Starting August 2025, George Brown College will offer the WSET Level 4 diploma in Wines – an expert-level qualification covering all aspects of wine. This follows the opening of another Toronto-based diploma center in November 2024, run by WSET approved course provider Fine Vintage. This approval comes 14 years after the institution first began delivering diploma courses in Vancouver, B.C., and Calgary. These new openings bring WSET’s total number of diploma centers to 42 worldwide, across 20 countries, including Canada, Australia, Japan and South Africa.

“We’re delighted to welcome the two new WSET diploma centers in Toronto into our network,” said Rachel Webster, WSET’s global app development director. “Becoming a diploma center is a tremendous achievement for any WSET course provider and follows a highly rigorous approval process that takes many months. WSET’s challenging, but highly rewarding diploma course enables students to gain specialist-level skill and in-depth knowledge about wines, as well as develop excellent research and analytical abilities, both transferrable skills are beneficial for career development.”

WSET has a global diploma alumni community of more than 14,000 graduates. Many of them travel to London for the annual graduation ceremony, a prestigious event held at the historic Guildhall in the City of London. The diploma is the highest qualification in wine awarded by WSET and the prerequisite for entry into the Masters of Wine (MW) program.

Building on the knowledge and skills gained from the WSET Level 3 Award in Wines, the Diploma deepens students’ understanding of how and why wine production and business factors influence the style, quality, and price of wines. Successful graduates acquire exceptional analytical skills and proficiency in evaluative wine tasting, gaining global recognition as authoritative wine specialists. Most students take between 12 and 24 months to complete the course.

“We are delighted to bring a high quality diploma program to Toronto with options to enroll in the full program or take the course unit by unit,” said James Cluer, MW and owner of Fine Vintage. “Fine Vintage is known for expert instructors and outstanding tastings, with a long history of high pass rates and 10 years of experience running the Diploma in Canada.”

Early applications are encouraged for the inaugural cohort at George Brown College. WSET Level 3 Award in Wines is a required prerequisite. A webinar will be held on 15 April 2025 for prospective students to learn more about the program structure and application process. Prospective students may also register for Fine Vintage’s Diploma program, which starts in July in Toronto and can be taken as a full program or on a unit-by-unit basis.