WSET Level 3 Award in Wines Online

WSET Level 3 Award in Wines

For those seeking to delve deeper into the world of wines, this qualification provides a detailed understanding of grape growing and wine making. You will acquire a thorough understanding of the factors influencing the style, quality and price of wines from key wine producing regions of the world.
You will also develop analytical tasting skills using the WSET Level 3 Systematic Approach to Tasting Wine (SAT)®. Your blind tasting skills will form part of the examinations.
Upon completion you will be able to assess wines accurately, and use your understanding to confidently explain wine style and quality.
WSET Level 3 award in Wines is considered a prerequisite for candidates planning to study for the WSET Level 4 Diploma.

For whom is this wine course?

– For wine enthusiasts.
– For industry professionals.

What will you learn?

Unit 1
– The key factors in the production of wine: location, grape growing, winemaking, maturation and bottling.
– How these key factors influence key characteristics of the principal:
  – still wines of the world;
  – sparkling wines of the world;
  – 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 (SAT).

For more detailed information on the course content, please see the WSET Level 3 in Wines Specification.

WSET 3 Online Classroom

The course consists of 9 modules with educator support. You are given 9 weeks to complete the course, so should aim to complete one module per week. There are no fixed times to log-on as there is no “live” delivery of content. You can complete your learning at times that suit you. However, the educator is not obliged to assess your work if you fall behind. 

The course prepares you for the WSET Level 3 Award in Wines examination and is guided by a WSET educator, who’ll provide feedback on any assigned exercises and respond to course-related queries. You can contact the educator any time for the duration of the scheduled course. Each week includes a series of independent activities, supported by videos and quizzes, that guide you through the key wine regions of the world looking at the factors in the vineyard and winery that influence wine styles.

Regular access and participation in the course online activities is essential for this mode of study.

Please note that all lessons are online but that you are required to attend a tasting calibration session and sit your examination with us in-person.

Tasting tutorial

This course includes a tasting session. The WSET Level 3 tasting sessions are held in Eindhoven from 10am to 1pm. You can attend a session on the following date:
– 25 November 2024
– 13 March 2025

WSET Level 3 study materials

All study materials are included in the online course and will be sent to your address once registration and payment have been completed. For shipping abroad, but within Europe, € 15,50 will be charged.
The materials include:

• Level 3 Textbook
• Level 3 Workbook
• WSET Level 3 Systematic Approach to Tasting Wine (SAT)® Wine card.

WSET Level 3 wine tasting

During the course you are recommended to taste a number of key wines. All the required wines for the course can be found in the online equipment list. Any additional wines can be found in the Specification.
You can post your tasting notes in the Online Classroom for review by your educator.

Please note that wines are not included in the cost of this course.

Wine samples

Instead of buying full bottles at your local wine shop, you could opt for a tasting kit. This pack covers the recommended samples (called Vinottes) for WSET Level 3 (with the exception of sparkling wines) and provides an affordable and convenient way of tasting a range of representative styles.
The wine tasting kit consists of 64 wine samples of 20ml each and costs € 299,- (incl. 21% BTW), shipping within Europe included.

Course language

The online course and guidance, and exam are in English.

Course length

The course will be based around a 9-week, 9-module online learning programme with educator support available for this time.
A recommendation of ten hours study per week is given to cover the online activities and read the relevant chapters in the textbook.

Exam WSET Level 3 Award in wines

Unit 1 is assessed by a 2-hour closed-book exam of 50 multiple-choice questions and a short-written answer paper. In order to secure a pass for the theory examination a minimum mark of 55% in both part 1 and part 2 is required.
Unit 2 is assessed by a 30-minute blind tasting of two wines. In order to secure a pass for the tasting examination a minimum mark of 55% is required.
A total mark of 55% or more in both the theory and tasting examination is required to receive the WSET level 3 Award in Wines certificate and lapel pin.
A one-off participation in the WSET® Level 3 exam is included in the price.

Please note that the exam needs to be completed in-person in Eindhoven.

Entry requirements

It is recommended that you hold the WSET Level 2 Award in Wines or can demonstrate the equivalent level of knowledge.
You must be of legal drinking age (18 years) to participate in the tasting tutorial and tasting exam. The course is delivered online and in English, therefore basic computer literacy, internet navigation skills and a good level of English are required.

Demonstration WSET Level 3 Award in wines

For a sneak preview of the online course, please click here.