WSET Level Two in Wine Course at Carmen Street, Bristol

From how to recognise a riesling to food pairing a pinot, expand your wine knowledge with this four day beginner to intermediate course. Suitable for industry professionals and wine enthusiasts, by the end of the course, you’ll have gained an in depth 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.

What you’ll learn:

How to taste and describe wine using the WSET Level 2 Systematic Approach to Tasting Wine®(SAT)

How environmental factors, grape-growing, winemaking and maturation options influence the style and quality of wines made from eight principal grape varieties;

Chardonnay, Pinot Grigio/Gris, Sauvignon Blanc, Riesling, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Pinot Noir, Syrah/Shiraz

The style and quality of wines:

made from 22 regionally important grape varieties

produced in over 70 geographical indications (GIs) around the world

How grape varieties and winemaking processes influence key styles of:

Sparkling wines

Fortified wines

Key labelling terms used to indicate origin, style and quality

Principles and processes involved in the storage and service of wine

Principles of food and wine pairing

Who’s it for?

This course is perfect for anyone interested in learning about wine, either for personal interest or for those embarking on a career in wine or hospitality. No previous qualifications are required, but if you are a complete novice you may wish to complete the WSET Level One Award in Wine before embarking on this qualification. If you’d like to talk through which qualification would be best suited to you please get in touch.

Where is the course held?

Carmen Street Wine can be found in the new Carriageworks development, just behind Caper and Cure, on Carmen Beckford Street. It’s only small, yet boasts a big wine list, featuring mainly low intervention wines, which customers can take away, drink in, or enjoy under the awnings.

Course dates (students are required to attend all four days): 

7th, 8th, 14th and 28th July 2025

15th, 16th, 22nd and 29th September 2025

Tea, coffee and a light lunch each day is included.

Course days run 9.30-5pm

In addition to classroom study this qualification requires a minimum of 11 hours of personal study and is assessed by a one-hour multiple choice examination.

For more detailed information on what is covered in the courses please see the specification here. 

*Please note a booking form must be completed two weeks prior to course start date.  

About your educator

Holly's love of wine and good food led her straight into a career in hospitality, at 18 she moved to France to work in a restaurant in the french alps. After a few seasons in France she moved to Cornwall, whilst managing various hotels and restaurants she gained her level 1-3 WSET. Level 3 was achieved with Debbie at Wild Wine School and her love for low intervention and sustainabile wines was sparked. Recently relocating to Bristol she began working at Carmen Street Wine and Caper & Cure curating their wine lists and is currently studying for a WSET Diploma. At Carmen Street Wine and The Pony, Chew Valley Holly will be teaching our Level One and Two WSET Wine Course, along with delivering our specialist courses and bespoke training.

What our students say about this course...

"...your teaching has been outstanding - balanced between getting through all the syllabus but also offering enough interesting extras and anecdotes to make the facts memorable.

Definite highlights have been getting to smell all the wet grass, forest floor & mushroom smells on the first morning walk, the smell of Gevery-Chambertain, and a serious bout of reminiscing/wanderlust induced by the Chianti this afternoon." 

Ben Piper, Newquay

"Thank you for a great 4 days of teaching, organising and sharing your enthusiasm and great knowledge with us. I feel like I learned a lot about grapes, and wine, and geography. And of course how to keep warm in a barn...!"

Lucy Howdle, Falmouth

"Thank you very much for putting on a really enjoyable, informative and well-executed course. I learnt loads, and found the whole experience excellent. It was a great group, really nice to get to know everyone."

Jim Michell, St Wenn