A friend has recently spent some time in wine country and left wanting too learn more about getting a wine education. I discouraged the MS route and no nothing about WSET. She’s the type of person who tends to go all in when she approaches a subject.
Any thoughts ?
What does she want to learn about? How to make wine? How to describe wines? Lots of different avenues - WSET for general education; perhaps UC Davis Winemaking Certificate Program for a more in depth understanding about how wine is made.
Cheers
I went from not really knowing any wines to getting into wines beginning this year and I decided to take the WSET route to learn more.
I skipped straight to WSET 3 because I was cocky. In retrospect, I think my education into wines would have been better going into WSET 2 first, but I have no regrets grinding my way into level 3. If she does not know anything about wines or very basic knowledge, the WSET program may be a decent avenue for learning more about the wine world.
With the WSET, I went from only knowing the basic wine regions (Napa, Bordeaux) to now knowing most major wine regions in the world and understanding all the factors that come into play with winemaking. Like Larry said, it is general knowledge, but it does cover a lot of information.
Taste a lot and read some basic stuff like JR’s World Atlas of Wine!
Visit winemakers at good, small wineries. Ask them questions.
Hang out here and read about stuff from all the very knowledgeable people, many of whom have crazy levels of specificity on regions.
Why does everyone want a fucking certification???
I took some classes (without a certification) almost 20 years ago so I won’t discourage that route, especially because you can meet people along the way that are equally interested. I’m not sure how far to take it, though, because I think the answers to Larry’s questions are essential to make a proper recommendation.
Better yet get into all the industry events locally in your market and be able to taste a ton of wines from around the world.
as someone who was looking into a formal wine education for a long time, but decided against it, I’m glad thats what I did. there was no reason for me to have the certification besides to say I had it. I got the books, read the books, and got a tasting group together. its what I suggest to everyone who’s not looking to go ITB.
going ITB, different story I would say.
I think just for personal fulfillment.
I completed the WSET3 about a month ago and would highly recommend that as a general wine education path. I briefly considered the MS track, but was put off by all the serving aspect, which I have no interest in. In the end WSET is more academic knowledge and that’s what I was looking for…
I went straight to WSET3, but did have quite a bit of self acquired wine knowledge before. Level 2 may be a better entry point for some.
Would encourage your friend to try WSET.
I passed my WSET Level 3 certification last year, and the structure of the course I took was good for me - it gave me a impetus to focus and invest study time and actually go through some topics I probably wouldn’t have gone through otherwise. (I’m interested in doing some sort of wine ed as a side gig someday in the future, so a certification had been on my mind for a while.)
If the question is just about education for enjoyment, something like WSET Level 2 could give a good foundation on a lot of topics all at once, but it’s certainly not the only way to go. If they’re self-motivated, there are other good resources out there, and hopefully they could find some knowledgeable local folks to help gain some experience beyond just book learning.
thanks everyone for the feedback. I do agree but wanted to make sure I wasn’t missing anything.
I mean there’s also Master of Wine but that’s quite a commitment.
I believe you need to be invited for that… Can’t just apply (and yes, I realize you mentioned that in jest ;))
WSET Level 3 was laughably easy. I just thought it would be fun to have some kind of certification because I was trying to get into wine biz back then (seems nigh impossible in Finland, due to the combination of small population and restrictive alcohol policies including alcohol monopoly).
I never enrolled in the actual course, just did the exam without any prior studying - apart from learning the WSET tasting grid by heart, because it’s quite impossible to pass the test without knowing anything about it. 
I did the test about five years after I had gotten into wine - and about after four years or getting quite geeky about wine. So basically one can easily learn everything taught in WSET lvl. 3 and so much more just by reading books, articles and blogs for a few years.
I’d love to do that MW thing, but not interested investing such a ridiculous sum of my own money for one certification. It’d be a different thing if I worked in a company which could invest the sum.
Anyhoo, I think there’s really no idea in going for the MS route unless one is working in a restaurant and aiming for the top. WSET/MW is less about service and all that and more about wine and wine business. However, unless one really wants to get into wine business, I think reading stuff on their own is more than enough. Unless a) one just wants other people to tell what to learn, b) doesn’t have any means of tasting multiple wines at one go, or have people around with whom share wine / arrange tastings, because that’s a very crucial aspect if one really wants to learn anything about wine.
Having gone through Diploma and with plans on applying to MW next May, my biggest question would be:
What does your friend want to get out of it?
Level 3 was stupidly easy for me when I took it in 2015. It also didn’t prepare me for Diploma. Level 3 is more difficult now as the theory and tasting is a better step towards diploma.
Here’s what I can say from my perspective:
It was worth all of it and I’m a vastly better professional because I did it.
Diploma was humbling, but I thoroughly loved it (except for the Fortified section, that was miserable). I learned an insane amount about the world of wine and the business of wine through it that just tasting and tasting and tasting never could accomplish. How to put wines in context and properly access a wine has really opened my mind to the greater wine world and through it, I found a ton of joy from wines and regions that I didn’t expect going in and may never have really come across otherwise.
You have to apply, be in the business, and have an MW vouch for you. You also have to hold a Diploma from WSET unless you’re a winemaker or that special to allow for a special dispensation. IMW is a different group from WSET though
The WSET programs are great for broad knowledge.
She is really looking to broeden her knowledge and appreciation. No professional aspirations that I know of.
Then have her start at WSET 2 and go onto Advanced. WSET will provide a wider range of styles and information than if she was to go after FWS/SWS/IWS (wine scholar guild) first