By Anna Wontorczyk
Lets get one thing straight, wine goes with everything. For restaurants going through a slow period, a wine tasting is just the thing to bring new customers through the door. And there’s plenty of them. According to Wine Institute, wine consumption has risen steadily by about 2 percent each year. This indicates that consumption per capita will surpass 3 gallons per person in 2018. That’s a lot of bottles!
According to Wine Market Council (2017), millennials consume nearly as much wine as baby boomers! And you thought you didn’t have anything in common with your grandmother.
Getting in on the action will involve some planning on your part but it will be well worth it in the end. Here’s all you need to have a successful wine tasting at your restaurant:
Sommelier
Most of us might be expert wine drinkers but that certainly doesn’t qualify us to lead a wine tasting. A sommelier will take your guests on a journey, sharing interesting facts and tips about wine they’ve learn throughout their years. All Sommeliers are passionate about wine, not all of them are great presenters, so you want to put your best foot forward, it’s best to do your research and hire a Sommelier from a recommended source, even if it costs you a bit more. You want your guests to leave your wine tasting excited about wine, a good Sommelier will do that.
Wines
Your budget will play a big role in which reds and whites you’ll end up serving to your guests. No matter the budget, you should select 8-10 different wines and serve them two at a time so guests can compare and notice the, sometimes subtle, differences in color, opacity, viscosity (the wine “legs” on your glass) and smell. Make sure you have at least two wine glasses per guest as reds and whites should be served in different glasses (red glasses are bigger).
In terms of selection, more people prefer red. So, it would be best to offer more red options. When it comes to white, you should consider serving something sparkling although that requires an additional glass (flute-shaped, but I’m sure you already knew that). I won’t get into the actual wines, that’s a topic for another article. The Sommelier will be your best advisor when it comes to choosing the wines within your budget and pairing the wines with your food.
Photo by Zachariah Hagy on Unsplash.
Special Menu
Take advantage of the special atmosphere and make this an event to remember. Plan a special menu for this day that pairs well with the wines you selected. For an extra special treat, replace your regular menu that day with an exclusive menu printed on nice cardstock that goes well with the theme you’ve selected for this event.
Tickets/Reservations
The last thing you need is to be surprised with the turn out. Having too many attendees is just as bad as a half empty restaurant. Even if your restaurant doesn’t take reservations, make an exception. You need to know exactly how many guests will be present to make sure you don’t run out of wine.
Theme
You can get really creative and extend the wine theme to your physical space. Transform your restaurant to a completely different place for the evening with special decorations and maybe even music. The Sommelier Company has some great ideas:
- Key Grapes from Around the World
- Wines rated 95 and above
- Wines of Italy
- A Night in Tuscany
- Old World vs. New World
- Italy vs. France
- France vs. California
- Exploring the Southern Hemisphere
- Wine & Food Pairing (serve a heavy appetizer with each wine)
- Vintage wines that match the anniversary or birthday theme
Lastly, do partake in the event itself. Not only will your guests appreciate it, but you deserve a glass of wine after all that planning. Don’t forget to clink your glass!
About Anna Wontorczyk
I’m a millennial so you could say I was born to be a foodie. I love to travel and experience all the tastes, smells and sounds the world has to offer. I work as a freelance writer, currently engaged with POSbistro restaurant point-of-sale and management platform.
