On January 24, the world unites to celebrate the United Nations International Day of Education, a day that reminds us of the transformative power of education and its crucial role as a cornerstone of sustainable development. In this two-part article, we will guide you through various educational bodies that can guide you through your personal wine journey.

Learning about wine is supposed to be fun. (Photo: stock.adobe.com, Parilov)

In honor of this day, endorsed by the UN, it's an opportune moment to delve into the realm of wine education. Various organizations and independent classes offer insights into winemaking, tasting, history, and terroir. These expanding fields provide a unique lens through which we can explore culture, geography, and even climate change.

Independent Wine Tastings and Events

Specialist stores, wineries, and local wine schools often host wine courses and tastings. These gatherings present a fantastic opportunity to taste, learn, and meet new people in a relaxed environment.

Unlike formal education settings, these wine schools usually don't conduct tests or exams but instead focus on teaching over one or several evenings. The goal is to foster interaction, understanding, and socialization. Sometimes, these events delve into very specific topics, attracting wine enthusiasts keen to explore the subject in depth alongside fellow aficionados.

The Leading Wine Education Provider

The Wine and Spirits Education Trust (WSET), founded in London in 1969, is widely recognized as the premier institution for wine education. WSET now teaches about more than just wine and spirits. They also include Sake and Beer education.

For wine enthusiasts, the Level 1 Award in Wines comes highly recommended. This wine study program offers a broad overview of the wine world and imparts essential skills in wine tasting. Progressing to Level 2, students delve deeper, acquiring knowledge about the intricacies behind wine labels.

For those who are seriously passionate about wine, whether as aficionados or professionals, the Level 3 course is an ideal choice. This level provides an in-depth exploration of the world's most significant wine regions and grape varieties. Many regard completion of Level 3 as the equivalent of achieving Sommelier status.

The pinnacle of WSET's offerings is the Level 4 Diploma. This prestigious program transforms participants into some of the world's leading wine experts. The rigorous two-year course culminates in demanding exams, including blind tastings of 18 wines. Successful candidates earn the right to use the prestigious and protected title ‘DipWSET’ on their business cards. Only about 15,000 experts worldwide have passed this challenging program.

Wine Certifications from Level 1 to 3 are available in nearly every country across the globe. However, the Diploma course is offered exclusively in exclusive educational hubs, ensuring the highest quality of education.

For those interested in embarking on this educational journey, more information and course registration are available at WSET Global.

Wine Scholar Guild

The Wine Scholar Guild (WSG) stands out with its comprehensive online and in-person study programs. This educational body offers specialized courses focusing on specific countries or regions, allowing enthusiasts to become experts on their favorite wine-producing areas.

Beyond country-specific education, WSG also provides specialty courses to further refine and enhance specialist knowledge. Additionally, they offer a membership program, granting access to exclusive content and videos, priority booking for study experiences abroad, and lifelong learning benefits, including discounts on courses.

WSG has a big network, working with 130 wine schools and 150 experts, and has taught over 10,000 wine lovers.

Come back tomorrow to discover the most prestigious tiltles of the wine industry: Master Sommelier & Master of Wine.

Peter Douglas