Live chat

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 GB Logo The Drinks Trust - Develop Education and Training Logo WSET Approved Programme Provider

Wine courses also make ideal gifts

Buy an open dated voucher

Level 1 Award in
Wines voucher*

Order now

Level 2 Award in
Wines voucher*

Order now

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

£175*

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 24th February 2024 Onsite, 1-day, Reading
Saturday 9.45 am - 5:30 pm 2nd March 2024 Onsite, 1-day, Gloucester
Mondays 6.00 pm -8.00 pm 4th March 2024 Online, 3 weeks
Saturday 9.45 am - 5:30 pm 20th April 2024 Onsite, 1-day, Reading
Mondays 6.00 pm -8.00 pm 2nd September 2024 Online, 3 weeks
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
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 tickets

Alternatively email us at WineSchool@laithwaites.com for further information.

WSET Level 2 Award in Wines

£425*

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
Wednesdays 5.30 pm - 7.30 pm 17th January 2024 Onsite, 8 weeks, Reading
Thursdays 6.00 pm - 8.00 pm 25th January 2024 Onsite, 8 weeks, Gloucester
Tuesdays 5.30 pm – 7.30 pm 26th March 2024 Online, 8 weeks
Wednesdays 5.30 pm - 7.30 pm 27th March 2024 Onsite, 8 weeks, Reading
Tuesdays 6.00 pm - 8.00 pm 18th June 2024 Onsite, 8 weeks, Gloucester
Wednesdays 5.30 pm - 7.30 pm 3rd July 2024 Onsite, 8 weeks, Reading
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
Please contact us for future Reading and Gloucester onsite dates.
See course specificationClick here for tickets

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.

Day Time Start Date Format
Tuesdays 5.30 pm - 7.30 pm 16th January 2024 Onsite, 8 weeks, Reading
Please contact us for future Reading and Gloucester onsite dates.
See course specificationEmail to reserve my place

WSET Level 3 Award in Wines (online and onsite)

£690*

Day Time Start date Format
Tuesdays 6.00 pm – 8.00 pm 16th January 2024 Onsite, 16 weeks, Gloucester
Thursdays 5.30 pm – 7.30 pm 18th January 2024 Onsite, 16 weeks, Reading
Wednesdays 6.00 pm – 7.30 pm 24th January 2024 Online, 16 weeks
Tuesdays 5.30 pm – 7.30 pm 2nd July 2024 Onsite, 16 weeks, Reading
Wednesdays 6.00 pm – 8.00 pm 21st August 2024 Onsite, 16 weeks, Gloucester
Tuesdays 6.00 pm – 7.30 pm 27th August 2024 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 enquire

WSET 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

See course specificationEmail to enquire

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

See more reviews