DIPLOMA D3 : WiSP Achieves an Unprecedented Performance

On April 30, 2025, the prestigious Guildhall in London hosted the Graduation Ceremony for the WSET Diploma (Level 4 in Wines). It was a memorable evening in a historic venue, where the excellence of wine professionals from around the world was celebrated. For WiSP Campus, the 2023/2024 edition was truly historic: 49 WiSP students graduated, with an overall success rate of 76%, a 13% increase compared to last year. With these figures, WiSP exceeds the standards.

We especially congratulate our learners, our academic team, our exceptional instructors, and the entire WiSP community surrounding this program. It’s a collective success that proves ambition, discipline, and passion bear fruit.

These results are especially significant in key units of the program:

• 88% pass rate for Unit D2. Best EMEA D2 Result Award for the second consecutive year won by @Tarik Goyal.
• 65% pass rate for Unit D3. Best EMEA D3 Tasting Award for the second consecutive year won by @Patricio Zarate.
• And for the first time, WiSP won the Best Overall EMEA Result Award with @Mahir Sencal, already a D2 winner in 2023.

These distinctions highlight WiSP’s impact on the international stage. So how can such results be explained? Excellence, discipline, and strategy are the keys to WiSP’s success in the D3 DIPLOMA. Read on…

A Goal-Oriented Pedagogy: Success in the DIPLOMA Exam

Of course, our students are brilliant, and these excellent results are theirs first and foremost. We’re proud of them. But at WiSP, there’s something more, something unique to us—a different approach. At WiSP, we start from a simple observation: the WSET Diploma is not just an intellectual, sensory, and unforgettable journey—it is a demanding challenge. And we’ve chosen to approach it as such. Our mission: to ensure our students earn their certification.

Our Method Resembles the Training of Elite Athletes!

We coach our students the same way elite athletes are coached. We prepare them mentally and physically as one would prepare an athlete for competition. Here’s how:

From Day One: Exam Strategy

The very first day of the program is fully dedicated to exam methodology and strategy. This session, led by Fanny Darrieussecq, establishes a mindset: every detail matters. Every point can make a difference. And above all: discipline pays off.

D3: Mental Coaching and Strategic Mastery

Two intense days of coaching at the start of Unit D3, led by Michael PALIJ, Master of Wine

His approach is clear: prepare students mentally and technically for the most strategic unit of the diploma. Michael teaches how to maximize points intelligently by using strategic methods and focusing on what the exam actually requires. Thanks to his strategic mindset, he turns exam stress into a performance booster.

Mock Exams and Personalized Feedback

Throughout the program, we provide students with targeted mock exams so they can practice under real exam conditions. For Unit D3, a feedback test program is included: each student receives individualized, in-depth corrections to adjust weaknesses and strengthen strong points. The final mock exam is a full simulation: a blind tasting of 12 wines analyzed just like on exam day.

D3 Coaching for the Theory Component

Additionally, WiSP offers specialized coaching for the theoretical part of D3: The goal: learn to target responses, structure arguments, manage time effectively, and deliver a clear, concise, and expert paper. These exam preparation days and D3 coaching sessions make a real difference. But that’s not all.

The DIPLOMA at WiSP Means an Exceptional Team of Instructors

Our students are fortunate to learn from 8 instructors, all experts in their fields, all from the wine and viticulture industry, and all committed to sharing much more than theory. Our instructors are not generalists—they are passionate specialists: Masters of Wine, consultants, producers, négociants, communicators… each one offering a unique perspective on wine. WiSP instructors enrich students’ perspectives. They teach, but more importantly, they narrate, analyze, contextualize; they explain current and future industry challenges, and share real-world cases to train students in the complexity of wine professions.

For students, these sessions go well beyond academics: it’s professional intelligence—a pedagogical storytelling that profoundly changes the way knowledge is transmitted.

Human and Professional Support

The WiSP journey also includes a dedicated team to support Diploma students: logistical and academic follow-up, active listening during moments of doubt, personalized support to stay on track, even during intense periods or low moments.

Hands-On Field Experiences

Each class cohort visits iconic vineyards.
These are not tourist visits—students meet estate managers, ask technical questions, and discuss development strategies, business challenges, and winemaking innovations. It’s an immersive experience, professional to professional.

A Strong Community, An International Network

Finally, WiSP is also a dynamic, engaged community connected on Discord: sharing news, documents, advice; organizing exclusive Masterclasses, events, and meetups between alumni and students. A real networking dynamic that continues even after graduation.

You’ve understood it: WiSP is not like other training institutions. Yes, the WSET Diploma requires hard work, discipline, and commitment. But at WiSP, everything is designed to help you reach the main goal: to earn your prestigious DIPLOMA certification, which opens doors to the Master of Wine and an international career. Personalized coaching, elite instructors, intensive preparation, mental and physical coaching, a strong network—that’s what sets us apart.

Discover the full DIPLOMA program and join the community of future wine experts