Learn how the environmental and winemaking factors influence the style and quality of the principal grape varieties of the world.
Cultivating a community of international wine expertise.
WSET Level 2 Award in Wines: In-Person
What is WSET Level 2?
The WSET Level 2 Award in Wines is the perfect wine course for beginners wishing to learn about a wide range of grapes and styles, as well as those seeking to build on the introductory knowledge gained with the WSET Level 1 Award in Wines. You’ll gain enviable knowledge of the principal and regionally important grape varieties of the world, the regions in which they are grown, and the styles of wine they produce.
Who should take WSET Level 2?
WSET Level 2 Award in Wines is a beginner-to-intermediate-level qualification for anyone with a serious interest in wine therefore no prior wine experience is required. If you are not familiar using the WSET Systematic Approach to Tasting, we highly recommend starting at Level 2 to create a foundation for Level 3 and beyond. This qualification is great for tasting room staff, restaurant servers and bartenders, retail wine salespeople, wine marketing professionals, and consumers looking to learn more about international wine.
How long is WSET Level 2?
The WSET Level 2 Award in Wines in an eight-week program with a minimum requirement of 28 hours total study time, 16 hours in-class study, 11 hours private study, and 1 hour examination.
Cultivate FLX recommends a minimum of 6-10 hours of weekly private study.
Upcoming Courses
Start Date: June 4, 2024
Last Date to Register: May 28, 2024
Classes are held weekly on Tuesdays from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm at ONCE Finger Lakes, Geneva, NY. The total course is 9 weeks including the examination.
Examination Date: July 30, 2024
In-Person Course: $800
Full pricing includes the WSET textbook and study kit, ISO glass set, tasting of 40+ wines, and examinations.
Pay in Full or Pay in 2 installments.
Most employers will offer reimbursement upon completion. Don’t forget to ask!
What You Will Learn
- How to taste and describe wine using the WSET Level 2 Systematic Approach to Tasting Wine®(SAT)
- How environmental factors, grape-growing, winemaking and maturation options influence the style and quality of wines made from eight principal grape varieties:
- Chardonnay, Pinot Grigio/Gris, Sauvignon Blanc, Riesling, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Pinot Noir, Syrah/Shiraz.
- The style and quality of wines:
- made from 22 regionally important grape varieties
- produced in over 70 geographical indications (GIs) around the world
- How grape varieties and winemaking processes influence key styles of:
- Sparkling wines
- Fortified wines
- Key labelling terms used to indicate origin, style and quality
- Principles and processes involved in the storage and service of wine
- Principles of food and wine pairing
Course Structure
By the end of the session, you will be able to:
- Use the WSET Level 2 Systematic Approach to Tasting to evaluate wines.
- State the service temperatures of wines tasted.
- Identify how common faults affect the aroma and flavours of wines.
- Use salt, lemon, MSG, and sweetness to demonstrate the positive and negative interactions with wines.
- Identify the principal food and wine interactions.
A tasting of 5 wines will demonstrate the following:
- Differences in intensity and color.
- Differences in intensity or aromas and aroma clusters.
- Differences in sweetness, acidity, tannin, body, flavor clusters and finish.
- Differences in quality.
- Understand the environmental influences and grape-growing options in the vineyard and how these will impact the style and quality of red wines.
- Understand how winemaking and bottle ageing influence the style and quality of red wines.
- Understand how environmental influences, grape-growing options, winemaking and bottle ageing influence the style and quality of wines made from Pinot Noir.
- Know the style and quality of wines made from Zinfandel/Primitivo.
A tasting of 4 wines will demonstrate the style and quality of Pinot Noir and Zinfandel/Primitivo.
- Understand how environmental influences, grape-growing options, winemaking and bottle ageing influence the style and quality of white, sweet, and rose wines.
- Understand how environmental influences, grape-growing options, winemaking and bottle ageing influence the style and quality of wines made from Riesling.
- Know the style and quality of wines producted from Chenin Blanc, Semillin and Furmint.
A tasting of 5 wines to illustrate the key learning outcomes.
- Understand how environmental influences, grape-growing options, winemaking and bottle ageing influence the style and quality of wines made from Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Grigio/Pinot Gris.
- Know the style and quality of wines produced from Gewurztraminer, Viognier and Albarino.
