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WSET Level 4 Diploma in Wines
Blended learning

WSET® Level 4 Diploma in Wines

Gain global recognition asan authoritative and cross-functional wine expert.

The WSET® Level 4 Diploma in Wines is an excellent course of study delivered only in English. It is a high-level specialisation combining product knowledge with technical and market factors. It allows candidates to analyse the issues facing the wine industry across the board,a quality that professionals highly value. The WSET® Level 4 Diploma in Wines is recognised worldwide as the gateway to the prestigious Master of Wine programme.

The WSET® Level 4 Diploma in Wines offers an immersive programme thanks to the many organised visits that complement the theoretical content. WiSP will take you to Bordeaux vineyards to discover exceptional Grands Crus and small estates and meet emblematic Bordeaux merchants and many other wine operators. As for the Parisian promotions, they will visit the Champagne region: renowned champagne houses , confidential estates,small producers and institutions

This two-year program is also an opportunity to be trained by our team of experts and Masters of Wine and to taste a selection of wines from the world’s best estates: French, German, Austrian, Italian, Californian and more.

Throughout the two years of training, WiSP learners are mentored by a dedicated member of the WiSP team.

In addition, you have access to a large community of alumni, experts and professionals: a tremendous opportunity to build your worldwide network.

You can prepare for the WSET Level 4 Diploma in wines at our Bordeaux campus: 88 Quai de Paludate, 33800 Bordeaux or at our Paris campus: Deskeo sopi, 81 rue de Clichy, 75009 Paris.

You are ready to register to one of our Diploma years ?

Accessibility of training to people with disabilities. Contact our disability advisor on 05 57 71 75 61 or by email contact@wisp-campus.com in order to study together the necessary arrangements.

HOW WILL MY COURSE BE CONDUCTED ?

How will the WSET® Level 4 Diploma in Wines be conducted?

Following a preliminary phone interview and knowledge test, I validate my course registration with the support of WiSP's team.

Seven days after my enrolment validation, I will get access codes to the online resources (e-book et WSET® Student Online Classroom) necessary for my pre-course preparation. Preparing before and reviewing notes and material after each lesson is strongly recommended.

For each unit, I will receive an e-mail notification 15 days before the course session. The classroom training offers an alternation of theoretical knowledge, consolidation time, tasting practice and field visits.

For Units D1, D2, D4, D5, I will receive a mock exam to do at home three weeks before the assessment. Then, 15 days before the exam, a group correction is organised via videoconference. For Unit D3, mock exams are to be returned online on a fixed date and individually marked in writing by a WSET® marker.

Between one and two months after the course and 15 days after the mock exam, I take my in-person examination on Units D1, D2, D3, D4, and D5. For Unit D6, , I send my research assignment to WiSP before the submission deadline.

10 to 12 weeks after the exam, I will receive my results for each unit. I must pass all six units to graduate. Once validated, I will receive my diploma by mail and an invitation to the official WSET® graduation ceremony in London.

Who can benefit from the WSET® Level 4 Diploma in Wines?

WSET® Level 3 Award in Wines holders looking to build even further their acquired knowledge.

Professionals working in transversal and strategic functions in the wine industry.

Industry professionals wishing to push their tasting skills to the highest level.

Industry professionals, marketers or buyers working with a wide range of wines from around the world.

Those who wish to acquire a global and in-depth knowledge of the world's wines.

Those wishing to enter the Master of Wine programme.

What will you learn in the WSET® Level 4 Diploma in Wines?

Understand the macro and microeconomics of the wine industry, its organisation, the international market, the wine value chain and the keys to wine marketing.

Know the physiology of the vine, its needs to produce and ripen grapes and the influence of its environment.

Learn to demonstrate how the grape growing environment and each stage of the winemaking process influence the style, quality and price of the world's leading wines.

Know how to evaluate the style, quality and price of wines from the main wine regions.

Explain how wine legislation, regulation, and trade influence the style, quality, and price of wines from major wine regions.

Understand how the grape growing environment, other growing options, winemaking options, industry choices, and wine labelling influence the style, quality, and price of the world's leading sparkling and fortified wines.

Demonstrate the ability to taste and evaluate wines of the world accurately.

Learn how to research a specified wine-related subject and communicate your findings through a written research assignment.

