Taking on the WSET Level 2
WSET is the Wine & Spirit Education Trust, a charity (yes, charity!) formed in 1969. Its aim was to help professionals and consumers alike learn more about the world of wine. Since then, it has grown to become the leading authority on wine education, and today WSET qualifications are recognised worldwide.
The Level 2 Award in Wines
The Level 2 Award in Wines develops your ability to taste and assess wines, and explores major grape varieties, regions, and resulting styles. You don’t need to have undertaken the Level 1 qualification in order to apply for Level 2, although that’s an excellent place to start. All you need is a passion for all things wine-related, and a desire to learn!
Preparing for Level 2
As mentioned, it’s not compulsory to have undertaken any prior qualifications, but attending a Bibendum Wine Confidence course or WSET Level 1 Award in Wines gives a sound base in wine knowledge upon which to build. If you’re deciding to jump straight into Level 2, there are a vast array of books and online resources to get your grape juices flowing:
Wine Folly
Wine Folly https://winefolly.com/ has a wealth of excellent introductory wine resources, complete with infographics and detailed regional maps.
Wine Magazines
Wine Enthusiast https://www.winemag.com/ and Decanter Magazine https://www.decanter.com/ are two of the best wine publications (print and digital both available) out there, and have loads of topical articles and wine quizzes to get you up to speed with the world of wine.
Bibendum
Time for a self-plug! Check out our own website https://www.bibendum-wine.co.uk/news-stories/ and have a skim through our articles and wine quizzes.
Ask the Pros
Finally, if you’re a bit more old-school and prefer to curl up on the sofa with a book, have a look at the World Atlas of Wine by Hugh Johnson and Jancis Robinson. It’s a hefty tome, but is a lovely coffee-table book with beautiful maps, illustrations and photographs.
Our final bit of advice would be to taste, taste, taste! If you’re browsing the shop shelves or perusing a restaurant wine list, go outside your comfort zone and taste a grape variety/region you’ve never tried before.
Jamie Barrow
After completing a degree in Theatre Design, Jamie decided to put down his pencils and paintbrushes to spend three years teaching in Japan. Upon his return, he decided to pursue his love for wine by embarking on his WSET qualifications. Having recently completed his WSET Diploma, he has joined Bibendum as a Wine Educator to share his passion for all things vinous.