| Level 4 Diploma in Wine
If you’re ready to become an expert in all aspects of wine, the Diploma is for you.
The WSET Level 4 Diploma in Wines is an expert-level qualification covering all aspects of wine.
Building on the knowledge and skills gained from the WSET Level 3 Award in Wines, the Diploma deepens your understanding of how and why wine production and business factors influence the style, quality, and price of wines. Your expertise is built both theoretically, through comprehensive study of a large number of wine regions, and practically, by developing your wine tasting skills to an expert level. Successful graduates acquire exceptional analytical skills and proficiency in evaluative wine tasting, gaining global recognition as authoritative wine specialists. Should you wish to progress to the Master of Wine programme, you will be well-prepared.
What you'll learn
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.
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
D1 – hours of study weighting 20%
D2 – Wine business
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
D2 – hours of study weighting 10%
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)
D3 – Wines of the world: hours of study weighting 50%
D4 – Sparkling wines: hours of study weighting 5%
D5 – Fortified wines: hours of study weighting 5%
D6 – Independent research assignment
How to research a specified wine-related subject
D6 – hours of study weighting 10%
Diploma 2023-24 Schedule
Exam dates are the same for Hybrid Classes and the Online Classroom for D2, D3, D4, D5
D1 Wine Production
HYBRID Class (Zoom and In-Person Tasting)
Fall dates TBA
Exam: June 12
Sign up for the exam by May 27
Self-Paced Class
Self-paced with guidance from PhillyWine instructors. You will receive materials, mock exams, instruction, and feedback from our instructors but will be allowed to go at your own pace.
Exam: June 12
Sign up for the exam by May 27
Course cost inc exam: $1,300
Exam only (Resit): $295
Online Classroom
June 3 - July 14
Sign up by May 24
Cost inc exam: $1,200
D2 Wine Business
HYBRID Class (Zoom and In-Person Tasting)
May 1 - May 22
Wednesdays 7-9PM
Exam: June 12
Sign up for the exam by May 27
Self-Paced
Self-paced with guidance from PhillyWine instructors. You will receive materials, mock exams, instruction, and feedback from our instructors but will be allowed to go at your own pace.
Exam: June 12
Sign up by for the exam by May 27
*Please confirm the test date you prefer upon enrolling
Course Cost inc exam: $850
Exam only (Resit): $295
Online Classroom
Fall dates TBA
Cost inc exam: $750
D3 Wines of the World
HYBRID Class (Zoom and In-Person tasting)
Oct 30 - April 22
Mondays, 7PM- 9PM
(Some classes will take place Tues/Weds to accommodate for holidays)
Theory Exam: May 14, 2024
Tasting Exam: May 15, 2024
Sign up for the exam by March 11
Course cost inc exam: $3,300
Theory Exam Only (Resit): $375
Tasting Exam Only (Resit): $495
Theory and Tasting Exam (Resit): $870
Online Classroom
Fall dates TBA
Cost inc exam: $2,500
D4 Sparkling Wines
HYBRID Class (Zoom and In-Person tasting)
Fall dates TBA
Course cost inc exam: $850
Exam only (Resit): $295
Online Classroom
July 15 - Aug 18
Sign up by July 5
Cost inc exam: $750
D5 Fortified Wines
HYBRID CLASS (Zoom and In-Person tasting)
April 16 - May 7
Tuesdays, 7PM- 9PM
Exam: June 12, 2024
Sign up for the exam by April 8
Course Cost inc exam: $850
Exam only (Resit): $295
Online Classroom
Fall dates TBA
Cost inc exam: $750
D6 Independent Research
Submissions due July 16
July Submission Topic - Regenerative Viticulture
Cost: $400
Prices include access to Diploma Dashboard. OLC prices include an online tutor and the exam. Does not include wine samples. Dgital study materials are provided at the Diploma level. You must take the exams in-person with PhillyWine. Online Classroom students are invited to in-person tastings at no additional cost. More details will be provided when you sign up.
Course details
This qualification has a minimum requirement of 500 hours of study time:
116 hours of delivery time with a WSET course provider (classroom or online)
370 hours of personal study and revision, including preparing an independent research assignment (D6)
Examinations for each unit (excluding D6) totalling 11 hours 50 minutes.
It normally takes between 18 months and 3 years to complete the Diploma. Each unit is weighted differently in terms of hours of study required, the table below shows the minimum guided learning time, private study time and the weighting applied against each unit.
Assessment
To complete the Diploma you must pass all six units, successfully meeting the rigorous assessment requirements across the syllabus. Assessment varies by Unit:
D1 – Wine production
1½ hour closed-book examination made up of open-response questions
D2 – Wine business
1 hour closed-book examination made up of open-response questions
D3 – Wines of the world
A theory and tasting examination to be held over two consecutive days:
Day one – A two-part theory exam formed of open-response questions to be completed in 3 hours 20 minutes (one 2-hour paper and one 80-minute paper).
Day two – A two-part blind tasting examination of 12 wines to be completed in 3 hours (two papers of 1½ hours)
D4 – Sparkling wines
1½ hour closed-book examination made up of open-response questions and a blind tasting of three sparkling wines
D5 – Fortified wines
1½ hour closed-book examination made up of open-response questions and a blind tasting of three fortified wines
D6 – Independent research assignment
One research assignment of 3,000 words
Those who successfully complete the Diploma will receive a WSET certificate and lapel pin and will be able to use the post-nominal “DipWSET” and associated WSET certified logo. You will also become a member of our Alumni Body, with access to our quarterly reports and a number of exclusive events.
Prerequisites
Candidates must hold either the WSET Level 3 Award in Wines or the WSET Level 3 Award in Wines and Spirits to enroll in the WSET Level 4 Diploma and must be of legal drinking age.