When I decided to go for my WSET Diploma, I searched the interwebs for other peoples' experiences, and didn't really find a lot. So I decided to write my own spiel! Anyone curious about higher wine education may find this helpful, and other wineaux may just like to know what earning those letters after one's name actually entails.
I am not-so-secretly a nerd. I did well in high school and college, but when I started seriously studying wine to compliment the work I'd been doing with wine appraisals and to round out my knowledge, I REALLY got into it. I sought certifications from three different "schools," first earning the Certified Specialist of Wine from the leading wine educational body in the U.S., the Society of Wine Educators. (No classwork involved, 100-question multiple choice test.) Then I jumped into the Wine and Spirit Education Trust's Level 3 Advanced certification (leading international wine education group, week-long intensive class or multi-week spread out class, multiple choice and short answer exam plus a blind tasting component.) Finally I became a Certified Sommelier via the Court of Master Sommeliers (few days of "review" classes, multiple choice theory exam, blind tasting exam, and service exam.)
The WSET Diploma I call a "double master's degree on steroids." The only higher wine educational credential beyond it is Master of Wine (or Master Sommelier in the service industry.) There are currently six units: Viticulture and Vinification, The Business of Wine, Light Wines of the World, Sparkling Wines, Fortified Wines, and Spirits. (These will be changing next year; they are dropping spirits and shifting the amount of time dedicated to certain units.) You can pursue classroom instruction at WSET course providers around the globe, or do an online program. As I'm also a performer and I never know when or for how long I'll be out of town, I opted for online. It has its benefits and its disadvantages for sure.
Up first, Unit 2: Viticulture and Vinification. (Exam for this unit is 100 multiple choice questions.) The following are excerpts from my journal.
__________
Week
-1: Induction week.
The online course builds in an induction week so you can get used to the website.
I
wished they’d have provided us a list of classmates’ names and locales, but
instead, one of our “figure out how to do this thing online” tasks was to post
in a forum and “introduce” ourselves. I took notes of folks, but I feel like
we’re all letters floating in alphabet soup; some bob at the surface, some are
half-hidden, and some are obscured at the bottom. I don’t know which I am yet.
Probably on the surface but struggling to stay afloat? We also played around
with sending information into the WSET Mother Ship (it just occurs to me I
never got a reply. Was I supposed to? Hm.) and interacted with this thing
called a “wiki,” which I immediately LOATHED.
The
wiki is a tool for lots of people to create and edit a document together. The
one our whole group started for the induction week was a hodge-podge of personal
outline styles, fonts, expression of information… ugh. HATED IT. Seriously hope
I won’t fail because of it. I have not had such an aversion to something in
years (unless you want me to get a little political.)
I
also am not a huge fan of the forums, which is how our alphabet soup is
supposed to communicate with each other. If you post something, and someone
replies to your post, and someone replies to THEIR post, it’s easy to miss it,
plus I don’t know if one CAN organize the posts chronologically… factor this by
15 and, well, another hodge-podge mess.
Week
1: Unit Two begins.
Three activities: Trellis, Rootstock, and a
group “Establishing a Vineyard.” I actually think the group project is cool,
but since we “wasted” 5 days trying to work and/or communicate in the forums,
frustrating. Not to mention, I’m in rehearsal for a play right now!! So I am totally
focused elsewhere for 8+ hours of each day, and exhausted when I CAN carve out
study time.
End
of W1 and I did complete Trellis, am 80% done with Rootstock (plan on finishing
tomorrow, so not TOO late,) and our smaller group – surprisingly(?) kind of
helmed by ME – is at a decent place, I think. I have seven pages of text left
to highlight and 10 pages left to note.
[My
study system plan so far is to highlight the Study Guide text, go back and note
it on looseleaf, then put certain things on flashcards when I get home.
Eventually I’ll also highlight and notate the other recommended reading and add
that in the binder notes.]
