Recommended Tasting Wines
The following is a list of the recommended tasting wines for each section of the course. We recommend that you read the relevant section of the course then taste the corresponding wines for that section and make notes using the WSET Systematic Approach to Tasting (PDF, 165KB).
You will also find a list of wines on page 17 of the WSET Intermediate course specification (PDF, 1.35 MB).
| White Wines | Corresponding Sections of Course | |
|---|---|---|
| Neutral Italian white e.g. Soave, Frascati or Orvieto | Section 1: Style, Quality and Price | Section 3: Wines by Region, Italy |
| Alsace gewürztraminer | Section 1: Style, Quality and Price | Section 3: Wines by Region, France - Alsace |
| Dry oaked white other than Chardonnay e.g. Fumé Blanc, oaked Viognier | Section 1: Style, Quality and Price | General |
| Muscadet de Sevre et Maine Sur Lie | Section 1: Style, Quality and Price | Section 3: Wines by Region, France – Loire Valley |
| Vouvray Demi Sec | Section 1: Style, Quality and Price | Section 3: Wines by Region, France – Loire Valley |
| Chablis 1er Cru | Section 2: Classic Grape Varieties, Chardonnay | Section 3: Wines by Region, France - Burgundy |
| Côte d’Or Commune wine or 1er Cru white | Section 2: Classic Grape Varieties, Chardonnay | Section 3: Wines by Region, France - Burgundy |
| Inexpensive varietal Chardonnay (Vin de Pays, Chile or South Africa etc) | Section 2: Classic Grape Varieties, Chardonnay General | - |
| Barrique fermented new-world Chardonnay (Australia, California or New Zealand) | Section 2: Classic Grape Varieties, Chardonnay | General |
| Sancerre or Pouilly Fumé | Section 2: Classic Grape Varieties, Sauvignon Blanc | Section 3: Wines by Region, France – Loire Valley |
| Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc | Section 2: Classic Grape Varieties, Sauvignon Blanc | Section 3: Wines by Region, New Zealand |
| Mosel Einzellage Riesling Kabinett | Section 2: Classic Grape Varieties, Riesling | Section 3: Wines by Region, Germany |
| Dry Riesling form Australia (Clare or Eden Valley) | Section 2: Classic Grape Varieties, Riesling | Section 3: Wines by Region, Australia |
| Pinot Grigio | Section 3: Wines by Region, Italy | - |
| Rosé Wines | Corresponding Sections of Course | |
| Any Rosé | Section 1: Style, Quality and Price General | - |
| Red Wines | Corresponding Sections of Course | |
| Fruity red with light tannin – Valpolicella | Section 1: Style, Quality and Price | Section 3: Wines by Region, Italy |
| Young Barolo | Section 1: Style, Quality and Price | Section 3: Wines by Region, Italy |
| Beaujolais Villages | Section 1: Style, Quality and Price | Section 3: Wines by Region, France – Burgundy |
| Any Large volume branded red | Section 1: Style, Quality and Price General | - |
| Full bodied, oak aged premium new world red e.g. Zinfandel | Section 1: Style, Quality and Price | General |
| Côte d’Or Commune wine or 1er Cru red | Section 2: Classic Grape Varieties, Pinot Noir | Section 3: Wines by Region, France – Burgundy |
| New world premium Pinot Noir (New Zealand or USA) | Section 2: Classic Grape Varieties, Pinot Noir | Section 3: Wines by Region, |
| Inexpensive or mid-priced varietal Merlot (Vin de Pays, Chile or Northern Italy) | Section 2: Classic Grape Varieties, Cabernet Sauvignon & Merlot General | - |
| Saint Emilion | Section 2: Classic Grape Varieties, Cabernet Sauvignon & Merlot | Section 3: Wines by Region, France – Bordeaux |
| Premium new world Cabernet Sauvignon (Margaret River, Coonawarra, Napa) | Section 2: Classic Grape Varieties, Cabernet Sauvignon & Merlot General | - |
| Cru Bourgeois or Grand Cru Classé (Haut Medoc, Pauillac or Margaux) | Section 2: Classic Grape Varieties, Cabernet Sauvignon & Merlot | Section 3: Wines by Region, France – Bordeaux |
| Côtes du Rhône Village | Section 2: Classic Grape Varieties, Syrah & Grenache | Section 3: Wines by Region, France – Rhône Valley |
| Châteauneuf du Pape | Section 2: Classic Grape Varieties, Syrah & Grenache | Section 3: Wines by Region, France – Rhône Valley |
| Northern Rhône Syrah | Section 2: Classic Grape Varieties, Syrah & Grenache | Section 3: Wines by Region, France – Rhône Valley |
| Premium Barossa Shiraz | Section 2: Classic Grape Varieties, Syrah & Grenache | Section 3: Wines by Region, Australia |
| Chianti Classico Riserva | Section 3: Wines by Region, Italy | - |
| Any Southern Italian Red | Section 3: Wines by Region, Italy | - |
| Rioja Joven or other Inexpensive Spanish Red | Section 3: Wines by Region, Spain | - |
| Rioja Reserva/Gran Reserva | Section 3: Wines by Region, Spain | - |
| Any Portuguese Red Wine | Section 3: Wines by Region, Portugal | - |
| Other Wines | Corresponding Sections of Course | |
| Tokaji | Section 1: Style, Quality and Price General | - |
| Sauternes | Section 3: Wines by Region, France – Bordeaux | Section 4: Other Styles of Wine, Sweet Wines |
| Cava | Section 4: Other Styles of Wine, Sparkling Wines | - |
| Prosecco/Asti | Section 4: Other Styles of Wine, Sparkling Wines | - |
| New World bottle fermented sparkling wine | Section 4: Other Styles of Wine, Sparkling Wines | - |
| NV Champagne | Section 4: Other Styles of Wine, Sparkling Wines | - |
| Non botrytis dessert wine (e.g. Muscat Vin Doux Naturel) | Section 4: Other Styles of Wine, Sweet Wines | - |
| Fino | Section 4: Other Styles of Wine | - |
| LBV Port | Section 4: Other Styles of Wine | - |
| Spirits | Corresponding Sections of Course | |
| Neutral White Vodka or Rum | Section 5: Spirits and Liqueurs | - |
| Gin | Section 5: Spirits and Liqueurs | - |
| Cognac | Section 5: Spirits and Liqueurs | - |
| Scotch Whisky | Section 5: Spirits and Liqueurs | - |