Are you ready to take your wine knowledge and experience up a notch? If so, good news! Starting soon, I am teaching two WSET Level 2 wine courses. These 8-week certification classes will meet in Portsmouth, New Hampshire and in Portland, Maine. I am so thrilled able to provide this opportunity to wine lovers in northern New England, as a satellite partner of the prestigious Commonwealth Wine School of Cambridge, MA.
Did you know that I am the only WSET Certified Educator teaching these wine courses in New Hampshire and Maine?
See the details below about both Wine & Spirit Education Trust wine classes, links to register, and testimonials from my students.
WSET Level 2 class in Portsmouth, NH after their final exam in Fall of 2022.
Oh, and did I mention I have a 100% pass rate for all my WSET classes since I started teaching?
The Level 2 Certification in Wine is a fabulous way to increase your wine knowledge for personal or professional reasons. This class is for anyone who:
- Works in wine or who want a career in the industry
- Has a serious interest in deepening their wine knowledge
- Wishes to become a more confident wine taster
Wine Educator, Anne Arnold teaching a Wine & Spirit Education Trust class at COVE Workspace in Portsmouth, NH.
WSET Level 2 Wine Certification
If you know the basic wine grapes — that Chardonnay is a white wine and Cabernet Sauvignon is usually red — then Level 2 is right for you. It is not a prerequisite that you start with Level 1. In fact, this is how I started my professional wine journey!
This qualification is intended for beginners wishing to learn about a wide range of wines. You’ll gain knowledge of the principal and regionally important grape varieties of the world, the regions in which they are grown, and the styles of wine they produce. Through a combination of tasting and theory, you’ll explore the factors that impact style and quality and learn how to describe these wines with confidence.
Level 2 gives you the “Behind the Label” tools to expand your wine experience and gain in-depth knowledge about wines around the world. In each two-hour class, we will review different wine regions, styles and varieties. And you’ll have the opportunity to taste and learn the WSET Strategic Approach to Tasting (SAT) that professionals use in their wine tastings. With hands on, in-person training, the manual, workbook, and access to online resources and recorded classes (we know you’re busy and might miss one … or want to review), you’ll be well prepared for your certification exam and a broader experience in wine.
About My Class
- Registration link for class beginning February 26, 2025.
- Registration link for class beginning March 3, 2025.
- Tastings are provided as part of the in-person class.
- All students are given access to our online learning platform which includes recordings of lectures, quizzes, and study tips.
- Price includes all study materials, class wines, in-person examination (one attempt), and WSET registration fees.
Cost: $895
Instructor: Anne Richter Arnold, dipWSET
Learn more about your instructor on our About page, or on the Commonwealth Wine School website.
Check out our Wine & Spirit Education Trust Classes page for more information about Levels 1 – 3, and to find dates and locations for upcoming courses.
Testimonials From My Students
"I decided to celebrate my very recent retirement by enrolling in the WSET Level 2 Wine Course. The course was much, much better than I envisioned! The comprehensiveness of the material covered was amazing, and the text book, work book and support materials greatly aided in study and reenforcing what we learned in class. In addition the small class size made for real hands - on learning, as we together tasted between 5 and 7 different types of wine in each class. I whole-heartedly recommend the class, and Anne is a great teacher and sommelier!"
- J. Hughes
“I've had a long-standing passion for wine and considered a certification for years, and one day saw that Commonwealth Wine School was offering an in-person Level 2 course in Portsmouth, and I couldn't resist! My class was about a 50/50 split of folks who work in the wine industry and folks who simply love wine and want to learn more about it. As a personal interest, Level 2 enabled me to fundamentally understand what I'm drinking and why it tastes the way it does -- and the coolest parts were learning about grapes I'd never heard of, and exploring and appreciating wines that I probably wouldn't have tried otherwise. It's led to an overall better wine experience for myself and my family and friends, and even though I work full-time in tech, I'm helping out part-time at a small wine shop and expanding my palate and experience working with other wine lovers. I highly recommend taking Level 2 for anyone who wants to learn and appreciate more about the wine world -- you might be surprised at how much you love it and want to keep learning! I just signed up for Level 3, and can't wait to take my education to the next level."
- Jenny C.
"I was a person that enjoyed wine but never felt I had foundational understanding. I was introduced to the WSET 2 course through a friend and found the entire experience highly valuable and fun! Anne has a unique combination of deep understanding of the subject matter while making the class fun and engaging. We also enjoyed and benefitted from tastings during every class, making the discussion far more relevant and impactful. I highly recommend the level 2 class to anyone interested to understand and enjoy wine even more!"
- Tony C.
“I have had the greatest experience taking the WSET Level 2 course with Anne. She has knowledge about and passion for wine that goes far beyond anyone I’ve met here on the Seacoast. Anne’s enthusiasm and expertise excites me and inspires me every class. Whether it’s her multi-week course, or themed classes, Anne always brings an immense amount of information to soak up, and delivers it in a friendly, educational, non-intimidating manner. I’m so grateful for the opportunity to experience wine education through From the Vine to Wine, and so thankful Anne is doing the amazing work she does here on the Seacoast!"
- Maggie S.
“I can't speak highly enough of how much attending Anne Richter's Level 2 class has meant to me. While I considered myself somewhat of a intermediate wine novice prior to her classes, I did have a significant number of wines that I had collected and stored over the last few years. The problem was that I was collecting based on "ratings" from various wine reviewers (Wine Spectator, Jeb Dubnack, James Suckling, Robert Parker) and if they fell in the category of "collectables and ageability". I had no understanding of the geographic significance of the vineyards, stories behind them, the importance of varied soils, altitude, latitude, wine making techniques, and trying to understand the complexities behind our "senses" (see, smell, taste, etc). Anne was wonderful in opening up a new world to me. So much more than just tasting wines! Now when I read Wine Spectator or Wine Enthusiast magazines, they mean so much more. I can promise you that regardless of whether having a glass at home or a restaurant, it will change how you look at wine going forward. That in itself is well worth the price of admission."
- Jay L.
“As a wine enthusiast, I wanted to expand my general knowledge of wine so that when I looked at a bottle in a store or at a wine list in a restaurant, I would know what to expect inside the bottle. Anne’s WSET Level 2 course did just that. The amount of information I absorbed has completely opened up my wine world. From grape varieties, to regions, to wine making processes, the course was instrumental in expanding my knowledge and love of wine. I highly recommend this course to anyone who loves wine and wants to kickstart their wine education journey!"
- Shannon M.
“As far as how my WSET II has helped me professionally, I'd say it's pretty clear I wouldn't be in the role I am today as food & beverage manager at a world class jazz club if I had not taken the course. Now my day-to-day is spent continuing to educate myself on wine, tasting & sampling wines, and managing a spectacular 200+ award winning bottle selection, with so many different avenues to follow professionally in the world of wine becoming more attainable by the day."
- Jeff G.
