40. WSET Wine Tasting Kits—Are They Worth It?

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Episode Summary In this episode, Joanne shares her firsthand impressions of a WSET-approved wine tasting sample kit designed for Level 1 - 3 students. With her colleague Nancy, she opens and tastes four of the ten samples—Mosel Riesling, Beaujolais-Villages, Bordeaux, and Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc—and evaluates them for quality, typicity, and educational value.

Joanne discusses the pros (free shipping, carbon-neutral packaging, strong cost savings, and official WSET approval) and the cons (small portion sizes, heat sensitivity during shipping, and limited usefulness for study groups or food pairings). She also breaks down the pricing and structure of the Level 1, 2, and 3 tasting kits, with insights on who these kits are best suited for.

If you're studying remotely or struggling to source benchmark wines in your area, this episode will help you decide if a tasting kit is the right fit for your wine studies.

What We Cover • What’s inside a WSET tasting kit and how they work • A mini review of four sample wines from the Level 1 kit • Joanne’s scoring breakdown: what passed the “testable” benchmark • Pros: shipping, savings, sustainability, and peace of mind • Cons: small pours, heat risks, and group limitations • Who these kits are best for—and who might skip them • How Wine Educate plans to offer these on their website soon

Get Involved Have you tried a tasting kit? Let us know your thoughts! Email joanne@wineeducate.com. And if you found this episode helpful, please share it with a fellow wine student or study group.