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Laithwaites provides WSET courses 1, 2 and 3, including Level 1 Sake (Online, Reading, Gloucester & off-site courses by arrangement)
Available onsite and online.
Discover more about wine and spirits with Laithwaites Wine School. Acting in partnership with the Wine and Spirit Education Trust (WSET®) each course comes with an internationally recognised qualification.
Find the course that suits you, from an introductory Level 1 to a more in depth Level 3 course. Each level is designed to create new ways of thinking about and enjoying your wine, or spirits.
Makes a great day out, or present for a wine lover you know.
WSET courses have full accreditation from OfQual as part of the UK Government’s Levels 1-3 Qualifications & Credits Framework. For applicants of the Drinks Trust Develop funding programme, please email the Wine School.
Wine courses also make ideal gifts
Buy an open dated voucher
Why Laithwaites?
All you need to know ... what makes us different
Laithwaites Wine School has been teaching its staff, the trade and our customers about wine and spirits since 2011.
95% pass rate from across 350-400 students each year.
Previous winners of WSET’s Educator of the Year, and twice runners up for the IWC’s Wine Educator of the year.
WSET Approved Programme Providers, holders of the WSET Diploma in Wine, and Diploma in Education and Training.
Course fees are kept low as we have access to our own extensive range of wines and spirits.
20% discount available to our students for in-store purchases (check for Ts&Cs).
WSET Level 1 Award in Wines
£195*
This course provides a general introduction to wine, including how to recognise wine styles, key grape varieties and classic wines, guidance on how to match food with wine, storage and service of wine, and recording of tasting notes.
Test your wine knowledge with this Level 1 (Foundation) Quiz
For the online course, the books and wine samples (10 x 50ml) will be delivered to you along with a Remote Invigilation exam option.
| Day | Time | Start date | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| Saturday | 9.45 am - 5:30 pm | 21st September 2024 | Onsite, 1-day, Reading |
| Saturday | 9.45 am - 5:30 pm | 28th September 2024 | Onsite, 1-day, Gloucester |
| Saturday | 9.45 am - 5:30 pm | 1st February 2025 | Onsite, 1-day, Reading |
| Saturday | 9.45 am - 5:30 pm | 8th February 2025 | Onsite, 1-day, Gloucester |
| Saturday | 9.45 am - 5:30 pm | 10th May 2025 | Onsite, 1-day, Reading |
| Wednesdays | 6.00 pm - 8.00 pm | 28th May 2025 | Online, 3 weeks |
| Saturday | 9.45 am - 5:30 pm | 30th August 2025 | Onsite, 1-day, Gloucester |
| Saturday | 9.45 am - 5:30 pm | 20th September 2025 | Onsite, 1-day, Reading |
| Please contact us for future Reading and Gloucester onsite dates. | |||
Afternoon sessions are sometimes available. If this time suits you better please let us know and we’ll see what we can offer.
See course specificationClick here for ticketsAlternatively email us at WineSchool@laithwaites.com for further information.
WSET Level 2 Award in Wines
£475*
With this course you’ll gain knowledge of the principal and regionally important grape varieties of the world, the regions in which they are grown, and the styles of wine they produce. Through a combination of tasting and theory, you’ll explore the factors that impact style and quality and learn how to describe these wines with confidence. (Level 2 can be started without first doing Level 1).
For the online course, the books and wine samples (40 x 50ml) will be delivered to you along with a Remote Invigilation exam option.
| Day | Time | Start date | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thursdays | 6.00 pm - 8.00 pm | 19th September 2024 | Onsite, 8 weeks, Gloucester |
| Thursdays | 5.30 pm - 7.30 pm | 19th September 2024 | Onsite, 8 weeks, Reading |
| Mondays | 6.00 pm - 7.30 pm | 23rd September 2024 | Online, 8 weeks |
| Tuesdays | 5.30 pm – 7.30 pm | 14th January 2025 | Onsite, 8 weeks, Reading |
| Thursdays | 6.00 pm - 8.00 pm | 20th February 2025 | Onsite, 8 weeks, Reading |
| Wednesdays | 5.30 pm - 7.30 pm | 19th March 2025 | Onsite, 8 weeks, Reading |
| Tuesdays | 6.00 pm - 8.00 pm | 3rd June 2025 | Onsite, 8 weeks, Gloucester |
| Wednesdays | 5.30 pm - 7.30 pm | 25th June 2025 | Onsite, 8 weeks, Reading |
| Wednesdays | 6.00 pm - 8.00 pm | 16th July 2025 | Online, 8 weeks |
| Wednesdays | 6.00 pm - 8.00 pm | 10th September 2025 | Onsite, 8 weeks, Gloucester |
| Thursdays | 5.30 pm - 7.30 pm | 11th September 2025 | Onsite, 8 weeks, Reading |
| Please contact us for future Reading and Gloucester onsite dates. | |||
Alternatively email us at WineSchool@laithwaites.com for further information.
