WSET Level 1 vs Level 2: which should you take?

The most common question that comes in before someone books is not “which wine region should I learn first?” It is “do I start with Level 1 or go straight to Level 2?” Here is how to decide, based on what each WSET qualification actually asks of you.

The short version

• Start with the WSET Level 1 Award in Wines if you are new to wine, want a short course (about 6 hours of study over 4 weeks), or want a recognized credential quickly for a service or retail job.
• Go straight to the WSET Level 2 Award in Wines if you already drink with curiosity, work with wine in any capacity, or want the qualification employers and sommeliers recognize. Level 1 is not a prerequisite.

What Level 1 covers

The WSET Level 1 Award in Wines is an introduction. You learn the main types and styles of wine, the principal grape varieties and what they taste like, how wine is made in outline, how to store and serve it, and the basic principles of pairing wine with food. You also learn the Level 1 version of the WSET Systematic Approach to Tasting, a simple framework for describing a wine’s appearance, nose, and palate. The exam is 30 multiple-choice questions in 45 minutes, and the pass mark is 70%.

Studied online through WSET’s Online Classroom, Level 1 takes about six hours in total, spread over four weeks, plus revision. All the materials are inside the classroom; there is no textbook to buy or wait for. It is the right choice if you want to stop guessing at the wine list, if you have just started a job that involves serving or selling wine, or if you want to test whether formal wine study is for you before committing to something bigger.

What Level 2 covers

The WSET Level 2 Award in Wines is where wine knowledge becomes structured. You learn how climate, grape growing, winemaking, and ageing shape the style and quality of a wine; the principal white and black grape varieties and the regions where they matter; regionally important varieties beyond the big names; how sparkling and fortified wines are made; and the Level 2 Systematic Approach to Tasting, which is detailed enough to let you describe and compare wines with precision. The exam is 50 multiple-choice questions in 60 minutes, with a pass mark of 55%.

Online, Level 2 runs five weeks at about six hours a week, including reading the WSET textbook, which comes in the study pack. Expect to taste more, too: the specification lists recommended wines, and posting tasting notes for your WSET educator to review is one of the most valuable parts of the course.

Five questions to settle it

1. Can you name five grape varieties and say roughly what each tastes like? If yes, you are ready for Level 2.
2. Do you have six hours a week for five weeks? If not right now, Level 1 fits a busy stretch; Level 2 can wait for a calmer one.
3. Is this for a job? Hospitality and retail employers generally look for Level 2. Level 1 shows initiative; Level 2 shows competence.
4. Do you plan to continue to Level 3? Level 2 is the normal stepping stone. Starting at Level 1 adds a course without shortening the path.
5. Are you nervous about exams? Level 1 is a gentle way to learn how WSET assesses, and some students use it as a warm-up. That is a legitimate reason to start there.

What about spirits?

The same logic applies to the WSET Level 1 Award in Spirits and the WSET Level 2 Award in Spirits. Level 1 covers production basics, the main categories, and service in about six hours. Level 2 goes category by category (whisky, brandy, rum, agave spirits, vodka, gin, liqueurs) and into raw materials, distillation, and maturation in depth. Bartenders who already know their back bar usually go straight to Level 2.

Still not sure?

Email Luis at contact@beveragecertified.com with a few lines about your background and what you want from the course for an honest answer on which level fits, even when that is the cheaper one. You can also download the free guide, Which WSET level is right for you?, or see current course dates and prices.