WSET® has become the most recognized professional certification and is the foremost international body in the field of wines, spirits, and sake education. As an approved program provider for the Wine & Spirit Education Trust, Palate Partners offers an array of internationally recognized qualifications in wines and spirits.
Melissa Avery Granatire,
WSET® Level 3 Wine Candidate
I have never been so passionate and knowledgeable about wine than after my experience here. Deb goes the extra mile to make sure you are prepared for your WSET® exams and genuinely cares about students and their scholastic journey.
Matthew Tessmer,
WSET® Level 3 Award in Wines
Deb opened my eyes to the world of wine and piqued my interest in pursuing more formal wine studies. Since then, I have successfully completed WSET® Level 2 and 3 Wine certifications through Palate Partners, with plans to take the Diploma Course for Wine in the future.
WSET® AT PALATE PARTNERS
Palate Partners School of Wine & Spirits has been teaching WSET® courses since 2015. Not only do our students preform well above the global average, we boast a near 100% pass rate for our WSET® Awards in all subjects and levels. We go above and beyond to make sure you're set up for success as a WSET® student by offering extra study guidance, mock exams, one-on-one access to our instructors, and much more!
​
Personnel from many of Pittsburgh’s best establishments, including Altius, Mary's Vine, Morcilla, Monterey Bay Fish Grotto, PA Market, Piccolo Forno, and Umami have trusted Palate Partners’ expert WSET® educators with their educational development, and you should, too.
​
​
ABOUT WSET®
​
The Wine & Spirit Education Trust was founded as a charitable trust in 1969 to serve the growing educational needs of the UK wine and spirits industry which, at the time, primarily spanned import, distribution and retail.
​
In 1977 WSET® expanded access to qualifications abroad, by launching courses in the Republic of Ireland, and across the Atlantic, with the International Wine Education Guild (IWEG) in Ontario, Canada, becoming the first North American provider of WSET® qualifications. By the end of the 1990’s WSET® qualifications were available in the UK, Europe, the USA, the Middle East and Asia. In 2007 international students taking WSET® exams outnumbered UK students for the first time.
​
Today, WSET® qualifications are available in over 70 countries in more than 15 languages. WSET® has become the most recognized professional certification and is the foremost international body in the field of wines and spirits education.
​
OUR COURSE OFFERINGS
AWARDS IN WINE
Level 1 & Level 2
These qualifications provide a hands-on exploration into the world of wine. You’ll study types and styles of wine through sight, smell, and taste. During these courses you will learn to identify grapes and their characteristics, while also gaining the basic skills to describe wines accurately, and make food and wine pairings.
%20(1).jpg)
AWARDS IN BEER
Level 1 & Level 2
During these courses you will study key ingredients and production processes with how they influence the style and quality of beer. You will develop a knowledge of the different ingredients to produce different styles of beer, along with how to pair each kind to types of food.
AWARDS IN SPIRITS
Level 1, Level 2, Level 3
During these qualifications you will learn the principles of spirit production, explore the main styles and types of spirits through sight, smell, and taste to develop an understanding of the key factors affecting flavors and aromas. You will be trained on how to serve spirits as well as how to describe them.
AWARDS IN SAKE
Level 1 & Level 2
In these courses you will explore the main styles and types of sake through sight, smell and taste. Students will develop an understanding of the key factors affecting the flavor of sake as well as how to properly serve different styles and types of sake. You will also gain an understanding of the the main principles of sake production.
UPCOMING WSET® COURSES
.jpg)
_edited.jpg)
.jpg)
How much do WSET® classes cost?
It is our goal to make education accessible to all students, a nd because of that we try to keep all our courses at or below industry standard. Below you can find the pricing for each class, including the credit card processing fee.
