So, you’re interested in learning more about wine but don’t know where the heck to start. You’ve heard of different wine professionals having all these different letters behind their name but aren’t sure what’s best for you. Should you become a somm? But what if you don’t want to work in restaurants? Do you then do WSET?
I’ll be the first to agree, deciding on the direction for your wine education can be so confusing! Let’s break it down and walk through the different types of certifications, programs, degrees, etc. But I’ll warn you, once you start learning, and are bit by the wine bug, you won’t want to stop! Learning about wine is neverending, that’s why it’s so fun. Plus, you get to taste wine all the time, and call it “studying.” 🙂
Wine and Spirits Education Trust (WSET)
The WSET courses are a great certification for those who are just simply interested in learning more about wine, want to add some credit to their resume for the wine industry, work in the service/hospitality industry, or work within other parts of the industry like marketing. There are four levels to the WSET. The WSET is one of the most recognizable and respected wine certifications in the wine industry worldwide. It can be taken in person or online through the Napa Valley Wine Academy. I am currently studying for WSET level 3, and it’s a lot of information, a lot of tasting and very time intensive!
Ok, let’s break it down:
WSET Level 1: Start here if you’re completely new to wine. Maybe you enjoy drinking wine but have never looked into it or aren’t familiar with wine regions, different wine varietals, etc. Level 1 is a good starting place for you! Level 1 is a one day in person class or a four week online class with self study and test to follow. The test consists of 30 multiple choice questions and you must get a 70% to pass.
WSET Level 2: Start here if you have a good concept of the wine industry, different wine growing regions, varietals, the winemaking process and are eager to learn more, or have already taken level 1 and are ready for the next step. At the Napa Valley Wine Academy this is a 2 day in person course or a five week online course, then self study and test. The test consists of 50 multiple choice questions and you must get at least a 55% to pass.
WSET Level 3: Take level 3 if you’ve completed level 2, or if you are an experienced wine professional. WSET 3 will be very in depth regarding wine regions and wine styles across the globe, plus will include a blind wine tasting portion using the WSET systematic approach to tasting on the test. This is a five day in person course or a nine week online course and then you can self study until you are ready to take the test. This level test includes 50 multiple choice questions, four theory written questions and two blind tastings, in which you must get 55% in all sections to pass.
WSET Level 4: Diploma in Wine and Spirits is for those who wish to further their wine knowledge and are usually interested in working in the industry, or already do, full time. This is an extensive course that will go into more of the wine business details, and takes two years to complete. This level is required if you wish to seek the Master of Wine (MW) qualification.
Certified Specialist of Wine (CSW)
The Certified Specialist of Wine certification is very similar to the WSET as it covers the key grape varieties, viticulture and winemaking practices across the world but does not include a tasting portion. The CSW is very geography and history heavy. You can either purchase the book and study material and completely self study through the Society of Wine Educators, and then take the test, or sign up for a class. The timed test is 100 multiple choice questions, and you must get at least 75% or better to pass.
I have my CSW and also my CSS (Certified Specialist of Spirits). It required a lot of self study and the test was pretty difficult. Know your geography!
Certified Sommelier (CS)
Is your goal to be a sommelier and work in a restaurant? Start here. The Certified Sommelier course focuses on everything you need to know about the service industry and serving wine in a restaurant as a somm. If you’re just starting out, you’ll start with the Introductory Somm Course which takes two days. If you pass that test, you are eligible to take the Certified Sommelier Examination, which includes a tasting theory and service portion in which you must score at least 60% in each section to pass. If you want to continue your study, the programs for somms under the Court of Master Sommelier are quite extensive and can take years to complete, with the Master Sommelier Diploma being the highest ranked. There are currently only 269 Master Sommeliers in the world!
Wine Scholar Guild
If you’re looking to focus on a particular region, say France or Spain, and really want to dive in and learn everything there is to know about it regarding the wine world, look into the Wine Scholar programs. This is usually the next step for those who already have a couple wine certifications under their belt and want to dive deep into a specific wine region.
Degrees in Wine
And then if you’re really looking to spend some extensive time learning about winemaking, viticulture or wine business, there’s degrees for that. Typically this is for someone who is looking for a career in wine. Here are some options:
- Sonoma State MBA in Wine Business
- Culinary Institute of America Master of Professional Studies of Wine Management
- A degree in viticulture or enology from UC Davis, Cal Poly or Fresno State
I hope this list of wine certifications, wine programs and wine degrees was helpful. The world of wine is truly endless, especially once you start really digging into it! And honestly, that’s what makes it so fascinating. I’d love to hear, what certifications do you have or are you most interested in?
