It’s Back to School with IWEG

The Online 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 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.

Discover the Wines of Portugal

Bottle of wine on a pile of books with a backpack and blackboard in the background. The bottle says wines of Portugal. The blackboard says Portuguese 101, saude! and ola!

Become a Wines of Portugal Ambassador! This ViniPortugal course covers fundamental knowledge about Portuguese wine. Explore the history, taste a variety of wine styles, and develop your knowledge of the native grape varietals of this great winemaking region.

This 3-hour course is ideal for trade professionals seeking professional accreditation and Portuguese wine enthusiasts.

Discover the most important native grape varietals, understand traditional vinification systems, tour the unique sub-regions and taste a number of diverse wines showcasing Portugal’s diverse terroirs.

You will:

  • Develop an extensive knowledge of Portuguese wines
  • Be able to recognize the iconic wines, the famous fortified wines, the 10 main grape varieties, the typical blends and the contribution of each variety in the composition of the blend for wines of Portugal
  • Be able identify and know the main characteristics of the main regions (including Beira Interior and Azores)
  • Develop an in-depth knowledge on the harmonization of international gastronomy with Portuguese wines

Upon successful completion of a test, you will receive a certificate and the title of Wines of Portugal Ambassador.

The course is taught by ViniPortugal educator Michael Tremblay DipWSET.

Wines of Portugal Ambassador Course 
Date: Saturday September 16th, 2023 from 10:30am-1:30pm
Register Now!

Fundamental Product Knowledge and Systematic Tasting Skills

Woman wearing backpack scratching her head while staring at a wall of wine.

WSET Level 2 Award in Wines is an intermediate-level course for those entering a profession in the wine industry as well as for enthusiasts who wish to broaden their knowledge in a structured way. You’ll gain knowledge of the principal and regionally important grape varieties of the world, the regions in which they are grown and the styles of wine they produce. Through a combination of tasting and theory, you’ll explore the factors that impact style and quality and learn how to describe these wines with confidence.

This 17-hour course provides fundamental product knowledge and systematic tasting skills. Expect to spend 11 hours on preparation and review outside of the classroom.

You’ll learn:How to taste and describe wine using the WSET Level 2 Systematic Approach to Tasting Wine®(SAT)How environmental factors, grape-growing, winemaking and maturation options influence the style and quality of wines made from eight principal grape varietiesThe style and quality of winesKey labelling terms used to indicate origin, style and qualityPrinciples and processes involved in the storage and service of winePrinciples of food and wine pairingWSET Level 2 Award in Wines
Date: Tuesdays, September 12th – October 31st at 6pm – 8pm
Register Now!

Factors that Account for the Style, Quality and Price of Wine

Woman in pink blazer with a big smile holding up a glass of red wine to her face.

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: Saturdays and Sundays, September 30th – October 29th at 10:30am – 4pm
Register Now!

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.

Let’s Talk About… Yeast

Yeast is a single-celled organism which feeds on sugar, producing alcohol, carbon dioxide, heat and flavour compounds in return. There are many species of yeast existing in nature but the species used in distilling is saccharomyces cerevisiae. So, what does a yeast cell look like? This blog post from the Edinburgh Whisky Academy explains the eight key elements of a typical yeast cell.