Online Wine Tasting: How to host one?

All the practical and useful details for hosting a wine tasting online

Online wine tasting has become increasingly popular in recent years, with many people turning to virtual events to socialize and learn about new wines from the comfort of their own homes. Some are just trying to justify their drinking at home ;). Hosting an online wine tasting can be a fun and engaging way to connect with customers, and it's relatively easy to set up.

What do you need?

To host an online wine tasting, you'll need a few key items:

• A selection of wines: Selection should mainly depend on a goal/theme of wine tasting. Tasting can be of an educational or promotional character. In some cases, not all participants have to be tasting the same wines. My advice is not to go over 6 wines.

• Tasting glasses: Each participant will need a glass to taste the wines. Inform the participants what shape of wine glasses they should get before the tasting or use the opportunity to sell some.

• A computer or device with a camera and microphone: This is how you'll communicate with your guests during the event. Do not forget to check if everything is functioning before the tasting and charge all the devices.

• A reliable internet connection: A stable internet connection is essential for a successful online wine tasting.

• A virtual platform: You will need a virtual platform like Zoom, Google Meet or Skype to host the event. Make sure that participants are familiar with these platforms.

How to invite people?

and how many?

Once you have all the necessary items, you can start planning and inviting people to your event. You can invite people via email, social media, or by creating an event page/post/message on a platform like Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, or Discord ... Be sure to include all the necessary information such as the date, time, and instructions for joining the event. Most important, write an appealing description that will attract and inform people about the theme of the wine tasting.

The number of people involved can vary, but it's best to keep it to around 8-12 people to ensure everyone has a chance to participate. If you have a niche group of wine connoisseurs and you need to discuss business, I would go below 8 people. In such tastings, 5 people is a perfect number.

How long it should take?

When it comes to the length of the event, it's best to keep it to around 1-1.5 hours. This will give you enough time to taste several wines and have a good conversation without dragging on too long. You should not spend more than 15 minutes on a wine. Also, count that you will have a minimum of 10 questions. It may sound silly but also count in a 5 minutes toilet break that should be after and hour of wine tasting.

Structure

When it comes to the actual event, start by introducing yourself and your guests, and then move on to the wine tasting. You can go through each wine, discussing its flavor profile, aroma, and any other interesting information you have. Encourage your guests to share their thoughts and ask questions after each of the wines, and be sure to have a good time! Try to adjust the pace to guests, each group creates its own mood. Therefore, the same wine selection will have a different rhythm with different groups. I see it as an interactive theater. You run the stage, but you need to involve the audience and actively follow their feedback and adapt the play.

Conclusion

Hosting an online wine tasting can be a fun, engaging and very personal way to connect with customers. With the right setup, a selection of wines, and an engaging host, you can create a memorable event that your guests will enjoy. Make people turn off Netflix that night and turn on your wine show. If you need help, email us at office@winedott.com.