WSET Level 4 Diploma in Wines Online Course
WSET Level4 Diploma： January 2026 Start／2026年1月スタート
The application for the WSET Diploma in Wines Online Course due to start on January 2026 will open in September 2025.
2026年1月開講予定のWSET Diploma in Winesオンラインコースの申込受付は、2025年9月に開始されます。
About the Diploma Online Course
The Diploma is delivered in six mandatory units. All units must be successfully completed to achieve the WSET Diploma. D1 and D2 must be studied at the beginning of a Diploma programmes and the D1 exam sat first. Upon registration in Tokyo, student’s will receive an e-mail from WSET London directly with instructions to participate in WSET’s online classroom.
Duration of the course(D1 to D5) is about one year and a half, Caplan provide the two online courses in a year which starts from January and June every year. Note that all examinations will be held in Tokyo.
Although there are no set times to log into the course, the individual units follows a weekly structure and it is important that the students keep up with the work set for that week. The educator is not obliged to assess work if the student falls behind. The individual units are designed to progressively build upon knowledge gained from the previous weeks, so the student should not skip ahead.
The online units are guided by a WSET educator. The student can contact the educator any time for the duration of the scheduled course, should they have any questions. Each unit includes a series of independent and/or group activities that require you to look in depth at the wine industry, applying subject knowledge and professional skills to analyse key issues. Each unit also includes a feedback test or tests depending on the unit e.g. D1 and D2 have one feedback test. D3 includes 10 theory feedback tests and 4 tasting feedback tests; D4 and D5 have one theory feedback test and one tasting feedback test.
Diploma Online Course（Starts from June 2025）
Scheduled for
June 2025 – October 2026(D1) – 02/06/2025 – 13/07/2025
(D2) – 24/11/2025 – 04/01/2026
(D5) – 12/01/2026 – 15/02/2026
(D4) – 02/03/2026 – 05/04/2026
(D3) – 20/04/2026 – 04/10/2026
(D6) 【Submissions twice a year, January and July】- The dates above are only from the draft schedule, so are subject to change. By enrolling, you declare to accept the dates as they are when they are confirmed. No rescheduling will be allowed.※
- Students are advised to taste a range of wines during their studies. A list of recommended tasting samples can be found in the Specification.
Tutorial Programme and D1 Examination
A 2-day tasting tutorial introducing the Level 4 tasting technique will be offered by Caplan. Each examination will be held at Caplan (not online).
On the day of the D1 exam, as well as the following day (2 days total), an in-class tutorial programme is scheduled to provide instructions and tasting practice, offering guidance for your subsequent units of study involving tasting. This programme is compulsory for all Diploma candidates. It will be instructed in English by a certified WSET instructor and Diploma holder from our school.
Enrollment in the Tutorial Program and in the D1 exam is mandatory. Please be sure to come on those days. You cannot take any other Unit unless you first sit the D1 exam.
Tutorial Programme
Online
① June 10th 2025 (TUE) 19：00～20：30
② June 17th 2025 (TUE) 19：00～20：00Classroom
September 27th (SAT) ～ 28th (SUN) 2025 [2 days]
D1 Examination
September 27th 2025 (SAT）10：30～12：00
- The D1 exam will be conducted on the first day of the tutorial (in the morning)
WSET Level4 Diploma in Wines (WSET Official HP)
Entry requirements
- Must hold a WSET Level 3 Award in Wines or Level 3 Award in Wines and Spirits.
- Must possess basic PC skills (Internet literacy).
- A recommended English proficiency level is IELTS 6.5 or higher (equivalent to a TOEIC score of 820 or above).
- You will be responsible for setting up the online study environment, such as the Online Classroom and eBook (Digital Study Materials). You will also need to handle communication with the tutor and technical matters on your own. Please ensure that you have a basic level of PC skills (Internet literacy) and sufficient English proficiency.
