Wine Industry Job Qualifications and Courses
Burgundy School of Business
Programmes in Management in English.
Burgundy School of Business offers 8 Master's degrees and 1 Bachelor's in Management taught in French or in English, accredited by the Conferences des Grandes Ecoles and open to French and international students.
Institute of Masters of Wine
Since its foundation in 1955, the Institute and its members have dedicated themselves to upholding and promoting the highest professional and educational standards in the wine trade.
Becoming a Master of Wine is internationally recognised as the pinnacle of professional achievement in the world of wine. The Institute's education programme is primarily aimed at wine trade professionals and is designed to prepare candidates for the Masters of Wine Examination. It is a guided self-study programme which takes a minimum of three years to complete.
Master of Wine
All students study for a minimum of two years before sitting the Masters of Wine Examination. They follow a self-study programme and are supported by an annual, week-long residential seminar, occasional study days and one-to-one advice from mentors who are Masters of Wine. The education programme does not therefore demand large periods of time away from employment. However, it does require discipline and motivation to keep up with the level of study required. After passing both the Theory and Practical parts of the examination, students then research and write a 10,000 word dissertation in the following year, again with the support of a Master of Wine mentor.
The exam is designed to enable candidates to show the breadth of their theoretical and practical understanding of the wine industry. The questions are set by a
panel of MWs, and marked by MWs and leading figures in the world of wine.
The exam currently consists of three parts:
Practical - three twelve-wine blind tastings, each lasting two and a quarter hours, in which wines must be assessed for variety, origin, winemaking, quality and style. Practical papers must be written in English.
The Theory and Practical papers are examined concurrently over four days, usually in June, in three centres: Napa, Sydney and London.
Dissertation - a ten thousand word original study, re
levant to the wine industry, with the topic selected by the candidate
. This is typically written after the candidate has passed both the Theory and the Practical.
Wine & Spirit Education Trust (WSET)
WSET Level 1 Foundation Wine
The WSET Level 1 Wine course is for people preparing for or starting their first job in wine service. It may also be suitable for students on a course of study leading to food and drink service NVQs at Level 1 and 2 or other hospitality-related qualifications. This Foundation course will introduce them, at a very basic level, to the main varieties of wine available, wine service and the matching of food and wine.
This course will enable students to meet workplace or Realistic Working Environment (RWE) wine service standards and deal with basic customer enquiries. It also aims to provide students with product and service information relevant to their place of employment or study.
The qualification aims to provide the basic product knowledge and skills in the service of wines required to prepare a person with the knowledge to underpin the job skills and competences in junior positions in the sale and service of wine in restaurants and bars and for call-centre staff in wine retail or wholesale.
WSET LEVEL 1 Foundation Spirits
The WSET Level 1 Spirits course is for people preparing for or starting their first job in hospitality or the spirits industry. It may also be used for students on a course of study leading to food and drink service NVQs at Level 1 and 2 or other hospitality-related qualifications. The Foundation Spirits course will introduce them, at a very basic level, to the main categories of spirit available, spirits service, marketing and basic product knowledge. This will enable students to meet workplace or Realistic Working Environment (RWE) spirit service standards and deal with basic customer enquiries. The course aims to provide students with product and service information relevant to their place of employment within the Beverage Industry or place of study. The qualification aims to provide the basic product knowledge and background in marketing spirits to prepare a person with the knowledge to underpin the job skills and competences in the sale and service of spirits in hospitality or the spirits industry.
WSET Level 1 Award in Wine Service
This qualification aims to provide the basic skills in customer service and service of wine to prepare a person for their first job in hospitality. It provides a foundation in the basic skills required by all wine service staff and sommeliers. The course builds on the knowledge and skills developed in the WSET Foundation Certificate in Wines, and shows how these can be used in the workplace. The course is also suitable for people already employed in the hospitality industry who wish to be introduced in a structured way to wine service in a restaurant setting.
WSET LEVEL 2 Intermediate Certificate Wine
The WSET Level 2 Wine qualification is intended for those who have a basic or no previous knowledge of the wide range of wines and spirits. It is suitable
wherever a sound but basic level of product knowledge is required to underpin job skills and competences, for example, in the customer service and sales functions of the hospitality, retailing and wholesaling industries. It is also useful for those who have a general interest in the subject. Holders of the WSET Level 2.
Certificate in Wines and Spirits will be able to interpret the labels of the major wines and spirits of the world and give basic guidance on appropriate selection and service, as well as understand the principles of wine tasting and Evaluation.
WSET LEVEL 2 Intermediate Certificate Spirits
The WSET Level 2 Spirits is intended to provide a comprehensive level of focused product knowledge required to underpin job skills and competencies, for example in bar service, cocktail service and for staff requiring focused product knowledge in retail and wholesaling businesses. Successful candidates will be able to give information on the characteristics of the principal spirits and liqueurs and identify major international brands within each category. They will confidently provide guidance on the use and service of spirits and liqueurs and make informed recommendations to customers when selecting spirits and liqueurs to meet their taste, quality and price requirements.
WSET LEVEL 3 Advanced Certificate
The WSET Level 3 Advanced Certificate qualification is designed to give a thorough understanding of the principal wines and spirits of the world and their commercial importance in the world's market. The qualification will assist those who are required to make professional evaluations of wines and spirits with regards to their quality and commercial value. The qualification provides the in-depth product knowledge required to underpin job skills and competencies, for example in product selection in the retail and hospitality sectors. Holders of the WSET Level 3 Advanced Certificate in Wines and Spirits will be able to describe the characteristics of the principal wines and spirits of the world and give information on the key factors influencing style, quality and value. They will consequently be in a position to advise management, to answer customer queries authoritatively, and to make informed selections of wines and spirits in a variety of situations.
WSET International Higher Certificate in Wines and Spirits
Who it is aimed at:
People employed in the drinks and hospitality industries in a supervisory capacity, needing core information to advise management and customers with authority and make informed selections of wines and spirits
Wine connoisseurs who wish to learn about wines and spirits in a rigorous and structured manner and gain an internationally recognised wine and spirit qualification.
The WSET International Higher Certificate in Wines and Spirits has been designed for students who have studied the WSET Intermediate Certificate in a language other than English and wish to continue with their studies in that language.
This qualification also gives a more comprehensive coverage of the wines and spirits of the world than the Intermediate Certificate and has a greater focus on tasting technique.
WSET LEVEL 4 Diploma in Wines and Spirits
Holders of the WSET Level 4 Diploma in Wines and Spirits will be able to identify characteristics of the principal wines and spirits of the world, make informed assessments of a product's quality and value and identify appropriate opportunities for the products within a given market.
Holders of the WSET Level 4 Diploma in Wines and Spirits will be equipped with the knowledge and skills to underpin the job requirements in roles such as a Food and Beverage Manager, a member of a beverage marketing team responsible for product ranges, a Wine Buyer or Sales Executive.
WSET LEVEL 5 Diploma
The WSET Level 5 Honours Diploma is an individual research project that enables students to develop skills in research, evaluation and analysis in a wine and spirit related subject of their choice. This qualification is open to anyone holding the WSET Level 4 Diploma.
This single unit qualification assesses the ability of a candidate to develop and apply knowledge gained at Level 4 in significantly greater depth and present information in a format suitable for managerial-level presentation. Therefore, the submission of the research project for assessment will not be allowed until the candidate has passed the Level 4 Diploma. Students will be required to demonstrate the application of business skills by identifying and solving problems, developing ideas in the creation of new/modified products, services or situations within the 4,000-5,000 word allocation for the project.
