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UNIT D5: FORTIFIED WINES
This unit is a thorough review of the production techniques of the major types of Fortified wines, as well as an in-depth examination of the major producing countries and regions. Assessment is a 90-minute exam combining blind tasting and short answers.
Overview:
Add an immersive, two-day in-person workshop to your WSET Diploma Unit 5 online studies. Held on Saturday and Sunday, this workshop sharpens tasting skills and exam preparedness through structured guided tastings and mock theory questions, held at our Cambridge, MA location.
What You’ll Experience
1. Guided Tasting Sessions
Conduct multiple guided tastings of a curated selection of fortified wines.
Compare key styles—Port (Ruby, Tawny, Vintage), Sherry (Fino, Amontillado, Oloroso), Madeira, vin doux naturel, and more.
Identify typical fortification techniques, aromas, sweetness levels, and fortified wine maturation profiles.
Practice WSET-style tasting notes, honing descriptors and assessment accuracy under timed conditions.
2. Mock Theory Exam Practice
Tackle a set of mock short-answer questions replicating the exam format you'll face in October 2025.
Review your answers with peers and the instructor, receiving targeted feedback to sharpen both content knowledge and exam strategy.
Focus on key topics: production methods, regional regulations, historic context, and service recommendations.
3. Expert-Led Review Sessions
Led by an experienced accredited instructor, Erika Frey, who will reinforce production techniques, signature styles, and regional distinctions.
Integrate insights from the online course, bridging conceptual learning with sensory practice.
Develop techniques for answering exam-style short questions clearly and concisely.
4. Peer Collaboration & Discussion
Engage in roundtable discussions to compare tasting interpretations and theory answers.
Benefit from diverse perspectives as you learn from common missteps and practice identifying the varied expressions of wine characteristics.
Build confidence with your tasting notes and written theory answers.