WSET Diploma Unit 3 (Light Wines) Classes
Unit 3 Course Overview
Unit 3 classes (usually on Monday evenings) are two plus hours per week over 20 weeks from early January through late May.
Most of our Unit 3 classes are focused on one wine region. However, essay questions on the Unit 3 exam often ask you to compare, for example, Cabernet from Napa, Bordeaux, Chile and the Languedoc, so our final Unit 3 classes are cross-appellation classes. Coming shortly before the Unit 3 exams, they have been helpful in preparing students for the exams.
The 20 classes are listed below. Click on each class to jump to more details about that class, including a list of wines poured in that class in 2009:
- Introductory class, including early exposure to Unit 3-style exams (tasting and written)
- Bordeaux
- SW France and Southern France (Provence, Languedoc)
- Burgundy
- Alsace
- The Loire Valley
- Germany
- Central & Eastern Europe
- Rhone
- Italy, Week 1
- Italy, Week 2
- Spain
- Portugal
- North America
- South America
- Australia
- New Zealand
- South Africa
- Cross- appellation class
- Cross-appellation class
Classes will be a combination of lecture, discussion, map review and tasting.
We will taste at least 128 different categories of wines during our 20 weeks of classes. In order to give you feedback before the exam we ask you to submit a few sample tasting notes (not all 128+) to make sure you have mastered the WSET approach to tasting notes. The lists on the page linked above are merely for your reference, since the wines used for the Unit 3 blind tasting tests will come from these same 128 categories.
At least one practice exam for Unit 3 will be held on a date to be announced in class and on our schedule.
Weekly Breakdown of the Diploma Unit 3 (Light Wines) Classes
Listed below are detailed descriptions of each of our 20 classes for Diploma Unit 3, including lists of wines that were tasted in class in 2009.
- Class 1: Introductory class, including early exposure to Unit 3-style exams (tasting and written). We have lots of administrative stuff to cover, including a do's and don'ts on both the tasting test and the theory questions. We taste just three wines, blind, in a simulation of one of the four three-wine mini-tests within the Unit 3 12-wine tasting test. In 2009 we simulated the first mini-test, in which you are told that all three wines have a common grape and, in addition to your tasting note, you need to identify the grape and explain your reasons for reaching that conclusion.
- 2005 Ch. Fortia Chateauneuf du Pape Cuvee du Baron
- 2005 Chapoutier Beaurevoir Tavel
- 2005 Chatter Creek Grenache Columbia Valley
- Class 2: Bordeaux. A dry white, a regional red, then one left bank, one Graves and one right bank, plus a second vintage of one of those three to display vintage variation within one chateau. We delay pouring a Sauternes until week 8, when we include it in an all-sweet-wine blind tasting.
- 2002 Ch. La Louviere Pessac-Leognan Blanc
- 2005 Ch. Romefort, Haut Medoc
- 2005 La Louviere (Pessac-Leognan)
- 2000 La Louviere (Pessac-Leognan)
- 2000 Gruaud Larose
- 2000 La Gaffelière St. Emilion 1er Grand Cru
- Class 3: South and Southwest France. We combine these two areas because their recommended categories of wines to be tasted will fit in one week.
- 2005 Croix du Mayne Cahors
- 2005 Ch. Laffitte-Teston Madiran
- 2003 Dom. Miquel Syrah VdP d’Oc
- 2006 Domaine de Rolland Fitou
- 2003 Dom. Lignères Las Vals Corbieres Montagne d’Alaric
- 2000 Mas de Daumas Gassac Vin de Pays d’Herault
- Class 4: Burgundy. Two Beaujolais, four red Burgundies, displaying different levels. One pair has to be a village wine and a Premier Cru from the same village, ideally the same vintage and producer. We delay the white Burgundies to a later week, with other white wines. The Saint-Bris (a sauvignon blanc from near Chablis) was poured blind.
