As someone who is passionate about wine and wants to deepen my knowledge of this fascinating subject, I recently created a study plan for the Wine & Spirit Education Trust (WSET) Level 3 Award in Wines. With the help of ChatGPT, a language model trained by OpenAI, I was able to put together a comprehensive and organized plan that covers all the topics and materials I need to master in order to pass the WSET Level 3 exam.

The WSET Level 3 Award in Wines is a rigorous and demanding program that requires a significant amount of time, effort, and dedication. It covers a wide range of topics, from viticulture and winemaking to wine regions and styles from around the world. In order to succeed in this program, it’s important to have a clear and structured study plan that allows you to cover all the material in a systematic and efficient way.

WSET Level 3 - background to study plan

My study plan is designed to help do just that. It is divided into 12 weeks (as I had signed up for the 12 week programme), with each week focusing on specific topics and materials from the WSET Level 3 curriculum. Each week includes several study sessions that cover key concepts, as well as assigned readings from the course textbook. By following this plan, I can ensure that I cover all the material in a timely and organized way, and that I have enough time to review and practice before the final exam.

I believe that this study plan can be a valuable resource for anyone who is interested in pursuing the WSET Level 3 Award in Wines, or who simply wants to learn more about wine in general. By providing a clear and structured roadmap, it can help readers stay on track and avoid feeling overwhelmed or lost. It can also help them approach the material in a more focused and deliberate way, which can lead to better retention and understanding.

Of course, everyone’s learning style and pace is different, so this study plan is just a suggestion. Reader, you are encouraged to customize it to your own needs and preferences, and to adjust it as necessary based on your progress and feedback.

WSET Level 3 Weekly Study Plan - by Session and Book Chapters

WeekSessionsBook Chapters
1Session 1: Course Induction & Tasting Technique
Session 2: The Natural Factors and Human Influences in the Vineyard
Session 3: The Human Factors in the Winery that influence Style, Quality and Price
Section 1: Wine and the Consumer (Chapters 1, 2, 3)
Section 2: Factors Affecting the Style, Quality and Price of Wine (Chapters 5, 6, 7)
2Session 4: White Wines of Germany, Alsace, Austria and the Tokaj region of HungarySection 3: Still Wines of the World (Chapters 17, 22, 23, 24)
3Session 5: White Wines of Burgundy, the Loire Valley and BordeauxSection 3: Still Wines of the World (Chapters 12, 13, 18)
4Session 6: Red and Rose Wines of Bordeaux, South West France and the Loire ValleySection 3: Still Wines of the World (Chapters 13, 14, 18)
5Session 7: Red Wines of Burgundy and the Red and White Wines of the Northern Rhone ValleySection 3: Still Wines of the World (Chapters 15, 16, 19)
6Session 8: Red, White and Rose Wines of the Southern Rhone Valley, Southern France; Red Wines of Spain part 1 and White Wines of Spain and PortugalSection 3: Still Wines of the World (Chapters 20, 21, 30)
7Session 9: Red Wines of Northern Spain and Red and White Wines of Northern ItalySection 3: Still Wines of the World (Chapters 26, 27, 30)
8Session 10: Red and White Wines of Central and Southern Italy, the Red Wines of Portugal, and the Red and White wines of GreeceSection 3: Still Wines of the World (Chapters 25, 28, 29, 31)
9Session 11: Premium Red Wine Regions of the New WorldSection 3: Still Wines of the World (Chapters 32 - 40)
10Session 12: Premium White Wine Regions of the New WorldSection 3: Still Wines of the World (Chapters 32 - 40)
11Session 13: Regional Specialities of the New WorldSection 3: Still Wines of the World (Chapters 32 - 40)
12Session 14: Sparkling Wines
Session 15: Fortified Wines
Section 4: Sparkling Wines of the World (Chapter 41, 42)
Section 5: Fortified Wines of the World (Chapter 43, 44, 45)

Note: The study plan is just a suggestion and can be adjusted based on your individual learning pace and schedule.

Does the study plan work?

What works for me .. is that I set aside my weekends to:

  1. study material for the next week, and
  2. revising my notes,
  3. testing myself

It is important to allocate enough time for review and practice exams to ensure readiness for the final exam … and I’ll touch on revision and practice exams in my next article.

I learned so much and revised quickly with Brainscape and their WSET Level 3 Flashcards.

Get started for FREE today, but you can unlock all the flashcards and SAVE 20% with this special discount code DAMIENWINE.

Meet the author

Photo for Damien Saunders
Damien Saunders
WSET3 award - Has been on a journey to learn more about wine, viticulture since I started travelling. Every country has something to drink.