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Our Basic Level wine Course
WSET Level 1 Online Wine Course
A qualification Recognized Around the World
$349 CAD
Included with Registration:
FREE access to our Ultimate Guide
— a digital study companion with over 300 multiple-choice questions, flashcards + videos (value $49)
Curriculum
Curriculum
- Explore 8 noble grape varieties and 16 wines from Europe in this basic wine course
- Uncover the essentials of red and white winemaking
- Practice wine tasting technique
- Experience the basics of food and wine pairing
- Know how to serve wine and properly store wine
- Set aside 6 hours of online time (reading + completing exercises) to be completed in 4 weeks
- Add a 4 or more hours for revision, handing in assignments, or for completing exercises in your Ultimate Guide
- Learn at your own pace and schedule your exam when you feel ready and confident
Free with Registration
Access to our Ultimate Guide —
designed for mobile study on the go
(value $49)
Your WSET Level 1 Online Exam
Your WSET Level 1 Online Wine Course Exam
- you have 45 minutes
- for 30 multiple-choice questions
- there is no wine tasting in your Level 1 exam (we save that for Level 3!)
- you must get 70% in order to pass the exam
After passing, you’ll receive an official WSET digital certifcate proving your skills!
Free with Registration
Enrolled students receive free access to the Ultimate Guide study tool
WSET online wine courses:
How to set up
for a remote exam?
FAQs
FAQs for Your Level 1 Online Wine Course
How long does the course take?
You'll have 4 weeks to work through exercises, and engage with your course educator and fellow students.
Once the course ends, you'll still have access to the online classroom for 1 year. However, you will no longer have access to your online educator.
Not to worry! You'll still have Joanne to answer any questions about the exam and what's to come. 🙂
When you've had time to prepare, you'll schedule an exam with Joanne at a time that suits you best.
How does the online classroom work?
The online classroom (called Canvas) is similar to Facebook but with a few more bells and whistles. You’ll receive a full orientation on the first day of the course.
Your educator will check in with you regularly through Announcements, usually three times per week. This is where we’ll highlight key themes for the week, share additional resources, and offer feedback on common challenges we’ve noticed in the assignments. Each Announcement will also be sent to you in your email inbox.
You'll hand in your tasting notes of the wines in the Assignments section for your educator to mark. Here, you'll also be able see the tasting notes submitted by your classmates. Questions can be sent in the 'Discussions' area of Canvas, or through 'Chat'.
In addition, the educator will host a live webinar so you can meet face to face!
Is there a specific time I need to be available for the lessons?
No, WSET online courses are meant for the busy bee! You are welcome to contribute to the assignments whenever you have time.
Yet we recommend you follow along at the same pace as the rest of the class. This way, you'll get the most out of the course.
You’ll also be invited to a of live webinar where you can interact with your educator and classmates. This session is scheduled at the start of the course to give you a chance to attend.
And if you can’t make it? No problem.
The webinar is recorded so you can watch it when it's convenient for you.
Is there a book I need to purchase for the course?
No. All course materials are included in your course fee and you'll have access to it in Canvas, the online classroom. You'll have an entire year to explore its valuable content.
What are the steps for taking a WSET online course?
- Payment — pay for the course you want (classes start every 2 weeks)
- Registration — check your email for the registration form. Here you'll gain access to your Ultimate Guide, and see the recommended list of wines to buy for the course.
- Next, WSET will invite you to join Canvas, the online classroom.
- Make sure you login to Canvas and to your Ultimate Guide right away. If there's any kinks reach out to joanne@sommwine.com so we can work them out before your first day of class.
- Start class and have fun!
- Take the exam.
What is the Ultimate Guide?
When you register with SommWine, you’ll receive complimentary access to my Ultimate Guide — a digital study companion I personally created for my students to help them study smarter and save time. Packed with over 350 practice questions in quiz form, flashcards, and videos, it’s designed to help you study smart.
What is WSET?
The Wine & Spirit Education Trust (WSET) is the world’s leading provider of wine education globally. It's an educational non-profit organization that offers internationally recognized qualifications in wine, spirits, beer, and sake in over 70 different countries and in 15 languages.
How long has WSET offered qualifications?
