WSET Wine & Spirit Education Trust

WSET certification courses at Napa Valley Wine Academy

If you’re considering certification with The Wine and Spirit Education Trust (WSET), you need a trusted guide to help you prepare for the exam.

Napa Valley Wine Academy is the largest and most awarded Approved Program Provider of the WSET, and delivers among the highest pass rates in the industry. We offer classes toward WSET certification online and at eight locations across the US.

What are Napa Valley Wine Academy’s WSET pass rates?

Across 12,321 graded exam sittings our students passed 10,778 times. By level: 97.0% at WSET Level 1, 96.1% at Level 2, 60.2% on the Level 3 theory paper and 89.8% on the Level 3 tasting, and 78.6% across WSET Level 4 Diploma unit exams. See the full figures and how we count them.

What is WSET?

Based in London, WSET is the largest and most respected wine education and certification organization of its kind in the world. More than 100,000 people each year pursue wine and spirits education through them.

Established in London in 1969, WSET has become the foremost international organization in the field of wines, spirits and beer education, with over half a million individuals having completed a WSET qualification. They currently offer courses in over 73 countries and 19 languages. In 2015, their efforts were recognized with a Queen’s Award for Enterprise in International Trade.

Why take a WSET certification?

WSET certifications are an excellent idea for wine professionals looking to enhance their knowledge and expertise in the industry. The qualifications offered by the Wine & Spirit Education Trust are internationally recognized and highly regarded within the wine and spirits industry. With a WSET certification, wine professionals can demonstrate a level of knowledge and expertise that sets them apart from their peers, making them more attractive to employers and customers alike.

One of the key benefits of WSET certifications is the comprehensive nature of the courses. The curriculum covers a wide range of topics, including the production, styles and flavors of different wines and spirits, and wine and spirit service, pairing and tasting techniques. This means that wine professionals who complete a WSET certification will have a deep understanding of the industry, which can help them to make informed decisions and provide expert advice to customers and clients.

Another benefit of WSET certifications is that they are taught by a team of qualified educators who are experts in their field. These educators have the knowledge and experience needed to provide students with a high-quality education and can answer any questions that students may have. With WSET certifications, wine professionals can open up new job opportunities and advance their careers in the wine and spirits industry.

Finally, WSET certifications can help wine professionals develop a deeper understanding and appreciation of wine and spirits, enhancing their enjoyment of these products. A WSET certification can be great personal enrichment and make you stand out as an expert in your field. WSET certifications are a valuable investment for any wine professional looking to enhance their knowledge, expertise and career prospects in the industry.

Which WSET level should you start with?

If you have no prior wine knowledge, start at Level 1. Confident drinkers and hospitality staff usually start at Level 2, which covers around 30 grape varieties and the world’s major regions across 28 study hours. Working wine professionals take Level 3, which requires 84 study hours and adds a blind tasting exam. The Level 4 Diploma is the expert-level qualification and the required prerequisite for the Master of Wine programme.


    12 products
    WSET Level 1 Wine Online | Instructor - Led Course - Napa Valley Wine Academy

    WSET Level 1 Wine Online | Instructor-Led Course

    A four-week instructor-led route to the WSET Level 1 Award in Wines, with a dedicated WSET-certified educator, three live 60-minute webinars including guided tastings, and video lectures, activities and quizzes available 24/7. You keep 12 months of platform access from your course start date, and your online exam registration and exam fee are included in the $329. You will learn to describe wines accurately using the WSET Systematic Approach to Tasting, identify the main wine styles, and apply the fundamental principles of food and wine pairing. Pass the exam and you can display your credentials instantly: a digital badge and certificate to share on LinkedIn, social media, or with your professional network. Prefer no fixed schedule? Our on-demand Level 1 course is $289 with no cohort and no webinars.
    $329.00
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    WSET Level 1 Wine Online | On - Demand Course - Napa Valley Wine Academy

    WSET Level 1 Wine Online | On-Demand Course

    Perfect for self-motivated learners who value independence, flexibility and studying on their own schedule. This is our fully self-paced route to the WSET Level 1 Award in Wines: the entire course opens within about 30 minutes of purchase and stays open for 12 months, with no cohort, no start date and no scheduled class to miss. You get instant access to video lectures, interactive activities, guided home tastings, and practice questions and assignments that grade themselves so your feedback is immediate. There are no live webinars on this course — if you would rather have an instructor in real time, our instructor-led online course is the one to buy. Please note that the exam itself is not on demand: WSET invigilates remotely at pre-scheduled times, and you have 12 months from enrollment to sit it.
    $289.00
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    WSET Level 2 Wine Online | Instructor - Led Course - Napa Valley Wine Academy