WSET® Level 4 Diploma in Wines: Course Syllabus

WSET issue 1.2, 2022

The WSET® Level 4 Diploma in Wines comprises six essential units of study covering all aspects of the wine industry from production to marketing and considering the different categories of wine, such as still, sparkling and fortified.

  • Anatomy of the vine;
  • The development of grape components;
  • The vine growing cycle and its needs at each stage;
  • The role of the environment on the vine’s ability to produce and ripen grapes;
  • The different approaches to vine growing;
  • Establishing a new vineyard;
  • Vineyard management throughout the annual cycle;
  • The vinification of red, white, rosé and sweet wines;
  • Maturing techniques and options;
  • Wine blending, clarification and stabilisation;
  • Risks and quality control procedures during winemaking and ageing.
In-Class Delivery Mode: Three days (+1 at our Bordeaux campus) Videoconference Delivery Mode: 1.5 hours Examination time: 1.5 hours Examination: Open-question exam

  • Macroeconomic analysis of the wine industry: The supply and demand balance and its influence on the price of wine;
  • The influence of local regulations, international agreements and exchange rate fluctuations on the price of wine;
  • The various stakeholders in the wine industry, from production to final consumer;
  • The wine supply chain;
  • The main marketing strategies applied to wine.
In-Class Delivery Mode: None Videoconference Delivery Mode : 8 hours Examination time : 1 hour Examination: Open-question exam

For each of the regions covered, you will learn:

  • Describe the growing environment, local grape growing practices, and traditional winemaking and ageing techniques;
  • Explain how the above factors influence the style, quality and price of the principal still wines of the world;
  • Explain how wine law, regulation and business influence the style, quality and price of the principal wine regions;
  • Evaluate the different marketing options for the world’s leading wines;
  • Describe and evaluate the world’s leading wines using the WSET® Level 4 Systemic Approach to Tasting Wine (SAT).
(The main wine regions of the following countries will be covered: France, Germany, Austria, Hungary, Greece, Italy, Spain, Portugal, USA, Canada, Chili, Argentina, South Africa, Australia, New Zealand, and China) In-Class Delivery Mode: 15 days (+2 at our Bordeaux campus) Videoconference Delivery Mode: None Examination time : Day 1 – 3.3 hours / Day 2 – 3 hours Examination : Day 1 – Five open questions on theoretical concepts / Day 2 – Blind sensory tasting exam of 12 wines

For each of the regions covered, you will learn:

  • Describe the growing environment, grape growing and winemaking options involved in the production of the principal sparkling wines;
  • Explain how the above factors influence the style, quality and price of the principal sparkling wines;
  • Explain how industry structure, regulations and labelling terms and wine business influence the style, quality and price of the principal sparkling wines;
  • Describe and evaluate the principal sparkling wines using the WSET® Level 4 Systemic Approach to Tasting Wine (SAT).
(The main wine regions of the following countries will be covered: France, Germany, Italy, Spain, UK, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Chili, Argentina, and the USA) In-Class Delivery Mode:1 day Videoconference Delivery Mode: 1.5 hours Examination time : 1.5 hours Examination : Open-question exam + blind sensory tasting exam of 3 wines

For each of the regions covered, you will learn:

  • Describe the growing environment, grape growing and winemaking options involved in the production of the principal fortified wines;
  • Explain how the above factors influence the style, quality and price of the principal fortified wines;
  • Explain how industry structure, regulations and labelling terms and wine business influence the style, quality and price of the principal fortified wines;
  • Describe and evaluate the principal fortified wines using the WSET® Level 4 Systemic Approach to Tasting Wine (SAT).
(The main wine regions of the following countries will be covered: France, Portugal, Spain, and Australia) In-Class Delivery Mode: 2 days Videoconference Delivery Mode: 1.5 hours Examination time: 1.5 hours Examination : Open-question exam + blind sensory tasting exam of 3 wines

  • Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the specified subject using relevant source material;
  • Evaluate relevant source material to develop ideas and arguments and to reach informed conclusions ;
  • Produce a Research Assignment per the required written presentation standards set out in the assignment brief.
Class Delivery Mode: None Examination : Independent Research Assignment with a submission deadline.

Your Educators

WSET® Level 4 Diploma in Wines: Study Materials

Upon registration to the WSET® Level 4 Diploma in Wines, you will have access to an online space to find all the resources you need to prepare, practice and successfully pass your exam.