WSET was founded in London, England in 1969. Why? For centuries (since the middle ages, really), England had to import wine from France, Portugal and even from South Africa (well, that was in the 15th century, not the middle ages!). For context, England did not have a suitable climate for growing grapes... not until the climate changes of the current century. They needed professional wine tasters to select which wines to bring into the country for sale. Over the years, WSET has expanded into Spirits and Sake certification — most recently, into beer education too.
Wines
Who supplies the wine for the course?
Due to archaic shipping laws around alcohol, we'll send you a recommended list of wines to buy right after enrolment. (Or simply check out the next FAQ for the 'recommended wines' list!)
What wines do we need to purchase for the course?
We recommend you purchase at least 3 red wines, 2 white wines, and 1 sweet wine from the list below.
Need any help selecting wine? Just email joanne@sommwine.com - I'm happy to assist!
- a medium-sweet White Zinfandel
- a full-bodied Australian Shiraz
- a young, basic-level Pinot Grigio
- an oaked Chilean Chardonnay
- a New Zealand Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc
- a dry, young Beaujolais
- a medium-sweet German, Mosel Riesling (spätlese, halbtröcken or feinherb, for example)
- a dry Italian Chianti
- a Chilean Pinot Noir
- a Merlot or Cabernet Bordeaux blend
With these wines, you'll make tasting notes to hand in to your educator in the 'Assignments' section of online classroom.
The tasting notes don't count towards your final grade. However, these assignments will help to reinforce your learning and prepare you for the exam. Plus — tasting wine and learning how to describe wine is the best part of taking a wine course!!
How much extra does it cost to purchase the wine?
A realistic average if you were to purchase ALL 6 bottles is about $100. (Check the previous FAQ for 'recommended wines' list.) Depending on what you select, you could spend anywhere from $0 to $225 or more.
We've taken care to recommend wines that are generally easier on the wallet — especially when compared to those chosen by Joanne for our in-person sessions.
Do we need to purchase ALL of the wines for the course?
No—you don’t need to purchase all of the wines.
That said, tasting the recommended wines will help reinforce the theory from your course. It also helps you to learn to identify wine structure. You’ll taste the wines and submit your notes in the Assignments section of the online classroom (called Canvas).
These tasting assignments do not count toward your final grade, but some exam questions do take the form of a tasting note, so the practice is useful. Plus, it's so much fun!
Exam FAQs
When do I write the exam?
Everything is arranged to suit your schedule — you choose the date and time, and we’ll take care of the rest. We'll need 12 days advance notice, so plan accordingly.
We've got your back! Around the third week of the course, we'll check in with you to schedule your exam.
How does the exam work exactly?
You’ll need a reliable internet connection and two devices, such as a laptop and smartphone, to complete your online exam. We strongly recommend taking the exam from home or another trusted internet source rather than while travelling. To help avoid connection issues, make sure others in your household aren’t heavily streaming videos during your exam time.
At this time, we also do not recommend using Starlink internet for online exams.
Don’t worry — we’ll guide you through the process when the time comes! Before exam day, WSET will send you a “Systems Check” to ensure your devices and setup are compatible. For a clear overview of how remote invigilation works, watch the video in the above section.
Testimonials
Kind words from kind humans...
I wouldn’t be a success without hardworking students such as these fine humans…
[After taking WSET with Joanne], I started drinking a lot of wine and I'm able to tell the differences between them to serve my guests better.
After feeling totally overwhelmed at the beginning [of the course], the online course [SommWine's Ultimate Guide] and revision structure definitely helped.
[Joanne] overprepared us for our exam. The online quizzes were so helpful for studying!
I now feel more confident about wine and able to classify all the information in my mind. I'm pleased with how much I've learned in such a short period
Joanne's enthusiasm is infectious and her wine knowledge vast. Would 100% recommend for anyone wanting to deepen their wine knowledge!
Jennifer Wang
Aspiring Sommelier, US
I now have more knowledge about grapes, terroir and winemaking processes and I'm confident to explain wine!
MEET YOUR INSTRUCTOR
Who am I? Think zen master meets Dionysus the Greek god of grape harvests, winemaking, religious ecstasy and ritual madness. As a metaphorical flame thrower, I'll break down students’ barriers to learning. My classes have 2 rules; No oenophobes allowed and no prisoners taken.
Joanne DiGesoCreator: SommWine, Approved Program Provider for WSET
