Courses / WSET Wines / Level 3
Level 3 · Wines
WSET Level 3 Award in Wines
An advanced course on what makes a wine’s style, quality and price, for still, sparkling and fortified wines from around the world. For people who work with wine, and enthusiasts ready for real depth. Three weekends in Barcelona.
Who it is for
Is this the right level?
- You work with wine, as a sommelier, in a shop, in sales or on a yacht, and want to move up.
- You have done Level 2, or know as much, and want to understand wine in depth.
- You enjoy wine seriously and want to taste it the way professionals do.
We recommend the WSET Level 2 Award in Wines or similar knowledge. Not sure? Talk to us first and we decide together.
What you will cover
What you will cover.
- How to taste and assess wine with WSET’s Level 3 tasting method, a precise professional method
- Grape growing and winemaking in depth
- What lies behind the style, quality and price of wines across the world
- How wine laws shape what is grown, how it is made and how it tastes
- The wine regions of the world and their main styles
- Still, sparkling, sweet and fortified wines in detail
The facts
Everything you need before you book.
Price
€1,495 including 21% IVA. Includes the textbook, the workbook, the exam fee, the digital certificate and all the wines you taste.
Payment
In full, or in two or three payments, with the last payment due 30 days before the course. No interest. A payment that is 4 days late gets a €25 late fee.
Group discount
5% off each place for 2, 8% for 3, 10% for 4 to 7, booked together.
Length
Five and a half days over three weekends (the last day ends at lunchtime), plus about 52 hours of study at home.
Where
Hotel Europark, Barcelona.
Exam
On the last day. Theory: 50 multiple-choice questions and short written answers. Tasting: a blind tasting of two wines.
Resit
tasting €65, theory €165, both €230, only for the part you do not pass or cannot sit.
Language
English course: classes, materials and exam in English. Spanish: six Mondays, 26 April to 31 May 2027.
Entry requirements
WSET Level 2 Award in Wines or similar knowledge recommended. Not sure? We talk with you first.
Register
At least 12 working days before the course starts.
How it runs
Three weekends, and the study in between.
In the classroom
Saturday and Sunday on three weekends at Hotel Europark in Barcelona, usually from 9:00 to 17:00; the last Sunday ends at lunchtime with the exam. Each day is tasting, theory and exam practice, side by side. Coming from outside Barcelona? Metro: Girona (L4) is 200 m away; Passeig de Gràcia (L2, L3, L4) is four blocks away. Parking: Aparcament Mercat de la Concepció, Carrer d’Aragó 315, next to the hotel.
Book at least 12 working days before the course
Between the weekends
About 52 hours of study at home: the textbook, the workbook and tasting practice. Read the whole textbook before the first day if you can; the weekends then go much further.
The exam
Theory and blind tasting, on the last day.
To gain the qualification, you pass both parts. The theory exam is a paper of 50 multiple-choice questions and a paper of short written answers. The tasting exam is a blind tasting of two wines, which you assess in writing. If you do not pass one part, you resit only that part, for €65 (tasting) or €165 (theory), or €230 if you resit both.
Course specification
The official specification.
WSET publishes the official specification for this qualification: the learning outcomes, the exam rules and sample questions. Read it before you book.
WSET Level 3 Award in Wines specification (PDF, English) →
WSET Level 3 Award in Wines specification (PDF, Spanish) →
Systematic Approach to Tasting
How you will describe a wine.
The Systematic Approach to Tasting (SAT) is WSET’s step-by-step method for describing wine. You use it in class and in the tasting practice.
WSET Level 3 Systematic Approach to Tasting Wine, SAT (PDF, English) →
WSET Level 3 Systematic Approach to Tasting Wine, SAT (PDF, Spanish) →
Dates
When it runs.
No date that suits you? Choose which of 2 to 4 dates you could do, or tell us none fit. We open a course when 6 people choose the same date.
Pick your datesQuestions
Asked and answered.
Before you book
Do I need Level 2 first?
We recommend the WSET Level 2 Award in Wines or similar knowledge. If you have not done Level 2, we have a short talk with you about what you already know, and we decide together whether Level 3 is right for you now.
Can I pay in instalments?
Yes. You can pay in two or three parts, with the last payment due 30 days before the first class. Three payments need a little more time before the course than two; if there is not enough time, the option does not appear. We email you a link five days before each one. No interest. A payment that is 4 days late gets a €25 late fee.
Do I have to be a certain age? Does the course involve alcohol?
You must be 18 or over. Every course involves tasting wine, which contains alcohol. You can taste and spit, and you never have to swallow.
What if I need adjustments to take part?
Tell us when you book, or write to us before the course. We arrange reasonable adjustments for the classes and the exam, for example extra time or a different room set-up. Read our reasonable adjustments policy →
What is the cancellation and refund policy?
You can cancel and get a refund, minus a €25 fee per person, up to 15 working days before the course, or move to another course up to 10 working days before. After that there is no refund. Online courses are not refunded once booked.
Can I get the invoice in a company’s name?
Yes. Tick “I need the invoice in a company’s name” at checkout and fill in the company details. Forgot? Write to us within 14 days of booking.
The course
What does the price include?
The textbook, the workbook, the exam fee, the digital certificate and all the wines you taste.
How much study is there besides the class days?
About 52 hours. Read the whole textbook before the first day if you can.
Is there an online version?
No. Level 3 is taught in the classroom only.
Which language is it in?
The English course runs fully in English: classes, materials and exam. The Spanish course runs fully in Spanish.
The exam
What does the exam consist of?
Theory: 50 multiple-choice questions and a short written answer paper. Tasting: a blind tasting of two wines. Both on the last day.
What if I do not pass?
You resit only the part you did not pass, on a later date: tasting €65, theory €165, both €230.
When do I get my certificate?
WSET releases Level 3 results within 40 working days of receiving the exam papers, which we send straight after your exam. We pass your result on to you straight away, and WSET emails your digital certificate directly to the address you booked with.
Packs
Can I book Level 2 and Level 3 together?
Yes: €2,189 with Level 2 in the classroom, or €1,812 with Level 2 online, instead of €2,380 or €1,970. You take Level 3 on any open date within 18 months, at the price you paid.
In your inbox
Want it in writing?
We email you a one-page summary of this course with the dates, the price and the exam rules, so you can read it in peace or forward it.
A question we have not answered? Ask us. We usually reply within 24 hours on weekdays.
Your teachers
Who is in the room.
Michael Salverda
Javier Iturrate
Anna Casabona
What students say
In their words.
What students say
In their words.
4.9 on Google from 152 reviews
I recently completed the WSET Level 1 Award in Wines on October 4th with Michael as our instructor, and it was a fantastic experience from start to finish. Michael made the course engaging, informative, and perfectly paced for beginners. His deep knowledge of wine, combined … Read more
My experience at Wine School Rack & Return has exceeded all expectations! The course was incredibly well-structured, and our instructor, Michael Salverda, was exceptional. His professional approach and deep knowledge helped prepare us thoroughly for the certification exam, and thanks to his guidance, I was … Read more
Excelente academia para hacer el WSET. Siempre se mantuvieron en contacto y resolvieron mis dudas.
Pack · save up to €191
Not done Level 2 yet?
Book the WSET Level 2 Award in Wines (classroom or online) and the WSET Level 3 Award in Wines together: €2,189 instead of €2,380, or €1,812 with Level 2 online instead of €1,970. Take Level 3 on any open date within 18 months, at the price you paid. You can pay in up to three parts.
Comparing WSET with other wine qualifications? Read our wine education guide.
