Wine & Spirit Education Trust
The Wine & Spirit Education Trust, often referred to as WSET, is a British organisation which arranges courses and exams in the field of wine and spirits. WSET was founded in 1969,[1] is headquartered in London[2] and is generally regarded as the world's leading provider of wine education.[3] The courses given by WSET were originally intended for people in the wine & spirit trade. The WSET programs have increasingly been attended also by non-professional connoisseurs. The WSET also offers professional certification in the United States, with programs in New York, Pennsylvania, and Washington.
[edit] Course levels
The course content of WSET courses has its focus on general theoretical knowledge of the world of wine and spirits (countries and regions of production, regulations, their style of wine and spirits, grape varieties &c.), and practical identification of beverages and their flavours, including wine tasting techniques.
As of 2008, the levels of courses were as following, using the levels of the National Qualifications Framework of UK:[4]
- Level 1
- Level 1 Award in Wines, 1 day wine course provides basic wine knowledge as well looking at how to match food with wine.
- Level 1 Award in Spirits , 1 day course provides basic product knowledge and skills in service and marketing of spirits to prepare a person for their first job in hospitality or the spirit industry.
- Level 1 Award in Wine Service, 2 day course provides instruction in the art of wine service and includes the development of practical skills in a restaurant setting. It includes the Level 1 Award in Wine on day one of the course.
- Level 2
- Level 2 Award in Wines and Spirits, This course covers the major grape varieties and where they are grown around the world. Students are taught how to taste wine professionally using the WSET Systematic Approach to Tasting.
- Level 2 Award in Spirits, This spirits course gives a greater breadth and depth of knowledge in the specific area of spirits and liqueurs.
- Level 3
- Level 3 Award in Wines and Spirits, Provides a more comprehensive coverage of the wide range of wines and spirits around the world. The qualification has an increased focus on wine tasting technique.
- International Higher Certificate in Wines and Spirits, This qualification is available through International WSET providers only. It is also available in several different languages.
- Level 4
- Diploma in Wines and Spirits, The Diploma is a specialist qualification where detailed knowledge is combined with commercial factors and a thorough system for the professional evaluation of wines and spirits.
- Level 5
- Honours Diploma, The WSET Level 5 Honours Diploma is an individual research project that enables students to develop skills in research, evaluation and analysis in a wine and spirit related subject of their choice. This qualification is open to anyone holding the WSET Level 4 Diploma.
WSET's courses are also given by a large number of "Approved Programme Providers" around the world. This has made WSET's course levels the international de facto standard for "practical" knowledge of wine and spirits, outside academic programmes of oenology, viticulture, food technology and similar subjects, where science and engineering aspects of beverage production tend to be in focus.
WSET has created a membership body for WSET Diploma holders called "Institute of Wines & Spirits". Qualification at the WSET Diploma level 4 is generally required to be allowed into the Master of Wine training,[5] which is arranged by a body (The Institute of Masters of Wine) separate from the WSET.
[edit] References
- ^ Ray, Johnathan, The Daily Telegraph (August 29, 2008). "The top wine-tasting courses". http://www.telegraph.co.uk/wine/main.jhtml?xml=/wine/2008/08/29/wine-jonathan-ray129.xml.
- ^ wset.co.uk WSET: About us, accessed on February 4, 2008
- ^ J. Robinson (ed), The Oxford Companion to Wine, Third Edition, p. 769, Oxford University Press 2006, ISBN 0198609906
- ^ wset.co.uk An Introduction to WSET Qualifications, accessed on February 4, 2008
- ^ Institute of Masters of Wine: The Education Programme, accessed on February 4, 2008
