How To Select A Wine Tasting Supplier

There are a number of wine tasting suppliers out there, we aim to offer some impartial advice on the factors you may wish to consider before selecting a supplier for a wine tasting. Some companies that are flexible and can offer all kinds of wine tasting event the client wishes, but not all companies are, so you need to know what you want and how to find it!

What is the purpose?

Be clear on what type of wine tasting event you are looking for. Is it educational, entertaining, a "drink" session, a team building, to impress a client, to have a competition? Different suppliers will have a broad spectrum of views and be sure they are able to handle these requirements.

Off the shelf or tailor?

Some suppliers offer standard wine tasting tastings, others offer customized wine tastings to customer needs. In some respects there is nothing wrong with the standard wine tasting. But a customized wine tasting does not cost more to deliver to a customer than a general. Is standard wine tasting offer reflects something else (limitations of knowledge of presenters or limited sources of wines available)? Especially if your wine tasting, accompanying food, try to understand how the wines will be matched with food (or food with wine)

What style do you want from your presenter?

This is probably one of the most important things to consider. He or she is the key to your wine tasting event successful. Make sure you get the chance to at least talk to presenter on the phone before your event - use your instincts .... If they do not engage you on the phone, they probably would not in front of an audience either! Think about what style you want - serious, funny, talented, gracious, a stand-up comic or a lecturer?

What information would you like from your presenter?

Do make sure the staff running the event is qualified with wine and spirits. It may seem strange to say such a trivial point, but we know wine tasting suppliers where the person running the tasting have very little knowledge about wine at all, they use a standard package, a standard talk and fall at the first sniff of a difficult question. With the exception of those who regularly drink Blue Nun, your guests will soon know if wine tasting presenter knew what they were talking about. The credibility of the whole event rests on the credibility of speakers.

Want your event to sell wine to your guests?

Be clear about wine will be sold after the wine tasting event. Events with a wine sales element will obviously have a sales "pitch", however subtle. It can also restrict the choice of wines presented by presenters who work on sales commission on top of their fee.

How can I compare costs? The hardest question to answer.

First, try to get a feel for what type of wine you will drink the wine tasting. Ask for examples of wines each vendor has plans to use in your taste. Any wine tasting event cost will consist of fixed costs and the wine costs. Wine is often the most variable part - you can drink a £ 2.99 bottle of cheap wine or a £ 100 bottle of good wine. If the supplier delivers wine tasting wine, and there is no corkage fee, wine element should be at normal retail price. But remember, some will charge restaurant offers. In this business, a "price per head" is notoriously difficult to quote, particularly if the participant numbers may fluctuate, and if the wines are really tailored to the event. If prices per recorded immediately after a website for example, you can expect an off-the-shelf standard taste. Try to understand how many people are making money along the way - are you doing with an event management company (which is obviously add an extra!

tional fee required), or directly with wine tasting supplier? Usually the smaller the company, the lower fixed costs and thus lower price to the customer. As with all purchases made clear whether prices include or exclude VAT.