How to Pass WSET Level 2: Exam Tips
Practical strategies for passing the WSET Level 2 exam on your first try. Covers the grape list, study methods, common pitfalls, and day-of exam tips.
WSET Level 2 is the exam where you discover just how much you don’t know about wine. Level 1 gives you a polite introduction — nine grapes, basic tasting, food pairing principles. Level 2 throws twenty-plus grape varieties at you, expects you to know which Italian village makes Soave (Garganega, from Veneto), and asks you to explain why Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc tastes different from Sancerre even though they’re the same grape.
It’s a step up. But it’s entirely passable with the right strategy.
What WSET Level 2 Actually Tests
The exam covers a broad sweep of wine knowledge:
- Grape varieties — 20+ whites and reds, their characteristics, key regions, and typical wine styles
- World wine regions — major regions across France, Italy, Spain, Germany, Portugal, and the New World
- Winemaking fundamentals — how fermentation, oak aging, malolactic conversion, and lees contact shape wine
- Environmental factors — climate types, soil, and how they influence grape growing
- Labeling and classification — AOC, DOCG, DO, and how to decode a wine label
- Sparkling and fortified wines — Champagne method, Charmat method, Port, Sherry basics
- Food and wine pairing — matching principles beyond “red with meat”
- Systematic tasting — using the WSET Level 2 SAT framework
The Exam Format
Here’s what you’re walking into:
| Component | Details |
|---|---|
| Format | Multiple choice |
| Questions | 50 |
| Duration | 60 minutes |
| Pass | 55% (28 correct) |
| Merit | 65% |
| Distinction | 80% |
| Resources | Closed book |
No essay writing, no blind tasting in the exam itself (though your course includes tasting practice). It’s purely factual recall and application. But don’t let “multiple choice” fool you — the questions can be surprisingly specific.
The 8 Key Study Areas
The grape variety list is the backbone of the exam, but you need to organize your study around broader themes. Here are the eight areas to master:
1. White Grape Varieties
Know Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Riesling, Pinot Grigio/Gris, Gewürztraminer, Viognier, Chenin Blanc, Sémillon, Albariño, Cortese, and Garganega. For each, know the flavor profile, acidity level, typical body, whether oak is used, and the key regions.
2. Red Grape Varieties
Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Pinot Noir, Syrah/Shiraz, Grenache/Garnacha, Tempranillo, Sangiovese, Nebbiolo, Malbec, Gamay, Zinfandel/Primitivo, Pinotage, and Carménère. Same deal — characteristics, tannin level, body, key regions, and regional wine names.
3. French Wine Regions
Bordeaux (left bank vs. right bank blends), Burgundy (Chardonnay and Pinot Noir), Rhône (Northern vs. Southern), Loire, Alsace. France gets the most exam questions. Know the classification systems and which grapes go where.
4. Italy, Spain, and the Rest of Europe
Italy’s DOCG wines (Barolo, Barbaresco, Chianti, Brunello), Spain’s Rioja and Ribera del Duero, Germany’s Riesling regions and Prädikat system, Portugal’s Douro and Vinho Verde. These regions appear frequently.
5. New World Regions
USA (Napa, Sonoma, Oregon, Washington), Australia (Barossa, Hunter Valley, Margaret River), New Zealand (Marlborough), South Africa (Stellenbosch), Chile (Maipo, Casablanca), Argentina (Mendoza). Know the signature grapes and styles for each.
6. Winemaking Processes
Understand how fermentation temperature affects flavor, what oak does to wine (vanilla, toast, tannin structure), why malolactic conversion makes wine feel rounder, and the difference between stainless steel and barrel fermentation.
7. Sparkling and Fortified Wines
Traditional method vs. Charmat method. How Port is fortified. The difference between Fino and Oloroso Sherry. These topics are a smaller portion of the exam, but questions do appear and they’re easy marks if you’ve reviewed them.
8. Climate and Environment
Cool climate vs. warm climate wine styles. What continental, maritime, and Mediterranean climates mean for grape growing. How altitude, aspect, and proximity to water influence ripening.
Study Strategy That Works
Build Comparison Charts
The exam loves questions that test whether you can distinguish similar grapes. Build side-by-side tables:
| Feature | Cabernet Sauvignon | Merlot | Pinot Noir |
|---|---|---|---|
| Body | Full | Medium to full | Light to medium |
| Tannin | High | Medium | Low |
| Key fruit | Blackcurrant | Plum, red fruit | Cherry, strawberry |
| Oak | Usually | Often | Sometimes |
| Key region | Bordeaux (left bank), Napa | Bordeaux (right bank) | Burgundy, Oregon |
Use Flashcards with Spaced Repetition
Level 2 is a knowledge-dense exam. There are hundreds of facts to retain — grape characteristics, regional names, classification levels, climate types. Flashcards with spaced repetition are significantly more effective than re-reading notes.
