WSET Level 3 Sake Course

About the Course

WSET Level 3 Award in Sake

An advanced qualification for beverage professionals and serious sake enthusiasts.

Take your understanding of sake to an advanced level with WSET’s highest-level sake qualification, offered at International Wine Center. You’ll gain an in-depth understanding of the production methods that influence a sake’s style, quality, and price, along with the knowledge to evaluate sake accurately and explain what makes each example unique.

By the end of the course, you’ll be able to assess sake confidently and use your expertise to make informed, authoritative recommendations in retail, hospitality, distribution, education, or for your own personal enjoyment.

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What You’ll Learn

Unit 1

• The main techniques that are used in the production of sake and how they influence style and quality
• The principal and specialty categories of sake
• The sake industry and the commercial importance of sake in the Japanese and export markets
• The principles behind the storage, selection and service of sake

Unit 2

• How to taste sake, and evaluate quality, identity and price, using the WSET Level 3 Systematic Approach to Tasting Sake® (SAT)

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Course Delivery

This course includes a two-week online pre-study program, 16 hours of classroom lecture and tasting with instructors on Days 1-3, followed by the exam on Day 4.

All students receive the textbook for the course, “Level 3 Award in Sake: Explaining style and quality”.

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Assessment

On Day 4, candidates will be assessed by:

• A closed-book exam consisting of 50 multiple-choice questions
• A written exam featuring short-answer questions
• A blind tasting of two sakes.

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Entry Requirements

All candidates must be at least 21 years of age and are required to complete a two-week online pre-study program before attending the course.

Completion of WSET’s Level 1 or Level 2 Awards in Sake are NOT required to enroll. Prior knowledge of sake is strongly recommended.

All candidates must read and agree to all IWC policies including refund & cancellation policy. Our policy handbook can be found here.