    WSET Level 2 Wine Online | Instructor-Led Course

    The WSET Level 2 Award in Wines, taught live over five weeks with a real instructor and a real cohort. Four 90-minute Zoom webinars anchor the course - all recorded, so a work conflict never puts you behind - around 20-plus video lectures, interactive activities, weekly quizzes and a 50-question mock exam you can take at 6 AM or midnight. Twelve classic wines carry you through the WSET Level 2 Systematic Approach to Tasting®, the method that turns "I like this" into an argument you can defend. You keep the platform for 12 months from your course start date, so the material is still there long after the five weeks end. Your online exam registration and fee are included. 96.1% of our Level 2 students pass.
    $679.00
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    WSET Level 2 Wine Online | On - Demand Course - Napa Valley Wine Academy

    WSET Level 2 Wine Online | On-Demand Course

    The WSET Level 2 Award in Wines, on your schedule. The entire course unlocks the moment you enroll and stays yours for 12 months - no cohort, no start date, nothing to be awake for. Explore the world's great wine regions at whatever pace your life allows: video lectures, interactive activities, quizzes, and graded tasting and theory assignments that tell you instantly what you have misunderstood. Twelve classic wines carry you through the WSET Level 2 Systematic Approach to Tasting®, the method that changes how you drink for good. Independent, but never alone - a student discussion community and one-to-one mentoring are there when you want them. Your exam registration is included; the exam itself is taken online with remote invigilation at pre-scheduled times, within 12 months of enrolling. 96.1% of our Level 2 students pass.
    $595.00
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    WSET Level 3 Award in Spirits | Online Course - Napa Valley Wine Academy

    WSET Level 3 Award in Spirits | Online Course

    The WSET Level 3 Award in Spirits is a globally recognized qualification from the Wine & Spirit Education Trust, designed for serious spirits enthusiasts and professionals building a career in the industry. Napa Valley Wine Academy is one of the first US providers approved to deliver the new Issue 3 curriculum, with its reworked tasting framework emphasising texture and quality. Over nine weeks you will engage with Scotch whisky, whiskey in the USA, Cognac, Armagnac, Caribbean rum, Tequila, Mezcal, vodka, gin, Calvados, Baijiu and Genever, learning the key characteristics and labelling terms for spirits around the world and what drives their style and quality — all through the WSET Level 3 Systematic Approach to Tasting® (SAT), guided by a dedicated spirits instructor across five live webinars.
    $1,450.00
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    WSET Level 1 Award in Beer | Online - Napa Valley Wine Academy

    WSET Level 1 Award in Beer | Online

    A practical introduction to beer for newcomers — no previous beer, wine or spirits knowledge required. Over four weeks and six modules on WSET Global's learning platform, plus three live 90-minute webinars with our beer educator, you will explore the main styles, learn how malt, hops, yeast and water shape flavor and aroma, and develop a systematic approach to tasting using the WSET Level 1 Systematic Approach to Tasting Beer. Your exam registration and WSET exam fee are included, and you keep access to the material for 12 months. Beer for tasting is sourced by you — WSET does not require candidates to taste alcohol in order to qualify. Pass and you receive a digital badge and certificate to share on LinkedIn, social media, or with your professional network.
    $325.00
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    WSET Level 1 Award in Beer | In - Person - Napa Valley Wine Academy

    WSET Level 1 Award in Beer | In-Person

    Are you new to beer study? Our WSET Level 1 Award in Beer course will help you begin talking about and tasting beer like a professional. For individuals new to the subject, this qualification offers a hands-on introduction to the world of beer. You’ll explore the main styles of beer through sight, smell, and taste to develop an understanding of the key factors affecting flavors and aromas. Once you pass the exam you can display your credentials instantly! You'll get a digital badge and certificate to celebrate your accomplishment. Share it instantly on LinkedIn, social media, or with your professional network to showcase your achievement!
    $423.00
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    WSET Level 2 Award in Beer | Online - Napa Valley Wine Academy

    WSET Level 2 Award in Beer | Online

    The WSET Level 2 Award in Beer, taught over five weeks with a real instructor and a real cohort. The six-module course content runs on WSET Global's own learning portal; Napa Valley Wine Academy adds four live 60-minute Zoom webinars covering theory and guided tasting, a dedicated instructor for the full five weeks, and group discussion through our own portal. You start at the ingredients - malt, hops, yeast and water - move through brewing and fermentation, then work the world's key styles by what drives them: malt, hops, yeast and mixed fermentation, from Belgium and Germany to the UK and the US. Storage, service and off-flavours are covered too, and throughout you build your palate on the WSET Level 2 Systematic Approach to Tasting Beer®. Taught by a WSET Certified Beer Instructor and Advanced Cicerone. Your online exam registration and fee are included; tasting beers are not.
    $699.00
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    WSET Level 2 Award in Beer | In - Person - Napa Valley Wine Academy

