Why I Did the WSET Diploma (and Why I Thought I’d Never Study Wine Again)

A little reminiscence of WSET while studying MW

I was still riding the high of passing WSET Level 3 when I made the impulsive (some might say reckless) decision to take on the Diploma. At the time (2015), I was still living in Bosnia - a country where international wines were practically mythical. If you think Burgundy is expensive; for me it was a fantasy. Because it didn’t even exist. The idea of drinking Grand Cru, let alone analyzing it for an exam, felt as realistic as training for the Olympics without ever stepping foot in a gym.

So why did I do it? Partially for the CV boost, sure. But mostly because I was bored. I craved a challenge - something to shake up the mental stagnation of being in a place where wine education didn’t really exist.

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Then reality hit.

I failed the tasting exam. Twice. Not because I didn’t try hard enough, but because I simply hadn’t tasted 90% of the world’s wines. How do you train for blind tasting when the most diverse selection of wine you have access to is your dad’s Italian collection? (Shoutout to him for always opening bottles, though.) With no formal tasting group, my only option was to show up to every single tasting opportunity I could find. Walk-in tastings, trade events, masterclasses - if someone was pouring wine, I was there.

D3 (the still wine exam) was, at the time, the hardest thing I had ever done in my life. Until I moved to Singapore. That was a wild ride to say the least (living through 4 different places and through 2 jobs in the span of 2 months, trying to get my shit together). Looking back, I realize that Diploma challenges weren’t just about theory or tasting - it was about adapting, pushing forward, and figuring things out with limited resources.

By the time I finished, I swore I would never study wine again. The burnout was real. But here we are, with me fully immersed in the Master of Wine journey. Turns out, curiosity (or maybe stubbornness) doesn’t just disappear.

Would I do it again? Absolutely. Would I do it differently? Maybe. But one thing’s for sure - this path isn’t just about getting a qualification for me. It’s about learning how to think, how to adapt, and how to stay relentless in a world that doesn’t always hand you things wrapped up in a perfect bow.

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5 Tips & Tricks for Surviving the WSET Diploma

1️⃣ Build a Tasting Network (Even If You Start Solo)

I had no formal tasting group. If you don’t either, find ways to taste more. Attend every masterclass, visit wine bars that offer by-the-glass pours, or even swap samples with other students online.

2️⃣ Don’t Overfocus on the Grape - Focus on the Wine

The biggest shift from Level 3 to Diploma is not memorizing textbook flavors but learning to describe what’s in your glass. Yes, you need to guess the grape correctly, but you also need to tie it with other aspects like viticulture and winemaking.

3️⃣ Learn to Write Under Pressure

The theory exams are brutal if you haven’t practiced writing structured answers in timed conditions. Break down essay questions using WSET’s “cause & effect” style, and practice timed writing regularly.

4️⃣ Taste with a Strategy, Not Just for Fun

Don’t just drink a wine and move on. Compare flights, analyze quality levels, and connect them to theory. If you taste a high-end Napa Cab, ask: How does this compare to a classified Bordeaux? If you drink an entry-level Riesling, consider: Why is this more affordable than GG status?

5️⃣ You Will Get It Wrong - That’s the Whole Point

I failed tasting twice. Most people fail something at Diploma level. Instead of spiraling, analyze your mistakes. Was it a structure misread? A lack of benchmark wines? A misjudged climate? Every mistake is data that improves your future calls.

At the end of the day, WSET Diploma isn’t just an exam - it’s a test of resilience. Stay curious, stay disciplined, and most importantly, don’t let failure stop you.

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As always, thanks for reading - stay thirsty, stay curious. If you would like to further support me, you can follow me on Instagram or LinkedIN.

Aleksandar