The Diploma Podcast

Episodes 10–12 form a complete, distinction-grade walkthrough of Vin Doux Naturels as assessed in the WSET Diploma D5 Fortified Wines unit. Episode 10 covers the growing environment and grape growing, explaining how warm Mediterranean climates, the Tramontane wind, grape variety choice, low yields, canopy management, and harvest timing work together to achieve high sugar levels while retaining aci...

Episodes 10–12 form a complete, distinction-grade walkthrough of Vin Doux Naturels as assessed in the WSET Diploma D5 Fortified Wines unit. Episode 10 covers the growing environment and grape growing, explaining how warm Mediterranean climates, the Tramontane wind, grape variety choice, low yields, canopy management, and harvest timing work together to achieve high sugar levels while retaining aci...

Episodes 10–12 form a complete, distinction-grade walkthrough of Vin Doux Naturels as assessed in the WSET Diploma D5 Fortified Wines unit. Episode 10 covers the growing environment and grape growing, explaining how warm Mediterranean climates, the Tramontane wind, grape variety choice, low yields, canopy management, and harvest timing work together to achieve high sugar levels while retaining aci...

These three episodes form a complete, distinction-grade walkthrough of Madeira as assessed in the WSET Diploma D5 Fortified Wines unit. Episode 7 focuses on the growing environment — climate, mesoclimates, soils, vineyard layouts, irrigation, yields, and grape varieties — and explains why acidity, not ripeness, is the central quality driver in Madeira. Episode 8 moves into winemaking, maturation,...

These three episodes form a complete, distinction-grade walkthrough of Madeira as assessed in the WSET Diploma D5 Fortified Wines unit. Episode 7 focuses on the growing environment — climate, mesoclimates, soils, vineyard layouts, irrigation, yields, and grape varieties — and explains why acidity, not ripeness, is the central quality driver in Madeira. Episode 8 moves into winemaking, maturation,...

These three episodes form a complete, distinction-grade walkthrough of Madeira as assessed in the WSET Diploma D5 Fortified Wines unit. Episode 7 focuses on the growing environment — climate, mesoclimates, soils, vineyard layouts, irrigation, yields, and grape varieties — and explains why acidity, not ripeness, is the central quality driver in Madeira. Episode 8 moves into winemaking, maturation,...

This episode is part of The Sommpour D5 Audible Cheat Sheet Series , created specifically for WSET Diploma candidates preparing for the Fortified Wines (D5) exam. These episodes are not introductions to fortified wines, and they are not region walkthroughs . They are methodical, exam-calibrated revision tools designed for on-the-go recall at distinction level . Each episode follows the logic of th...

This episode is part of The Sommpour D5 Audible Cheat Sheet Series , created specifically for WSET Diploma candidates preparing for the Fortified Wines (D5) exam. These episodes are not introductions to fortified wines, and they are not region walkthroughs . They are methodical, exam-calibrated revision tools designed for on-the-go recall at distinction level . Each episode follows the logic of th...

This episode is part of The Sommpour D5 Audible Cheat Sheet Series , created specifically for WSET Diploma candidates preparing for the Fortified Wines (D5) exam. These episodes are not introductions to fortified wines, and they are not region walkthroughs . They are methodical, exam-calibrated revision tools designed for on-the-go recall at distinction level . Each episode follows the logic of th...

This episode is part of The Sommpour D5 Audible Cheat Sheet Series , created specifically for WSET Diploma candidates preparing for the Fortified Wines (D5) exam. These episodes are not introductions to fortified wines, and they are not region walkthroughs . They are methodical, exam-calibrated revision tools designed for on-the-go recall at distinction level . Each episode follows the logic of th...

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thesommpour.substack.com/subscribe

This episode is part of The Sommpour D5 Audible Cheat Sheet Series , created specifically for WSET Diploma candidates preparing for the Fortified Wines (D5) exam. These episodes are not introductions to fortified wines, and they are not region walkthroughs . They are methodical, exam-calibrated revision tools designed for on-the-go recall at distinction level . Each episode follows the logic of th...

