WSET Course: Level 1 – Preface

For those with a thirst for wine knowledge, the options are abundant and intriguing. Amidst this plethora, two prominent courses, the Court of Masters Sommeliers (CMS) and the Wine and Spirit Education Trust (WSET), consistently rise to the forefront.

The CMS program is tailored to wine aficionados and places significant emphasis on the art of service within the realm of wine. Its tiers encompass four levels: Introductory, Certified, Advanced, and Master. To attain the esteemed Advanced certification, a minimum of two years’ experience in a restaurant or service role, along with current employment in the restaurant, hospitality, or beverage industry, is mandatory. For those not immersed in the service industry, the Certified accreditation becomes the pinnacle achievable through CMS.

Conversely, the WSET offers an array of courses spanning wines, spirits, and sake. While it does present industry growth avenues, these lean more towards operational aspects rather than service. However, this by no means implies that those in the service sector wouldn’t reap benefits from WSET courses. Specifically geared towards wines, WSET offers a quartet of levels: Level 1/2/3 Award in Wines and Level 4 Diploma in Wines. For non-industry enthusiasts, WSET provides a gateway to plunge deeper into their wine passion, expanding their understanding within this captivating world. Moreover, it offers a more accessible entry point for learning.

Given my distance from the service industry, WSET naturally aligned as my preferred route. Additionally, my parallel intrigue with securing a certification in spirits nudged me towards WSET, primarily for the streamlined benefit of a single username and password – a convenience that significantly influenced my decision on which program to embark upon. An additional sway towards WSET materialized as it offered virtual accessibility up to Level 3 Award in Wines, a facet I found advantageous.

My pursuit of wine knowledge led me to enroll in WSET’s Level 1 Award in Wines. I’m eager to document my weekly experiences on this journey until my appetite for wine wisdom is satisfied. Ultimately, I urge you to delve into your own research and ascertain which certification course resonates most with your aspirations and inclinations.