Become an Authority in Wine with the WSET Level 4 Diploma.
Everything you need to prepare for, execute and excel at this rigorous certification.
- Strategies for success on tasting and Diploma theory exams
- Optional wine kits for palate calibration with instructors
- Flexibility to accommodate busy schedules
WSET Global Wine Educator
of the Year — 2016 & 2019
WSET Approved Programme Provider
Four Masters of Wine on faculty
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.
Evidence
What is our WSET Diploma pass rate?
WSET does not publish per-provider Diploma pass rates, and most providers publish nothing at all. We publish ours with the denominator so you can judge it for yourself.
A minimum of a pass is required in every one of the six units. Grades are Pass at 55–64%, Pass with Merit at 65–74%, and Pass with Distinction at 75% or above. There is no limit on the number of attempts.
Interested in learning more?
Our Diploma Manager explains how the program works
Noelle Hale walks through how the six units fit together, what a typical study week looks like, and how our online classroom supports you between live classes.
Why us
Why study for your WSET Level 4 Diploma with us?
Live webinar access
Live, instructor-led webinars with recordings available for later viewing.
Interactive online classroom
Proprietary classroom with vocab lists, quizzes, mock exams and pointers for understanding exam questions.
Expert industry instructors
Masters of Wine, winemakers, Diploma graduates and other industry leaders.
Personalised answer feedback
Individual feedback from instructors on your mock exam answers.
Flexible format
Evening classes, all recorded, built around people already working in the trade.
Dedicated support team
A student support team to help you chart your way through the program.
Students since 2020
More than 421 Diploma students have studied with us since 2020.
Graduates
Hear from our graduates
"I loved studying the WSET Level 4 Diploma in Wine at NVWA for its framework, its access to rich web-based material, and its commendable efforts in maintaining an up-to-date curriculum using authoritative sources… The academy brings in professionals at the top of the industry, like Nova Cadamatre, Peter Marks, and Mary Margaret McCamic. I feel like NVWA has given me the confidence and education I need to take the next step, which for me is MW."
"Studying for WSET Level 4 together at Napa Valley Wine Academy was more than just an educational journey — it was a transformative experience for both of us… Every module was thoughtfully structured, the sessions well-paced, and the curriculum perfectly aligned with what we needed to succeed."
"My experience over the last few years with NVWA has been exceptional — engaging classes led by top industry professionals, thought-provoking webinars, and immense academic resources that helped me pass WSET Levels 2, 3 and Diploma."
"Hands down the best WSET prep option you'll find anywhere. The instruction is top-notch. I've had the privilege of learning under five different instructors and all of them bring a deep understanding of the wine industry."
How it works
How the WSET Level 4 Diploma works
The Diploma has six units. D1 must be taken first, followed by D2. Once you have sat the D1 and D2 exams — you don't need your results back — you can take the other units in any order.
Results take around three months to come back from marking at WSET London. Progression depends on having sat the exam, not on holding the result. A candidate who believes otherwise can lose an entire term.
You can technically run D3, D4, D5 and D6 concurrently, but we don't recommend it. Students who take on more than one unit at a time frequently end up resitting at least one exam.
The qualification
The six units of the WSET Level 4 Diploma
Five units are assessed by examination and one by a 3,000-word research paper. All teaching is online; every examination is sat in person in Napa, California.
D1 · Wine Production
20%$1,197How decisions in the vineyard and the winery shape a wine's style, quality and price. Eight live Zoom classes of two hours, Thursdays 5–7 PM Pacific, across roughly nine weeks — all recorded.
Exam: 90-minute closed-book open-response paper. No multiple choice, no tasting. · Requires: a pass in WSET Level 3 Award in Wines.
D2 · Wine Business
10%$849Pricing, the businesses engaged in production and distribution, routes to market, and marketing. Four live Zoom classes of two hours, every other Wednesday, with the exam about two weeks after the final class.
Exam: 60-minute open-response paper, offered five times across the cycle — more often than any other unit. · Requires: having sat D1.
D3 · Wines of the World
50%$2,650Half the entire qualification. Still wines of France, Germany, Austria, Hungary, Greece, Italy, Spain, Portugal, the USA, Canada, Chile, Argentina, South Africa, Australia, New Zealand and China. Fifteen Saturday webinars, including mock theory and mock tasting exams.
Exam: two consecutive days — a two-part theory paper of 3 hours 20 minutes, then a blind tasting of 12 wines across two papers totalling 3 hours. · Requires: D1 and D2.
D4 · Sparkling Wines
5%$997Sparkling wines of France, Germany, Italy, Spain, the UK, the USA, South America, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand. Four live sessions.
Exam: single 90-minute paper — open-response questions plus a blind tasting of three sparkling wines. · Requires: D1 and D2.
D5 · Fortified Wines
5%$997Sherry, Port, Madeira, Vins Doux Naturels and Rutherglen Muscat. Six live sessions, Wednesdays 5–7 PM Pacific.
Exam: single 90-minute paper — open-response questions plus a blind tasting of three fortified wines. · Requires: D1 and D2.
