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Nine week online course
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In-person exam
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Tasting exam 30 minutes
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Theory exam 120 minutes
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Digital certificate when you pass
R15 900
Cost excludes all wine samples + any courier cost incurred if required outside of South Africa
WSET Level 3 Award in Wines Online
The Level 3 Award in Wines is a high-level, demanding but rewarding course that goes both broader and deeper. It is designed for candidates employed in the drinks and hospitality industries in a supervisory capacity, to give you a thorough understanding of the factors that account for the style, quality and price of the principal still, sparkling and fortified wines of the world and is the perfect wat to advance your wine knowledge.
You will be facilitated through this professional qualification by specialist educators who will guide you in developing your tasting skills, teach you how to taste and describe the characteristics of the principal wines of the world and give information on the key factors influencing style, quality and price. If you work with wine you will be in a great position to advise management, to answer customer queries authoritatively, and to make informed selections of wines in a variety of situations.
This course is not for beginners. You will need a solid foundation of wine knowledge, the Level 2 Award in Wines qualification or equivalent.
All our online classes are delivered in English. Exam / assessment answers are handwritten. A good level of both written and spoken English is beneficial.
You must be at least 18 years old to enrol on any of our courses.
Online format and important notes
- The main types and styles of wine
- The characteristics of the most common wine grapes
- The correct way to store and serve wine
- Foundations of food and wine pairing
- How to taste and describe wine using the WSET Level 1 Systematic Approach to Tasting Wine® (SAT)
Online format and important notes
The duration of the online course is 9 weeks.
We recommend a total of 10 hours of study per week.
You will follow a module online learning programme that covers the same syllabus as the in-person classroom course.
You are allowed to work ahead or you can catch up on forums, activities and such if required.
The course has no set time to log in.
There or no live chats or seminars.
You will have educator support available during this time and can contact them if you have any questions during the 9 weeks.
During each week you will participate in independent and/or group activities.
Please participate in the activities, it is important during any online course and please taste a wide range of wines during your online studies.
The required wines can be found in the online Equipment List and a list of other recommended wines is in the Course Specifications.
You can post your tasting notes in the Online Classroom your educator to review and provide you with feedback.
After the 9 week course you will continue to have access to the content for one year, but you will not be able to participate in the discussion forum and interact with your classmates anymore.
You will need access to a computer (recommended) and/or HTML5 compatible mobile or tablet.
The device will need:
Internet Explorer 10, Firefox 25.0, Safari 6, Chrome 30.0 or other HTML5 compatible
Web browser with Javascript and cookies enabled
Adobe Reader XI or equivalent
Broadband Internet access
Very Important Note
There is also a 1 day in-person tasting session of the Level 3 tasting technique to knowledge of the WSET Level 3 Systematic Approach to Tasting Wine® (SAT) which is the standard required for the blind tasting exam paper element of the exam.
What you will learn in the online Level 3 course
The key factors in the production of wine: location, grape growing, winemaking, maturation and bottling
The key characteristics of the principal:
still wines of the world
sparkling wines of the world
fortified wines of the world
How to make appropriate wine recommendations
How to taste wines using the WSET Level 3 Systematic Approach to Tasting Wine® (SAT)
Exam / Assessment
The in-person Level 3 exam consists of two papers:
A blind Tasting Paper of two wines. You have 30 minutes to complete this tasting.
A Theory Paper that is made up of both multiple choice and short answer questions. You have 120 minutes (2 hours) to complete this paper.
You need a pass mark of 55% or above in both papers to pass overall.
Pass 55%-64%
Pass Merit 65% - 79%
Pass Distinction 80% + above
The exam papers are sent to WSET in London to be marked, it ensures global continuity with the results
Included in the online course fee
The course will be hosted online with WSET certified educators
You receive a Level 3 Study Pack: Understanding wines: Explaining style and quality
The WSET Global exam fee
Courier cost for course material from London, and exams to London
A digital WSET certificate when you pass
course date/s.
exam date.
(TBA if not shown below)
payment date.
price.
venue.
31 August - 1 November 2026
17 August 2026
R
15900
28 September - 29 November 2026
14 September 2026
R
15900
26 October - 27 December 2026
12 October 2026
R
15900
23 November 2026 - 24 January 2027
9 November 2026
R
15900
28 December 2026 - 28 February 2027
14 December 2026
R
15900
The Wine & Spirit Education Trust (WSET) is the world’s leading provider of drinks qualifications. The courses are designed to inspire and empower anyone looking to develop their drinks knowledge, from beginners to experts, and from enthusiasts to professionals. WSET qualifications are globally recognised as the international standard in wine knowledge.
winelab.Africa is an Approved Programme Provider for WSET qualifications. We offer courses and facilitate exams across Africa.
WSET Level 1 Award in Wines
This course is an ideal starting point for candidates who wants to embark on a career in wine or hospitality as well as wine enthusiasts who wants to get to grips with the basics.
WSET Level 2 Award in Wines
Our Level 2 course is ideal for the candidate who has some level of wine knowledge. This course suits people employed across a broad spectrum of the hospitality and drinks industry.
WSET Level 3 Award in Wines
Level 3 Award in Wines is a high level, demanding but rewarding course that goes both broader and deeper. It is designed for candidates employed in the drinks and hospitality industries in a supervisory capacity.
WSET Level 1 Award in Spirits
This entry level course will suit candidates wanting to learn more about spirits and for those with their first job in hospitality, retail or in other sectors of the spirits industry.
WSET Level 2 Award in Spirits
The Level 2 Spirits course suits candidates employed in the spirits industry needing basic information on the characteristics of the principal spirits and liqueurs of the world, to provide guidance on brand selection and assist with tasting and evaluating of spirits and liqueurs.
WLA101 Wine + Beverage Service
WLA101 is a practical introduction to wine and beverage service, created to give you a clear, confident understanding of the drinks you serve and enjoy. It focuses on building strong foundations in wine knowledge, beverage styles, and professional service, with a particular emphasis on South African wine.