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Wine Educate: Wine Lessons, Travel & WSET Study Prep

Wine Educate: Wine Lessons, Travel & WSET Study Prep

By: Joanne Close
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Welcome to the Wine Educate Podcast, your ultimate guide to mastering wine through the lens of WSET wine courses and certifications. Whether you're a beginner exploring WSET Level 1 or preparing for the rigorous WSET Level 3 exam, this podcast is packed with insights tailored for every stage of your wine education journey. Learn wine tasting techniques using the Systematic Approach to Tasting (SAT), discover expert strategies for excelling in WSET essay practice, and dive into topics like food and wine pairing and career pathways in the wine industry. With episodes on professional wine education, tips for online wine classes, and behind-the-scenes stories from WSET exam preparation, we'll help you turn your passion for wine into expertise. Whether you're pursuing wine certification for personal growth or advancing your career as a sommelier or educator, the Wine Educate Podcast is here to guide you—one glass at a time. Subscribe now to gain the confidence to ace your WSET courses and elevate your appreciation of wine! This podcast is for you if you are asking questions such as: How do I study for WSET classes? How do I pass WSET Level 3? How do I pass WSET Theory? How do I pass WSET Tasting? How can I take WSET Level 1 course online? Where can I take WSET Level 1 course online? Where can I take WSET Level 2 course online? Where can I take WSET Level 3 course online? What are the WSET Level 2 study materials? How can I prepare for the WSET Level 3 exam? What wine certification programs are available? What are the best wine education podcasts? Where are wine tasting courses near me? How can I take an online wine education class? What are Wine and Spirit Education Trust certifications? How can I become a certified sommelier? What is a wine appreciation course? What wine education is for beginners? What are advanced wine studies? Can I study wine abroad? Can I study WSET in France? Can I study WSET in Europe? What are the top wine regions to visit? How can I find wine tasting tours? What are some WSET exam tips? What are some wine industry certifications? What are professional wine qualifications? What are some wine courses for enthusiasts? What is the WSET diploma program? What are the benefits of obtaining a WSET Level 1 certification? How can I prepare for the WSET Level 2 exam? What topics are covered in the WSET Level 3 course? Are there online courses available for WSET certifications? What is the difference between WSET and sommelier certifications? How long does it take to complete WSET Level 1? What are the costs associated with WSET Level 2 courses? Can I take WSET exams online? What career opportunities are available with a WSET Level 3 certification? How do I find WSET-approved course providers near me? What study materials are recommended for WSET Level 2? Are there practice exams available for WSET Level 3? What is the pass rate for WSET Level 2 exams? How does WSET certification benefit wine professionals? What are the prerequisites for enrolling in WSET Level 3? Can I retake the WSET exam if I don't pass on the first attempt? What is the format of the WSET Level 1 exam? Are there scholarships available for WSET courses? How does WSET certification compare to other wine education programs? What are the best resources for WSET Level 3 exam preparation? How many wines do you taste in WSET Level 2? Is WSET Level 3 difficult? What jobs can I get with a WSET certification? What is the difference between WSET and CMS (Court of Master Sommeliers)? How can I memorize wine regions for the WSET exam? Do I need WSET Level 1 before taking Level 2? What's the difference between WSET Level 2 and Level 3? How does blind tasting work in WSET exams? Is WSET certification worth it? What are the hardest parts of the WSET Level 3 exam? Can you skip WSET Level 1 and go straight to Level 2? What are the key sparkling wine styles covered in WSET Level 3? How do I apply the BLIC (Balance, Length, Intensity, Complexity) method? What are the key wine regions I need to know for WSET Level 3? How does soil type affect wine for WSET exams? What are the essential fortified wines to know for WSET Level 3? How do I prepare for the WSET Level 3 short-answer questions? What is BLIC in wine tasting, and how is it used in WSET? What's the best way to practice multiple-choice questions for WSET? What's the best way to take notes during a WSET wine tasting? What wines should I blind taste for WSET Level 3? How do I taste wine like a professional? What's the difference between young and mature wines? How do I recognize wine faults like cork taint or oxidation? Why do some wines taste buttery? What's the best way to aerate a wine before drinking? How do I know if a wine is corked? How do tannins in wine interact with food? What wines pair best with soft cheeses? How does sweetness in wine affect food pairings? How do I pair wine with vegetarian dishes? What's the best way to store wine at home? What is the ideal serving ...2024 Art Cooking Food & Wine
Episodes
  • 117. Why You Can't Buy Spanish Wine at a French Supermarket - The Wine Wars of the Languedoc

