Discover how Anne McHale MW and Alun Griffiths MW’s Wine Business Course can help you pass the challenging D2 module of the WSET Diploma.
Unlock the secrets to sitting the D2 Business Exam with confidence!
Read more about this three-part course below 👇
This course was originally recorded live in three 90-minute sessions via Zoom webinar but has been divided into easily digestible modules which you can access as BOTH a video course AND a private podcast feed to suit your learning style.
The course outline is below:
Part 1: Chapters 1 & 2 of the D2 Textbook
Module 1 – Past exam questions & outline of topics/questions to be covered in Part 1 of the course
Module 2 – Consequences to the market created by an over-supply of wine
Module 3 – Impact of currency fluctuations
Module 4 – Online vs. traditional retailers
Module 5 – Costs associated with the production of a super-premium brand of Cabernet Sauvignon
Module 6 – The effect of legislative measures on wine availability and pricing
Module 7 – Q&A/wrap-up
Part 2: Chapters 3-7 of the D2 Textbook
Module 1 – Introduction, past exam questions and topics/questions to be covered in Part 2 of the course
Module 2 – The evolution of the role of a traditional, large-scale Burgundy negociant
Module 3 – Options available to a Champagne grower
Module 4 – Choosing a distributor in an overseas market
Module 5 – Supermarket private label wines
Module 6 – Description vs. evaluation: a tutorial in exam technique
Module 7 – The advantages and disadvantages for large wineries of targeting supermarkets in export markets
Module 8 – Sales channels for super-premium Napa Cabernet
Module 9 – Homework/Q&A
Part 3: Chapters 8-14 of the D2 Textbook
Module 1 – Introduction, past exam questions & topics to be covered in Part 3 of the course (including bonus questions/optional homework!)
Module 2 – Decline of a brand’s life cycle
Module 3 – The identity of a brand and its rapport with consumers
Module 4 – Promoting a premium, low-volume wine
Module 5 – Advantages & disadvantages of different PR channels
Module 6 – Consumer segmentation
Module 7 – Social media platforms
Module 8 – Bonus questions/Q&A/wrap-up
🍷 Have you read the D2 chapter thoroughly, made detailed notes on it and recited it to yourself over and over again, but you STILL find it hard to remember it all?
🍷 Or perhaps you feel confident with the content, but you are still unsure as to whether or not you will answer the questions well in the exam?
🍷 OR…maybe you’ve already passed your D2 exam, but you could really do with a refresher to prepare you well for the business content of the D3, D4 and/or D5 modules.
🍷 Maybe you’ve even passed your WSET Diploma already and are now doing the MW, but could really do with a refresher on how the business of wine works, with the expertise of two MWs to guide you.
If any of the above describes you, you are NOT ALONE. Although the D2 textbook is really comprehensive, it’s very theoretical and it can be hard to make it come alive, especially if you’ve never worked in the business side of the wine industry.
These challenges are exactly what Anne and Alun’s Wine Business Course are all about.
In these classes, we cover:
👉🏻 Strategic tips for approaching D2-style exam questions
👉🏻 The key concepts of wine business, including factors which affect the price of wine, types of business, sales channels, distribution and marketing
👉🏻 Real-life examples from Alun’s decades of experience working in the heart of the commercial wine world and as a former MW business theory examiner. These will help the content come alive for you!
🍷 Many of the concepts covered will have application across exam questions for the WSET Diploma D3, D4 and D5 modules as well as for the Master of Wine theory papers.
All the modules are packed with great content!
Meet your tutor: Alun Griffiths MW
Alun has more than 40 years’ experience in the wine trade.
He spent his early years in retail, wholesale and on-premise businesses before being appointed Wine Buyer for Fortnum & Mason, and then for Harrods, before becoming Wine Director at Berry Bros and Rudd for ten years, covering the UK, Asia and Ireland.
His chief areas of expertise lie in purchasing (with extensive experience of the Rhône and Bordeaux markets), education and hospitality. In 2013, he became International Director of the Vats Group in China with a mission to help inspire the young generation of Chinese wine lovers with a passion for fine wine.
Alun retired from international business in April 2020 and now consults from his UK base. He has also recently finished several years as a Theory examiner for the Master of Wine Business paper.