    WSET Level 2 Award in Beer | In-Person

    If you’re ready to go beyond the basics, the WSET Level 2 Award in Beer offers a deeper look at the beer ingredients, production, and the world’s famous beer styles. You’ll also elevate your tasting skills with guided tastings of key beer styles. Once you pass the exam you can display your credentials instantly! You'll get a digital badge and certificate to celebrate your accomplishment. Share it instantly on LinkedIn, social media, or with your professional network to showcase your achievement!
    $933.00
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    WSET Level 1 Award in Sake | Online Course - Napa Valley Wine Academy

    WSET Level 1 Award in Sake | Online Course

    An introduction to sake for those starting a career in the drinks trade or pursuing a personal interest — no previous sake, wine or beer knowledge required. Over four weeks on WSET Global's own learning portal you will explore the main styles and types of sake, learn how rice, water, yeast and brewing choices shape flavor and aroma, and learn to read a sake label and know exactly what it is telling you. Your exam registration and WSET exam fee are included, and you keep access to the course for 12 months. Sake for tasting is sourced by you — WSET does not require candidates to taste alcohol in order to qualify. Pass and you receive a digital badge and certificate to share on LinkedIn, social media, or with your professional network.
    $357.00
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    WSET Level 1 Award in Spirits Online | On - Demand Course - Napa Valley Wine Academy

    WSET Level 1 Award in Spirits Online | On-Demand Course

    The WSET Level 1 Award in Spirits, fully self-paced. The whole course opens within about 30 minutes of purchase and stays open for 12 months, with no cohort, no start date and no scheduled class. You learn the basic principles of spirit production, the main types and styles, what drives flavor, how to serve spirits and the basics of cocktail construction, describing them with the WSET Level 1 Systematic Approach to Tasting Spirits. Your exam registration and WSET exam fee are included. There are no live webinars on this course, and on-demand purchases are final. WSET does not require candidates to taste alcohol, so you do not need a shelf full of bottles to qualify.
    $299.00
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    WSET Level 2 Award in Spirits Online | On - Demand Course - Napa Valley Wine Academy

    WSET Level 2 Award in Spirits Online | On-Demand Course

    The WSET Level 2 Award in Spirits, entirely on your schedule. The whole course unlocks the moment you enroll and stays yours for 12 months - no cohort, no start date, no live webinars to be awake for. Start at the still: how pot and column distillation shape purity and flavour, then the world category by category - Scotch, bourbon, Canadian and Japanese whisky, rum, Tequila and Mezcal, vodka, gin, Cognac and brandy, liqueurs and flavoured spirits. You will read a label for what it legally means, deconstruct the classic cocktail families, and train your palate on the WSET Level 2 Systematic Approach to Tasting Spirits®. Written and recorded by our head spirits educator, a WSET Diploma holder and Master of Baijiu. Your online exam registration and fee are included; tasting samples are not.
    $599.00
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    FAQs

    What can I expect from the WSET Level 2 Award in Wines at Napa Valley Wine Academy?

    Unlock the intricacies of wine with our esteemed WSET Level 2 Award in Wines program. Delve into vintages, grape varieties, and wine styles in a comprehensive curriculum designed to elevate your expertise. Taught by industry experts, our course equips you with the knowledge and confidence to excel in the wine world. Join us at Napa Valley Wine Academy and embark on a journey of discovery with WSET Level 2.

    What is WSET certification and why is it important?

    Discover the world of wine education withWSET certificationcourses at Napa Valley Wine Academy. As an approved provider of WSET programs, we offer a range of courses catering to all levels of expertise, from introductory to advanced. Whether you’re pursuing a career in the wine industry or simply expanding your knowledge, our WSET certification courses provide a structured and comprehensive approach to wine education.

    How do I determine which WSET level is right for me?

    Navigating theWSET levelscan be daunting, but at Napa Valley Wine Academy, we’re here to help you find the perfect fit. Whether you’re a novice or a seasoned professional, our range of WSET courses caters to all levels of expertise. From the foundational knowledge of WSET Level 1 to the advanced exploration of WSET Level 4 Diploma, each course offers a unique learning experience tailored to your goals and aspirations in the world of wine.

    What rare grape varieties will I encounter in WSET courses at Napa Valley Wine Academy?

    Dive into the fascinating world of rare grape varieties with WSET courses at Napa Valley Wine Academy. Our curriculum goes beyond the mainstream, introducing students to a diverse array of lesser-known grapes from around the globe. From the exotic Assyrtiko to the elusive Trousseau, WSET courses provide a platform for exploring and appreciating the rich tapestry of grape varieties that contribute to the diversity of the wine world.

    What can help me excel in WSET courses at Napa Valley Wine Academy?

