The WSET Systematic Approach to Tasting (SAT)
The step-by-step method for describing any wine. Updated 2026.
Unofficial study resource · not affiliated with or endorsed by WSET®The short answer
The SAT is WSET's structured checklist for describing a wine the same way every time. You work through four stages: Appearance, Nose, Palate, and Conclusions. Using the same words in the same order removes guesswork and is exactly what the tasting exam rewards.
Stage 1: Appearance
Assess clarity (clear or hazy), intensity (pale, medium, or deep), and colour. For white wines the colour runs lemon, gold, then amber; for reds ruby, garnet, then tawny; rosé shows shades of pink. Appearance gives early clues to age and grape.
Stage 2: Nose
Judge condition (clean, or faulty such as cork taint), intensity (light, medium, pronounced), and the aroma characteristics. Aromas are grouped as primary (from the grape and fermentation, such as fruit, floral, herbal), secondary (from winemaking, such as vanilla and toast from oak, or butter from malolactic fermentation), and tertiary (from ageing, such as dried fruit, leather, or mushroom).
Stage 3: Palate
Assess sweetness (dry to sweet), acidity (low to high), tannin for reds (low to high), alcohol (low to high), body (light to full), flavour intensity and characteristics (the same primary, secondary, and tertiary families), and the finish (short to long).
Stage 4: Conclusions
State a judgement backed by what you observed. At Level 2 you assess quality; at Level 3 you also give the quality level with reasons and say whether the wine is ready to drink. The conclusion must follow from your notes, not a guess.
How the SAT differs by level
Level 2 uses a simpler version of the grid. Level 3 adds more detail and requires written conclusions with reasoning, and it is examined through a blind tasting of two wines.
How to practise the SAT
Taste with the grid in front of you, use only the allowed words, and compare your notes with a model answer. Repetition is what makes the structure automatic under exam pressure.
Lock in the theory behind the tasting
Great tasting rests on knowing grapes, regions, and winemaking. Practise free questions here, then get the full bank and mock exams in the Eclavin app.
Download Eclavin on the App StoreFrequently asked questions
What does SAT stand for in WSET?
Systematic Approach to Tasting. It is WSET's structured method for assessing and describing a wine consistently.
What are the four steps of the SAT?
Appearance, Nose, Palate, and Conclusions. You work through them in that order every time.
Is the SAT tested at Level 2?
Yes, in a simpler form. Level 3 uses a more detailed version with written conclusions and a blind tasting exam of two wines.
What are primary, secondary, and tertiary aromas?
Primary aromas come from the grape and fermentation, secondary from winemaking such as oak or malolactic fermentation, and tertiary from ageing such as dried fruit or leather.
Is Eclavin an official WSET product?
No. Eclavin is an independent study app and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or connected to WSET.