Register

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FAQ WSET Level 4 in wines Diploma
The most pretigious Diploma in wines

You must have graduated from WSET® Level 3 in wines, have a good oral and written understanding, and a good English writing ability. WSET recommends a level equivalent to a score of 6.5 on the IELTS© scale or a B2 level.

A test is conducted upon enrolment in the Diploma to better guide you in your choice of training and your learning throughout the program. This test does not determine your enrolment in the WSET Diploma.

WSET Level 4 is open to all types of profiles! While the majority of our students come from the world of wine, we also welcome knowledgeable enthusiasts looking to learn more about their passion. Our groups are diverse in nationality: our 100% English-language training allows you to meet professionals from all over the world!

All professions in the wine and spirits industry are relevant to the Diploma: Wine Merchant, Production Professional, Trade Professional, Service Professional, Influencers, Sales Professional, Winemaker, and Tasting Professional. The WSET Level 4 in wines – Diploma certification will help you better understand wine based on its production method and positioning in the international wine market. With this new knowledge, you can apply for positions that require commercial decision-making, purchasing, or marketing.

If you wish to continue acquiring knowledge, the Diploma is also the gateway to the Master of Wine Institute.

Diploma cohorts at WiSP accommodate up to 25 people from various nationalities.

WiSP closely supports learners at every stage of their learning.

Throughout these two years of training, you will be accompanied by a dedicated contact person from the WiSP team.

From the date of your enrolment as a candidate, WSET gives you 3 years to complete all units of WSET Level 4 – Diploma. The course program takes approximately 20 months, leaving you with a little over a year for any potential retakes and the completion of the research paper.

The training consists of 184 hours, blending in-person and remote learning. You can find the complete training program on this page.

You should allocate about 600 hours of personal study over the two years, at a rate of approximately one hour per day.

If you are taking your Diploma in Paris, there are 2 planned visits: one during Unit 4 on sparkling wines, which takes place in Champagne, organized by the Comité Interprofessionnel des Vins de Champagne (CIVC). The second visit is organized by the Comité Interprofessionnel des Vins de Bordeaux (CIVB) during the Unit 3 session on Bordeaux wines.

If you are pursuing your Diploma in Bordeaux, 4 visits are planned: the first during Unit 1, organized by the Union des Grands Crus de Bordeaux (UGCB). The other three are organized during Unit 3, including one by CIVB, during the session on Bordeaux wines.

You will taste more than 250 wines from around the world.

WiSP aims to provide instructors with Master of Wine qualifications who specialize in the field they teach to offer the best learning experience possible to students.

The Diploma consists of 6 exams, for which a minimum of 55% correct answers is required. There are 5 written exams and a 3,000-word research paper. The written exams all have a theoretical component, consisting of open-ended questions; the exams for Units 3, 4, and 5 also include a practical portion with blind wine tasting.

Mock exams are planned for each of the written exams (Units 1 to 5). For Units 1, 2, 4, and 5, they are conducted via video conference. The mock exam for Unit 3 is conducted in person during the final class session.

Yes, everything is included. When you enrol in the WSET® Level 4 Diploma in Wines, you will receive your WSET Diploma books in digital format, as well as access to an online space where you will find all the resources available to help you prepare and succeed in your exam.
Yes, each failed exam can be retaken as many times as necessary, on dates provided by WSET.
Exams, except for Unit 6, are all conducted in person, at our facilities in Bordeaux or Paris.

WiSP achieved a 66% pass rate for the Diploma certification in the 2021/2022 academic year.

All our training programs can be funded based on your status at the time of the request. WSET Level 4 – Diploma can be partially funded by certain operators of skills (OPCO) or by a training insurance fund (FAF). You can find all the details of available funding on this page and by contacting ushere.

You have the option to defer to a later session or ask our team to be placed on a waiting list. For this, contact us here. For this, contact us here.

Yes, it is possible to reschedule or cancel your training in certain cases and under certain conditions. All participation conditions are detailed on each WiSP training enrolment form.

VAT does not apply to professional training, meaning for employed or job-seeking individuals in France. It defaults to students (initial training) and retirees. For our foreign students, VAT does not apply if the training is financed by your company.

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