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  • 青山校・銀座校 03-3486-7769
  • 大阪校 06-6455-2121

2026
Winter Courses

WSET®
Award in Sake

（English）

Discover WSET®
Sake Courses
Click here for 日本語

Special Opening Price!

If you already decided to take the course, click here for schedules and registration.

What is WSET?

  • A program by the world’s leading wine and spirits education institution, based in London, UK.
  • Designed for beginners with no prior knowledge of sake.
  • From beginners to advanced learners — courses tailored to every level
  • Learn to evaluate sake accurately using a globally recognized tasting method.
Classroom scene

WSET® Award in Wines

For those interested in wine,
we also offer the WSET® Award in Wines program.

Details

4 Key Ways
You’ll Benefit from the Course

グローバル
Learn to discuss sake in a “language the world understands.”
Discover how sake is appreciated worldwide and gain knowledge and perspectives that are internationally recognized.
料理
Discover the depth of sake.
Enjoy sake in new ways and explore exciting food pairing opportunities.
日本酒
The more you know, the more you savor.
Unlock the secrets of sake and make every sip more delicious and fun!
おもてなし
Move from knowing to impressing.
Gain the skills to serve sake confidently in business and special occasions.

Courses

At Académie du Vin, an authorized WSET® school,
we offer courses to earn three qualifications: Level 1 to Level 3.

What’s the difference between
Levels 1, 2, and 3 at Académie du Vin?

Level 1
Award in Sake

beginner level
for first-time sake learners

An introductory level course, ideal for beginners new to sake. A beginner-level qualification for aspiring sake professionals and enthusiasts alike.Explore the main styles and types of sake while deepening your understanding of the factors that shape its flavor and aroma.

Who is this course for?
  • For those starting a career related to sake, first-time learners, and sake enthusiasts.
What you will learn:
  • Basic knowledge of sake
  • Fundamentals of sake tasting
  • Pairing sake with food

Duration: 1 day
Exam details:
  • Language: Japanese or English
    (The course and exam must be taken in the same language)
  • Questions: 30 multiple-choice questions
  • Exam time: 45 minutes
  • Pass mark: 70% or higher
Level 2
Award in Sake

Intermediate level
to deepen your sake knowledge

An intermediate-level course, ideal for learners looking to expand their sake knowledge.
You will learn how the ingredients used in sake production are processed and combined to create the wide variety of sake styles.

Who is this course for?
  • For sake enthusiasts who want to learn in a structured way, and professionals in the food, beverage, and retail industries.
What you will learn:
  • How to describe and assess the quality of sake using the WSET Level 2 Systematic Approach to Tasting Sake ® (SAT)
  • The ingredients used to make sake
  • Processing the raw materials
  • How sake is made:
  • Common labelling terms.

Duration： 8 sessions / 3 month
Exam details:
  • Language: Japanese or English
    (Must be the same language as the course)
  • Exam: 50 multiple questions
  • Exam time:60 Minutes
  • Pass mark: 55%

Special Opening Price
until 31st March

79,200Yen

Apply
Level 3
Award in Sake

Advanced level
for professionals and sake enthusiasts

Advanced level for professionals and sake enthusiasts. An advanced qualification for sake professionals and enthusiasts.Delve into the production methods shaping sake’s style, quality, and price, and gain the expertise to make confident recommendations.

Who is this course for?
  • Professionals working in the sake industry
  • Sake enthusiasts
  • Those who have completed Level 2 Sake and wish to deepen their knowledge further
What you will learn:
  • How to taste sake, and evaluate quality, identity and price, using the WSET Level 3 Systematic Approach to Tasting Sake® (SAT)
  • 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

Duration： 11 sessions / 5 month
Exam details:
  • Language: English Only
  • Exam: 50 multiple choice questions/ Short written answer exam/Blind tasting exam on two sakes
  • Exam time: Written Exams: 120 min/ Blind Tasting Exam: 30min
  • Pass mark: 55% on all three papers
*All prices include tax.

Overview of the curriculum

WSET® Level 1
Award in Sake

Recommended for:

  • Beginners to sake and sake lovers
  • Anyone looking to improve knowledge of sake and food pairing
  • Anyone aiming to earn an internationally recognized sake qualification in a short time
  • People working in, or aspiring to work in, industries requiring basic knowledge of sake styles (e.g. restaurants, retail)
Session Curriculum (One-Day Course)
1 sake ingredients, an overview of sake production
2 an overview of sake production
3 an introduction to tasting
4 how to make different styles of sake
5 Japanese kanji
6 speciality styles of sake
7 storage and service of sake
8 sake and food
WSET® Level 1 Award in Sake
An Introduction to Sake
Course Fee: 33,000yen【Special Opening Price】
Course Duration: 1day
Level 1 class Coming Soon

WSET® Level 2
Award in Sake

Recommended for:

  • Anyone interested in sake who wants to learn systematically or improve tasting skills
  • Anyone seeking an internationally recognized sake qualification
  • Hospitality and beverage professionals, including sommeliers and service staff
  • Graduates of WSET Level 1 Sake looking to deepen their knowledge
    （Completion of Level 1 is not mandatory）
Session Curriculum
1 Orientation, What is Sake
2 Tasting and Assessing Sake
3 Rice and Starch – Making Steamed White Rice
4 Kōji Mould – Making Kōji, Water and Yeast, – Alcoholic Fermentation①
5 Water and Yeast ,– Alcoholic Fermentation②, Post-fermentation options
6 Speciality Styles of Sake, Categories and Grades of Sake
7 Delicate, Dry, Fruity Ginjō and Rich Junmai Styles of Sake, Storage and Service of Sake
8 Exam
WSET® Level 2 Award in Sake
Looking behind the label
Course Fee: 79,200yen【Special Opening Price】
Course Duration: 8 sessions （3 months）
Level 2 class Apply

WSET® Level 3
Award in Sake

Recommended for:

  • Sake industry professionals and dedicated sake enthusiasts
  • Anyone wishing to promote sake internationally or obtain a global qualification
  • Anyone who wants to study sake in depth in English
  • Graduates of WSET Level 2 Sake looking to further explore their knowledge
    （Completion of Level 2 is not mandatory）
Session Curriculum
1 Course Induction, Tasting : Calibration and Production Techniques
2 Review of the Fundamentals, Growing Rice
3 Making Steamed White Rice, Making Koji
4 Kanji, Tasting : Quality Assessment
5 Water and Yeast
6 Fermentation Starter（Shubo, Moto）, Main Fermentation（Moromi）
7 Jozo Alcohol and Filtration, Finishing
8 Sake Regionality, Sake Industry
9 Tasting : Review：Speciality Styles of Sake, Mock Exam ：Tasting
10 Storage and Service of Sake, Mock Exam：Theory
11 Examination
WSET® Level 3 Award in Sake
Explaining style and quality
Course Fee：Coming Soon
Course Duration: 11 sessions（approx. 5 months）
Level 3 class Coming Soon
If you already decided to take the course, click here for schedules and registration.

Contact us

Aoyama School
03-3486-7769
Osaka School
06-6455-2121

＜Open Hours＞
Tokyo School▼
Weekdays 10:00-20:00/
Weekends and Holidays 10:00-18:00


Osaka School▼
Weekdays 10:00-21:00/
Weekends and Holidays 11:00-18:00