    117. Why You Can't Buy Spanish Wine at a French Supermarket - The Wine Wars of the Languedoc
    Jun 25 2026
    Episode 117: Why You Can't Buy Spanish Wine at a French Supermarket - The Wine Wars of the Languedoc Host: Joanne Close Episode Length: 10:50 Release Date: June 25th 2026 Join the Wine Educate Newsletter Get wine tips, episode updates, and exclusive content delivered to your inbox. Subscribe at https://mailchi.mp/6648859973ba/newsletter Episode Description Joanne heads into Narbonne to do a grocery run at the local Carrefour and comes back with a story. Two full aisles of wine, almost entirely French, overwhelmingly local, and not a single bottle of Rioja, Barolo, or Albariño in sight. This episode is about why that is, and the surprisingly dramatic history behind it. The Languedoc produces around a third of all wine made in France, and local growers have fought hard to protect that. Joanne traces the story back to 1907, when hundreds of thousands of producers took to the streets of Narbonne and Béziers to protest collapsing prices and rampant fraud. What followed was more than a century of unrest, culminating in the Wine Wars of the 1970s through 1990s and right up to recent protests in 2023 and 2024 that involved stopped tanker trucks, smashed cases, dumped wine on highways, and tractors blocking motorways. It is a genuinely fascinating piece of wine history that also happens to explain a lot about the regional pride you feel when you are here, and why the wine aisle at a French supermarket looks nothing like the one back home. What You'll Learn in This Episode Buying Wine in the South of France What the wine selection actually looks like at a major French supermarketWhy over 95% of wines available are French, with around 85% being local Languedoc and Roussillon winesWhy Champagne is the one exception and why the Champagne aisle in a French supermarket tends to be exceptionalWhere to source non-French wines if you need them for a WSET Level 2 class in the region The History of the Wine Wars The 1907 protests in the Narbonne and Béziers area, when hundreds of thousands of growers demonstrated against price collapse and wine fraudHow fraudulent labeling, with wines from other regions being sold as Languedoc, undermined local producersThe pattern of continued unrest through the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s, including the targeting of imported wine shipments from SpainThe 2023 attack near the Spanish border when growers stopped trucks, smashed cases, and poured wine onto the highwayThe 2024 tractor protests, when farmers blocked highways and dumped manure outside government offices to demand protection for local wine Why the Languedoc Is Worth Protecting The Languedoc produces approximately one third of all wine made in FranceThe sheer variety and quality available at all price points means there is genuinely no need to import cheaper wine from neighboring countriesThe local pride that runs through everything from the supermarket shelf to the family vineyard Episode Highlights and Quotes "Languedoc makes about a third of all the wines in France. There's plenty of wine to choose from at all price points, so there's no need to truck in inexpensive Spanish wine that's gonna act as a competitor and potentially put you and your cousin out of business." "When you're mad and you're a farmer, you gotta work with what you got. Well, you've got a tractor." "To see a whole aisle and a half full of Languedoc appellation wines makes me pretty excited. I kind of really love it." Quick Reference: The Wine Wars Timeline YearEvent 1907 Mass protests in Narbonne and Béziers over price collapse and wine fraud. Troops sent in. Lives lost. 1970s to 1990s Ongoing Wine Wars. Imported Spanish wine tankers stopped and emptied onto roads. Retailers pressured to support local producers. 2023 Growers near the Spanish border stop trucks, smash cases, and pour wine onto the highway. 2024 Tractor protests block highways. Manure dumped outside government offices. Rotten produce and grape marc left outside supermarkets. Resources Mentioned Carrefour supermarket, NarbonneCave a Manger, Narbonne (restaurant mentioned in episode 116)Fête de la Musique, the French summer solstice music festivalLanguedoc, Roussillon, and surrounding appellationsWine and Pilates Retreat (upcoming trip)Spring 2027 trips: https://www.wineeducate.com/trips Connect with Wine Educate Newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/6648859973ba/newsletter - sign up for wine tips, quizzes, and episode updates delivered to your inbox every week. Website: https://www.wineeducate.com YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@wineeducate Never miss an episode. Subscribe on your favourite podcast platform including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, and YouTube. If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a 5-star review and share it with fellow wine lovers. Reviews are the best way to help other WSET students find the show. About Wine Educate Wine Educate is a WSET Approved Programme Provider offering internationally recognized wine certification courses. Through the podcast, ...
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    11 mins
  • 116. A Day in the Life on the WSET Level 2 Trip in the South of France

