Become an Authority in Wine.
- Strategies for success on tasting and Diploma theory exams
- Optional wine kits for palate calibration with instructors
- Flexibility to accommodate busy schedule
of Study
The WSET Level 4 diploma is a big step in your wine journey. Don’t go it alone.
As WSET’s highest certification, the WSET Level 4 Diploma offers an expert-level understanding of the factors influencing a wine’s style, quality, and price. You’ll build theoretical and practical knowledge through in-depth study of numerous wine regions and by honing your tasting skills.
Why study for your WSET Level 4 Diploma with us?
- Live, instructor-led webinars with recordings available for later viewing
- Proprietary online classroom with vocab lists, quizzes, mock exams and pointers for understanding exam questions
- Our dedicated instructors include Masters of Wine, winemakers, Diploma graduates and other industry leaders
- Personalized feedback from instructors on mock exam answers
- Student support team to help you chart your way through the program
How the WSET Level 4 diploma works
The Diploma has six units. D1 must be taken first, followed by D2. Once you have taken the D1 and D2 exams (you don’t need to have your results back), you can take the other units in any order.
Click the image below to start your WSET Diploma journey!
Find Below the Annual Rolling WSET Diploma Schedule with Exams
Our WSET Level 4 Diploma is ideal for you if:
You want to be recognized as an authoritative wine expertYou need a flexible schedule with options for live and recorded webinarsYou want a school with a dedicated diploma support team to help you navigate the programYou want to learn from expert instructors, including Masters of Wine, winemakers, Diploma graduates and other industry leadersYou’re ready to invest in yourself and your future
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
The Nitty Gritty
Do I need to hold the WSET level 3 prior to starting diploma?
The WSET will not let you enroll in Level 4 Diploma until you have officially received your pass grade for the WSET Level 3 Award in Wines Course.
I am awaiting my level 3 exam results and expect to pass, can I still register?
No, you must have received your Level 3 results before registering. If you register before receiving your results your registration will be cancelled and your tuition will be refunded, minus an administrative fee.
Can I take another unit before D1 wine production?
No, the WSET requires you to first sit the D1 exam before doing any other Diploma Unit course. D2 must be taken after D1, before any other units. Once you have sat the exams for D1 and D2, you may complete D3-D6 in any order.
What study materials come with my tuition and what do i need to get on my own?
For units D1 – D5, the WSET publishes a digital textbook outlining what you need to know for that unit. Exam questions will come from the information provided in the books. If you choose to not purchase the optional wine kits for D1, D3, D4 and D5, you will also need to source and purchase wines to supplement your learning. Please see the Specification for recommended tasting samples.
How long do I have to complete all diploma units?
When you enroll in the Level 4 Diploma, you receive access to the WSET’s materials for three years. If you need to take more than three years to complete the program, you must pay a candidate renewal fee of $350 to receive access for another three years (subject to WSET approval).
Can I receive college credit for the diploma?
The Napa Valley Wine Academy is not a university degree-granting institution and the Diploma is not an accredited program. The WSET Level 4 Diploma is considered a professional certification.
Can you help international students obtain a student visa if they enroll in the diploma program?
No, the Diploma program does not require a residency in the United States, the Napa Valley Wine Academy is not a university degree-granting institution, and the Diploma is not an accredited program, so Diploma students are not eligible for student visas to study in the US.
Is it possible to finish the diploma in 12 months?
No. The reason for this is that it would be impossible to get all the Unit exams completed in 12 months, given the way they are scheduled by the WSET. More practically, the Level 4 Diploma is a very comprehensive and challenging course of study and thus it takes at least 18 months to complete. The average time to completion is 2-2.5 years.
Course Questions
HOW LONG IS EACH UNIT?
You should plan on studying for D1, 2, 4, 5, and 6 for about 3 months each. Plan on at least 6 months of study for D3.
Please note that your online course or in-person classes are not the only time you need to study. It is expected that you are studying before and after your classes for the recommended amount of study hours per unit.
ARE ALL CLASSES ONLINE?
Yes, all Diploma classes are currently offered online-only, and there is no in-person option available. Each unit includes access to our proprietary online classroom with study resources, regular live classes via Zoom, graded feedback on practice exam questions, mock exams and more to help you have a positive experience with online learning.
HOW DO I DO TASTINGS IN THE ONLINE CLASSROOM?
We provide opportunities to learn the Diploma tasting method via live webinars for each of the units with a tasting component. Additionally, students have the option during classes to submit practice answers for grading by our Diploma instructor team via Feedback Tests. For units with tasting exams, the Feedback Test will include writing dry tasting notes to practice using the Diploma tasting grid. Students will either be expected to purchase wines on their own (NVWA can provide a list of recommended samples), or students can purchase a wine kit for the tasting units to taste alongside the instructors during classes.
CAN I TAKE MORE THAN ONE UNIT AT ONCE?
D1 Wine Production must be taken first, and students must sit the D1 exam before beginning D2 Wine Business. These two units cannot be combined. Once a student has taken the D1 and D2 exams, the other units can be completed in any order. While students can technically do D3, D4, D5 and/or D6 at the same time, it is not recommended. Frequently, students who attempt to take more than one unit at once end up having to resit at least one of their exams.
