• How to taste and describe wine using the WSET Level 2 Systematic Approach to Tasting Wine®

• 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

Once you have registered, you will receive a study pack by post:

- a book of approximately 80 pages (small A4 format)

- a student workbook

- a hardback tasting sheet

This training can be done remotely (online) or face-to-face. You'll find organizations that offer evening courses over several weeks, and others that offer accelerated 3-day training. It's up to you to choose the format that suits you best.

This will depend on your training organization and the format of your program. Overall, you need to set aside a minimum of 28 hours of your time, i.e. 16 hours of courses with a WSET-accredited center (classroom or online), 11 hours of personal work and 1 hour of final exam.

There are no specific entry requirements for this qualification. You do NOT need to have taken the WSET Level 1.

You must be of legal drinking age in the country in which you are training to take part in the tastings, i.e. 18 in France.

You will have to go to the examination venue provided by your training organisation.

Examination time = 1 hour

The exam is closed-book and consists of 50 multiple-choice questions. There is no tasting.

To pass the exam, 55% of the questions must be answered correctly.

Each question has only one correct answer, which must be indicated on a computer-readable answer sheet. All instructions for completing the answer sheet will be given by the invigilator on the day of the examination. Each correct answer is worth one mark, and there is NO penalty for incorrect answers.

• Mark of 85% and above: Pass with distinction

• Mark of between 70% and 84%: Pass with merit

• Mark of between 55% and 69%: Pass

• Mark of between 45% and 54%: Fail

• Mark of 44% and below: Fail unclassified

Yes, if you didn't pass the exam, you can. But BE CAREFUL, retaking the final exam obviously entails additional costs!

However, it is not possible to retake an exam in order to improve your grade.

There is more than 700 approved programme providers for WSET level 2 in Wine all around the world!

You can find your training center using this map.