All our students benefit from exclusive discounts on products from Riedel, Coravin and more, plus discount on subsequent WCB WSET course bookings! / Todos nuestros estudiantes reciben descuentos exclusivos en productos de Riedel, Coravin y más, además de descuentos en las siguientes reservas de cursos WSET con WCB!
Wine Courses
Barcelona WSET
Students of the Year 2024/25
Published: 02/09/2025 Versión en castellano aquí
As we prepare to jump into the new academic year, we’re looking back on 2024-25 with pride. It was the year we welcomed a record number of students to our classrooms, saw Gabriela become a WSET Certified Educator, began teaching courses at the Escola Enoturisme de Catalunya and at the Escuela de Hostelería Hofmann, celebrated our ten-year anniversary, and more. What a year! But as we said during our anniversary celebrations, the people we most need to thank for all of their support and inspiration are our students. They make going to work an absolute joy, and give us the best jobs we could possibly wish for. Thank you!
So, this is the time when we make some noise for our highest achieving students of the year. We have three prize winners this year, whose hard work and dedication make us extra proud. We can’t wait to see what they do next! With amazing prizes from Bodeboca, Coravin and Pompa, we hope they’ll raise a glass to us too. Cheers!
WCB’S WSET Level 1 Student of the Year 2024/25: Raúl Martínez Mudarra
Raúl was part of the first WSET Level 1 course of 2025 and passed with 100%—a perfect result! Although he does not work professionally in the wine industry, Raúl says he has always enjoyed wine and was looking for a course that would help him build a stronger knowledge base, allowing him to appreciate wine more consciously. WSET seemed like the best option, and his wife gifted him the course for his birthday.
During the Level 1 course, students have the opportunity to taste seven wines from some of the world’s most important wine regions. The goal is to help them become familiar with the styles of wine produced in these regions, focusing on key grape varieties: Chardonnay, Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc, and Pinot Gris/Pinot Grigio for whites, and Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir, and Syrah/Shiraz for reds.
When we asked Raúl what he enjoyed most about the course, he shared:
“Without a doubt, the guided tasting using the WSET Systematic Approach to Tasting. Discovering aromas, flavors, and nuances with a clear methodology allows me to notice details that I would have completely overlooked before.”
It brings us great joy to see our students leave the courses with new tools that help them better understand the world of wine and apply what they’ve learned with every bottle they enjoy. For Raúl, WSET Level 1 was:
“An incredible experience, and I feel very happy to be the Student of the Year. Thanks to Gaby’s knowledge and passion, the learning was deep, fun, and inspiring. See you soon in WSET Level 2!”
As Student of the Year for WSET Level 1, Raúl will receive a bottle of Vèrtebra from La Figuera de Montsant 2022 and a 10% discount on a WSET Level 2 course with Wine Courses Barcelona. Congratulations, Raúl!
WCB’S WSET Level 2 Student of the Year 2024/25: Marc Pareta Sendra
Marc was recognized as our Student of the Year for the WSET Level 1 in 2021/2022, and this year he has earned the same distinction for Level 2, an achievement that reflects his dedication and passion for the world of wine. A professional at Bodegas Maset with roots in Penedès, Marc decided to take Level 2 to consolidate a solid and global knowledge of wine. His goal was not only to advance professionally but also to gain the tools to better communicate and promote the quality and diversity of wines from his region, the Penedès.
When asked which part of the course he enjoyed the most, Marc said it was the WSET Systematic Approach to Tasting (SAT), since it allowed him to analyze wines in an objective and structured way. In his words, “this methodology teaches us to go beyond simple appreciation, enabling us to identify and communicate a wine’s characteristics with professional accuracy.”
Being recognized as Student of the Year is a huge motivation for Marc: “Being awarded Student of the Year shows me that passion and commitment are key to achieving excellence.” His journey doesn’t stop here: his goal is to continue with the WSET Diploma and ultimately aspire to become a Master of Wine, taking the name of the Penedès even further on the international stage.
At Wine Courses Barcelona, we love seeing professionals like Marc apply what they learn, grow in their careers, and share their passion for wine. As Student of the Year for WSET Level 2, Marc will receive a Coravin Pivot and a bottle of Fincas de Ganuza Rioja Reserva 2017. Here’s to this and all the achievements yet to come!
WCB’S WSET Level 3 Student of the Year 2024/25: Anna Rovira Soto
Anna last joined us for Level 2 in April 2022 and came out on top with a Pass with Distinction. We were delighted to welcome her back to class for Level 3 this year. Anna is the head winemaker for the excellent Celler Capçanes in Montsant, and a fount of information and passion for the area. She says she took her first WSET course looking to broaden her knowledge and tasting experience of international wines, and came back for Level 3 eager for more:
“The experience and knowledge achieved in Level 2 encouraged me to take the Level 3 with no hesitations! Even if I didn’t have so much time to dedicate to my studies, I didn’t find it hard to take time anywhere to study because I loved it! Once in Barcelona with Sharon, I also knew everything would go smoothy. She gives clear explanations and you can notice she is passionate about wine. The rhythm of the course was perfect, and she provides help and extra time dedicated to us if needed. Also, my classmates were important for the good vibes, interaction and progress.”
She had a long commute from Cambrils and back each week, yet she arrived each day smiling, fully prepared, and full of enthusiasm. Her hard work paid off when she passed the exam with Distinctions in both the Tasting and Theory exams, and an overall Pass with Distinction.
“All my wine trips (since the course) have been different, as I have all this knowledge about wines from abroad! And Student of the year!! Sounds crazy! But I found out about it when starting harvest so it has been the push of energy I needed, and it’s a prize for the massive effort I did to pass this course. I wish WCB did the Diploma!”
If Anna does go onto the WSET Diploma, we’re certain she’ll continue her winning streak!
Her prize is dinner for two at Pompa, the new sister restaurant of her (and our!) favourite, Berbena, including a bottle of Champagne Jacquesson Cuvée Nº 746. A fitting bottle of bubbles to ‘cheers!’ to her success. Well done, Anna!
We’ll be welcoming our first students of 2025-26 to the classroom this month. Will our next Students of the Year be among them? We can’t wait to find out!
If you’re feeling inspired by our prize winners to start your WSET journey, check out available dates here, or get in touch with sharon@winecoursesbcn.com with any questions. Our classes are full of fun, aim to take the snobbery out of wine education, and to get YOU full of confidence. What are you waiting for? We’ll see you there!
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