WSET® Level 2 Award in Wines

Classroom Course Price: $899  |  Online Course Price: $699
WSET Level 2 Award in Wines

About the WSET Level 2 Award in Wines

The WSET Level 2 Award in Wines is the most popular wine qualification offered by the Wine & Spirit Education Trust and a natural next step for anyone ready to move beyond the basics. This globally recognized credential builds a confident, working vocabulary for wine professionals, serious enthusiasts, and hospitality teams who interact with guests or buyers every day.

Because this qualification covers the principal grape varieties, the world’s most important wine regions, and the factors that shape style and quality, it equips you to describe, compare, and recommend wines with precision. You will also learn to taste systematically using the WSET Level 2 Systematic Approach to Tasting Wine® (SAT), the same framework used by sommeliers, buyers, and educators across the industry.

In short, Level 2 is where wine knowledge becomes wine fluency. Students finish the course able to read a label, explain a style, and match a wine to a dish with real confidence.

Prerequisite: None. Candidates must be 21 years of age or older to participate in any tasting activity. No prior WSET qualification is required, though familiarity with the Level 1 Award in Wines or equivalent wine experience helps you get the most from this course.

Who Is This For?

  • Hospitality professionals, servers, and sommeliers sharpening wine service skills
  • Retail and wholesale teams guiding customers through selection and pairing
  • Serious enthusiasts ready to deepen their knowledge of styles, regions, and grape varieties
  • Future WSET Level 3 candidates building a strong foundation before advancing

Course Details for the Level 2 Award in Wines

Slate Wine Academy delivers the WSET Level 2 Award in Wines in two formats on a single registration page. Choose the path that fits your schedule and learning style.

Classroom format. The in-person course runs across six sessions led by a SWSA Course Educator. Scheduling varies by cohort and typically follows either a three-day Sunday format with two sessions per day, or a six-week Monday format with one session per week. Each cohort tastes 30+ benchmark wines that illustrate the course’s core regions, grape varieties, and styles. The invigilated exam takes place at the final session.

Online format. The online course runs through the WSET Online Classroom, a self-paced platform that gives you 12 months of access to all course content plus a five-week educator support window for questions as you study. In short, you control the pace, and a Remote Invigilation exam gets scheduled through WSET at your convenience.

What You’ll Learn

Tasting and Evaluating Wine

First, you will learn to taste systematically using the WSET Level 2 SAT. Topics include appearance, nose, palate, and quality assessment, giving you a consistent vocabulary to describe any wine.

Factors in the Vineyard and Winery

Next, you will explore how climate, soil, grape growing, and winemaking choices shape the final wine. These building blocks explain why a Chardonnay from one region tastes so different from another.

Still White Wines

Then, you will work through the principal white grape varieties and the regions that define their styles, including Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Riesling, Pinot Grigio, and other regionally important varieties from Europe and the wider world.

Still Red Wines

After that, you will cover the key red grape varieties and their classic expressions, including Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Pinot Noir, Syrah/Shiraz, Tempranillo, and other regionally important reds.

Sparkling and Fortified Wines

In addition, you will study the production methods and signature styles behind Champagne, Prosecco, Cava, Sherry, and Port, including how each method shapes the glass in front of you.

Pairing, Serving, and Storing Wine

Finally, you will put it all to work by learning practical food pairing principles, ideal serving temperatures, proper glassware, and storage conditions so every bottle shows at its best.

Classroom Course Includes

  • Six in-person sessions led by a SWSA Course Educator
  • Printed WSET Level 2 Award in Wines study materials
  • 30+ benchmark wines tasted in class across the course’s core regions and styles
  • Invigilated in-person exam at the final session
  • Educator guidance throughout the course
  • Additionally, wine glasses, tasting mats, and spit cups at every session
  • Access to the SWSA Remote Learning Hub, a companion resource with supplementary video content to reinforce your study between sessions

Online Course Includes

  • Printed WSET Level 2 Award in Wines study materials shipped to your mailing address
  • 12 months of access to the WSET Online Classroom
  • Educator support available throughout the five-week support window
  • Self-paced video lessons, readings, and practice questions inside the Online Classroom
  • Access to the SWSA Remote Learning Hub, a companion resource with recorded classroom sessions and supplementary video content
  • Online Remote Invigilation exam scheduled through WSET at your convenience
  • Wine samples are not included; a suggested tasting list accompanies the course so you can source wines locally

SWSA Student Perks

Every SWSA student enjoys partner benefits that extend learning beyond the course. Specifically, the following perks apply to the Level 2 Award in Wines:

  • Tim’s Wine Market offers a student discount on wine purchases. Details shared after registration.
  • E-tasting offers a student discount on a curated Level 2 Wines tasting set to support at-home practice. Details shared after registration.
  • Direct access to a WSET-certified SWSA educator by text, phone, or email throughout your course.

Time Commitment

The WSET Level 2 Award in Wines carries a Total Qualification Time (TQT) of 28 hours. This breaks down into 17 Guided Learning Hours (which count the 1-hour examination) and 11 hours of Private Study.

Overall, the online format lets you control the pace across your five-week support window and your 12-month classroom access, while the in-person format delivers the same content across six structured sessions with real-time educator guidance and live tastings.

Assessment for the Level 2 Award in Wines

  • Exam format: 50 multiple-choice questions completed in 60 minutes.
  • Pass mark: 55%, with three grading bands:
    • Pass: 55% to 69%
    • Pass with Merit: 70% to 84%
    • Pass with Distinction: 85% and above
  • Classroom exam: invigilated in person at the final session.
  • Online Remote Invigilation: online students schedule the exam through WSET at a time that suits them, taken from home on a compatible device.
  • In-person exam by request: online students who prefer an in-person sitting can contact us to arrange one.
  • One-year exam window from enrollment, with a rescheduling fee published on the WSET cancellations policy.
  • Successful candidates receive a digital WSET certificate, and a lapel pin is available upon request.
  • The WSET Level 2 Award in Wines is Ofqual regulated.

Helpful Resources

Level 2 Award in Wines Specification
See Course Information