A Year of Highlights and Opportunities 

Woman in a stripped shirt smiling standing in front of a wall of graffiti.

IWEG’s academic year has been packed full of opportunities to learn new things, connect with one another and celebrate alumni achievements. As we head into the fall for a new year of accomplishments, here’s a recap of some of the ways the IWEG community achieved and recognized their personal and professional goals:

  • Introduced 1,130 students to our new online learning management system
  • Celebrated 21 new WSET Diploma graduates
  • Offered the Italian Wine Scholar Essentials course to employees of the Terroni Group
  • Celebrated IWEG instructor Carrie Rau DipWSET on her Taylor’s Port Golden Vines Diversity Scholarship and Master of Wine journey
  • Awarded 20 LCBO Spirit of Inclusion scholarships
  • Congratulated IWEG instructor Michael Tremblay DipWSET on his James Beard Book Award
  • Held 61 in-person exams and countless remote invigilation exams
  • Hosted 11 masterclasses with our generous sponsors
  • Embarked on a field trip to Niagara wineries with new Diploma students
  • Relaunched critical WSET training for hospitality organizations in Toronto, Ottawa, Prince Edward County, Sudbury and Kingston
  • Relaunched our partnership with the Wine Academy for WSET Level 2 Award in Wines
  • Provided WSET training to employees of Alcool NB Liquor
  • Introduced the LCBO Education Incentive Program for employees who do not qualify for the Tuition Assistance Program
  • Awarded scholarships and grants through Vinequity and the Grape Witches Grant
  • Renewed our membership with Drinks Ontario and became a member of Ontario Craft Wineries
  • Sent 52 newsletter updates and countless social media posts

With over 40 years of operation, IWEG is a not-for-profit organization made up of a community of professionals and enthusiasts connected by our passion for wine, spirits, sake and beer education. This fall, join our community.

WSET Level 4 Diploma in Wines

The market-leading WSET Level 4 Diploma in Wines qualification provides expert level knowledge and develops key analytical skills for success in the global wine business. Perfect for both the trade professional and the serious enthusiast, the course will arm you with specialist-level skills and experience, plus international recognition as an expert in the field of wine.

Holders of the Diploma will be able to identify characteristics of the principal wines of the world, make informed assessments of a product’s quality and value, and identify appropriate opportunities for the products within a given market. 

Graduates will be equipped with the knowledge and skills to underpin the job requirements in such roles as Food & Beverage Manager, Wine Buyer or Sales Executive.

The Diploma fulfills the prerequisite for the wine qualification requirement for entry to the Master of Wine (MW) program.

To enroll in the Diploma, you must have successfully completed the WSET Level 3 Award in Wines (previously known as the WSET Level 3 Award in Wines and Spirits or WSET Advanced Certificate). If your first language is not English, you are strongly recommended to have an IELTS score of 6.5 or above or be able to demonstrate an equivalent ability level.

The 2023-25 in-class program in Toronto will start on Wednesday, August 23rd, 2023 at IWEG, 211 Yonge Street, Suite 501. Learn more.

The 2023-25 online program will start on Monday, October 2nd, 2023. Learn more.

The IWEG experience

As the leading organization in wine, spirits and sake education in Canada, IWEG has offered the WSET Level 4 Diploma since 1988.

Our Diploma graduates over the years have gone on to become vital members of the wine and spirits industry in Canada and worldwide. IWEG holds the record for having the largest amount of Diploma graduates in Canada!

IWEG has been offering Diploma studies for longer than any institute outside of the WSET School in London, which means we enjoy a long history of student success. Our passionate and highly qualified Diploma educators, who come from different fields within the trade, provide on-going support to help you master the analytical tasting skills and supplemental theoretical knowledge necessary to succeed.

Climats of Burgundy with John Szabo

Image of a Burgundy vineyard in the background with a headshot of a man in navy blue suit. The text reads IWEG signature series masterclass: Climats of Burgundy with John Szabo, MS.

Climats of Burgundy with John Szabo

With the support of the Bourgogne Wine Board (BIVB), join Master Sommelier and IWEG visiting instructor John Szabo for an evening of tasting and exploration focusing on the climats of Burgundy. The masterclass will take place on Thursday, September 28th, 2023 at 6pm – 8pm. Sign up now!

Master Sommelier John Szabo was the first Canadian to add the “MS” after his name in 2004. He holds the international Wine & Spirits Education Trust Diploma with honours, as well as the Canadian Sommelier Guild diploma. He’s principal critic for WineAlign.com, Canada’s premiere wine resource, and co-host and producer of the podcast Wine Thieves with a global following in the trade. He writes a monthly wine advisory for Canaccord Genuity, a global financial services management company headquartered in Canada, as well as a column for Grapevine Magazine, and contributes to many international trade and consumer publications. He’s currently co-writing on a book on wine chemistry.

On the consulting side, John builds wine programs across Canada, and is currently sourcing wines for Accor/Fairmont/Sofitel Hotels in Québec. He is a regular guest speaker at events worldwide and has delivered masterclasses for virtually every major wine trade associations and has taught countless wine courses over the years, among others, for the CMS and IWEG. He has travelled to virtually every wine producing country on earth in pursuit of fine wine and to keep on top of this fascinating industry, including two visits to New Zealand. In his spare time, he tends to his new vineyard in Prince Edward County.

Develop a Broader and Deeper Understanding of Wine

WSET Level 3 Award in Wines is an advanced-level course is for industry professionals as well as dedicated enthusiasts who want to develop a broader and deeper understanding of wine. You’ll have a thorough understanding of grape growing and wine making and the factors that account for the style, quality and price of the principal still, sparkling and fortified wines of the world. You’ll learn how to use your tasting notes to make objective conclusions on a wine’s style, quality and readiness for drinking.

This 40-hour course provides in-depth and detailed understanding of how human and natural factors in vineyard and winery affect wine style, quality and price. It further develops systematic tasting and description skills. Expect to spend 50 hours of preparation and review outside of the classroom.

You’ll learn:

  • Grape varieties, wines and wine-growing regions in detail
  • The key factors in the production of wine: location, grape growing, winemaking, maturation and bottling
  • How these key factors influence the key characteristics of the principal still wines of the world, sparkling wines of the world and fortified wines of the world
  • How to apply your understanding to explain wine style and quality
  • How to make appropriate wine recommendations
  • How to taste wines, describe their characteristics and evaluate their quality, using the WSET Level 3 Systematic Approach to Tasting Wine® (SAT)

WSET Level 3 Award in Wines 
Date: Wednesdays, August 30th – December 13th at 6pm – 8pm