The concept is simple: cards you get wrong appear more frequently, cards you know well appear less often. Over a few weeks, the difficult material gets drilled in while you don’t waste time on what you’ve already mastered.
Taste with Purpose
Don’t just drink wine — taste it systematically. Every time you open a bottle:
- Identify the grape variety and region
- Describe the acidity, tannin, body, and fruit character
- Compare it to the textbook description — does it match?
Try to taste wines from the Level 2 grape list. A side-by-side tasting of Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc and Loire Sauvignon Blanc teaches you more about climate influence than any textbook chapter.
Study Regional Maps
Visual learners benefit enormously from wine region maps. Know where Burgundy sits relative to the Rhône. Understand why Marlborough is on the South Island’s northeast tip. Geography reinforces climate knowledge, which reinforces wine style knowledge.
Common Pitfalls
Confusing grape names and regional names. The exam will test this repeatedly. Chablis is Chardonnay. Chianti is primarily Sangiovese. Barolo is Nebbiolo. Sancerre is Sauvignon Blanc. If you see a regional name, you need to know the grape behind it.
Mixing up similar grapes. Sauvignon Blanc and Chenin Blanc are both high-acid white grapes from the Loire, but their flavor profiles are completely different. Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon are both full-bodied reds, but Syrah has pepper and spice while Cabernet has blackcurrant. Build those comparison charts.
Getting lost in German wine classification. The Prädikat system (Kabinett, Spätlese, Auslese, etc.) trips people up. Remember: it’s based on grape ripeness at harvest, not sweetness of the finished wine. A Spätlese can be dry (trocken) or sweet.
Ignoring classification systems. Know the hierarchy: France (AOC/AOP at the top), Italy (DOCG above DOC above IGT), Spain (DOCa/DOC above DO). The exam asks about these directly.
Underestimating sparkling and fortified questions. Students focus so heavily on still wines that they neglect Champagne production, Port styles, and Sherry. These are easy marks if you’ve reviewed the material.
Day-of Exam Tips
The night before:
- Review your weakest areas one final time
- Get proper sleep — a tired brain doesn’t recall facts well
- Don’t try to learn new material. If you don’t know it by now, one more hour won’t help
At the exam:
- Read each question carefully. The wrong answers are designed to look plausible
- Eliminate obviously incorrect options first — this increases your odds even when you’re unsure
- Don’t change answers unless you have a clear reason. Your first instinct is usually right
- Watch the clock. 60 minutes for 50 questions gives you just over a minute per question. Don’t spend three minutes on one question while leaving others unanswered
- Flag uncertain questions and come back to them after completing the rest
What Does It Cost?
WSET Level 2 typically costs $400 to $700 USD, depending on your location and course provider. This includes classroom instruction, the official textbook, tasting wines, and the exam fee.
If you fail, retake fees are usually $75 to $150.
What Passing Means
A WSET Level 2 certificate gives you:
- A globally recognized credential respected across the wine industry
- A LinkedIn digital badge to display your qualification
- A foundation for Level 3 — the advanced qualification that opens professional doors
- Career credibility for roles in wine retail, hospitality, distribution, and education
- Genuine knowledge — you’ll understand wine at a level most people never reach
Level 2 is the most popular WSET qualification worldwide. It hits the sweet spot between accessible and meaningful.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need Level 1 to take Level 2? No. Level 1 is not a prerequisite. If you already have basic wine knowledge, you can go straight to Level 2.
What’s the pass rate? WSET doesn’t publish official statistics, but Level 2 has a high pass rate — most estimates put it above 80% for candidates who complete the coursework and study.
How long should I study? Four to eight weeks of consistent study is ideal. Thirty to sixty minutes per day, with some tasting practice on weekends.
Is there a tasting exam? No. The Level 2 exam is entirely multiple choice. Your course will include tasting practice to build your palate, but tasting is not assessed in the exam.
What if I fail? You can retake the exam through your course provider. There’s an additional fee, and you’ll typically need to wait for the next available exam session.
Should I go straight to Level 3 after passing? Take some time between levels. Spend a few months tasting widely, keeping notes, and consolidating your Level 2 knowledge before starting Level 3 preparation. The jump in difficulty is significant.
Passing WSET Level 2 comes down to consistent study, organized materials, and enough tasting practice to make the theory feel real. Sommo’s WSET Level 2 study tools include spaced repetition flashcards covering every grape variety, region, and winemaking concept on the syllabus, plus a cheatsheet that condenses the key facts into a quick-reference format. The practice quizzes mirror the multiple-choice exam format, so you can test yourself under realistic conditions before the real thing.