WHAT'S IN THE WINE KITS?
Optional wine kits are available as add-on purchases for D1, D3, D4 and D5. The advantages of the wine kits are that you don’t have to worry about sourcing wines yourself and can taste the same wines as the instructor during class. Most of the wine kits come in 100mL bottles so you can get two tastes of each wine: one during class and another for extra practice outside of class.
The D1 kit contains 12 wine samples in 100mL bottles and is intended to illustrate how a variety of winemaking techniques appear in the glass. For example, an orange wine is tasted to illustrate skin contact in a white wine. It is sent in a single shipment.
The D3 kit contains around 102 wine samples in 100mL bottles. It contains many of the WSET’s recommended wine samples for D3 from around the world. It’s shipped in 3 shipments over the course of D3.
The D4 wine kit contains 11 wines. Because sparkling wines cannot be rebottled, the kit is a mix of 750mL and half bottles. It’s intended to you an overview of many of the sparkling wines that might appear on the D4 exam. It is sent in one shipment.
The D5 wine kit contains 18 wines in 100mL bottles. It’s intended to give you a chance to taste most of the fortified wines that might appear on the D5 exam. It is sent in one shipment.
Exam Questions
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WHAT HAPPENS IF I CAN’T MAKE AN EXAM DATE?
Exam dates are set globally by the WSET headquarters, not by Napa Valley Wine Academy. Thus they are not flexible. Exam registrations are due to WSET 8 weeks prior to the exam date. If you give less than 8 weeks notice to opt out of your scheduled exam, you cannot get out of taking it. The only exceptions are for documented medical or legal reasons. If you miss an exam it goes down as a “non-attend,” which is the same as a fail. You will need to pay for the exam when it is next offered, which may not be for a year. Exam dates are published well in advance so you really need to schedule your life around these dates.
WHEN ARE EXAMS?
Exam dates and times for most units are set globally by the WSET headquarters and are on weekdays. D1 Wine Production is the only unit that the Napa Valley Wine Academy is allowed to specify exam dates for, which we are sometimes able to schedule on a Saturday or Sunday morning.
CAN I JUST TAKE THE EXAM WITHOUT DOING THE COURSE?
No, students are required to attend the course before sitting for that unit’s exam.
WHAT HAPPENS IF I DON’T PASS THE FIRST UNIT EXAM (D1)?
You may still proceed to other units as long as you have taken the D1 exam. If you do not pass the exam you are able to schedule a retake, however, you do not have to wait until that retake before moving on to other units.
HOW MANY TIMES CAN I RESIT AN EXAM?
There are no limits on the number of retakes per unit.
CAN ACCOMMODATIONS BE MADE FOR ME IF I HAVE A PHYSICAL OR LEARNING DISABILITY THAT MAY IMPACT MY PERFORMANCE ON THE EXAM?
Yes, the WSET does allow accommodations on exams, usually in the form of extra time on the exam. Other accommodations are available as well on a case-by-case basis. You will need to provide written confirmation from a medical professional documenting the disability, which must be received by the WSET at the time of your initial Diploma registration.
Get the skills and support you need to suceed
INTRODUCING
Your instructor team for WSET level 4 diploma
Meet some of our superstar team, who are experts not only on the topics they’re teaching, but also experts on teaching.
Ken Shroeder
CS
“Five years ago I completed the WSET 3 at Napa Valley Wine Academy. I jumped into the certification program a bit on a whim, knew very little about wine and knew no one in the industry. At the time I was working for a software company in Toronto and lived a life on autopilot, commuting to a job that brought me little joy but a nice paycheck. After one year of saving, working 7 days a week in the office and as a restaurant server on the weekends, I finally quit my job and never really looked back. I’m currently completing the Level 4- Diploma. It’s exciting, It’s difficult. It’s super nerdy. But I like that. I got a lot of amazing people encouraging me along the way - great teachers, winemakers, writers, Masters of Wine - that are helping me train and are kind to let me taste with them Moral of the story: don’t work in tech. Just kidding!
Courses in Beer, Sake, & Spirits
Extra learning opportunities you won’t find anywhere else
- Weekly lessons for each unit with vocab lists, quizzes, mock exams and personalized feedback on practice exam questions
- Optional wine kits — taste exactly what the instructor is tasting, and don’t worry about sourcing wines yourself
- Tasting and theory workshops to help you master the WSET diploma exam approach
Direct access to wine industry experts
- 4 Master of Wine instructors
- 12 additional wine industry specialists as instructors
- 4 diploma-focused support staff
Flexible scheduling
- If you can’t make a live webinar, don’t worry! They are all recorded for later viewing.
- Multiple exam dates throughout the year for every unit
- Optional wine kits to help you calibrate your palate either live in class or when watching a class recording
- A support team that gives you options as you chart your way through the program
Have other questions? Still wondering if this program is right for you?
Schedule a call to speak with our Diploma Manager.
HOW WE’RE DIFFERENT
We’re premier, not pretentious
We design our programs for students, not snobs. We know wines are complex, but believe wine education should be approachable and fun. (There’s a reason our unique approach is winning awards.)
Award winning!
Helping enthusiasts and professionals become confident wine authorities.