The
density of information is overwhelming me a little right now. I actually said
out loud yesterday, “what did I get myself into?” I do try to calm myself down
knowing that probably everyone in this program is working a full-time job, so
we’re ALL in the same boat. But I’m already thinking 2 ½ weeks ahead, when I
can be home and able to spend 3-4 hours a day on this. HOLY SHIT. 3-4 hours a
day for maybe the next 3 years? HOLY. SHIT.
I
seem to have developed a tic in my eye.
In
all fairness, I have also finished an appraisal, been working on my Anthem
Quest (Jan/early Feb is when most baseball teams schedule anthems,) and for it, written
a blog piece for a friend’s sports website, also since I just found out my SWE
seminar proposal was accepted, I’ve been reaching out to winemakers asking for
juice to make sure I have what I want in August, plus going back-and-forth with
Dad about a possible wine inventory in NH during my days off next week.
In
almost 2 weeks, I’ve watched only 5 hours of TV. My alarm goes off at 7am so I can get a few hours of study in before
rehearsal (I’m way too fried afterwards.) I worry that I will have problems
sustaining this pace; though I know I won’t be in rehearsal for the majority of
the year, I am motivated to carve out study time so I don’t fall behind. Veee
shall see…
Side
note: why does the WSET “week” start on a FRIDAY? That makes zero sense to me,
and is confusing.
Week
2 – Unit 2, Vine Management
Two Activities: Winter pruning, “Other Management
Activities,” plus finishing the group activity from the prior week.
Monday
(today) is my day off, so I’m able to get a bunch of studying done. I read the
Study Guide pages relating to winter pruning, plus reviewed Skelton’s thoughts,
and did my activity. Yay! Hoping to highlight and notate most of the remaining
pages today. Then I have three+ days to do the Week 1 Practice Test (I’m scared haha), the
second Week 2 activity, and finish up the W1-2 group activity.
I’m
actually worried about the group activity, because only one other person has really
contributed so far. It’s “my” team, (it was my idea, and I started us off,) so
I feel I have to do more, like put a LOT more info on the wiki pages today, to
at least guide the group’s efforts. But mama also needs to hit the grocery,
gym, and I’m getting a massage today, so… balance!
I
was able to really get ahead of the curve this week. But there still seems to
always be something left to do. Highlighted pages to notate. A blog post on how
you feel you’re doing so far. The weekly test. I still worry that there is more
to do for the group activity, but I’ve already done a ton, and kind of
don’t feel like doing any more, especially when only one other person from my
group seems to have contributed more than a few sentences.
I'm glad I didn't waste time trying to learn all of my online classmates' names and locations; only about half of the people contribute AT ALL. Participation is not required--you don't get a boost for doing well, or penalized for not doing anything--but I wish there was SOME kind of bonus for those of us who make the effort!
Week
5 – Unit 2 (W3: Grapes, W4: Pests and Diseases, W5: Winemaking Processes)
Moving
right along. Assimilating my studies into my life upon return home post-play
has been interesting. I don’t have a regular schedule, so sometimes I study in
the morning, sometimes in the afternoon, sometimes at night, sometimes all
three. (Reminds me of my least-favorite Practice Test questions’ list of
answers: 1) a and b only, 2) b and d only, 3) a, b, and c 4) all of the above.)
Somehow the reading for this week is the same as last week, which is great,
because I didn’t finish it! I did spend a lot of time last week on the
flowcharts for white, rosé, and red winemaking decisions, and actually got good
praise from our instructor Tommasella!! Woo-hoo!! This week, I busted out my
first activity – on restricting the oxidative enzymes laccase and tyrosinase,
sexxxxy – but am dragging my heels on the warm vs. cool climate considerations relating
to a variety of vinification topics. I’ll finish my highlighting/notetaking
first.
Later:
I finally got around to contributing to the warm vs. cool activity under ONE
topic, haha. With a caveat; I said that I tried to take Tommasella’s critiques
for others under consideration, but then it felt like mine was too general. So
I wonder what she’ll say! Some of these activities are definitely more helpful
than others, I will say. Update: I got a “Good post, Annie” WINNING!