​
Level 1 in Wine
In-person - $329 + $5 processing
​
Level 2 in Wine​
In-person - $836 + $5 processing
​
Level 1 in Spirits
In-person - $329 + $5 processing
​
Level 2 in Spirits
In-person - $798 + $5 processing
​
Level 3 in Spirits
In-person - $1,485 + $5 processing
​
Level 1 in Beer
​
In-person - $384 + $5 processing
​
Level 2 in Beer
​
In-person - $899 + $5 processing
​
Level 1 in Sake
​
In-person - $347 + $5 processing
​
Our Level 3 courses fluctuate in price depending on format, instructor and course type.
​
​
​
Do I need to take the Level 1 or 2 class before taking Level 2 or 3?
There are no perquisites for WSET® Level 1-3 classes and anyone is welcome to take them.
​
We here at Palate Partners do have the below recommendations:
​
Level 1 Classes
Any student at any level can feel comfortable jumping into any Level 1 class including Wine, Beer, Spirits, or Sake.
​
Level 2 Classes
We do recommend that all students wanting to take WSET® Level 2 in Wine have either completed WSET® Level 1 in Wine or Palate Partners' Wine 101: Intro to Wines course, or that the individual already has knowledge of the core concepts taught in those classes.
We also recommend that all students wanting to take WSET® Level 2 in Spirits have either completed WSET® Level 1 Awards in Spirits, or that the individual already has knowledge of the core concepts taught in that class.
​
The same is recommended for WSET® Level 2 in Beer, to complete WSET® Level 1 prior to level 2. However, if the student has basic understanding of the fundamentals of beer, you may consider level 2.
​
Level 3 Classes
​
We recommend students wanting to take WSET® Level 3 in Wine have completed or have a deep understanding of the information covered in WSET® Level 2 Awards in Wine before pursuing their Level 3 in certification.
​
We recommend students wanting to take WSET® Level 3 Awards in Spirits have completed or have a deep understanding of the information covered in WSET® Level 2 Awards in Spirits before pursuing their Level 3 in certification.
​
Because WSET® Level 3 in Sake includes a two-week online prep course, we do not find it necessary for students to take Level 1 in Sake, thought we do feel it is a great precursor to this class. If you are considering taking WSET® Level 3 Awards in Sake without first obtaining your Level 1 certification, we ask that you reach out to us directly for a consultation before booking.
If you are unsure about which certification course is best for you, please email us at info@palatepartners.com
​
​
Should I take my WSET® course online or in-person?
While our team always loves seeing students in class, we also realize that an online option is just a better fit for some students - especially those who are not local. Below please find some key points of differentiation between our WSET® online and in-person options.
​
WSET® In-person
​
-
Facetime with your instructor.
-
Ability to directly email or call your instructor.
-
Wines are included for tastings.
-
Food and wine pairing session is included.
-
A hard copy of the book is provided.
-
Class takes place at set times at the school.
-
Your exam takes place at the end of our last day of class.
-
Palate Partners has an almost perfect pass rate for in-person classes.
​
WSET® Online
​
-
Students can work at their own pace.
-
An online instructor is assigned that students may direct message.
-
Students are responsible for providing their own wine samples.
-
Students have access to the online materials (not including instructor) for a full year.
-
You may choose between an in-person exam date (free) or an online/at home exam ($100-$130).
​
ADDITIONAL ITEMS COST
WSET® Additional Charges & Fees
Late Payment Fee:
$45
This is a fee applied if a student fails to pay for their course before the registration deadline.
Materials Shipping Fee:
$20
This is a fee for online students who are unable to come pickup their course materials from our school.
*additional charges may apply for expedited shipping
Certificate and Pin Shipping Fee:
$25
This is a fee for students who are unable to come pickup their certificate and pin from our school.
​
Exam re-sit Fees:
If you miss an exam and retake it along with another class's exam:
$125
If you miss an exam and retake it on a date by yourself:
$150
There are substantial fees for retaking an exam if you either fail or don’t show up for your schedule exam.
WSET® Personal Exam ​Requests for Online Students
$100 per exam date
Your exam date must take place after the last day of your online course.
​
Your exam date must be requested a minimum of three weeks (21 days) in advance.
​
This fee is to cover processing, shipping, and handling of the examination to and from London, UK.
​