FINGER LAKES BOOTCAMP
Get your WSET Level 2 in Wines
over four days of immersive learning
Hosted by Bryce Wiatrak, Master of Wine
Come and explore New York’s premier wine region, with visits to seven benchmark wineries, whilst doing your WSET Level 2 certification.
This four-day wine bootcamp combines mornings in the classroom with winery visits in the afternoon. At the wineries, we are hosted by vineyard managers and winemakers, and enjoy extensive tastings of both international and Finger Lakes wines side-by-side.
This bootcamp is the ideal way to learn about wine. The theory you learn in the classroom is brought to life during the winery visits. It’s lots of fun and we have a 97% pass rate at the WSET Level 2. There are no prerequisites, but we do recommend starting with the Level 1 to ensure you have a solid foundation of knowledge.
COURSE OVERVIEW
You will spend four days in the beautiful Finger Lakes discovering several of the leading local wineries and also learning about the major international regions. Our vineyard visits, winery tours, and presentations will take you on a vinous journey around the world. The classroom sessions take place at the 41 Lakefront Hotel, Trademark Collection by Wyndham, on the shore of Seneca Lake in Geneva. You can stay here, or anywhere you wish, be it at another hotel or at home.
You will learn about:
- The art of tasting in detail
- Growing grapes and the role of terroir
- Making and maturing all types of wine
- Classic and regionally important grape varieties
- Major regions in France & Italy
- Classic regions in Germany & Spain
- New World wine regions
- Sparkling and fortified wines
- The art of food & wine pairing
TASTINGS & INSTRUCTION
Fine Vintage is well known for our expert instruction, high pass rates, and the exceptional quality of our tastings. Your instructor is Bryce Wiatrak, America’s youngest Master of Wine. He knows the region in-depth. You will taste over 45 different wines valued at over $2,000+. Fine Vintage is considered to be the Harvard of wine education.
CERTIFICATION
At 4:30pm on the last day of your bootcamp there is a 50 question multiple choice exam with a pass mark of 55%. Upon successful completion you will receive a WSET certificate which is a formal qualification in wine with international recognition. You can always re-sit the exam if necessary, but we have a 97% pass rate.
All bootcamp students will receive a FREE Fine Vintage online course (value of $99-299 depending on the course) plus FREE access to our extensive video library.
ABOUT THE BOOTCAMP
Day 1 – Saturday
Start your day in the classroom at the 41 Lakefront Hotel in Geneva. You will meet your fellow classmates and then learn how to taste and evaluate wine in-depth. The rest of the morning is focused on grape growing and vineyard management.
Lunch is on your own, and in the early afternoon we set off in our luxury bus to visit two leading Seneca Lake wineries. The focus is on viticulture, with vineyard managers explaining their craft. We also enjoy extensive tastings, before heading to a gourmet food and wine pairing dinner in Geneva to welcome you to this special experience.
Day 1 – Saturday
Start your day in the classroom at the 41 Lakefront Hotel in Geneva. You will meet your fellow classmates and then learn how to taste and evaluate wine in-depth. The rest of the morning is focused on grape growing and vineyard management.
Lunch is on your own, and in the early afternoon we set off in our luxury bus to visit two leading Seneca Lake wineries. The focus is on viticulture, with vineyard managers explaining their craft. We also enjoy extensive tastings, before heading to a gourmet food and wine pairing dinner in Geneva to welcome you to this special experience.
Day 2 – Sunday
We start the day in the classroom learning all about the intricacies of winemaking, with more insightful tastings of beautiful wines. Lunch is on your own, and then we set off on the bus to visit two more iconic wineries on the west side of Seneca Lake.
Your hosts, the winemakers, will walk you through the stages of the winemaking process in real-life, and you’ll sample from tank and barrel. It’s a rare experience. The focus is on whites and rosé, with single-vineyard Rieslings tasted side-by-side with international benchmarks.
We arrive back at the hotel around 6pm for a free evening.
Day 3 – Monday
There is no classroom time this day. We head off in the morning for a whole day exploring Keuka and Seneca Lakes. The first winery visit focuses on sparkling wine, with a tasting of Champagne and many more.
After a delicious lunch overlooking Seneca Lake (included), your exploration continues at two more classic wineries with a focus on single-vineyard Riesling and Pinot Noir. All visits are hosted by winemakers.