- 2007 Jadot Beaujolais Villages
- 2006 Jadot Fleurie AOC
- 2001 Jean Paul Brun Terres Dorées Bourgogne Grand Ordinaire
- 2003 Faiveley Mercurey Dom. de la Croix Jacquelet
- 2006 Jadot Vosne Romanee
- 2006 Jadot Vosne Romanee 1er Cru Beaux Monts
- 2003 Dom. Felix Saint-Bris
- Class 5: Alsace. The three main Grand-Cru-eligible grapes, with an AOC Alsace example paired with a Grand Cru, VT, or SGN of the same grape.
- 2005 Dopff & Irion Alsace Riesling
- 2004 Kreydenweiss Riesling Alsace Grand Cru Kastelberg
- 2002 Dopff & Irion Les Maquisards Tokay Pinot Gris
- 1995 Ernest Burn Clos St. Imer Goldert Pinot Gris Vendanges Tardives
- 2005 Hugel Gewurztraminer Alsace AOC
- 1988 Deiss Altenberg de Bergheim Grand Cru Gewurztraminer SGN
- Class 6: Loire. A Muscadet, two levels of sauvignon blanc, and a contrast between dry Vouvray and Savennieres, plus a wine from one of the Cabernet Franc AOCs. A sweet Chenin is delayed until the week 8 dessert tasting.
- 2007 Dom. de la Quilla Muscadet Sevre et Maine Sur Lie AOC
- 2002 Justin Monmousseau Cheverny
- 2005 Hubert Veneau Pouilly Fume
- 2005 Benoit Gautier Argilex Vouvray AOC
- 2003 Domaine Baumard Savennieres Clos du Papillon
- 2006 Domaine du Roncée Chinon
- Class 7: Germany. Two price levels of white Trocken wines, plus Kabinett, Spätlese and Auslese from the same vintage and same anbaubegeite, plus a Pinot Noir (Spätburgunder).. Eiswein is delayed until week 8's dessert tasting.
- 2005 Artur Steinmann Sommerhaüser Ölspiel Silvaner Trocken
- 2006 Hans Wirsching Iphofen Kronsberg Riesling Spätlese Trocken
- 2001 Von Schubert Maximin Grünhäuser Herrenberg Riesling Kabinett
- 2001 Dr. Pauly Bergweiler Bernkasteler alte Badstube Riesling Spatlese
- 2001 J.J. Prüm Zeltinger Sonnenuhr Riesling Auslese
- 2006 Franz Kunstler Rheingau Pinot Noir Trocken
- Class 8: Central/ Eastern Europe plus other sweet wines. Dry furmint, dry Gruner, plus six dessert wines. It was important to pour the Eiswein alongside the others because it alone was not botrytis-affected.
- 2002 Peter Schandl Ruster Ausbruch
- 2001 Opitz Pinot Gris TBA
- 1996 Hétszölö Tokaji Aszu 6 Puttonyos
- 2002 Seebrich Niersteiner Ölberg Riesling Eiswein
- 2004 Baumard Carte d’Or Coteaux du Layon
- 1999 Rayne Vigneau Sauternes
- 2007 Bründlmayer Grüner Veltliner Kamptaler Terrassen
- 2002 Hetszolo Tokaji Furmint
- Class 9: Rhone. Condrieu, Hermitage and Côte Rôtie plus three AOC levels from the Southern Rhone. Tavel is delayed until Rosé week (week 19).
- 2005 Marie Paule Dumazet Condrieu Cuvee Rouelle Midi
- 2005 Cave du Verger Esprit du Henri Côtes du Rhone Rouge AOC
- 2005 Dom. Rouge Garance Cotes du Rhone Villages AOC
- 2004 Perrin et Fils Chateauneuf du Pape Les Sinards
- 2005 Marc Sorrel Crozes Hermitage Rouge
- 2003 Colombo Côte Rôtie Côte La Divine
- Class 10: Northern Italy. A pinot grigio or bianco, a Soave, a Barbera and a Barolo/ Barbaresco, plus two levels of Corvina-dominant red wine from Veneto.
