Demand has risen for wine education in key markets including China, the UK and North America, the WSET has reported, after seeing the number of candidates rise for the 14th consecutive year.

The wine education charity for the wine and spirit industry reported a 17% increase in the number of students taking its exams in the last year, up to more than 72k.

The biggest boost has come from candidates in mainline China, whose number rose 39% to 9,079 – meaning the country now accounts for around 12.5% of WSET’s wine education intake, up from 5.9% last year, overtaking the USA to become its second largest market behind the UK, which accounts for around 23.6% of all WSET candidates. There was growth in the UK, which rose 14% to more than 17,077 candidates, it said.

Canada and the USA, now in third and fourth share of wine education, respectively, saw 15% more students than last year.

It also reported Qatar and the UAE enter the top ten market countries, in sixth and tenth place respectively, with other key markets including Hong Kong in fifth place, Taiwan, Australian, and France.

The total number of approved course providers for the year reached 678, with the WSET increasing its reach to 73 countries, after establishing courses in Bulgaria, Serbia, Peru, Israel and Latvia.

Chief executive Ian Harris said the strong growth was testament to the “outstanding” efforts of its staff, course providers and educators across the world.