Sake Basics & Beyond

(WINTER 2026 date - Saturday, February 21, 2026. Please see Course Calendar on home page for details. This is a WSET Level 3 Sake prerequisite created by The Beverage Lab and it is a one-day course.)

Next level sake education is here! This certification is geared to hospitality professionals as well as sake enthusiasts wanting to learn the ABCs of sake. 

Learn sake’s fascinating history and culture, ingredients, sake making, grades and how to taste like a pro. Students will try more than 15 sakes from all over Japan and abroad.

This certification is all you need in order to prepare for the WSET Level 3 Award in Sake or registration into the Sake Scholar Course, the only course dedicated to sake regionality.

Duration: 7 hours (includes 1 hour lunch break)
Number of Sakes Tasted: 15 minimum

What’s included:

• OVERVIEW: What is sake; Unique differences with wine and beer; History; Sake Culture and etiquette
• INGREDIENTS
• SAKE STYLES: Grades; Styles; Reading a sake label
• SAKE MAKING
• HOW TO TASTE
• SERVICE AND ETIQUETTE
• TRENDS 
• GEOGRAPHY
• SAKE AND FOOD