- Understand how environmental influences, grape-growing options, winemaking and bottle ageing influence the style and quality of wines made from Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah/Shiraz.
- Know the style and quality of wines produced from Cortese, Garganaga, Verdicchio, Fiano, Nebbiolo, Barbera, Corvina, Sangiovese, and Montepulciano.
- Understand how the production process can influence the styles of sparkling and fortified wines.
- Identify the key grape varieties used to produce the principal styles of sparkling wines.
- Identify the key stages of the winemaking processes used to make sparkling and fortified wines.
Examination
The WSET Level 2 Award in Wines is assessed by a closed-book examination that consists of 50 multiple-choice questions, to be completed in 60 minutes.
All examination questions are based on the published learning outcomes, and the recommended study materials (Wines: Looking Behind the Label) contain the information required to answer these questions.
Pass Marks:
- Pass: 55% – 69%
- Pass with Merit: 70% – 84%
- Pass with Distinction: 85% and above
Students who pass the examination will receive a WSET certificate and label pin.
For any reason that you may need to resit the examination, prices are $150 for in-person or remote examination.
What We're Tasting
All of the wines tasted in class are chosen by our two main educators, Brandon Thomas, DipWSET and Meaghan Frank, DipWSET. The Level 2 In-Person class includes the tasting of 43 different wines.
The wines of Week 1 establish an initial calibration of the student’s palate using the extreme of the scales.
- Neutral wine (Pinot Grigio) of acceptable or good quality.
- Aromatic white (Gewurztraminer) of very good quality.
- Oaked white (Chenin Blanc or Semillon) of good or very good quality.
- Full-bodied, high-tannin red (Barolo) of very good or outstanding quality.
In Week 2, a tasting of 4 wines will demonstrate the styles of Pinot Noir and Zinfandel/Primitivo.
- Regional red Burgundy of good quality.
- Premier Cru red Burgundy of very good to outstanding quality.
- New World Pinot Noir of very good to outstanding quality.
- Italian Primitivo of good to very good quality.
In Week 3, a tasting of 5 wines which demonstrate influences of style and quality of white, sweet, and rose wines.
- White Zinfandel
- Dry Australian Riesling
- German Spatlese Riesling
- Dry or demi-sec Chenin Blanc or dry Semillon
- Tokaji or Sauternes
In Week 4, a tasting of 6 wines which demonstrate influences of style and quality of wines made from Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, and Pinot Gris.
- Chablis Premier Cru
- Puligny-Montrachet or Meursault, or Pouilly-Fuisee
- Chardonnay (New World)
- Sancerre or Pouilly-Fume
- Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc
- Pinot Gris
In Week 5, a tasting of 6 wines which demonstrate influences of style and quality of wines made from Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Syrah/Shiraz.
- Merlot (IGP or high-volume brand)
- Saint-Emilion Grand Cru
- Haut-Medoc Cru Classe
- Cabernet Sauvignon (New World)
- Northern Rhone Syrah
- Barossa Valley Shiraz
In Week 6, a tasting of 6 wines which demonstrate influences of style and quality of wines made from Gamay, Grenache/Garnacha, Tempranillo, Malbec, and Pinotage.
- Generic Cotes du Rhone
- Chat-eauneuf-du-Pape
- French Rose
- Rioha Reserva
- Mendoza Malbec
- South African Pinotage
In Week 7, a tasting of 6 wines which demonstrate influences of style and quality of wines made from Italian grape varieties.
- Gavi or Soave, or Verdicchio.
- Fiano or Soave or Verdicchio.
- Barbera d’ Asti.
- Valpolicella Classico.
- Chianti Classico Riserva
- Sauternes or Tokaji (not Italian, we know)
In Week 8, a tasting of 6 wines which demonstrate how the production process can influence the styles of sparkling and fortified wines.
- Prosecco
- Cava
- Champagne
- Asti
- Fino or Oloroso Sherry
- LBV or Tawny Port
*Wines are subject to change depending availability
Registration Requirments
There are no entry requirements for this qualification. You must be of legal drinking age in the country where you are attending the course to participate in any alcohol tasting. However, this is not a barrier to successfully completing the Level 2 qualification.
If you are unsure as to which course level is right for you, please email us at learn@cultivateflx.com.
Student Information
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