- 2007 Conti d’Arco Trentino Pinot Grigio DOC
- 2006 Allegrini Soave DOC
- 2006 Vietti Tre Vigne Barbera d’Asti DOC
- 1999 Mauro Sebaste Barolo Prapo DOCG
- 2006 Cesari Mara Ripasso della Valpolicella Classico Superiore DOC
- 2003 Cesari il Bosco Amarone della Valpolicella Classico DOC
- Class 11: Central and Southern Italy. Lazio's Frascati, Umbria's Orvieto, two levels of Tuscan sangiovese, plus two southern reds.
- 2007 Fontana Candida Frascati Superiore DOC
- 2007 Antinori Campogrande Orvieto Classico DOC
- 2007 Antinori Santa Cristina Toscana Sangiovese IGT
- 2004 Ruffino Riserva Ducale Oro Chianti Classico Riserva DOCG
- 2004 Cantina Zaccagnini Montepulciano d’Abruzzo Riserva DOC
- 2005 Vigna Irpine Giubilo Aglianico Irpinia DOC
- Class 12: Spain. Spain needs more than one week, Portugal's light wines need less, so our white Spanish wines -- and some of our Spanish lecture notes -- follow our shorter Portuguese presentation in Class 13. Three levels of Rioja, a Priorat and a Ribera del Duero, plus and inexpensive red wine from the south. Spanish rosé is delayed until week 19.
- 2005 Juan Gil Jumilla Red Wine (Mourvedre)
- 2006 Castillo Fuenmayor Gran Familia Rioja
- 2004 Marquis Riscal Rioja Reserva DOCa
- 1994 Cune Viña Real Rioja Gran Reserva
- 1994 Bodegas Ismael Arroyo Val Sotillo Reserva Ribera del Duero
- 2006 Mas Igneus FA 206 Priorat DOCa
- Class 13: Portugal, plus conclusion of Spain. An opportunity to pour Vinho Verde and Rias Baixas (both albariño) together, plus a Rueda and a white Rioja, followed by a Vinho Regional Portuguese red alongside a Duoro DOC red. Portuguese rosé is delayed until week 19.
- 2007 Fonseca Twin VinesVinho Verde Branco DOC
- 2007 Aforado Rias Baixas DO
- 2007 Vevi Rueda DO
- 2006 Bodegas Montecillo Rioja Blanco DOCa
- 2002 Sogrape Vinha do Monte Vinho Regional Alentejano
- 2005 Dow Vale do Bomfim Duoro Tinto DOC
- Class 14: North America. The syllabus doesn't call for tasting any Canadian (or Mexican) wines, so the tasting is all USA. The first wine is called for to illustrate a basic jug red. We pour a quality Zin and Cabernet (usually Napa), a top pinot noir alongside a top Oregon pinot, and either a merlot or cabernet from Washington state. White zin (required) is delayed until week 19.
- NV Livingston Cellars Califonia Burgundy
- 2006 WillaKenzie Estate Pinot Noir Willamette Valley AVA
- 2006 Saintsbury Carneros Pinot Noir
- 2005 L’Ecole No. 41 Columbia Valley AVA Merlot
- 2000 Robert Mondavi Cabernet Sauvignon Oakville
- 2004 Ridge Lytton Springs
- Class 15: South America. Torrontes and malbec (Argentina's signature white and red wines) plus carmenere (unique to Chile), then comparative cabernets from Chile and Argentina, with the Argentinian version from one of that country's emerging DO's, alongside a merlot from a DO.