Application deadline
June 2025 Start (June 2nd））May 11th, 2025 (SUN)
Study Materials
All study materials for the WSET Level4 Diploma are available online via the WSET’s digital education learning management system. No hard copy materials for Level4 Diploma.
Candidates will pay a candidate registration fee which will give them access to the WSET Diploma Online Classroom(Canvas). Access will be for an initial three-year period, matching the current registration period.
Diploma Examination
Candidates need to apply for each examination except the first D1 exam attempt.
Learning Outcomes
【D1】 Wine Production（Weighting: 20%）
Learning Outcome1
Understand what the vine requires to produce and ripen grapes for wine production and how the growing environment influences the vines’s ability to produce and ripen grapes.
Learning Outcome2
Understand grape growing options.
Learning Outcome3
Understand winemaking options and how they influence the style, quality and price of wines.
【D2】 Wine Business（Weighting: 10%）
Learning Outcome1
Understand the factors that contribute to the price of wine.
Learning Outcome2
Understand the types of businesses engaged in the production of wine and options for getting wine to the point of sale.
Learning Outcome3
Understand key consideration in wine marketing.
【D3】 Wines of the World（Weighting: 50%）
Learning Outcome1
Understand how the growing environment, grape growing options, winemaking options, wine law and regulation, and wine business influence the style, quality and price of the principal wines of the world.
Learning Outcome2
Demonstrate the ability to taste and evaluate wines from the principal wine regions accurately.
【D4】 Sparkling Wines（Weighting: 5%）
Learning Outcome1
Understand how the growing environment, grape growing options, winemaking options, industry associations and labelling terms, and wine business influence the style, quality and price of the principal sparkling wines of the world.
Learning Outcome2
Demonstrate the ability to taste and evaluate sparkling wines accurately.
【D5】 Fortified Wines（Weighting: 5%）
Learning Outcome1
Understand how the growing environment, grape growing options, winemaking options, industry associations and labelling terms, and wine business influence the style, quality and price of the principal fortified wines of the world.
Learning Outcome2
Demonstrate the ability to taste and evaluate fortified wines accurately.
【D6】Independent Research Assignment（Weighting: 10%）
Learning Outcome1
Research a specified wine-related subject.
Course fee
【Existing Caplan Wine Academy students】Total: 565,400 yen (with tax）
【New Caplan Wine Academy students】Total: 570,900 yen (with tax）
※ Includes a 5,500 yen administration fee for new students
Diploma Candidate Registration fee
for 3 years85,000 yen（93,500 yen with tax）
- Valid for 3 (three) years. Includes digital study materials fee
D1(Wine Production) Exam fee
25,000 yen（27,500 yen with tax）
Online Course fee
335,000 yen（368,500 yen with tax）
Tutorial Programme fee
69,000 yen（75,900 yen with tax）
Exam fees
Please apply to the certification exams separately for each unit.
Concerning refunds
Please check the “Caplan Wine Academy Terms and Conditions WSET® Level 4 Diploma in Wine”
Caplan Wine Academy Terms and Conditions WSET® Level 4 Diploma in Wine
Apply for the Diploma Online Course
IMPORTANT: please complete the application form below BEFORE processing the payment
We will need your “Candidate Number” which can be found on the letter when you received your Level 3 Certificate. Please confirm it yourself.
- Students attending for the first time a course at Caplan Wine Academy need to pay 5,500 yen for registration, tax included. Also we ask you to create your new account(new membership registration for Caplan）when you apply from the link below.
