Welcome to our guide to the Wine & Spirit Education Trust (WSET) Level 3 in Sake. WSET Level 3 is the highest level of sake qualification available from the WSET. Whether you are a sake enthusiast looking to expand your knowledge or looking to advance your career in the industry this qualification could be for you. In this guide we’ll help you to navigate the details of the qualification and decide if it is the right one for you.
WSET Level 1 Award in Sake – Syllabus
The WSET Level 3 in sake covers five main areas:
1. The main ingredients and their influence on style and quality
The section will cover:
- The main sake ingredients including rice, Koji and Jozo.
- The cultivation and preparation of rice
- The production of Koji
- The fermentation process
- Post fermentation processes
- Maturation
2. Principal and specialty sakes
The section will cover:
- The main grades of sake and the categories
- Labeling terms and the style of sake that they indicate
- Common Kanji appearing on sake labels
- The main factors that influence the style and quality of sake and the corresponding price
3. The role of principal sake trade organisations and the commercial importance
The third learning outcome of Unit 1 covers the commercial and economic importance of sake and the different organisations involved in the sake trade.
4. Providing information and advice
This final learning outcome of unit 1 covers:
- The storage and service of sake
- Common faults found in sake
- An introduction to pairing sake and food
- Making recommendations on the appropriate sake
5. Analytic Tasting
Unit 2 comprises one learning outcome only. This covers the analytical tasting of sake. You will learn how to analyse sake using the WSET Level 3 Systematic Approach to Tasting Sake® and use this analysis to make an assessment on the category, style and production methods of the sake.
WSET Level 3 Award in Sake – Teaching
You’ll need to register for the course with an approved WSET course provider. Depending on the teaching method that you choose this may involve 2 consecutive days or it could be broken up across multiple weeks. There is a minimum of 18 1/4 hours of classroom time and a recommended 24 additional hours of personal study time.
WSET Level 3 Award in Sake – Examination
The level 3 exam has 3 components:
30 minutes tasting exam. This exam is closed book and involved applying WSET’s Systematic Approach to Tasting (SAT) framework to assess 2 different sakes.
A 1 hour 45 minute, closed book, written exam comprising:
- 50 multiple choice questions
- 3 short written questions
The short answers section will have 2 questions from learning outcomes 1 & 2 and 1 question from learning outcomes 1, 2 & 4.
You’ll need to pass all 3 components (minimum 55% score) in order to pass the examination.
For your multiple choice exam you will face questions from each of the four Unit one learning outcomes:
- Learning Outcome 1 (the main ingredients and their influence on style and quality): 20 questions
- Learning Outcome 2 (principal and specialty sakes): 20 questions
- Learning Outcome 3 (the role of principal sake trade organisations and commercial importance): 5 questions
- Learning Outcome 4 (providing information and advice): 5 questions
Prerequisites for Entry
There are no prerequisites for registration onto the course although it is recommended that you take the level 1 introduction to sake course or similar beforehand. For candidates who feel they have sufficient understanding to jump to level 3 should contact the course provider to discuss further.
WSET Level 3 in Sake – Conclusion
The WSET Level 3 in Sake is perfect for those incredibly interested in sake and those at the cutting edge of sake service or the sake trade industry. It provides you a great knowledge base and gives you exposure to a wide range of sakes. Whether you’re a sake enthusiast or a budding sake professional, the level 3 exam will give you a great base of knowledge to work from.