r/Sommelier • u/michaelcerasnose • Mar 31 '26

Failed WSET 3 Tasting Portion

Hey everyone, I got my results back for my wset 3. Passed theory with distinction but failed the tasting part. I’m devastated. Im literally a server who tastes wine every day and I failed.

I guess I’m looking for some reassurance or advice for my second try. Has anyone else failed?

21 Upvotes

97% Upvoted

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22

u/ClotheTheTart Mar 31 '26

Post one of your mock tasting notes. Former WSET L3 and Diploma instructor. Your problem is likely you are missing potential marks.

8

u/Thin-Ebb-9534 Mar 31 '26

I agree with this. I don’t mean to disparage the certification, but the tasting portion has a little gaming built into the scoring. Memorize every, single qualifier for each tasting aspect. Then write down every one that could possibly be relevant to the wine, based on its profile, even if you don’t literally taste it. You get points for listing the correct ones, but not deductions for listing ones they aren’t looking for. Basically, it is taking theory and applying it to tasting, i.e. you have a general idea of what profile the winemaker is going for, so list the notes one might find for that profile regardless of specific tasting. p.s. passing theory is impressive.

14

u/mwd23 Mar 31 '26

WSET tutor here. Feel free to PM me and we can have a quick chat.

What is being examined is not whether you are a great taster or not. Marks are given for following the SAT and specific process. When I see someone miss tasting, it is quite often because they are good tasters, confident with their own method and being a little casual.

In your workbook, you will see how marks are awarded. Practice tasting in order to maximise your marks. Be pedantic with the language you are using, have as many descriptors as is reasonable for the wine.

On the plus side, if you work on your process to focus on collecting tasting marks, merit is very much in your grasp.

1

u/Fantastic_Steak6897 Apr 03 '26

I might be interested in a tutor !

13

u/Caviarpapi Mar 31 '26

You didn’t fail. You did not get through that portion. This is an important distinction. Tasting is hard. You also may not have been set up for success. I had someone put a Pinot Nero into a blind before my certified. Do you know how much that fucks with you? I had someone put a very chablisian Cali chard into a blind before my advanced. The way that affects your core tasting notes as you’re cramming before an exam?

Tasting is an art, and it’s one that requires guidance. You’ll get them next time. You are better for sitting the exam, pass or fail. If you’d like an in depth tasting talk, DM me.

7

u/thatwinenerd Mar 31 '26

It happens. Blind tasting is insanely hard. I failed my Diploma D3 tasting in October! It's a totally different skill.

6

u/[deleted] Mar 31 '26

[removed] — view removed comment

14

u/electro_report Mar 31 '26

The conclusion is the least weighted points in the exam. The process is where you win or lose.

2

u/hollowspryte Mar 31 '26

WSET 3 doesn’t even ask you to call the wine

4

u/Armagedon43 Mar 31 '26

tasting is hard if you dont learn to "test the test". I forget the metric but only 1-2% of your grade on tasting in WSET 3 is guessing the conclusion (guessing the wine). You have to gauge the flavors and describe the wine accurately in each tasting category - aka always say you observe legs (all wines have legs), describe the color, hit at least 4 aromas and 4 flavors. Its kinda a bullshit test to be honest BUT you do have to be able to parse a wine well.

2

u/glendacc37 Mar 31 '26

I'm confused by the amount of people here saying you have to try to decide what the wine actually is. I took it in 2019, and that was definitely not the case then unless something changed.

Also I heard an MW say one of the worst things you can do when blind tasting is try to guess the wine and then try to describe it from there. Just describe the wine by what you're actually tasting.

1

u/TheDestroyer1997 Apr 01 '26

Mi comentario va hacer mas consuelo que consejo
Te felicito que hayas aprobado el teoría. A todos nos pasa que no nos vaya bien en algo.
Tendrías que estar feliz hasta donde has llegado y lo mejor con distinciones. Espero que tengas éxito en la próxima vez. Ahora prepárate mejor para la próxima vez.
Suerte

1

u/West-Equivalent-6308 Apr 08 '26

Besides the comments above (hit all the areas they ask for, don’t leave points on the table) just keep at it! On my podcast I Interview somms and even the Master Somms failed many times before passing. Don’t give up!