    116. A Day in the Life on the WSET Level 2 Trip in the South of France
    Jun 18 2026
    Episode 116: A Day in the Life on the WSET Level 2 Trip in the South of France Host: Joanne Close Episode Length: 9:15 Release Date: June 18th Join the Wine Educate Newsletter Get wine tips, episode updates, and exclusive content delivered to your inbox. Subscribe at https://mailchi.mp/6648859973ba/newsletter Level 2 Mock Exam Bundle If you are considering joining a future WSET Level 2 trip, or are studying for your Level 2 exam right now, the Level 2 Mock Exam Bundle is a helpful way to test your knowledge before exam day. It includes practice questions modeled on the real exam format so you can study with confidence. https://joanne-close.mykajabi.com/offers/xeXeiyop/checkout Episode Description Still recording from her hideaway cottage at Chateau Camplazens, Joanne takes a break from wine theory this week to give listeners a real look at what it is like to join the WSET Level 2 trip in the south of France. With 13 travelers just arrived and the Languedoc Food and Wine Experience wrapped up the week before, Joanne walks through an actual day on the trip, start to finish. From an early morning walk through the vines, to a classroom session overlooking the vineyards, to a relaxed lunch followed by siesta time during the hottest part of the day, Joanne covers the rhythm of a typical day and why it is built around the Mediterranean climate rather than against it. She also talks about group size, the kinds of conversations that come up during tastings, and where the group heads for dinner in Narbonne. It is part travelogue, part practical preview for anyone considering joining a future trip, and a good sense of what makes studying for WSET Level 2 in the vineyards itself such a different experience than studying from a book at home. What You'll Learn in This Episode The Daily Rhythm of the Level 2 Trip Why the day starts early with a walk through the vines before the heat sets inWhat topics come up during the vineyard walk, including canopy management, frost risk, and old vine CarignanWhy the classroom session happens mid-morning, before temperatures peakWhy lunch is kept light and casual, with cheese, charcuterie, and crudité, to allow for siesta time afterwardWhy siesta time is built into the schedule rather than treated as optional downtime Group Size and Format Why Level 2 trips are kept to a maximum of 14 studentsWhy this group size allows for a lively tasting discussion without feeling crowdedHow everyone tastes the same bottle together during the session Trip Options The summer trip format, run over five days and based at the family vineyardThe spring trip format, run over a slightly longer period with a hotel base in NarbonneHow the spring format allows more free time to explore Narbonne itself2027 summer trip dates to be announced in the coming weeks Evening Plans Why dinner is a proper sit-down, three-course meal in an air-conditioned restaurant in NarbonneA visit to Cave a Manger, a wine shop turned restaurant with a wine cellar guests can browse before dinner Episode Highlights and Quotes "Certain concepts really hit home when you're in the situation." "We keep our trips at 14 people for the Level 2 trip. It's enough people that there are many interesting voices in the tasting discussion, but not too many that things get crowded and people don't feel like they have a chance to speak up." Quick Reference: WSET Level 2 Trip Formats Trip FormatLengthBaseBest For Summer Trip 5 days Family vineyard at Chateau Camplazens A more immersive, vineyard-based experience Spring Trip 7 days Hotel in Narbonne More free time to explore Narbonne itself Resources Mentioned Chateau Camplazens, the family vineyard in the LanguedocCave a Manger, a wine shop and restaurant in NarbonneFred, the Syrah grape bunch being followed weekly in the newsletterLevel 2 Mock Exam Bundle for exam practice: https://joanne-close.mykajabi.com/offers/xeXeiyop/checkout Connect with Wine Educate Newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/6648859973ba/newsletter - sign up for wine tips, quizzes, and episode updates delivered to your inbox every week. Website: https://www.wineeducate.com YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@wineeducate Never miss an episode. Subscribe on your favourite podcast platform including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, and YouTube. If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a 5-star review and share it with fellow wine lovers. Reviews are the best way to help other WSET students find the show. About Wine Educate Wine Educate is a WSET Approved Programme Provider offering internationally recognized wine certification courses. Through the podcast, Joanne Close makes wine education accessible to everyone, breaking down complex topics into practical, easy-to-understand lessons. Whether you are studying for your WSET certification or simply want to learn more about wine, you will find the guidance and knowledge you need to enjoy wine with confidence. Episode 116 of the Wine Educate Podcast | Hosted by Joanne Close |...
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    9 mins
  • 115. What Is Terroir? Breaking Down Wine's Most Untranslatable Word