Application deadline： May 11th 2025 (SUN)
Application has been closed
- Previous Schedules
January 2025 Start
(D1) – 06/01/2025 – 16/02/2025
(D2) – 07/04/2025 – 18/05/2025
(D4) – 14/07/2025 – 17/08/2025
(D5) – 18/08/2025 – 21/09/2025
(D3) – 27/10/2025 – 12/04/2026
(D6) 【Submissions twice a year, January and July】
June 2024 Start
(D1) – 03/06/2024 – 14/07/2024
(D2) – 12/08/2024 – 22/09/2024
(D4) – 04/11/2024 – 08/12/2024
(D5) – 13/01/2025 – 16/02/2025
(D3) – 21/04/2025 – 05/10/2025
(D6) 【Submissions twice a year, January and July】
January 2024 Start
(D1) – 08/01/2024 – 18/02/2024
(D2) – 04/04/2024 – 19/05/2024
(D4) – 15/07/2024 – 18/08/2024
(D5) – 19/08/2024 – 22/09/2024
(D3) – 28/10/2024 – 14/04/2025
(D6) 【Submissions twice a year, January and July】
June 2023 Start
(D1) – 05/06/2023 – 16/07/2023
(D2) – 14/08/2023 – 24/09/2023
(D4) – 06/11/2023 – 10/12/2023
(D5) – 15/01/2024 – 18/02/2024
(D3) – 22/04/2024 – 06/10/2024
(D6) 【Submissions twice a year, January and July】
おすすめ講座
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Level 4
オンラインDiploma Study Session vol.90 －山田編－【D1】
【特別講座】8/26（火）19：00～20：30
Diplomaコースに入られて初めて受ける試験がD1(Wine Production)です。試験は全て英語での記述式となりますので、どのように書いたら良いのか不安に思われる方も少なからずいらっしゃると思います。 -
Level 4
東京Diploma D2 受験準備対策 Wine Business解説講座［全2回］
【特別講座】8/30（土）・9/6（土）13:30-15:30
初歩的なビジネス領域（ミクロ経済学、マーケティング、ファイナンス、経営戦略等）が苦手なDiploma 受験生もいらっしゃると思いますので、具体例を踏まえ難しい話は抜きにして、分かりやすく説明し、答案の作成方法も解説します。尚、当日はD2テキストをお持ちください（PC,タブレットなどでもOK）。 -
Level 4
オンラインDiploma Study Session vol.91 －吉村編－
【特別講座】9/8（月）19：00～20：30
日本においても人気の高い白ワイン、シャブリ。Diploma現役受験生のための勉強会です。Diploma Holderの講師が毎回さまざまなテーマで講義を展開しています。現在D3試験準備中の方、またDiplomaをスタートしたばかりの方にも最適な講座です。 -
Level 4
オンラインDiploma Study Session vol.89 －門川編2－【7月のD6】
【特別講座】6/24（火）19：00～20：30
本講座は7月末提出締め切りのD6対策のための講座です。D6は、Research Assignmentで、他の5つのユニットとは大きく異なります。本講座では、D6への取り組み方を前半部分で解説します。特に、普段論文を書いたことのない人向けに、D6でどのようなスタイルで論文を書くかについて解説します。 -
Level 4
東京Diploma D5 Fortified Wines 試験対策セミナー
【特別講座】9/7（日）10：30～16：30
Diploma D5（フォーティファイド ワイン）認定試験に向け 対策セミナーを開催します。 新しいSpecificationが公表され、試験範囲、試験時間、出題方法、ＳＡＴが変更されています。D5はDiploma受験の中でも、早いタイミングで受験される科目であることから、勉強方法がまだ確立していない受験生が多いと思われます。本対策セミナーで何を準備するか？どう対策を立てるか？を効率的に学ぶ事を主眼として進めていきます。 -
Level 4
東京Argentina Wine Masterclass for WSET Diploma candidates
10/1（WED）19：00～21：00
Join us for a focused masterclass on Argentine wine, tailored for WSET Diploma candidates and advanced enthusiasts. Explore Argentina’s wine identity through history, key regions (Mendoza, Salta, Patagonia), and terroir factors like altitude and soils.
We’ll cover Malbec, Torrontés, Cabernet Franc, criollas, and winemaking trends such as amphorae and minimal intervention.