WSG Tasting Diploma

A solid understanding of wine is necessary; however, formal wine education is not required.

What is required is a deep passion for wine, openness to learning and critical thinking, a willingness to be challenged and a thirst for personal development.

This program is not designed for beginners. 

Most wine certifications focus on building technical accuracy—identifying grape varieties, regions, and structural components through standardized tasting methods. While this knowledge is important, it can lead to a mechanical approach that often overlooks the nuance, emotion, and meaning behind a wine.

The WSG Tasting Diploma takes a different path.

• It’s not about memorizing facts—it’s about deepening perception.
  You’ll develop a more intuitive and holistic tasting practice grounded in sensory science, critical thinking, and mindful observation.
• It challenges traditional frameworks.
  Instead of rigid tasting grids and formulaic notes, you’ll learn to interpret wine in context—considering origin, intent, emotion, and typicity.
• It’s multidisciplinary and forward-looking.
  Your educators include not only Masters of Wine and sommeliers, but also neuroscientists, writers, and cultural thinkers. This diversity fuels a richer exploration of what wine means, not just what it tastes like.
• It’s designed to evolve your voice as a taster.
  The goal isn’t just to evaluate wine—it’s to communicate its essence with clarity, confidence, and authenticity.

If you’re looking for a program that sharpens both your palate and your perspective, the WSG Tasting Diploma offers a truly distinctive alternative.

Knowing the major grape varieties, the fundamentals of viticulture and winemaking.

The course builds upon existing technical understanding to develop deeper sensory and critical analysis skills, with a strong emphasis on communication and evaluation. 

By completing the WSG Tasting Diploma, you will emerge with:

• Enhanced sensory perception: Taste with greater depth and nuance.
• Holistic understanding: Connect taste with a wine's origin and maker’s intent.
• Confident communication: Speak about wine authentically and vividly. Adaptive tasting skills: Evaluate any wine, in any style, with clarity. Renewed enjoyment: Rediscover the joy of tasting through mindful practice.
• Exposure to exceptional wines: Taste a selection of remarkable wines that embody authentic expression.
• Self-awareness as a taster: Understand your unique tasting style and how to trust your perception.
• Refined tasting ability: Articulate the subtle differences between similar wines (e.g., comparing five top Alsatian Rieslings, beyond just technical descriptors like "floral" and "high acid").
• A vibrant community: Join the WSG Tasting Diploma network, a global group of like-minded wine enthusiasts. 

The WSG Tasting Diploma equips you with advanced tasting skills, a deep understanding of wine’s origins, and the ability to communicate about wine with authenticity and clarity. By mastering these skills, you’ll be prepared to take on more advanced roles in wine education, wine buying, sales, and communication. This program also connects you with a network of industry professionals, opening doors for career advancement and new opportunities within the wine world

Upon graduating, you will receive:

• WSG Tasting Diploma certificate (digital & printable)
• WSG Tasting Diploma lapel pin (for purchase)
• Access to the program’s global alumni community

Yes, the Paris Summit is required. It’s a pivotal moment of the program, reinforcing your past and upcoming learning. The summit also includes a mid-term theory and tasting exam. It’s a vital experience to strengthen your skills and connect with fellow students as well as your teachers. It’s also an outstanding networking opportunity that should not be missed.  

TBD

Authentic wines of place allow you to connect with the true essence of wine—its origins, culture, and the people who craft it. By exploring these wines, you move beyond standardized, mass-produced options to taste the diversity and depth of wines that truly reflect their terroir.  

No, tasting wine is an essential part of the WSG Tasting Diploma. The program is designed to develop your sensory perception and tasting skills, which are central to understanding and communicating wine. While a significant part of the program is online, we provide tasting exercises and encourage students to taste as much as possible, form tasting groups, and engage in real-world tasting experiences. This hands-on approach is necessary to fully grasp the concepts and pass the program.

A list of suggested wines will be provided. This list is flexible and will allow for people in all markets to be able to purchase the appropriate wines.

Graduating from the WSG Tasting Diploma is a key prerequisite for teaching the upcoming WSG Tasting Certificate program, but it is not the only requirement. We seek educators who not only have deep knowledge and expertise but also a passion for sharing that knowledge with others. Additional training and certification may be required to ensure that all instructors are aligned with WSG's educational standards and approach. 

Standardized frameworks rely on fixed categories and predictable profiles. This leads to rote memorization, oversimplified and outdated stereotypes, many of which no longer reflect the wines made and enjoyed now.

At WSG, we believe tasting deserves to be reconnected to both the soul of the wine and the soul of the taster. Our ambition is to close the critical gaps left open by traditional, rigid methods by bringing tasting back to life—making it dynamic, meaningful, communicative and profoundly human.

Read more about the philosophy and motivation behind the WSG Tasting Diploma course.