WSET Level 1

We have many opportunities to share wine in 2026!

There has never been a better time to dive into the wonderful world of wine!

For individuals new to wine study, this Level 1 qualification provides a hands-on introduction to the world of wine. You’ll explore the main types and styles of wine through sight, smell, and taste, while also gaining the basic skills to describe wines accurately, and make food and wine pairings. Upon successful completion you will receive a WSET certificate and lapel pin.

This full-day course focuses on learning the art of wine tasting (including demystifying the vocabulary you might have once found daunting), pairing food and wine, and exploring the characteristics of the major grape varieties with intensive exercises. We also delve a bit into grape growing and winemaking, and serving and cellaring wine, topics that are covered in greater depth in Levels 2 and 3.

Who is this class for?

This class is the ideal place to hone your wine sensibility, whether your interest in wine is as an occasional consumer hoping to demystify a wine list when you go out to dinner, or a culinary professional looking to expand your wine knowledge beyond the basics that are part of culinary training. It's a full-day course that includes tasting 14 high quality wines, from Champagne to classics from Spain, France, Italy, Germany, Australia, New Zealand and the United States.

A Note About Whether to take Level 1 or Level 2

I am often asked whether Level 1 is necessary if you already know something about wine. There is no simple answer to this question - it depends. If you already have a good understanding of the basics of wine, you could begin your formal studies directly with Level 2, but if you want a solid grounding, especially relating to WSET's systematic approach to tasting, Level 1 is a great starting point. We also pay much more attention to food and wine pairing in Level 1 than in Level 2 (but you are expected to get the basics of wine and food pairing from the Level 2 text).

My best recommendation is this: Level 1 is perfect for someone who likes wine but feels they know little about its intricacies. In short, this is an ideal introduction. If you have been drinking wine for a while and feel comfortable with some wine basics, like grape types and wine regions and the basics of fermentation, then you do save time by starting with Level 2 (though as noted above, you do miss some of the basics of wine and food pairing). The best option is to do both courses, but it’s your call - both are wonderful courses and either way, you definitely get a lot of coaching in wine tasting!

WSET Level 1 in Miami:

I’ll be teaching WSET Level 1 in Miami for Florida Wine Academy on February 9, 2026. You can register directly on the florida Wine Academy website.

WSET Level 1 in Charleston

Fine Vintage, Ltd. is offering two Level 1 classes in Charleston, South Carolina this year. I’ll be leading the courses on:

Friday, October 16, 2026

WSET Level 1 in New Orleans

Fine Vintage, Ltd . is offering two Level 1 classes in New Orleans, LA this year. I’ll be leading the classes on the following dates (and you can register at the Fine Vintage web page: