Joanne Close

Wine Educate: Wine Lessons, Travel & WSET Study Prep

Arts EN ↓ 122 episodes

Welcome to the Wine Educate Podcast, your ultimate guide to mastering wine through the lens of WSET wine courses and certifications. Whether you're a beginner exploring WSET Level 1 or preparing for the rigorous WSET Level 3 exam, this podcast is packed with insights tailored for every stage of your wine education journey. Learn wine tasting techniques using the Systematic Approach to Tasting (SAT), discover expert strategies for excelling in WSET essay practice, and dive into topics like food and wine pairing and career pathways in the wine industry. With episodes on professional wine educati...

Author

Joanne Close

Episodes

47 Heat-Damaged Wine: Signs, Causes, and How to Protect Your Bottles 05.06.2025 9:45

Resources & Links Sign Up for the Wine Educate newsletter, the best way to get tasting PDFs, class updates, and trip info www.wineeducate.com/newsletter-signup Episode Summary It's getting hot out there—and it only takes a few hours of high heat to seriously damage a bottle of wine. In this episode, Joanne explains what heat damage actually does to wine, how you can spot it, and what you can do to...

46. Taste This! Mini Wine Tastings You Can Do at Home: Tasting #2 - Apples 03.06.2025 10:01

In this episode, we're focusing on a simple, sensory-rich exercise: exploring the aromas and flavors of apples and how they show up in wine. This is a foundational tasting skill for both students and casual tasters—green apple, yellow apple, and red apple skin are aroma notes that show up constantly in WSET assessments and real-world wine descriptions. Whether you're preparing for your WSET Level...

45. Wine Study Tools: Aroma Kits – Study Hack or Splurge? 29.05.2025 10:07

Resources & Links: Sign up for the Wine Educate Newsletter to access free PDFs from the Taste This! series, including setup instructions for each tasting activity: www.wineeducate.com/newsletter-signup How to Contact Us: Got a question or topic you'd like covered on the podcast? Send me an email joanne@wineeducate.com I'd love to hear from you! Episode Overview: Today we're talking about aroma kit...

44. Taste This! Mini Wine Tastings You Can Do at Home: Tasting #1 - Understanding Tannin 27.05.2025 12:03

Resources & Links – Get the free PDF tasting guide: www.wineeducate.com/tea – Listen to Episode 9: How to Set Up Your Tasting Environment – Listen to Episode 18: What Is Tannin and Why Does It Matter? How to Contact Us Have a question or want to share how your tasting went? Just hit reply to the newsletter or email joanne@wineeducate.com . Follow along on Instagram or Threads: @wineeducate Episode...

43. Thinking About Starting a Wine Tasting Group? Start Here 22.05.2025 7:17

Resources & Links Join the newsletter to stay in the loop about classes, podcast extras, and upcoming wine trips: www.wineeducate.com/newsletter-signup How to Contact Us Questions or episode ideas? Email Joanne at joanne@wineeducate.com Show Notes It's summer—WSET Level 3 exams are done, school's winding down, and it's time to shift gears. In this episode, Joanne kicks off a new tasting-focused se...

42. The Do's and Don'ts of Blind Tasting: A Guide for WSET Learners 20.05.2025 10:58

Resources & Links Join the newsletter to stay in the loop about classes, podcast extras, and upcoming wine trips: www.wineeducate.com/newsletter-signup How to Contact Us Questions or episode ideas? Email Joanne at joanne@wineeducate.com Show Notes In this episode, Joanne breaks down the do's and don'ts of blind tasting—from how to set up a supportive, productive tasting group to why it matters f...

41. Why Wine Trade Tastings Are Valuable to WSET Students 15.05.2025 15:13

Resources & Links Join the newsletter to stay in the loop about classes, podcast extras, and upcoming wine trips: www.wineeducate.com/newsletter-signup How to Contact Us Questions or episode ideas? Email Joanne at joanne@wineeducate.com Show Notes In this episode, Joanne walks you through how to get the most out of a wine trade tasting—whether you're a buyer, a wine student, or just someone eager...

40. WSET Wine Tasting Kits—Are They Worth It? 13.05.2025 16:05

Resources & Links • Join the Wine Educate newsletter: www.wineeducate.com/newsletter-signup • View available courses & upcoming classes: www.wineeducate.com How to Contact Us Questions or feedback? Email Joanne at joanne@wineeducate.com Episode Summary In this episode, Joanne shares her firsthand impressions of a WSET-approved wine tasting sample kit designed for Level 1 - 3 students. With her col...

39. What WSET Level 3 Students Wish They Knew Before Starting the Course 08.05.2025 9:51

Resources & Links Join the Newsletter: wineeducate.com/newsletter-signup Launchpad: Level 3 Prep Course Begins May 11 — www. wineeducate.com/launchpad Contact Joanne: joanne@wineeducate.com In this episode, Joanne shares insights straight from the mouths of her current WSET Level 3 students during their second-to-last class — the sparkling wine session. As champagne was flowing and conversation op...

38.The Do's and Don'ts: 24 Hours Before Your WSET Level 3 Exam 06.05.2025 16:03

Resources & Links Join Launchpad: Level 3 Prep Course www.wineeducate.com/launchpad Sign up for the Wine Educate Newsletter www.wineeducate.com/newsletter-signup How to Contact Us Website: wineeducate.com Instagram: @wineeducate Email: joanne@wineeducate.com Episode Summary You've done the studying, now it's time to focus on how to walk into your WSET Level 3 exam rested, clear-headed, and confide...

37. Didn't Pass WSET Level 3 Theory? Here's What to Do Next 29.04.2025 10:17

Resources & Links Sign up for the Wine Educate Newsletter: www.wineeducate.com/newsletter-signup Launchpad: Level 3 Prep Course: www.wineeducate.com/launchpad How to Contact Us Website: www.wineeducate.com Email: joanne@wineeducate.com Instagram & Facebook: @wineeducate Episode Summary Today, we're wrapping up our "How to Prepare for the Level 3 Exam" series with a tough but important conversation...

36. Testable VS Nontestable Wines - Wines That May Appear on the WSET Level 3 Tasting Exam 24.04.2025 7:50

Resources & Links Sign up for the Wine Educate Newsletter: www.wineeducate.com/newsletter-signup Launchpad: Level 3 Prep Course: www.wineeducate.com/launchpad How to Contact Us Website: www.wineeducate.com Email: joanne@wineeducate.com Instagram & Facebook: @wineeducate Episode Summary In this episode, Joanne Close addresses a common concern among WSET Level 3 students: the difference between test...

35. Top 5 Mistakes Students Make in the WSET Level 3 Theory Exam 22.04.2025 11:21

Resources & Links Sign up for the Wine Educate Newsletter: www.wineeducate.com/newsletter-signup Launchpad: Level 3 Prep Course: www.wineeducate.com/launchpad How to Contact Us Website: www.wineeducate.com Email: joanne@wineeducate.com Instagram & Facebook: @wineeducate Episode 35 – The Top 5 Mistakes on the WSET Level 3 Theory Exam In this episode, I'll walk you through the top five mistakes I re...

34. Top 5 Mistakes Students Make in the WSET Level 3 Tasting Exam 17.04.2025 8:43

Resources & Links Sign up for the Wine Educate Newsletter: www.wineeducate.com/newsletter-signup Launchpad: Level 3 Prep Course: www.wineeducate.com/launchpad How to Contact Us Website: www.wineeducate.com Email: joanne@wineeducate.com Instagram & Facebook: @wineeducate In this episode, Joanne tackles one of the most stressful parts of the WSET Level 3 exam: the tasting portion. As someone who has...

33. Do Study Pods Really Help? Group Learning in WSET Level 3 15.04.2025 7:46

Resources & Links Sign up for the Wine Educate Newsletter: www.wineeducate.com/newsletter-signup Launchpad: Level 3 Prep Course: www.wineeducate.com/launchpad How to Contact Us Website: www.wineeducate.com Email: joanne@wineeducate.com Instagram & Facebook: @wineeducate Episode Summary In this episode, Joanne explores one of the most effective tools for success in WSET Level 3: the study group. If...

32. The Long Runway – Why Early Preparation Leads to Level 3 Success 10.04.2025 10:05

Resources & Links Sign up for the Wine Educate Newsletter: www.wineeducate.com/newsletter-signup Launchpad: Level 3 Prep Course: www.wineeducate.com/launchpad How to Contact Us Website: www.wineeducate.com Email: joanne@wineeducate.com Instagram & Facebook: @wineeducate Episode Summary: In this episode, Joanne breaks down one of the biggest predictors of success in WSET Level 3: early preparation....

