The Sommpour — D5 Audible Cheat Sheets (7)

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, and blending, showing how fermentation length, fortification timing, estufagem versus canteiro ageing, extended maturation, and regulatory oversight are used to create clear quality tiers.Episode 9 brings everything together through styles and wine business, covering sweetness labelling, varietal styles, age indications, Rainwater, Colheita, Frasqueira, industry structure, IVBAM regulation, sales volumes, and premiumization.All content is drawn directly from the WSET Diploma D5 specification and is designed for exam recall: cause-and-effect logic, quality differentiation, and commercially relevant detail — without shortcuts or oversimplification.If you’re preparing for D5, these episodes are intended to be listened to as a set. 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