COURSE STRUCTURE

Minimum age 18 required at time of booking. Students should hold the Level 2 Award or be able to demonstrate knowledge at this level. It will be assumed that students have basic computer literacy, internet navigation skills and a good level of English.

The course is based around a 9-week structured online programme with a recommendation of 10 hours study per week to cover the online activities and read the relevant chapters in the textbook. There is also a 1 day tasting tutorial.

The course follows a weekly structure, but it allows the student to work ahead or catch up on the activities and forums. There are no set times to log into the course as there are no live chats or webinars. APPs must provide the relevant and current WSET study materials for this course and revision of Level 2 Materials is recommended. The course prepares the student for our qualification and they are guided by a WSET educator. The student can contact the educator any time for the duration of the scheduled course, should they have any questions. Each week includes a series of independent activities that guide the student through the key wine regions of the world looking at the factors in the vineyard and winery that influence wine styles.

 A 1-day tasting tutorial introducing the Level 3 tasting technique should be included by the APP. Students are advised to taste a range of wines during their studies. A list of recommended tasting samples can be found in the specification. Students can post their tasting notes in the Online Classroom for review by the educator.

Course Structure Week 1: Factors Affecting Style, Quality and Price of Wine

 Learn about the principal natural and human factors in the vineyard and winery and how they influence the style, quality and price of wine.

Week 2: Tasting technique, Wine Laws and Service

 Learn to taste and describe wines using the WSET Systematic Approach to Tasting. Learn about the fundamental rules of wine labelling. Learn about the principals of food and wine pairing, storage and service of wine.

Weeks 3-5: Factors Affecting the Wine, Style and Quality of Wines from Europe

Learn about the natural and human factors in the vineyard and winery and how they influence the wine, style and quality in the key wine regions and districts of Europe.

 Weeks 6-7: Factors Affecting the Wine, Style and Quality of Wines from the Rest of the World

Learn about the natural and human factors in the vineyard and winery and how they influence the wine, style and quality in the key wine regions of the rest of the world and the key regional grape variety specialities of the rest of the world.

Week 8: Sparkling and Fortified Wines

Learn about the methods of production and the main styles of sparkling wines from the key wine producing countries. Learn about the methods of production and the main styles of fortified wines from the key wine producing countries.

Week 9: Revision & Resources

Revision exercises and a mock multiple-choice examination in preparation for the examinations.