31. How Many Hours Do I Really Need to Study for WSET Level 3? 08.04.2025 8:13

Resources & Links Sign up for the Wine Educate Newsletter: www.wineeducate.com/newsletter-signup Launchpad: Level 3 Prep Course: www.wineeducate.com/launchpad How to Contact Us Website: www.wineeducate.com Email: joanne@wineeducate.com Instagram & Facebook: @wineeducate Episode Summary If you're preparing for WSET Level 3, you're probably wondering: How many hours do I actually need to study? In t...

30. Inside the WSET Level 3 Exam: Tasting + Theory Breakdown 03.04.2025 12:37

Resources & Links Sign up for the Wine Educate Newsletter: www.wineeducate.com/newsletter-signup Launchpad: Level 3 Prep Course: www.wineeducate.com/launchpad How to Contact Us Website: www.wineeducate.com Email: joanne@wineeducate.com Instagram & Facebook: @wineeducate In this episode of Wine Educate , host Joanne Close takes the mystery out of the WSET Level 3 exam. She explains exactly how the...

29. How to Prepare for WSET Level 3 (Without Overwhelm) 01.04.2025 12:25

Resources & Links Sign up for the Wine Educate Newsletter: www.wineeducate.com/newsletter-signup Launchpad: Level 3 Prep Course: www.wineeducate.com/launchpad How to Contact Us Website: www.wineeducate.com Email: joanne@wineeducate.com Instagram & Facebook: @wineeducate In this episode of Wine Educate, host Joanne Close helps you get ready for WSET Level 3 with a practical, encouraging guide to pr...

28. WSET Level 3: What to Expect from the Course and the Exam 27.03.2025 9:37

Resources & Links Sign up for the Wine Educate Newsletter: www.wineeducate.com/newsletter-signup Launchpad: Level 3 Prep Course: www.wineeducate.com/launchpad How to Contact Us Website: www.wineeducate.com Email: joanne@wineeducate.com Instagram & Facebook: @wineeducate Thinking about taking WSET Level 3 but not sure what you're signing up for? In this episode, host Joanne Close walks you through...

27. The Big Jump – Why WSET Level 3 Feels So Much Harder Than Level 2 25.03.2025 10:35

Resources & Links Sign up for the Wine Educate Newsletter: www.wineeducate.com/newsletter-signup Launchpad: Level 3 Prep Course: www.wineeducate.com/launchpad How to Contact Us Website: www.wineeducate.com Email: joanne@wineeducate.com Instagram & Facebook: @wineeducate Episode Summary: In this first episode of a brand-new series, Joanne dives into what makes the leap from WSET Level 2 to Level 3...

26. WSET Level 3 Bootcamp - Lessons from the Vineyard (Part 2) 20.03.2025 11:11

Resources & Links Sign up for the Wine Educate Newsletter: www.wineeducate.com/newsletter-signup Level 3 Bootcamp: www.wineeducate.com/trips How to Contact Us Website: www.wineeducate.com Email: joanne@wineeducate.com Instagram & Facebook: @wineeducate Episode Description In this episode of Wine Educate, host Joanne Close continues the Lessons from the Vineyard series, focusing on winemaking (vini...

25. WSET Level 3 Bootcamp - Lessons from the Vineyard (Part 1) 18.03.2025 16:47

Resources & Links Sign up for the Wine Educate Newsletter: www.wineeducate.com/newsletter-signup Level 3 Bootcamp: www.wineeducate.com/trips How to Contact Us Website: www.wineeducate.com Email: joanne@wineeducate.com Instagram & Facebook: @wineeducate In this episode of Wine Educate, host Joanne Close shares insights from the WSET Level 3 Bootcamp in the South of France. After an incredible week...

24. The Three Best Wine Books You Will Ever Own! 13.03.2025 8:45

Resources & Links Sign up for the Wine Educate Newsletter: www.wineeducate.com/newsletter-signup How to Contact Us Website: www.wineeducate.com Email: joanne@wineeducate.com Instagram & Facebook: @wineeducate Episode Description In this episode of Wine Educate, host Joanne Close shares the three essential wine books that have been her go-to resources throughout her 20+ years of WSET education. Whe...

23. Understanding Primary, Secondary, and Tertiary Aromas & Flavors 11.03.2025 15:01

Resources & Links Sign up for the Wine Educate Newsletter: www.wineeducate.com/newsletter-signup How to Contact Us Website: www.wineeducate.com Email: joanne@wineeducate.com Instagram & Facebook: @wineeducate Episode Description In this episode of Wine Educate, host Joanne Close explores the essential primary, secondary, and tertiary aromas and flavors in wine. Identifying and categorizing these a...