We return to the 41 Lakefront Hotel in the early evening. Tonight is on your own to relax or study.
Day 3 – Monday
There is no classroom time this day. We head off in the morning for a whole day exploring Keuka and Seneca Lakes. The first winery visit focuses on sparkling wine, with a tasting of Champagne and many more.
After a delicious lunch overlooking Seneca Lake (included), your exploration continues at two more classic wineries with a focus on single-vineyard Riesling and Pinot Noir. All visits are hosted by winemakers.
We return to the 41 Lakefront Hotel in the early evening. Tonight is on your own to relax or study.
Day 4 – Tuesday
The last day of the bootcamp is in the classroom. Get ready to dive into the world of wines from France, Spain, Australia, South America, and beyond. Naturally, we taste the classic wines. Lunch is on your own, with plenty of options nearby.
In the afternoon, there is a review session before the exam. The WSET Level 2 exam consists of 50 multiple choice questions (there is no tasting exam), and is scheduled for 4:30pm. You may depart once the exam is over, or stay for a glass of bubbly to celebrate the end of this incredible four-day wine experience.
MEET YOUR HOST
Our WSET Level 2 Finger Lakes Bootcamp is guided by Master of Wine, Bryce Wiatrak.
Bryce Wiatrak is America’s youngest and Chicago’s only Master of Wine. He has worked in the wine industry his entire adult career, beginning with a whim college internship that led him to a summer at a wine publication in California. He has since been published in nearly every major American wine outlet, as well as several prominent general interest publications, including The Wall Street Journal, Wine Spectator, Wine Enthusiast, the San Francisco Chronicle, Wine & Spirits, Somm Journal, and AFAR, among others.
Bryce worked as a Junior Editor at Antonio Galloni’s Vinous, among the foremost wine criticism bodies, after winning their Young Wine Writer Fellowship. He later moved to the leading wine education publication GuildSomm, where he served as their Staff Writer. Bryce continues to write for GuildSomm as their Senior Contributor. In 2021, he co-founded Vinalia, a venture-backed wine import startup, focused on premium wineries in lesser-known regions spanning fifteen countries and four continents.
In 2026, Bryce earned the Master of Wine title – widely considered the most rigorous and highest credential for the global wine trade – after completing all portions of the famously difficult exam on first attempt. He is also a Certified Sommelier by the Court of Master Sommeliers. An experienced speaker and wine educator, Bryce has been invited to present at wine conferences domestically and internationally and his masterclasses across key markets regularly sell out. He also teaches WSET courses for Fine Vintage in Chicago and across the United States.
Bryce holds his Bachelor of Arts from Yale University and a Master of Business Administration from The University of Chicago Booth School of Business. He also earned his Master of Music in Vocal Performance from the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, where he trained as an operatic baritone.
PAYMENT TERMS
Full payment is charged at the time of registration. Payment is non-refundable, but can be transferred once to another person or to a future course of the same type, if you contact us 14 days or more before the start date. In the rare event Fine Vintage has to cancel a course you will receive a 100% refund.
WHAT’S INCLUDED
Included in the price is:
- All winery visits and tastings
- All transportation to the wineries on a luxury bus from the 41 Lakefront Hotel
- A gourmet food and wine pairing dinner on Day 1
- A delicious lunch on Day 3
- The WSET Level 2 study guide, exam, and certificate
- All instruction by Bryce Wiatrak MW
- All tastings in the classroom
Please note that students are responsible for arranging their own flights, accommodations, travel insurance, transportation, and meals outside of the bootcamp itinerary.
PLANNING TIPS
Before the bootcamp we will send you some useful pre-trip information to help you with your planning.
You’ll find advice on how to get there, tips on what to wear, other things to do in and around the finger Lakes, hotel recommendations, and what you might like to read in advance.
PLANNING TIPS
Before the bootcamp we will send you some useful pre-trip information to help you with your planning.
You’ll find advice on how to get there, tips on what to wear, other things to do in and around Kelowna, hotel recommendations, and what you might like to read in advance.
WEATHER
Early fall in the Finger Lakes is mild and beautiful, with daytime temperatures around 70°F (21°C). Evenings by the lakes can get quite cool and a passing shower is always possible, so remember to bring an extra layer and a light rain jacket.
TESTIMONIALS
