Welcome to our guide to the Wine & Spirit Education Trust (WSET) Diploma. This represents the WSET Level 4 in Wines is the pinnacle of wine qualifications available from the Wine & Spirit Education Trust. Whether you are looking to advance your wine career or are simply a dedicated wine enthusiasts, the WSET diploma is definitely worth considering. In this guide we’ll help you to navigate the details of the qualification and decide if it is the right one for you.
The WSET Diploma is extensive and will cover many different components of the wine industry. Like levels 1-3 there is a an emphasis on the wines of the world, but the diploma also has dedicated components covering other aspects of the wine industry. It then concludes with an independent research assignment.
WSET Diploma – Level 4 in Wine – Syllabus
The WSET Diploma in split into 6 components. The first two (wine production and wine business) must be studied first and they provide a foundation which will then be built upon in subsequent modules. After you have completed these two components, it is then possible to study the other 4 modules in any order.
Wine Production
Wine production is split into 3 components:
Vine requirements and Growing Environment Influences
This learning outcome starts by taking you through the anatomy of the vine. You’ll look at the components of the vine itself, its needs and the various stages of the growth cycle. You’ll then analyse the growing environment, covering the factors that influence the key growth requirements and take a look at some of the challenges faced such as hazards, diseases and climate change. Finally, the learning outcome will finish with an analysis of how certain factors affect the ability of the vine to produce and ripen grapes.
Grape Growing Options
This learning outcome guides you through the various options available to us in the vineyard and how our choices will affect the styles and quality of the final wine produced. You’ll start by analyzing different approaches including the topical options of sustainability, organic and bio-dynamic winemaking. You will also take a look at considerations for establishing vineyard sites as well as options for vineyard management and the production and ripening of grapes.
Winemaking Options
The final learning outcome in the WSET Diploma module 1 looks at the winemaking options available to winemakers. This will include items such as:
- Approaches to winemaking
- Options in the winemaking process including grape processing, clarification, malolactic fermentation, maturation, stabilization and closures.
- Wine faults and quality control processes
Wine Business
Wine business is the second module in the WSET Diploma in wine. It has 3 components:
Factors Influencing Wine Price
In this module you’ll cover the factors influencing the price of wine, including:
- Supply and demand
- Costs of getting the wine to market
- Legislation considerations
- Exchange rates and how they affect cross border sales
Wine Businesses and Distribution Channels
From growers, to merchants to co-operatives there are a range of businesses involved at various stages of wine production. You’ll look at the key players and how they fit together. The learning outcome concludes with an analysis of the different options of getting a wine to market.
Wine Marketing
Wine marketing starts by taking a look at the product to be marketed and how it should fit in with the current marketplace. It then looks at how to target consumers, including marketing strategy, and finished by taking a look at the marketing mix.
Wines of the World
Wines of the world is split into two learning outcomes:
How various factors influence the style, quality and price of the principal world wines
This module starts with a look at the styles of wine that are produced in the principal wine regions of the world. This will include the growing environments, production methods, regulation and points of difference affect the wines produced. This knowledge then forms a basis for the second learning outcome where you will taste and evaluate wines from these regions.
Tasting and evaluation of wines from principle wine regions
This is the first tasting component of the WSET Diploma in Wines. It involves tasting and evaluating wines from the principal wines regions covered in the previous learning outcome. The analysis and tasting exam will be based on the WSET Level 4 Systematic Approach to Tasting Wine.
Sparkling Wines
The sparkling wines module of the WSET Diploma follows a similar structure to that of the still wines. It is split into the following 2 learning outcomes:
How various factors influence the style, quality and price of the principal sparkling wines
This module starts with a look at the sparkling wines that are produced around the world. This will include the growing environments, production methods, regulation and points of difference affect the wines produced. This knowledge then forms a basis for the second learning outcome where you will taste and evaluate the sparkling wines from these regions.
Tasting and evaluation of sparkling wines
This is a further tasting component of the WSET Diploma in Wines. It involves tasting and evaluating sparkling wines covered in the previous learning outcome. The analysis and tasting exam will be based on the WSET Level 4 Systematic Approach to Tasting Wine.
Fortified Wines
Similar to the still and sparkling wine modules, the fortified wine module is split into two components:
How various factors influence the style, quality and price of the fortified wines
This module starts with a look at the fortified wines that are produced around the world. This will include the growing environments, production methods, regulation and points of difference affect the wines produced. This knowledge then forms a basis for the second learning outcome where you will taste and evaluate the fortified wines from these regions.
Tasting and evaluation of fortified wines
This is a further tasting component of the WSET Diploma in Wines. It involves tasting and evaluating fortified wines covered in the previous learning outcome. The analysis and tasting exam will be based on the WSET Level 4 Systematic Approach to Tasting Wine.
Independent Research Assignment
The research component of the WSET Diploma in Wines involved the research of a wine related subject. The final outcome is a 3,000 word paper that should:
- Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the subject
- Evaluate source material
- Construct arguments
- Reach an informed conclusion
WSET Diploma – Teaching
You’ll need to register for the course with an approved WSET course provider. The length of time to finish the course will depend on the schedule of the course provider as well as whether the candidate passes all module at the first attempt. It usually takes between 18 month and 3 years to pass the diploma. There is a minimum learning time (in the classroom or online) of 116 hours along with a recommended 370 hours of private study. Taking examination time into account this brings the total time commitment to 500 hours.
WSET Diploma – Examination
The WSET Diploma is marks on a modular basis in the following way:
Wine Production
- Weighting: 20%
- 1.5 hour written exam
Wine Business
- Weighting: 10%
- 1 hour written exam
Still Wines
- Weighting: 50%
- Day 1:
- 2 hour written exam
- 1 hour 20 minute written exam
- Day 2:
- 1.5 hour blind tasting of 6 wines
- 1.5 hour blind tasting of 6 wines
Sparkling Wines
- Weighting: 5%
- 1.5 hours written exam including blind tasting of 3 wines
Fortified Wines
- Weighting: 5%
- 1.5 hours written exam including blind tasting of 3 wines
Research Paper
- Weighting: 10%
- 1 research assignment of 3,000 words
Prerequisites for Entry
For entry into the WSET Diploma in Wines students must have passed either the WSET Level 3 in Wines or the WSET Level 3 Award in Wines and Spirits.
WSET Diploma – Level 4 in Wine – Conclusion
The WSET Diploma is the pinnacle of wine qualifications offered by the Wine & Spirits Education Trust. It will provide you with a rounded and comprehensive knowledge of the wine industry and set you up for a prosperous career in wine. The WSET Diploma is also a recommended launching pad for those wishing to continue on to the Master of Wine qualification.
Good luck!