WSET Level 2 Award in Spirits
£425*
With this course you’ll learn how production methods affect the characteristics of spirits and liqueurs, the characteristics of the principal international spirits and liqueurs, and how to describe spirits using the WSET Level 2 Systematic Approach to Tasting Spirits.
| Please contact us for future Reading and Gloucester onsite dates. |
WSET Level 3 Award in Wines (online and onsite)
£760*
| Day | Time | Start date | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tuesdays | 6.00 pm – 8.00 pm | 14th January 2025 | Onsite, 16 weeks, Gloucester |
| Thursdays | 5.30 pm - 7.30 pm | 16th January 2025 | Onsite, 16 weeks, Reading |
| Wednesdays | 6.00 pm – 7.30 pm | 22nd January 2025 | Online, 16 weeks |
| Tuesdays | 5.30 pm - 7.30 pm | 24th June 2025 | Onsite, 16 weeks, Reading |
| Thursdays | 6.00 pm – 8.00 pm | 14th August 2025 | Onsite, 16 weeks, Gloucester |
| Tuesdays | 6.00 pm – 7.30 pm | 19th August 2025 | Online, 16 weeks |
For individuals seeking to delve deeper into the world of wines, this qualification provides a detailed understanding of grape growing and wine making. Upon completion you will be able to assess wines accurately, and use your understanding to confidently explain wine style and quality.
At present, this course combines online and onsite tuition along with exams at either our Gloucester or Theale based sites. Please enquire via the button below, or email WineSchool@laithwaites.com for more information.
See course specification Email to enquireWSET Level 1 Award in Sake
£175*
A great opportunity to learn about this dynamic and fascinating subject.
By the end of the course, not only will you know how to taste this delicious beverage, but you’ll also understand how sake it is made and its most important labelling terms – even in Japanese!
The course will include:
- 7 Sake’s of various styles to try and taste (including our favourite!)
- How to serve and taste sake, the key categories and how to match sake with food
- Key labelling terms in Japanese Kanji
Please enquire via WineSchool@laithwaites.com for future courses.
Information
For more information send us an email. Follow us on Instagram and YouTube for our online tutorials and wine knowledge content
* Discounts and vouchers (other than onsite course vouchers) cannot be accepted.
Reviews
What our customers say about us
WSET Level 1 Wines
“I've thoroughly enjoyed this course which was given to me as a gift. I enjoyed it from the start, our Tutor Guy Watson is brilliant he brought out the best in everyone. I now feel more confident in buying or ordering wine and even enjoy drinking Chardonnay, which I've steered away from in the past. Thank you Guy, I'm now looking forward to the next course.”
Karen Gulley
WSET Level 2 Wines
“I enjoyed [Level 2] so much under Greg's inspiring tutorship that I was determined to do the Level 3 Wines course too. There is no doubt that Level 3 is a significant step up from Level 2, but it is easily achievable if you put the time in to study each and every week. I'm pleased to say I passed the exam with flying colours. I now miss the fabulous wines Greg selected for tasting each week.”
Peter Matthews
WSET Level 3 Wines
“It was a pleasure to take Level 3 with Greg. He is a supportive, enthusiastic and knowledgeable educator. Thanks to Greg's encouragement and advice I was able to tackle the tasting component, not historically a strong suit of mine, with confidence. I would recommend Greg and the laithwaites Wine School to anyone looking to take the WSET courses.”
Charlie Geoghegan
WSET Level 1 Wines
“What a great day! I found the course really interesting and I feel like after completing Level 1 WSET my knowledge of the wine world has increased and I now have a solid understanding of how wine is made, grape regions, climates, fermentation processes and what wines work best with certain foods. Guy was also brilliant throughout the day and his teaching techniques were awesome! I would highly recommend this course, looking forward to Level 2 now!”
Jonathan Smith
WSET Level 1 Wines
“Thanks for the encouragement and guidance – all those tips about how to make sure certain areas were adequately covered (e.g. don’t forget sparkling, port, sherry and service) made a huge difference, as did the flash cards which are quite easy to study even when you can’t face reading large chunks.”
Leighton Jones
WSET Level 1 Sake
“I would highly recommend the level one Sake course--it was both informative and fun. I even learned how to read a little Japanese...”
Brian K DoBosh
WSET Level 1 Sake
“Fantastic Sake course on Saturday. Great company and the pace of the course was perfect. Greg’s enthusiasm for Sake’s came through and I look forward to future courses with Laithwaites Wine School.”
WSET Level 2 Wines
“Just wanted to thank you for a most enjoyable week, you really made our experience fun.”
Sandra Louise Bowing
WSET Level 2 Wines
“I really have learnt a lot and have taken a new found confidence away when talking to customers about wines and making recommendations.”
Sandra Louise Bowing
WSET Level 2 Wines
“A big thank you for the course.... the knowledge that is in my head now compared to prior to the course is making a huge difference in the job – so thank you for that.”
Paul Dean
WSET Level 2 Wines
“A fascinating & educational course which I found really useful. Great fun, with an opportunity to try many different spirits & also make a few classic cocktails!”
Jane, Hay Wines
WSET Level 2 Wines
“Greg Roberts made the course fun and interesting . I really enjoyed it and looking forward to taking the Level 3 with him.”
Jayne Williams
WSET Level 2 Wines
“A thoroughly enjoyable course. Having started with practically no knowledge, I quickly learnt so much in fun and informative ways, that this rapidly became the highlight of my week. Excellent and engaging course tutor - thanks Greg!”
Rosetta
WSET Level 3 Wines
“It was inspiring to have a tutor who has a genuine passion for the subject, and it made me want to push myself to work as hard as I possibly could. Obviously it is one of those courses where you get out what you put into it, but having engaging conversations during class time with someone who has a clear passion for Wine and for helping people who are willing to learn, made the experience much more enjoyable, and I couldn't have asked for a better tutor. I always knew you were a text or an e-mail away, and that gave me massive peace of mind. Thanks again for everything again, Guy. I couldn't have done it without you.”
Hugh John Woods
WSET Level 3 Wines
“I was doing the course purely for personal interest, and I found that I learnt a lot in a very enjoyable way. Your support materials and quizzes were invaluable.”
Philip Windle
