Knowing more about wines will build your confidence when choosing a bottle to drink at home or in a restaurant or bar. It will also open your eyes to the amazing variety of wine styles available worldwide.

Learning how to taste wines will help you identify your favourite flavours and expand your drinking repertoire. A drop of wine education will fuel your passion for wine and increase your enjoyment of this versatile and amazing drink.

Where to find a good course?

Any school that offers Wine & Spirit Education Trust (WSET) courses is a good starting point. WSET is the largest global provider of wine and spirits qualifications. We offer a range of qualifications – from one-day beginner courses to an expert-level diploma. Courses are available in more than 15 languages and over 70 countries and are open to all interested enthusiasts. Qualification levels 1 to 3 in wine are recognised by the UK Government (Ofqual)*. All WSET qualifications have a strong reputation worldwide as the industry standard for wine knowledge.

I attended the WSET Level 1 course after a friend recommended it, and I was not disappointed! Learning what wines pair well with what food is something that I always use as a reference point when deciding what wine to order in a restaurant or when I invite friends over for dinner.Lara, Level 1 Award in Wines student

Where do I start?

Your starting point is the WSET Level 1 Award in Wines – a hands-on beginner’s course. The course explores the main styles of wine through sight, smell and taste. How to understand the key factors affecting flavours and aromas, and describe them accurately. How to pair wine with food. How wine should be stored and served.

With each progressive level, you gain increasing knowledge about the world of wine and how to taste professionally – using WSET’s trademark Systematic Approach to Tasting. At the end of each course, you’ll complete an exam to test your new knowledge. On successful completion, you are awarded a certificate and WSET lapel pin.

To find your local WSET course provider visit wsetglobal.com

*Excluding Level 3 Award in Spirits and Level 2 Award in Wines