WSET Intermediate Certificate in Wines and Spirits £315 including tuition, books,  wine for tasting, examination fees, lunch and refreshments.

Course Dates 2010

This is the Wine and Spirits Education Trust’s level 2 qualification designed for people who need some specialist knowledge of the wines they sell or who want to know more about the wines they enjoy as a customer. It provides essential product knowledge for those employed in the drinks industry who have little previous knowledge of the broad range of alcoholic beverages available in the UK. The qualification is suitable wherever a basic level of product knowledge is required to underpin job skills and competencies, for example in the customer service and sales functions of the retail hospitality industry. AS&A offer the learning guidance over three full days including the 50-question, multiple-choice examination paper. This leads on to the ‘Advanced Wine Certificate’ followed by the ‘Diploma in Wines and Spirits’ and then, for the really ambitious and talented, ‘Master of Wine’. We run regular ‘Advanced Certificate’ courses. Course programme Day 1 Introduction Session 1 Systematic approach to tasting. Common faults in wine. Storage and service of wines. Food & wine matching Session 2 Factors influencing the style of wine. Label terminology Session 3 Chardonnay General Characteristics, Main regions of production, Bulk areas, Blends Pinot Noir as for Chardonnay Day 2 Session 4 Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot as for Chardonnay Sauvignon Blanc as for Chardonnay Session 5 Syrah/Shiraz and Grenache As for Chardonnay Riesling as for Chardonnay Session 6 Italy Key regions, Styles of wine, Key grapes, Label terminology, Spain as for Italy Portugal as for Italy Day 3 Session 7 Sparkling Wines Main methods of production, Main areas of production, Style of wines and main grape varieties used Sweet Wines Methods of production, Main areas of production, Style of wines and main grape varieties used Session 8 Fortified Wines – Sherry and Port  Methods of production, Main areas of production, Spirits & Liqueurs Style, base materials and production methods for the most common spirits, Labelling terms for spirits and liqueurs Assessment 50-Question multiple-choice paper completed in 60 minutes