D6 · Independent Research Assignment
10%$445A 3,000-word research paper on a topic set by WSET. No scheduled classes — we provide an online resource module including distinction-level example papers.
Deadlines: two topic briefs released each year on 1 August, with submissions due the following 31 January and 31 July.
Cost
How much does the WSET Diploma cost?
Each unit price includes tuition, study materials, digital textbook access and your examination fee. Optional wine kits are available for D1, D3, D4 and D5. Also plan for exam resit fees and travel to Napa for each in-person examination.
Time
How long does the WSET Diploma take?
WSET sets the Total Qualification Time at 500 hours — 128 guided learning hours, of which 11 hours and 50 minutes are examinations, plus a minimum of 372 hours of private study.
Plan on roughly three months of study each for D1, D2, D4, D5 and D6, and at least six months for D3. The Diploma cannot be completed in 12 months, because of how WSET schedules the unit exams. The minimum realistic timeline is 18 months; the average is two to two and a half years.
Schedule
NVWA's annual rolling WSET Diploma schedule
When each unit runs and when its examination falls, across a typical year. Click any unit for exact dates and to register.
| Unit | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| D1 Wine Production | Starts | Exam | Starts | Exam | Starts | Exam | ||||||
| D2 Wine Business | StartsExam | Exam | Starts | Exam | Starts | Exam | ||||||
| D3 Wines of the World | Starts | Exam | StartsExam | |||||||||
| D4 Sparkling Wines | Exam | Starts | Exam | Starts | Exam | Starts | ||||||
| D5 Fortified Wines | Exam | Starts | Exam | Starts | Exam | Starts | ||||||
| D6 Research Assignment | Due | Due | Topics |
All exams must be taken in person in Napa.
Fit
Our WSET Level 4 Diploma is ideal for you if:
- You want to be recognised as an authoritative wine expert
- You need a flexible schedule with live and recorded webinars
- You want a school with a dedicated Diploma support team to help you navigate the program
- You want to learn from Masters of Wine, winemakers and Diploma graduates
- You're ready to invest in yourself and your future
Questions
Frequently asked questions
The nitty gritty
Do I need to hold WSET Level 3 before starting the Diploma?
Yes. WSET will not let you enrol in the Level 4 Diploma until you have officially received your pass grade for the WSET Level 3 Award in Wines.
I'm awaiting my Level 3 results and expect to pass — can I still register?
No. You must have received your Level 3 results before registering. A registration made before results are issued will be cancelled and the tuition refunded, less an administrative fee.
Can I take another unit before D1 Wine Production?
No. WSET requires you to sit the D1 exam before doing any other Diploma unit, and D2 must be taken after D1 before any others. Once you have sat D1 and D2, you may complete D3–D6 in any order.
Can I receive college credit for the Diploma?
No. 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 a professional certification.
Is it possible to finish the Diploma in 12 months?
No — it would be impossible to fit all the unit exams into 12 months given how WSET schedules them. The Diploma takes at least 18 months, and the average time to completion is two to two and a half years.
Exam questions
What happens if I can't make an exam date?
Exam dates are set globally by WSET headquarters, not by us, so they are not flexible. Registrations are due to WSET eight weeks before the exam. With less than eight weeks' notice you cannot opt out, except for documented medical or legal reasons. A missed exam counts as a non-attend, which is the same as a fail.
When are exams?
Exam dates and times for most units are set globally by WSET headquarters and fall on weekdays. D1 Wine Production is the only unit we are allowed to set dates for, which we can sometimes schedule on a Saturday or Sunday morning.
What happens if I don't pass the first unit exam (D1)?
You may still proceed to other units as long as you have sat the D1 exam. If you don't pass you can schedule a retake, and you don't have to wait for it before moving on.
How many times can I resit an exam?
There is no limit on the number of retakes per unit.
Can accommodations be made for a physical or learning disability?
Yes. WSET allows accommodations, usually as extra time, with others available case by case. You'll need written confirmation from a medical professional, which must reach WSET at the time of your initial Diploma registration.
Course questions
Are all classes online?
Yes. All Diploma classes are offered online only, with no in-person option. Each unit includes our proprietary online classroom with study resources, regular live Zoom classes, graded feedback on practice exam questions and mock exams.
How do I do tastings in the online classroom?
Live webinars cover the Diploma tasting method for every unit with a tasting component, and you can submit practice answers for grading. Either source wines yourself from our recommended list, or buy a wine kit and taste alongside the instructor during class.
What's in the wine kits?
Optional kits are available for D1, D3, D4 and D5. D1 holds 12 samples in 100 mL bottles; D3 around 102 samples shipped in three deliveries; D4 is 11 wines in a mix of 750 mL and half bottles, since sparkling wine can't be rebottled; D5 is 18 wines in 100 mL bottles.
Faculty
Your instructor team for the WSET Level 4 Diploma
Experts not only on the topics they teach, but on teaching. Four Masters of Wine, two MW candidates and six DipWSET holders. Every card links through to a full profile.
Have other questions? Still wondering if this program is right for you?
Schedule a call to speak with our Diploma Manager.