WSET Level 1 Award in Wine

GOAT on the Roof is hosting the WSET Level 1 Award in Wine on Sunday 10 January, a one-day course that takes you through the basics of wine in a single session. It's the introductory level of the Wine & Spirit Education Trust's global qualification, so it's designed for people who know very little about wine and want a structured way into it, rather than anyone coming with a professional background.

The course covers the fundamentals: how grapes are grown, how wine is made, and the main styles of wine from around the world. You'll learn about the different grape varieties, how to taste and describe wine, and some basic food and wine pairing. It's all taught in a way that's accessible, so you don't need to have a cellar full of bottles or a fancy vocabulary to get your head around it. The goal is to give you a solid foundation to build on, whether you're just looking to feel more confident when you're picking a bottle for dinner or you're thinking about taking things further.

Because it's a WSET course, there's a proper qualification attached to it. You'll be working through the material with a tutor, and there's an assessment at the end to certify what you've learned. It's a good way to get a recognized credential in a single day, rather than just picking up bits and pieces of knowledge here and there.

It all happens at GOAT on the Roof in Reading, starting at 09:00 on Sunday 10 January. The cost is £275, which covers the course and the qualification.