This episode is part of The Sommpour D5 Audible Cheat Sheet Series , created specifically for WSET Diploma candidates preparing for the Fortified Wines (D5) exam. These episodes are not introductions to fortified wines, and they are not region walkthroughs . They are methodical, exam-calibrated revision tools designed for on-the-go recall at distinction level . Each episode follows the logic of th...

This episode is part of The Sommpour D4 Audible Cheat-Sheet Series — a method-first revision sequence created for WSET Diploma candidates preparing for the D4 Sparkling Wines exam. These episodes are designed for on-the-go listening and focus exclusively on distinction-grade, examinable detail from the WSET D4 specification. Each episode walks through one production method in the order the exam re...

This episode is part of The Sommpour D4 Audible Cheat-Sheet Series — a method-first revision sequence created for WSET Diploma candidates preparing for the D4 Sparkling Wines exam. These episodes are designed for on-the-go listening and focus exclusively on distinction-grade, examinable detail from the WSET D4 specification. Each episode walks through one production method in the order the exam re...

This episode is part of The Sommpour D4 Audible Cheat-Sheet Series — a method-first revision sequence created for WSET Diploma candidates preparing for the D4 Sparkling Wines exam. These episodes are designed for on-the-go listening and focus exclusively on distinction-grade, examinable detail from the WSET D4 specification. Each episode walks through one production method in the order the exam re...

​This episode is part of The Sommpour D4 Audible Cheat-Sheet Series — a method-first revision sequence created for WSET Diploma candidates preparing for the D4 Sparkling Wines exam. These episodes are designed for on-the-go listening and focus exclusively on distinction-grade, examinable detail from the WSET D4 specification. Each episode walks through one production method in the order the exam r...

This episode is part of The Sommpour D4 Audible Cheat-Sheet Series — a method-first revision sequence created for WSET Diploma candidates preparing for the D4 Sparkling Wines exam. These episodes are designed for on-the-go listening and focus exclusively on distinction-grade, examinable detail from the WSET D4 specification. Each episode walks through one production method in the order the exam re...

This episode is part of The Sommpour D4 Audible Cheat-Sheet Series — a method-first revision sequence created for WSET Diploma candidates preparing for the D4 Sparkling Wines exam. These episodes are designed for on-the-go listening and focus exclusively on distinction-grade, examinable detail from the WSET D4 specification. Each episode walks through one production method in the order the exam re...

Editor’s Note This episode is part of The Sommpour D4 Audible Cheat-Sheet Series — a method-first revision sequence created for WSET Diploma candidates preparing for the D4 Sparkling Wines exam. These episodes are designed for on-the-go listening and focus exclusively on distinction-grade, examinable detail from the WSET D4 specification. Each episode walks through one production method in the ord...

In today’s episode we explored how a handful of key grape varieties — Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Riesling, Grenache, and Nebbiolo — interact with environment, soil, and winemaking to shape quality and style in D3 theory. We talked about how understanding those interactions — not just memorising traits — helps you connect vineyard decisions to wine outcomes with precision....

This episode is part of The Sunday Essay Club — On Air , where I take a real past WSET D3 theory question and talk through how to approach it calmly, clearly, and with structure. Today’s question is a past exam question from May 2022 , comparing Northern Rhône and South Australia , and focusing on how vineyard and winery factors contribute to high-quality Syrah / Shiraz . If you’re studying for D3...

You can read the full companion essay, “Reset: The Strategy We Forget to Study,” here: https://thesommpour.substack.com/p/reset-the-strategy-we-forget-to-study-f81 This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thesommpour.substack.com/subscribe

To join the Sunday Essay Club for weekly practice and personalized feedback, you can sign up here: https://forms.gle/1RpxQpaMPE4HHu8e6 This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thesommpour.substack.com/subscribe

If you’d like to explore this topic more deeply, this episode draws from two pieces in the D3 Ironclad Series — one on why medium (+) finishes can still support an Outstanding quality call, and another on the quiet artistry of how a finish evolves. You can read them here: When Medium (+) Finish Still Means Outstanding https://thesommpour.substack.com/p/when-medium-finish-still-means-outstanding-bc...