Secure your seat for only £127 for 4.5 hours’ worth of high-quality teaching
£30 discount for Diplomatherapy members – code has been posted in the Diplomatherapy Circle forum
Praise for Alun’s teaching
Alun has collaborated with Anne before on her D3 Guest Expert Series of online masterclasses as well as on this D2 course. Read what D2 students as well as previous D3 students had to say about his classes:
‘Thoroughly enjoyed this course. I was having trouble making sense of the text and it was keeping me from progressing with the rest of the Diploma. The three 90-minute sessions were very conclusive and made many concepts easier to understand. Alun is a great communicator and his expertise with wine business was obvious. Anne included important exam techniques as a bonus.
The course helped me so much and made me want to go back to the book!
I feel now I can tackle the exam with much more confidence.’
Karen Wilson, D2 Course Participant
‘Very vibrant presentation, with many real life examples. Excellent, thank you.’
Marcin Giedz, D2 Course Participant
‘An excellent course that brings to life the sometimes dry concepts in the text book with real life examples and important explanations of how the main concepts all interlink. The split of the course into the 3 sections with questions and review was the best way to practice demonstrating your understanding of the key components, while showing you how to add colour and detail. Anne’s excellent and clear guidance on exam technique combined with Alun’s extensive library of examples from his experience made this course very worthwhile and an excellent revision tool for anyone struggling with how to approach the subject with enthusiasm and interest.’
Dahlia Verjee-Laval, D2 Course Participant
‘I took 10 pages of notes! Best Bordeaux revision session! Thanks for organising.’
Carole Sharp, D3 Student and March 2023 Masterclass Attendee
‘Alun’s session was exceptionally meaningful: his insightful comments on the intricacies of the La Place de Bordeaux and the En Primeur systems, his comments on the various classification systems and on the multiple facets of blending just can’t be found elsewhere! Alun is an excellent communicator: focused, concise but very comprehensive, easy to understand even for non-native English speakers like myself, skilled in sharing loads of information in a very light manner…this session could have gone on for hours without being tiring.’
Weyler Lima, D3 Student and March 2023 Masterclass Attendee
Alun was brilliant, his knowledge and experience shone through but also he was laser focused on sticking to the format; his experience as an examiner definitely showed in sticking to the question asked.
James Wakefield, D3 Student and August 2023 Masterclass Attendee
I have just watched the replay. What a great speaker Alun is – so clear and engaging. Took lots of very useful notes too.
Thanks for organising such a good presentation.
Rowena Wilson, D3 Student and August 2023 Masterclass Attendee
Meet your tutor: Anne McHale MW
Anne is an award-winning Master of Wine, communicator and consultant based in London. Born and brought up in Belfast, Northern Ireland, she then went on to read French and Classics at Christ’s College Cambridge. After graduating with First Class Honours, Anne moved to London and joined the wine trade, working for businesses as diverse as Mistral Wines, Wines of New Zealand and the prestigious Berry Bros. & Rudd, where for ten years she was an integral part of the Wine School team and worked closely with Alun.
Whilst at Berry Bros. & Rudd Anne completed her WSET Diploma, wnning the Vintners’ Cup & Scholarship for top UK student, and then went on to achieve the highly sought-after Master of Wine qualification, winning three awards in the process including the Bollinger tasting medal and the Wines of Austria prize for top overall candidate.
Anne has been successfully tutoring Diploma students for a decade, including seven years as one of the official educators at WSET School London. In 2020 she launched her signature coaching membership for Diploma students, Diplomatherapy®, where she offers study, exam and moral support to students around the world as they make their way through this challenging journey to DipWSET. She has since grown her support for Diploma students beyond Diplomatherapy®, with a range of digital mini-courses, D6 workshops and popular Guest Expert masterclasses.
If you’re not yet on Anne’s free weekly email list for Diploma students, you can join it here. As well as being the first to know about any new study programmes, you will also benefit from Anne’s free study, exam and mindset tips as well as all her news from the world of wine.
Secure your seat for only £127 for 4.5 hours’ worth of high-quality teaching
£30 discount for Diplomatherapy members – code has been posted in the Diplomatherapy Circle forum
Anne was a role model when I studied for the WSET Diploma and she remains an inspiration today. One of the best coaches I’ve ever come across.