History of the WSET

The Wine and Spirits Education Trust (WSET) was founded in 1969 to help with educating importers, distributors, and retailers in the UK. At the time, there were 3 certifications that someone in the trade could obtain, with all of the coursework taking place in the WSET London office.

By 1977 there was enough demand beyond the UK that WSET began to expand into other countries. First was the Republic of Ireland, then Canada, and by 1994 WSET made it way into the United States.

Today, roughly 75% of WSET students are from outside the UK and span the globe across 70 different countries. The number of courses offered has also expanded, with 12 different tracks exploring, at different levels, Wine, Beer, Spirits, and Sake. It is a globally recognized indication of someone’s knowledge within the bev-alc industry.