WSET Level 1 Award in Wines (Classroom)

The Wine and Spirit Education Trust (WSET) Level 1 Award in Wine is the ideal starting point for anyone who is considering embarking on a professional career in the drinks industry or those with no little or prior experience of wine tasting or anyone wanting to improve and test their wine knowledge.

It is an enjoyable, relaxed and interactive course which is completed in a single day, including the 30 question multiple choice exam, making it easy to fit in with busy working schedules.

Topics covered include:

• What is wine and how is it made
• Key wine styles - still, sparkling fortified
• Wine types - dry, medium, sweet, body, tannin
• 8 principal grape varieties - Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Riesling, Pinot Grigio, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Pinot Noir, Syrah
• Examples of named wines - eg Cava, Sancerre, Chablis, Chateauneuf du Pape, Chianti and more
• Serving and storing wine
• Food and wine pairing

You can read more about the course specification here.

The fee includes

• All WSET course materials
• Professional WSET tuition by WSET Certified tutor
• Wine samples to taste during the day.
• We teach you the WSET Level 1 Systematic Approach to Tasting Wine (SAT) ® which will enable you to analyse wines objectively and consistently
• Registration with WSET, all examination fees, and an internationally-recognised certificate upon successful completion

Please Note: bookings for this course must be received no later than 7 days before the course date in order to complete the registration process which will allow students to take the exam on the day of the course. In certain circumstances we may be able to accept a late application for the course, but you should contact us in the first instance to see if we are able to make provisions.

Special Educational Needs: Please make the wine school aware if you have a condition which may mean that you will qualify for additional help during the exam such as dyslexia. We need to know this at least 4 weeks in advance of the course date.

Funding: Funding for this course is available: 

DEVELOP is the educational programme of The Drinks Trust, the drinks and hospitality industry charity. DEVELOP offers fully funded training and skills courses, delivered by industry-leading providers for people already working, or with an ambition to work, in the drinks and hospitality industry. Sussex Wine School has partnered with The Drinks Trust to bring courses free of charge to eligible students. All of the WSET courses are available for funding with DEVELOP. To learn more please visit the Drinks Trust website HERE

Criteria of eligibility for DEVELOP funding: must be 18 or over, eligible to work in the UK, have a National Insurance Number, and be earning less than £26k/pa