- 2006 Alta Vista Premium Torrontes Mendoza
- 2006 Trapiche Broquel Malbec, Mendoza, Argentina
- 2006 Marques de Casa Concha Merlot DO Puemo
- 2007 Concha y Toro Casillero del Diablo Carmenere, Rapel
- 2006 Marques de Casa Concha Cabernet Sauvignon DO Puente Alto
- 2005 Trapiche Broquel Cabernet Sauvignon, Mendoza
- Class 16: Australia. All red wines, as we delay the white Australian wines to a later week (week 18 in 2009). We need a basic cab-shiraz blend to compare with much more expensive shiraz-dominant wines from Barossa and McLaren Vale. A Pinot (from Yarra or Tasmania), a classic Coonawarra cabernet (which frequently is poured for exams), and a Western Australia, high-quality blend (this one with some age on it).
- 2007 Jacob’s Creek Shiraz Cabernet SE Australia
- 2004 Giant Steps Yarra Valley Pinot Noir
- 2006 Angoves Cabernet Sauvignon Coonawarra
- 1999 Leeuwin Estate Prelude Vyds. Margaret River Cabernet Merlot
- 2005 Ben Glaetzer Godolphin, Barossa
- 2004 Two Hands Angel’s Share Shiraz McLaren Vale
- Class 17: New Zealand, plus Sauvignon Blanc Survey. Only two required categories for New Zealand, so we take the opportunity to compare the NZ sauvignon blanc with the same varietal from Chile, South Africa and California. The syllabus calls for an oaky Calif. sauvignon blanc, and an oaky Calif. chardonnay, so we also pour the latter wine this week. The other required NZ category is Pinot Noir, and we usually pour one from Martinborough or Central Otago.
- 2007 Kim Crawford Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc
- 2007 Montes Sauvignon Blanc Leyda Vyd.
- 2007 Thelema Sauvignon Blanc Stellenbosch
- 2007 Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars Napa Valley Sauvignon Blanc
- 2006 Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars Karia Chardonnay Napa
- 2005 Te Kairanga Pinot Noir Runholder Martinborough
- Class 18: South Africa, plus a couple of left-over Australian wines. The syllabus calls for a South African chenin, a sauvignon blanc (week 17), a pinotage and a red blend. We chose to pour two blends, one with pinotage, one without. Leftover from the Australian week, we also needed to pour a Clare riesling and an unwooded chardonnay.
- 2008 Fairvalley Chenin Blanc (Steen), Coastal Region
- 2006 Nederburg Pinotage Western Cape
- 2003 Warwick Estate Three Cape Ladies, Stellenbosch
- 2000 Morgenhof Estate Premiere Selection Stellenbosch
- 2004 Grosset Polish Hill Clare Valley Riesling
- 2006 Cockfighter’s Ghost Semillon, Hunter Valley
- Class 19: Cross-regional week- Rosé from around the world. This is mainly an all-tasting week, so we have extra wines. It's always impressive how different white zin is from all of the other rosés.
- 2006 La Rosé de Mouton Cadet
- 2007 Chateau Guiot Costieres de Nimes Rosé
- 2007 Cristia Tavel
- 2007 Rosaura dei Feudi di San Gregorio Irpinia Rosato DOC
- 2007 Torres Sangre de Toro Rosé
- NV Sogrape Mateus Rose
- 2008 Crios de Susana Balbo Rosé of Malbec Mendoza
- 2007 Simi Roseto
- 2007 Beringer White Zinfandel
- Class 20: Cross-regional week 2. An all-white week, with our three geographically-distinct white Burgundies plus several chenin blancs which are (surprisingly) easy to confuse with Chardonnay.
- 2007 Simonsig Chenin Blanc (Steen)
- 2004 Baumard Carte d’Or Coteaux du Layon
- 2004 Domaine Baumard Savennieres
- 2005 Louis Michel et Fils Chablis AOC
- 2004 Louis Latour Meursault-Blagny 1er Cru
- 2005 Clos Reissier Pouilly Fuisse
- 2005 Foxen Old Vines Chenin Blanc Wiekenden Vyd., Santa Maria