    115. What Is Terroir? Breaking Down Wine's Most Untranslatable Word
    Jun 12 2026
    Episode 115: What Is Terroir? Breaking Down Wine's Most Untranslatable Word Host: Joanne Close Episode Length: 9:37 Release Date: June 11th Join the Wine Educate Newsletter Get wine tips, episode updates, and exclusive content delivered to your inbox. Subscribe at https://mailchi.mp/6648859973ba/newsletter Level 2 Mock Exam Bundle If terroir and how climate, soil, and site come together to shape a wine's character is the kind of topic that makes you want extra practice before exam day, the Level 2 Mock Exam Bundle is built for exactly that. It includes practice questions modeled on the real WSET Level 2 exam format, helping you test your understanding of these foundational concepts before you sit the real thing. https://joanne-close.mykajabi.com/offers/xeXeiyop/checkout Episode Description Joanne is recording this episode from a tiny stone cottage at the top of a mountain in the south of France, and the setting could not be more fitting. This week she tackles terroir, a word every wine student encounters early on but one that resists a single tidy definition. Rather than offering a textbook answer, Joanne breaks the concept down into its parts and walks through how each one shows up in a glass of wine. She covers the building blocks of terroir, including climate, soil composition, topography, aspect, and the human decisions that go into farming a vineyard. She also touches on how France's appellation system is really a reflection of terroir, and how newer wine regions like the United States are still discovering and defining their own. Using her current surroundings in the Languedoc as a live example, Joanne talks through the wind, the limestone soil, the wild herbs of the garrigue, and how all of it ends up reflected in the wines made from this specific patch of land. It is a grounded, personal take on a concept that can otherwise feel abstract. What You'll Learn in This Episode What Terroir Actually Means Why there is no direct English translation for the French word terroirHow terroir refers to the combination of factors that create a wine's unique sense of placeWhy terroir is not one single thing, but many factors working together The Components of Terroir Climate, including rainfall, sunshine, and windSoil composition, drainage, and color, including how dark soils like the galets of Châteauneuf-du-Pape retain and reflect heatTopography and aspect, including elevation and proximity to rivers or the seaVine training methods and vine densityGrape variety selection and vineyard decisions Terroir and the Appellation System How France's appellation system reflects recognized terroir over centuriesHow appellations get more specific moving from a broad region down to individual sites, using Burgundy, the Côte d'Or, Pommard, and Volnay as an exampleHow newer wine regions are still in the process of identifying their best sites Terroir Beyond Wine How the concept of terroir also applies to cheese, tea, honey, and single malt scotchNew research into soil microbiomes and how they may influence the resulting style of wine Terroir in Practice: La Clape and the Languedoc How wind, including the mistral and tramontane, shapes the vineyards of this regionHow calcium-rich limestone soil and water reflect in the minerality of local winesHow the garrigue, with its wild lavender, rosemary, and herbs, contributes to the aromatic character of wines from this area Episode Highlights and Quotes "Terroir is poetry, and it is a combination of all the parts of a unique part in the world and the wine that it makes." "One big important factor about terroir is that it cannot be replicated. You could try to take the same grape in the same climate, planting it on the same soil, aspect, elevation, all those things, and you may get something similar, but you're not going to get a replication of this specific wine." "If you were doing your WSET studies, you could be nodding your head right now, because those first few chapters of that level three book essentially talk about these components that go into terroir." Quick Reference: The Components of Terroir ComponentWhat It Includes Climate Temperature, rainfall, sunshine hours, wind Soil Composition, drainage, color, nutrient content Topography Aspect, elevation, proximity to water Viticulture Vine training, vine density, farming decisions Grape Variety Which grapes are planted and why Resources Mentioned Châteauneuf-du-Pape and its galet stonesAOC Burgundy, the Côte d'Or, Pommard, and Volnay as examples of appellation specificityLa Clape, the wine region near Joanne's location in the LanguedocWSET Level 3 textbook, early chapters on terroirLevel 2 Mock Exam Bundle for practice ahead of the WSET Level 2 exam: https://joanne-close.mykajabi.com/offers/xeXeiyop/checkout Connect with Wine Educate Newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/6648859973ba/newsletter - sign up for wine tips, quizzes, and episode updates delivered to your inbox every week. Website: https://www.wineeducate.com ...
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    10 mins
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A great source for WSET studies. Informative, relevant, entertaining and Joanne's newsletter is well worth the sub

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I came across this podcast by chance in between my usual audibook reads....what a pleasure. Joanne Close is almost bursting with knowledge and supportive energy. I've learned facts here that I'd never quite understood. For example, why acidity falls when grapes continue to ripen on the vine, the history of bubbles in wine and much more. I reached out from the UK to Joanne with a query and had a fast, helpful response. If you are serious about WSET 3 (I'm not there but am interested in studying further towards this) then there is a huge amount of practical information here to help you. The episodes are of an ideal length (10-15') to allow you to digest and process the information. I can unreservedly recommend this.

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