Take Your Wine Knowledge to the Highest Professional Level
The WSET Level 4 Diploma in Wines is WSET’s most advanced wine qualification and is designed for serious wine professionals and highly committed students seeking an expert-level understanding of wine.
Building on the WSET Level 3 Award in Wines, the Diploma explores the factors that shape a wine’s style, quality and price, from vineyard decisions and winemaking techniques to regional influences, global markets and the business of wine.
Throughout the program, you will develop advanced theoretical knowledge while refining your tasting and analytical skills using the WSET Level 4 Systematic Approach to Tasting Wine®.
Graduates leave the program with the ability to evaluate wines at a highly advanced level, communicate their conclusions clearly and understand the commercial and production decisions behind the wines of the world.
For students considering the Master of Wine program, the Diploma also provides an important foundation for further study.
Entry Requirements
Students must have successfully comp0leted the WSET Level 3 Award in Wines before enrolling in the Diploma program.
View the WSET Level 4 Diploma Specification.
Program Overview
The Diploma consists of six units covering wine production, wine business, still wines, sparkling wines, fortified wines and independent research.
Students begin with D1 – Wine Production and must attempt D1 examination before progressing to D2 – Wine Business.
D2 must be completed before enrolling in D3, D4, D5 or D6. The remaining four units may then be taken in any order.
D1 – Wine Production
Explore grape growing, winemaking and the production decisions that influence wine style, quality and price.
Assessment: 90-minute closed-book examination consisting of open-response questions.
Learn more about D1 Wine Production
D2 – Wine Business
Examine how wine moves from producer to consumer, including distribution, pricing, marketing and the commercial forces shaping the global wine industry.
Assessment: 60-minute closed-book examination consisting of open-response questions.
Learn more about D2 Wine Business
D3 – Wines of the World
Study the major still wine regions of the world and the natural, production, regulatory and commercial factors that influence their wines.
D3 also develops advanced blind-tasting and analytical skills and is the largest unit of the Diploma.
Assessment: Examinations take place over two consecutive days.
Day One — Theory
Two written theory papers totaling 3 hours and 20 minutes.
Day Two — Tasting
Two blind-tasting papers totaling 3 hours and covering 12 wines.
Learn more about D3 Wines of the World
D4 – Sparkling Wines
Explore the world’s major sparkling wine regions, production methods and the factors that determine style, quality and price.
Assessment: 90-minute examination combining open-response theory questions with a blind tasting of three sparkling wines.
Learn more about D4 Sparkling Wines
D5 – Fortified Wines
Study the principal fortified wines of the world, including their production, maturation, styles and quality levels.
Assessment: 90-minute examination combining open-response theory questions with a blind tasting of three fortified wines.
Learn more about D5 Fortified Wines
D6 – Independent Research Assignment
Develop research and analytical skills through an independent paper on a wine-related topic set by WSET.
Assessment: A 3,000-word research assignment.
Learn more about D6 Independent Research Assignment
The table below shows the minimum guided learning time, study time and weighting of each Diploma unit.
Sample Timeline for a January 2026 Start
Ready to Start?
The first step toward the Diploma is D1 – Wine Production.
Next D1 start date: January 5, 2027
If you already hold the WSET Level 3 Award in Wines and are ready for a more advanced level of study, you can view the upcoming schedule and registration details below.
Not quite ready to register?
[Attend a Diploma Information Session]