WSET® Level 1 Award in Sake

Online Course Price: $349

About the Course

The WSET Level 1 Award in Sake is an accessible introduction to one of the world’s most distinctive beverages. This qualification is ideal for individuals who are new to sake, whether you are working in hospitality or simply curious to learn more.

You’ll discover how rice, water, kōji, and yeast come together to create the main styles of sake. Through guided tasting, you’ll learn to identify key aroma and flavor characteristics and gain confidence describing what you taste using simple, structured language.

In addition to style and production basics, the course introduces essential storage, service, and food pairing principles, giving you practical knowledge you can use immediately.

Upon successful completion of the exam, you will receive your WSET Level 1 Award in Sake certification.

Prerequisite: None. Curiosity and enthusiasm for learning about sake are all you need!

Course Details

Sake is intimately linked with Japan. Indeed, one of the official names for sake, nihon-shu, literally means ‘Japanese alcoholic drink.’ With sake, you have something that is intricately and deliciously Japanese. This course is designed to show you how a humble grain of rice can be made to deliver such a diversity of styles with different flavors and textures. You will also get to know the all-important Japanese names for these styles. These fundamental reference points will enable you to navigate the fascinating world of sake.

What You’ll Learn

During this course, students will hone their sake knowledge with expert guidance while learning:

• The basic principles of sake production
• The main types and styles of sake
• How to serve sake
• Factors affecting the flavor of sake
• How to describe sake using the WSET Level 1 Systematic Approach to Tasting Sake® (SAT)

By the end of the course, you’ll know the principal categories of sake available, what defines them and what characteristics to expect from them. You’ll have learned how to taste and describe sake using a globally recognized approach and will know how to serve and store sake optimally. You’ll also be familiar with some important Japanese sake labeling terms.

Anyone embarking on a WSET qualification should familiarize themselves with the corresponding specification. This document will help you understand what to expect and what you will get from the course.

Online Course Includes

• 4 weeks of expert guidance as you work through each online module:
  1. What is Sake & How is it Made?
  2. Categories & Grades of Sake
  3. Introduction to Tasting Sake
  4. Making Different Styles of Sake
  5. Japanese Labeling Terms & Speciality Styles
  6. Storage & Service of Sake
  7. Pairing Sake & Food
• Quizzes at the end of each module to check your progress
• 12 months of access to the Level 1 Award in Sake online learning material for self-paced learning
• 30+ WSET Level 1 Award in Sake practice exam questions
• Exam fees (exam is scheduled at the end of the course)
• Frameable certificate & lapel pin (upon passing the examination)

Assessment

• The Level 1 Award in Sake examination consists of 30 multiple-choice questions to be completed in 45 minutes. 
• To pass you must correctly answer 70% of the questions.
• This exam may be taken in-person or online via remote invigilation. Please note that you have one year from the end date of your course to take your examination. After one year, you must pay the corresponding rescheduling fee before you may sit the exam.
  • Online Students: You will take your exam online via Remote Invigilation.
    • Please email us to arrange your examination date prior to the end of your course.
  • If you would like to change the format of you exam to an in-person or online exam, please contact us directly and we will do our absolute best to accommodate your request!
• Successful students will receive a WSET certificate and lapel pin.
• This qualification is Ofqual regulated.

Please refer to the corresponding page in our policies for information regarding cancellations, refunds, and transfers.