    Embark on your wine education journey with confidence in WSET online courses from Napa Valley Wine Academy. Excelling in online learning requires discipline and commitment. Ensure success by setting aside dedicated study time, actively participating in virtual discussions, and taking advantage of multimedia resources. Stay organized with a structured study plan and utilize online forums for collaboration and support. With these tips, you’ll navigate online wine education seamlessly and excel in your WSET courses.

    What are the advantages of taking WSET Level 3 in Wines with Napa Valley Wine Academy?

    Discover the benefits of pursuing WSET Level 3 online with Napa Valley Wine Academy. Our comprehensive course offers in-depth knowledge of wine regions, grape varieties, production methods, and the Systematic Approach to Tasting Wine®. With experienced instructors and interactive online sessions, you’ll gain the expertise needed to excel in the wine industry. Whether you’re advancing your career or fueling your passion for wine, WSET Level 3 online at Napa Valley Wine Academy provides a flexible and enriching learning experience.

    Why should I consider the WSET Level 1 Award in Wines at Napa Valley Wine Academy?

    Begin your journey into the world of wine with our renowned WSET Level 1 Award in Wines. This introductory course provides a solid foundation in wine knowledge, covering key grape varieties, wine styles, and basic tasting techniques. Ideal for beginners and enthusiasts alike, our Level 1 course sets the stage for further exploration and learning in the fascinating realm of wine.

    What are the main differences between WSET Wine Level 2 and Level 3 courses?

    Curious about the distinctions between WSET Level 2 and Level 3 courses? At Napa Valley Wine Academy, we offer both levels to accommodate varying levels of expertise. WSET Level 2 focuses on core wine knowledge, while Level 3 delves deeper into regions, grape varieties, and production methods. WSET 3 also introduces the Systematic Approach to Tasting Wine, refining sensory evaluation skills for a more comprehensive understanding of wines.

    What are the benefits of achieving Napa Valley Wine Academy WSET 4 certification?

    Elevate your wine expertise with Napa Valley Wine Academy’s WSET Level 4 certification. This prestigious qualification is recognized worldwide as the pinnacle of wine education, offering unparalleled benefits for aspiring professionals. From in-depth knowledge of wine production to advanced tasting skills, WSET Level 4 certification opens doors to prestigious career opportunities in the wine industry and enhances your credibility as a wine expert.

    What are some tips for excelling in WSET exams, particularly in tasting?

    Prepare for success in WSET tasting exams with these essential tips from Napa Valley Wine Academy. Dedicate time to regular tasting practice, ensuring familiarity with evaluation techniques. Utilize the WSET’s systematic approach to tasting for thorough assessments. Keep detailed tasting notes and stay organized during exams. Attend tasting workshops to refine your palate and vocabulary. Finally, maintain composure during exams, trusting your instincts and focusing on the task at hand.

    Conquering WSET Level 3: Can Short Answer Practice Help You Ace the Exam?

    Absolutely! Practicing short written answers is a powerful tool to solidify your knowledge for the WSET Level 3 exam. By concisely explaining key concepts in written format, you’ll improve your recall and develop strong exam technique.

    What does WSET Level 2 in Wine entail?

    WSET Wine Level 2 is an intermediate-level course offered by Napa Valley Wine Academy. Designed for enthusiasts and professionals alike, it provides a comprehensive understanding of the world of wine. Participants will learn about key grape varieties, winemaking techniques, major wine regions, and the principles of food and wine pairing. By the end of the course, students will have the knowledge and confidence to assess and appreciate wines with greater insight.

    What can I expect to learn about tasting in WSET Level 1 in Wine?

    Embark on your wine journey with WSET Level 1 at Napa Valley Wine Academy, where you’ll master the fundamentals of wine tasting. This introductory course covers tasting basics, including sight, smell, and taste, allowing you to develop a structured approach to evaluating wines. Through guided tastings and practical exercises, you’ll gain confidence in assessing wine quality and identifying key characteristics, laying the groundwork for further exploration in the world of wine.

    What is the significance of DipWSET in the wine industry?

    Discover the importance of DipWSET certification in the wine industry with Napa Valley Wine Academy. DipWSET, offered by the Wine & Spirit Education Trust, is a prestigious qualification that signifies advanced expertise in wine. Holders of DipWSET are recognized as accomplished professionals, equipped with in-depth knowledge and tasting proficiency. This certification opens doors to prestigious career opportunities in various sectors of the industry, including hospitality, retail, distribution, and education.

    WSET Level 2: Stepping Stone to Sommelier?

    The WSET Level 2 online course is a fantastic starting point for your wine journey! While it doesn’t directly qualify you as a sommelier, it equips you with foundational knowledge to pursue further certifications like the Certified Sommelier program.