I’ve
been to a lot of auditions, got a few callbacks, but no bookings yet. If I can
manage to get something for the early summer, that would take some pressure
off; I know money will come in and I’ll get to be on a show schedule for a
month or two.
Week
7 – Unit 2 (W6: Winery Considerations, W7: Post-fermentation Operations.)
The
end of Unit 2 is in sight! I kind of can’t wait. While I’m still auditioning
(and very well, I might add, though still no bookings,) I do want to section
off a week or so to go down to FL and spend time with Mom and Dad. WHY NOT REVIEW
ON A BEACH?!
I
feel like my notetaking this week is never-ending. Yes, I’m also trying to fill
out flash cards at the same time, which slows me down a scootch. But it’s
already Wednesday and I still have over half of it to go.
But
I contributed a few entries to this week’s Activity and got high praise from
Ms. Tommasella! Two “Good
insights, Annie”s and a “Very good answer,
Annie.” I think some of my colleagues/fellow students just blurt back the
talking points from the study guide. I try to build off of a foundation of
them, and that seems to be encouraged.
Revision! (W8: Packaging)
I made it. No more Study Guide
notes to take or Activities to do. Phew. My exam isn’t for three weeks, so I
have a LOT of time to review and study. My plan is to finish making my
notecards this week (and if I manage to, I’ll read pertinent sections of Oxford
Companion and take additional notes.) While I’m in FL I’ll review two units per day at
first, then devote a whole day to each unit. Then I still have three days
before I go to Philly for the exam set aside for the stuff that keeps tripping me up.
I’m more concerned with details
vs. base of knowledge – on the practice tests, there is often more than one
answer that seems like it’s right – so I’ll just keep drilling the specifics.
Once I “get” something pretty darn close, I’ll remove the notecard from the
stack. At this point, I’m fairly certain I’ll do okay, so I’m not totally
freaking out! But I’ll say it again – it is A LOT.
Review, continued.
I went down to FL and it was
great to see Mom and Dad, but I GOT SHINGLES! (When the urgent care doctor
asked, “Have you been stressed lately,” I was, like, “More than usual?” haha.)
I’m on the medication, and it’s improving, but the meds have me logey and
headachy and my stomach isn’t a fan, so that’s not helpful. I was able to
finish my notecards – very behind that schedule – and I’ve actually been
enjoying reading supplementary chapters from Jamie Goode’s “The Science of
Wine” book. Not sure how much it’ll help me on the exam in particular, but a
nice way to review information.
I went through notecards for most
of the sections, but some are easier to “memorize” than others. Took the Philly
Wine School practice test and got an 85 (Pass with Distinction)! Two questions I guessed on I got
right, one other “layup” I got wrong cus I was stupid and jumped at it, saying
Ruby Cabernet was a cross between CS and Grenache, when I KNEW it was Carignan.
D’oh. But that practice test seemed way easier than the ones in the Study
Guide. On the study guide I got a 73 so
passed with Merit. I really want to nail all of these practice tests, but I suppose just passing should be the goal.
I think I will have to really go
over rootstocks/trellis/soil stuff; a question always seems to pop up like, “If
you have a low-vigor site with sandy soil, what is the best trellis,” and I’m
like… um….?
__________
Well, readers -- I took the exam, and earned a Pass with Distinction, hurrah!! I knew there was no way I'd get EVERY question right, so just focused on the ones I knew straightaway, then used logic to whittle down options for the others. I guess all of that study and review were worth it.
One Unit down, five to go. Up next, Unit 1: The Business of Wine. To be continued...
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2017 Vila Nova Alvarinho, White IGP Vinho Verde
Black plum and blackberry, with violet florals, chocolate, sage, lavender. Big and rich but not heavy-handed. Organically grown, fermented in historical stone lagares, 24 months aging in French barriques. ~$37
2016 100 Hectares Sousão, Red DOC/DOP Douro
