by Adam Chase | Oct 8, 2024
I often hear from people who take WSET Level 2 that they are reluctant to go on to Level 3. They feel they are now adequate tasters and have enough information to navigate their way through the world of wine.
This is a shame and people who avoid WSET Level 3 are really missing out. This course takes you into the mind of the grape grower and wine maker in a way that is far beyond the basics. We discover pop culture and its history, science, politics and business trends. Yes, you gain expertise and sommelier skills, but you also gain exposure to how people in different geographies think about wine and life, as well as how those thoughts have developed over time.
In short, WSET Level 3 is a culture course. It is also a history and current affairs course. We discuss how wine and wealth often have gone hand in hand through history, but also how millennials are now shaping what wine is and how producers need to talk about their product. Along the way we will touch on the French Revolution, I love Lucy, Crocodile Dundee, Climate Change, and the rise of tariffs that make already pricey French wines that much more expensive!
So, take WSET Level 3 to build sommelier skills and general expertise – if that is your goal. But don’t not take it because you think those are the only things you will learn. This is a dynamic course that will stimulate ideas and give you a unique view of the world today.
Click here for more information on WSET Level 3.
by Adam Chase | Aug 8, 2024
The last few years have seen an incredible rise in the number of people taking the WSET Level 2 Certificate in Wine. At the same time, many of these new students are reluctant to continue to Level 3. I hear things like the like Level 3 difficulty and time commitment are just too great. I get it, but I think if you are in this reluctant group, you are missing a huge opportunity.
Level 3 in Wine is one of the most respected and valuable certificates in the world. Where Level 2 gives you an understanding of what is in any bottle of wine, Level 3 provides the why and the who. You get a connection to each major wine producing region right down to the vineyard level in some cases. Just by taking the course you gain depth, knowledge and confidence to talk wine as easily with friends as with seasoned wine professionals and winemakers. In fact, you become “seasoned” in a way that is just not possible with Level 2.
Over the years we have asked people who completed the Level 3 course what beyond basic knowledge that they gained. Two words consistently emerged: “access” and “confidence”
- Level 3 gives you access to vineyards, wineries and winemakers who immediately recognize that you understand wine and can provide perspective and influence others
- When you travel to a wine region, contacting a local winery and telling them you are a WSET Level 3 Certificate holder often opens doors to exclusive visits and access
- You become an integral leader and participant in your local wine community through people you meet in the course and through unique opportunities that are only available to people with a connection to the local wine scene
- Your depth of knowledge gives you confidence to have deep conversations with other wine lovers and professionals that just is not possible with Level 2
- The WSET Level 3 Certificate can open doors to wine-related job opportunities because people hiring know you have a depth of knowledge others may lack. This opens opportunities to start a career as a Sommelier
- If you are already in the wine industry the knowledge that Level 3 gives you makes you more effective with customers, enabling you to sell more and to gain loyalty.
So, if you have thought about taking WSET Level 3 in Wine what is stopping you? Let me know and perhaps we can come up with a solution. In the meantime, I encourage you to take Level 3. We have a course starting September 8: https://www.grapeexperience.com/events/level-3-san-francisco-sundays/
You can see more about all our WSET Level 3 courses at https://www.grapeexperience.com/advanced-certificate-wine/
by Adam Chase | Mar 7, 2024
The WSET Level 3 Certificate in wine is one of the most enduring and popular courses in wine education. Level 3 has been part of the Wine & Spirit Education Trust (WSET) curriculum for over 50 years and is respected and by every profession in the wine industry: sommeliers, retailers, importers, distributors, producers, and wine writers. It is the perfect course for a wine professional or someone looking to join the industry. It is also ideal for consumers who want a deeper dive into what is driving today’s wine styles.
The beauty of the WSET Level 3 program is that it has continued to evolve as consumer tastes, climates, technology, and trends have changed. The course provides a deep and broad foundation on what drives production decisions – natural factors and human choices – that ultimately result in specific styles. In doing so it delves into every major wine region and in the last 20 years that means greater attention to wines produced outside of Europe.
WSET Level 3 also focuses on tasting a huge range of wines –from global locations, price points and volume levels. The aim is to help identify the objective elements that define quality, while also understanding through a tasting experience how natural and human factors manifest themselves in the glass.
For individuals studying to be a sommelier, WSET Level 3 provides the theory needed to be confident about wine facts and make the most out of food and wine pairings. For anyone else in the industry that same confidence allows them to make better decisions and have substantive conversations with colleagues, producers, or consumers.
WSET Level 3 also attracts consumers who have a love of wine, food and culture because it goes beyond surface facts and really focuses in on how and why wines differ from each other. The level of knowledge that one has after taking Level 3 is something that will last and develop for a lifetime.
For all these reasons and more WSET Level 3 is the perfect course for anyone with a desire to work in or just better enjoy wine. You can see the next WSET Level 3 offerings at Grape Experience by clicking on this link: https://www.grapeexperience.com/advanced-certificate-wine/
