crisis-y thing. Maybe I’ll go back into the food and beverage at some point, maybe I won’t. Fortunately, WSET Level 2 is suitable for wine pros and enthusiastic civilians alike.
Since I received the course materials, I’ve been studying on my own when time allows. I’m excited to meet the instructor and the other students, and to sample all the wines that have been chosen to accompany the course. Am I over-preparing? Possibly–I’ll let you know later!
Speaking of which:
How Hard Is WSET Level 2?
WSET describes Level 2 as “a beginner- to intermediate-level qualification exploring wines, suitable for industry professionals and wine enthusiasts.” The course consists of 28 hours of total study time: 16 hours online or classroom instruction, 11 hours recommended independent study, and a 1-hour exam.
Topics covered on WSET Level 2 include:
-Storing, serving, and selecting wine
-Key labeling terms and regulations that vary by country
-Basics of growing and producing wines, including red, white, rosé, sparkling and fortified wines
-Factors that influence wine style and quality
-Important black and white wine grapes of the world
-Old and New World wine regions and their predominant styles
-Key principles of pairing wine with food
-Tasting and describing wine using a standardized vocabulary
If you have the current printing of the book (a.k.a. The Doomsday Edition), there’s also a few paragraphs about the negative health and social effects of alcohol (bummer) and the impact of climate change on the world’s wine regions (bigger bummer).
The WSET Level 2 exam is a closed book exam of 50 questions, with a 1-hour time limit. There is no tasting exam component or practical (i.e., service) exam.
The general consensus is that WSET Level 2 isn’t super difficult to pass, but if you haven’t done any focused wine study, it’s unlikely that you’ll do very well on the exam. A passing grade is 55% of questions answered correctly. To pass with distinction–the highest grade range–you need to score 85% or above.
True, it’s multiple-choice and you can get around 25% just by guessing. Many of the questions will be accessible to people with casual wine knowledge or memories of high school chemistry class. You’ll likely score much better than 25% if you know even a Merlot from a Chardonnay, or that yeast convert sugars into alcohol.
So what makes it challenging? Well, WSET Level 2 is very regionally focused. You’re not just asked what Pinot Noir tastes like, but what parts of the world it is grown in and how a Pinot from Sonoma differs from a Pinot from Burgundy, and why. The course covers a lot of world regions and wine-making techniques that most casual (or even dedicated) wine drinkers simply wouldn’t have encountered organically. There are 22 grape varieties within the scope of WSET 2, and 70 world wine regions. That’s a lot less than a professional sommelier has to know, but it’s far from nothing.
In addition to regional details, WSET 2 requires some broad knowledge of different topics in wine. In my life, I haven’t met a lot of wine drinkers who drink red, rosé, and white wines from all over the world, plus sparkling wine, Port, and Sherry. But you need at least a passing familiarity with all of these categories, because each will account for a proportion of the exam questions. There’s also some technical vocabulary and international regulatory categories that you don’t usually learn about just from reading the backs of bottles.
Reddit user “u/jletha” suggests that WSET is almost on a logarithmic scale, with Level 2 being 10x harder than Level 1, and Level 3 being 10x harder than Level 2. That’s consistent with what I’ve heard from several bartenders and somms I’ve known over the years…so off I go to study, study, study.
How I’m Preparing
Everybody’s learning style is different. My WSET preparation strategies may or may not work for you–but on the off chance it’s helpful, here’s what I’m up to:
1. Practice Tests
A practice test is a great way to gauge your preparedness for the real exam. There are several user-generated practice tests available online. I would definitely recommend sitting down with one of the 50-question mock exams, setting a timer, and then scoring your answers. The actual exam format at some locations (including mine) is a good old #2 pencil, paper, and Scantron. So if you want to replicate the exam condition more closely, you could print out a practice test.
A lot of people say the exam questions are harder than they expected–and that was my experience, too. I narrowly passed my first practice test, but it wasn’t a score I’d be proud to share. Now that I’ve identified and studied up on the gaps in my knowledge (mostly regions of France and white wines), I’m feeling a lot less nervous about the upcoming test. I’ll probably take another practice test about a week before the exam, to boost my confidence and reveal any remaining weak spots.
2. The Textbook
WSET instructors make it very clear that all of the answers for the Level 2 exam are in the book. There are no surprises–if you have absorbed and can recall the material in “Wines: Looking Behind the Label,” then you’re certain to ace the exam. (The answers could be hidden in a footnote or illustration…but they’re in there.)
When studying from a textbook, I’ll read through one chapter every night. When I’ve finished the book, I’ll circle back to the first chapter, looking for details that didn’t stick the first time. And repeat…until I feel that powerful sensation of flipping through a book full of things I already know.
I’m sure I could cram-study the book, pass the exam, and forget most of the material the next day. I did that in college more often than I’d like to admit. But instead, I’m using a variety of study techniques because I’m not just trying to pass–I want to retain and use the knowledge this time. And that’s why I’m mixing up my study methods.
3. Flashcards
Flashcards are awesome. I bought a bunch of double-sided index cards and a box to carry them. They’re color-coded: I have a color for flashcards about European wines, one for New World wines, one for viticulture and production, and another for labeling, tasting, and serving.
When I learn a new wine fact, I write a question on the front side and the answer on the back side. (Along with any additional info that might help me remember the answer.) I bring my flashcards to the bar sometimes and people make jokes about it, but hey–that’s my designated wine study time.
There are digital WSET flashcards available, including large sets you can buy–but I think there’s a lot of value in writing out your own. Sometimes I read the flashcards alone, and sometimes with a study buddy.
If you want to mix fun with flashcard practice, you could play trivia game like Wine Wars or The Wine Game. A couple of rounds of one of these games is sure to increase your general wine knowledge. The downside is that the content of mass-market wine trivia games doesn’t exactly align with the WSET 2 curriculum. (For example, you won’t need to know any celebrities or historical personages for the exam, but you will need to know WSET’s rather precise, proprietary tasting protocol.)
3. Tasting
I attend weekly tastings at a local wine bar. I’ll taste 4-5 wines from different regions and price points and take notes on them. When I’m enjoying a restaurant meal or a glass of wine at a bar, I’ll try to order a wine I’m not too familiar with to get a better grasp on how it looks, smells, and tastes.
WSET Level 2 doesn’t have a blind tasting component, but every tasting I do contributes to my understanding and memory recall. Doing a side-by-side tasting that compares, say, a Sauvignon Blanc from Sancerre with one from Marlborough, New Zealand is a lot more vivid an experience than reading about it in a book.
4. The Classroom
Oh yeah, there’s also going to be a four-day class! Hopefully, any crucial bits I miss while reading the textbook will be covered in class.
Most instructors and former candidates recommend not waiting for the first day of class to begin studying for WSET Levels 2 and 3–it’s simply too much material to absorb in a short period of time.
I’m planning to treat the in-person class as a fun, immersive learning experience and a refresher for the exam. And happily, there will be wine.
So, that’s how I’m preparing for WSET Level 2: Reading the book, flash card practice supplemented with some partner/group study, and regular tastings. Once I pass, I’ll feel much more qualified to offer observations and advice and I’ll make a follow-up post then. Cheers, and wish me luck!
Update: Passed with Distinction! More study tips and WSET Level 2 exam advice here.
Further resources:
Wine & Spirits Education Trust: Level 2 Award in Wines Info
The Wine Scribes: WSET Level 2 Practice Exam
Fine Vintage LTD: WSET Level 2 Exam Review Questions
Dallas WSET Courses: Dallas Wine Education Center
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