WSET level 4 Diploma in Wines

The Diploma is delivered in six mandatory units covering a broad range of topics including wine production, wine business, and still, sparkling and fortified wines of the world.

Syllabus 2020 – 2021

D1- Wine Production:

• Vine requirements
• Anatomy of the vine and grape
• Grape growing options, explaining and evaluating the different approaches and how these options affect grape yields, quality and the final wine produced
• Natural factors in the vineyard and how they influence the vine’s ability to produce grapes for wines of different styles, quality levels and price
• Winemaking and post-fermentation options and how they influence the style, quality and price of wines

D2 – Wine Business

• ï – The types of businesses engaged in wine production and the options for getting wine to the point of sale
• – Factors that contribute to the price of wine
• – Key considerations in wine marketing

D3-Wines of the world / D4 Sparkling wines / D5 – Fortified wines

In each of these Units you will learn:

• How grape-growing, winemaking, maturation, wine law and wine business influence the style, quality and price of the principal still wines (D3), sparkling wines (D4) and fortified wines (D5) of the world.
• How to taste and evaluate still wines (D3), sparkling wines (D4) and fortified wines (D5) using the WSET Level 4 Systematic Approach to Tasting Wine®(SAT)

D6 – Independent Research Assignment

• How to research a specified wine-related subject

Upon registration at WSET Level 4 Diploma in wines programme, you’ll receive an access to an online platform with all resources available to students. It includes:

• The e-book made of 5 parts corresponding to the 5 units covered in the programme. This complete and extensive book is available electronically only.
• Some documents to help in your exam preparation such as “Theory & Tasting exam guidance” or the list of wines tasted in past exams.

In addition, for each examination, WiSP gives you a personal access to one online mock exam marked by WSET examiners and for which you’ll get and individual feedback.

D1 – Wine Production

• Duration : 1h30
• Type : Open-response questions

D2 – Wine Business

• Duration : 1h
• Type : Open-response questions

D3 – Wines of the world

Theory :

• Duration : 3h20
• Type : Open-response questions

Tasting :

• Duration : 3h
• Type : Blind tasting of 12 wines

D4 – Sparkling wines

• Duration : 1h30
• Type : Open-response questions + blind tasting of 3 wines

D5 – Fortified wines

• Duration : 1h30
• Type : Open-response questions + blind tasting of 3 wines

D6 – Independent Research Assignment

• Type: One research assignment of 3.000 words

• Pass marks : 55% in each part
• Resit : possible for each Unit individually