The WSET Tasting Level 3 is the first level at which tasting is part of the final examination. The WSET Level 3 Systematic Approach to Tasting Wine® builds on the level two, with the most notable difference being the general shift from a 3 point scale to a 5 point scale when assessing many of the nose and palate components of the tasting.
The level 3 tasting will help you greatly in your understanding of wines, in deciding the wine styles that you prefer and will help you to analyse wines more accurately. Great for both your personal enjoyment and in any wine jobs you hold!
During your classroom session you will likely taste over 60 wines from around the world. This is a jump up from level 2, which in itself was a significant jump from level 1. This classroom tasting will give you brilliant exposure to a range of international wines that you may not have tasted before. The wines are normally scheduled to coincide with the theory lesson being taught.
In line with the global nature of WSET, the wines you taste will be gathered from around the world. These will include red and white Burgundy wines, a range of sparkling wines, Germanic Rieslings, Rhone wines and Bordeaux wines – to name just a few!
WSET Level 3 Systematic Approach to Tasting Wine®
The WSET Tasting – Level 3 lexicon is a step up from level two. You’ll cover:
- The appearance of the wine (including clarity, color and intensity)
- Aromas identified on the nose, along with the intensity of the aromas and classification into primary, secondary and tertiary
- The age / state of the wine based on the aromas identified
- Flavors identified on the palate
- The levels of sweetness, alcohol and acidity as well as other structural components – primarily on a 5 point scale
- A conclusion as to the quality of the wine and its readiness for drinking / ageing potential
You can find the WSET Level 3 Systematic Approach to Tasting Wine® lexicon here for your reference.
Guided by your lecturer, this is a great chance to get to know a wide range of wines. You’ll be able to compare and contrast the wines, and even find out your preferred style!
WSET Level 3 Tasting Exam
The WEST Level 3 in Wine tasting exam lasts for 30 minutes. In this time you need to assess a read and a white wine, using the WSET Level 3 Systematic Approach to Tasting Wine® as your framework. There are a maximum of 41 marks available (20 for your white wine and 21 for the red wine). The difference is caused by a mark being available for tannin assessment in the red wine but not in the white wine.
During the classroom session you will be assessing the wines, and comparing your judgement against that of your lecturer. One thing to bear in mind, is that your lecturer will likely also be the one tasting the wine for your examination, so it is important to calibrate your taste profile with that of the lecturer. If they say a wine is on the scale of a medium plus acidity… then that is what it is!
WSET Level 3 Tasting – Conclusion
The level 3 tasting will give you solid grounding for the analytical tasting of wine. The examination component forces you to embrace the systematic framework, helping to embed it in your repertoire. It will give you confidence in assessing wine – whether it is for your personal pleasure or in you job as a wine buyer, sommelier, wine representative or similar.