WSET LEVEL 3 AWARD IN WINES - ONLINE

WSET Level 3 Award in Wines Online is a nine-week class, with fixed beginning and ending dates. After the course has ended, students will take a proctored, in-person exam in Las Vegas. Exams can only be taken in Las Vegas. Please see registration information below for specific exam dates. Advanced registration is required. 

Exams must be taken in-person in Las Vegas, there is no online exam option for Level 3. 

The WSET Level 3 Award in Wines course is an advanced wine course suited for industry professionals working in hospitality, wholesale, and retail, or wine enthusiasts looking to gain an in-depth understanding of wines. Students will gain detailed knowledge regarding factors that influence the quality, style and price of wines around the world. This course provides detailed coverage of grape growing and winemaking. Students will also learn to assess wine accurately, and be able to explain the factors contributing to different wine price points. 

For more information regarding the course, please see the WSET Level 3 Award in Wines Specification, located here. 

Students must be 21 years of age or older by first day of the course. 

Topics Covered: 

• Week 1: Factors Affecting Style, Quality, and Price of Wine
• 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 wine using the WSET Level 3 Systematic Approach to Tasting Wine^® (SAT)
  • Principles of food and wine pairing, storage, and wine service

• Week 3-5: Factors Affecting the Style and Quality of Wines from Europe 
  
  • Natural and human factors influencing the wines in key wine regions and districts of Europe

• Week 6-7: Factors Affecting the Style and Quality of Wines from Europe 
• Natural and human factors influencing the wines in 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 
• Methods of production and main styles from key wine producing regions

• Week 9: Revision 
• Revision exercises, mock exam, exam prep

Tasting is an important part of this course. A list of recommended tasting samples can be found inside your course. Cost of tasting samples is not included in the course fee. 

• • 10 hours study time per week is recommended 
  • Students may access the material at any times during the course period, no set log in times during the week
  • This course includes weekly activities and forums, and weekly textbook chapters 
  • Also included in the course are specialized webinars from our educators covering tasting technique and other special topics. These will be emailed and able to be viewed on the students' schedules, or re-watched for clarity. Topis include:
    • Course Preparation
    • Natural & Human Factors in the Vineyard
    • Human Factors in the Winery
    • Sparkling Wines
    • Fortified Wines
    • Tasting Exam Prep
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  • The exam consists of two sections: 50-question multiple choice with a short written answer component, and a blind-tasting of two wines

Additional Information

• Self-paced! Log on anytime during the week to complete the weekly tasks. There are no set times to be online during the week.
• WSET Level 2 Award in Wines is highly recommended prior to completing the Level 3 qualification 
• One exam registration, access to the Online Classroom and tutor, and one study pack are included in the course fee

• Successful candidates testing through August 15, 2025 will receive a WSET certificate of completion and lapel badge. After August 15, 2025 WSET will be transitioning to digital certificates/badges, successful candidates testing after this date will receive a digital certificate and badge
• Access to an online student forum and educator is included 
• Exams must be taken within one year of course start date
• Students will require access to a computer (recommended) and/or HTML5 compatible mobile or tablet with the following minimum requirements: Internet Explorer 10, Firefox 25.0, Safari 6, Chrome 30.0 or other HTML5 compatible; web browser with Javascript and cookies** enabled; Adobe Reader XI or equivalent; Internet access (broadband recommended)
• Course materials ship within two business days. We do recommend registering sooner to allow yourself more time to learn the material
• Students have the option of participating in a tasting workshop/review the day before the exam - please see posted dates. This is not required, but is included in your course fee and highly recommended. All other tasting samples throughout the online course are student-procured. 
• Exams can only be taken in-person in Las Vegas. Exam dates are listed below their corresponding course dates. 

Textbook Information:

Students have a choice of a digital (e-reader) study pack, or a physical hard copy study pack. 

Hard copy packs within the continental US are sent Media Mail, with an estimated arrival of 5-8 business days.

 If you would prefer to have your materials sent Priority Mail or another expedited service, please write this in the "Notes" section of the checkout page and we will reach out to you within 24 hours with shipping options and quotes. 

A payment link will be sent for postage costs for packs sent any other method than Media Mail. 

International packs will be sent Ground/First Class. Shipping for international destinations has an estimated delivery of 15-30 business days, depending on your location. International shipments may be subject to duty/taxes, students will need to ensure to complete these payments to ensure a timely delivery. Estimated delivery time does not include delays from customs processing or failure of student to complete duty payments. 

Digital study packs will be delivered to students within 3-5 business days of purchase. Digital materials are accessible for two years from purchase, and include highlighting, post-it, and note-taking functions. The digital materials are in an e-reader style format, and can be accessed on up to 3 different devices (laptops, tablets, or mobile phones).

The digital materials are accessible through the e-reader platform, they are not a downloadable PDF format.

Students preferring both digital and print copies, please write that both materials are needed in the "Notes" section of the checkout page. We will reach out to you within 24 hours, and a fee of $135 will be added for the second copy. Postage fees will apply for expedited service or international destinations.

Course Registration Deadlines Beginning 2025:

Please register by 12pm Pacific Time on the designated registration deadline. Courses will close before registration deadline if they are full.

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  • May 26 - July 27, Please Register by May 16
    • Tasting Practice: September 17 
    • Exam: September 18
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  • June 16 - August 17, Please Register by June 6
    • Tasting Practice: September 17
    • Exam: September 18
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  • July 7 - September 7, Please Register by June 27
    • Tasting Practice: September 17 
    • Exam: September 18
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  • August 2025 Dates Coming Soon
    • Tasting Practice: December 10 
    • Exam: December 11