FALL OFFER!
WINE LEARNING JOURNEY IN LONDON (1 WEEK)
Selected School
We have designed this 1-week "mini-sabbatical" to be more accessible, while still preserving the spirit of our longer sabbatical journeys. Our recommended school is the Wine and Spirit Education Trust, located near London Bridge.
Wine and Spirit Education Trust (WSET)
Established in 1969 for the UK wine trade, WSET has since become the world’s leading provider of wine qualifications. Aimed at both professionals and enthusiasts, courses are offered directly and through a global network of partner schools.
Proposed Program
We propose taking the 3-day intensive
“WSET Level 2” directly with the Wine & Spirit Education Trust.
Objectives
- Understand the environmental influences and grape-growing options in the vineyard and how they impact style and quality of wine
- Understand how winemaking and bottle aging influence style and quality of wine
- Understand how environmental influences, grape-growing options, winemaking and bottle aging influence the style and quality of wines made from the principal grape varieties
- Know the style and quality of wines produced from regionally important black and white grape varieties
- Understand how the production process can influence the styles of sparkling and fortified wines
- Understand the key principles of pairing of food and wine
Schedule
- 3 days, from 9:00am - 4:30pm
- 44 tutored tastings!
Examination
- 50 multiple-choice questions to be completed in 60 minutes
- Passing mark requires 55%+ correct answers
- WSET suggests 11 hours of private study outside of class
Sabbaticals.com Thoughts
- Level 2 was fascinating - it went into far more detail than Level 1, requiring more private study
- I loved the tastings (and mastered the art of spitting out)
- After this course, I felt I had a good understanding of wine for the first time in my life
Courses are offered frequently to suit any travel schedule.
Goal Orientation
Our suggested goal for this sabbatical would be to obtain
WSET Level 2 qualification, which involves a proctored exam. By the end, you will have a strong foundation in wine knowledge, including how it’s made, key characteristics of still, sparkling and fortified wines, major wine growing regions across the world and how to taste wine using WSET’s systematic approach. On successful completion of Level 2, WSET will provide a blue lapel pin to commemorate the achievement.
Accommodation
52 Cornwall Gardens, London SW7 4BG
Owned by Sabbaticals.com, this recently renovated apartment is located on a quiet street in South Kensington, in what feels like a friendly village within walking distance of Kensington Gardens. With private entrance, it has 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, a large living room and outside terrace. The commute to our featured institutions takes from 25 to 40 minutes by underground transportation.
If this flat does not suit your purposes, we will provide a selection of alternatives from Expedia (VRBO) with similar premium quality.
Mentor & Concierge
To get the most out of your experience, you will have a mentor and concierge both based in London.
Your mentor is a wine professional with close knowledge of the WSET program, who can advise and encourage you along the way. What's more, they will introduce you to the wine community in London, including unique insights and access to special events. We are fortunate to have a relationship with Peter McCombie for this role.
Your concierge is a hospitality professional who can help you in a range of areas, including airport transfer, settling in to your chosen accommodation, neighborhood highlights and general advice for living in London. They can also help you arrange side trips and other travel activities. We have partnered with MiCa Living for this essential support during your sabbatical experience.
Peter McCombie
Master of Wine
An elite Master of Wine for over 25 years (there are only 427 active MWs worldwide!), Peter has been deeply involved in the wine industry for over 3 decades. Originally from New Zealand, he's now based in London where he teaches, writes, consults and judges.
MiCa Living
Lifestyle Concierge
MiCa Living specializes in bringing tailored services to discerning clientele in London, including property management, lifestyle experiences and travel arrangement for an unforgettable stay.
Living Like a Local
London has a vibrant wine scene dating back hundreds of years. More recently, it has evolved into a dynamic and inclusive environment that caters to a wide array of tastes and preferences.
Apart from regular wine events at WSET, Wine Training School and Berry Brothers & Rudd, there's also the London Wine Academy and West London Wine School. For longer excursions, Europe’s greatest wine regions are a short flight away, including Bordeaux, Burgundy and Tuscany.
Your mentor will be on call to help reinforce course learning, as well as plug you into the local wine scene, including tasting events, the best wine shops, bars and unique experiences.
Your concierge will also be happy to recommend local restaurants and activities, arrange travel and tours, and ensure your sabbatical goes smoothly.
Journey Pricing
Sabbaticals.com works with leading schools to ensure outstanding programs and rates. We also work closely with VRBO on curated accommodation options with negotiated pricing given longer term stays. Lastly, we have built local support teams with expertise to make every sabbatical worry-free. In short, we have brought together all elements of the perfect sabbatical into one comprehensive package for your convenience.
The 1-week "WSET Level 2" journey is US$6,500.
Please note this pricing is indicative, and would be discussed with you in greater detail to arrive at a unique journey proposal based on your needs.
Your journey includes...
Planning
We'll work with you to define your mini-sabbatical objectives, including the activities needed to achieve your goals. We'll also work with your wine mentor to design the right learning experiences and related wine events outside of your WSET program.
Tuition
Sabbaticals.com will lead program registration on your behalf for WSET Level 2 at the Wine & Spirit Education Trust. With all the preparation and payment taken care of, you need only arrive on Day 1 to begin your course.
E-learning
You will also gain access to Wine With Jimmy's E-learning Wine Portal, which includes helpful videos, flashcards, and other study materials to ensure you ace your WSET exam. These resources are highly praised for their complimentary value to WSET courses, provided in engaging web and mobile app formats that are available for 1 year.
Accommodation
We'll provide a choice of 3 accommodation options for your sabbatical, which we have intimate knowledge of to ensure a premium level of quality, including our featured residence in South Kensington at 52 Cornwall Gardens.
Wine Mentor
We have arranged for wine mentorship from Peter McCombie, a Master of Wine with over 30 years of experience, who actively teaches, writes, consults and judges. Peter will be available for a 1-hour in-person session to compliment your WSET studies.
Lifestyle Concierge
We have partnered with MiCa Living, a premier lifestyle concierge service in London, to ensure your stay goes smoothly. The owners will provide personalized support including airport transfer, travel arrangement and local insights throughout your stay.
