What is WSET 4 Diploma?

The WSET Level 4 Diploma in wines is the highest qualification offered by the Wine & Spirit Education Trust (WSET). It’s recognised worldwide and is perfect for anyone who wants to deepen their wine knowledge — whether you work in the wine industry or are just passionate about wine.

It’s a challenging programme, but also one of the most rewarding ways to develop your tasting skills and understand wine on a deeper level.

What is the WSET Diploma?

The Diploma gives you a comprehensive understanding of wine. You’ll learn about viticulture, winemaking, global wine regions, business, and tasting techniques.

It’s also the first step if you ever want to apply for the Master of Wine (MW) programme, as the Diploma is one of its entry requirements.

Course structure: 6 units

The Diploma is divided into six parts:

D1 – Wine production 🍇
How grapes are grown, how wine is made, and how choices affect style and quality.
D2 – Wine business 💼
How wine is marketed and sold around the world.
D3 – Still wines of the world 🌍
A deep look at the most important wine regions and styles globally.
D4 – Sparkling wines of the world 🥂
D5 – Fortified wines of the world 🍷
D6 – Research assignment ✍️
An essay on a defined topic, usually related to industry trends.

Most students take 1.5 to 3 years to finish, depending on their schedule and study pace.

Usually, Units will be done in the following order:

First semester : D1 and D2
Second semester : D4 and D5
Third semester: D3 and D6

The hardest parts are usually D1 and D3.

Exams

Each unit has a theory exam, and for D3, D4 and D5, you’ll also sit blind tastings.

To complete the Diploma, you must pass all six units:

D1 – Wine production → 1 ½-hour closed-book exam with open-response questions
D2 – Wine business → 1-hour closed-book exam with open-response questions
D3 – Wines of the world (THE big unit) →
- Day 1: Two-part theory exam (3 hours 20 minutes total)
- Day 2: Blind tasting of 12 wines over two papers (3 hours total)
D4 – Sparkling wines → 1 ½-hour theory exam + blind tasting of 3 sparkling wines
D5 – Fortified wines → 1 ½-hour theory exam + blind tasting of 3 fortified wines
D6 – Research assignment → A 3,000-word essay on a defined topic, done at home

Who can enrol?

You need to have passed the WSET Level 3 Award in Wines before starting the Diploma.

How much does the WSET Diploma cost?

Costs vary depending on where and how you study, but here’s a rough estimate:

Tuition fees: €4 000 – €8 000
Study materials & wines for tasting: €500 – €1 000

Total: Around €4 500 – €9 000 over the full programme.

Tip: Join a study group, splitting the cost of wines makes preparation cheaper and more fun!

Is the WSET Diploma worth it?

If you want to advance your career or simply deepen your wine knowledge, the Diploma is absolutely worth it. It’s recognised globally and can open doors in:

Wine importing and distribution
Hospitality and retail
Wine education and training
Wine marketing and brand development
Wine writing and journalism

It’s also essential if you aim to apply for the Master of Wine programme.

My experience

I completed the WSET Diploma with Merit in 2021, and it was one of the most challenging but also most rewarding things I’ve done.

I've done it online, with WSET London School. Doing it online worked great for me as I like studying by myself and could study wherever and whenever I wanted.

A few tips if you’re thinking about it:

Plan your study time carefully — especially for D3, which is huge.
Revise D1 thoroughly — it’s very technical, but also extremely useful for understanding D3 to D5.
Do dry tasting notes — you don’t need to taste every single wine in the world. Instead, practice writing structured notes based on your knowledge and what the wine could be.
Do timed mock exams — practising under exam conditions helps a lot for both theory and tasting.

Final thoughts

The WSET Level 4 Diploma is more than just a qualification. It changes the way you taste and understand wine. It’s demanding, but if you’re passionate about wine, it’s an amazing journey.

If you have questions or need tips, feel free to reach out and check out Amble Wine materials. I’m happy to help!

Lea Gatinois DipWSET