How a Sommelier Can Elevate Your Next Event
Historically, the role of the Sommelier was to curate the wine selections and taste everything opened to make sure the King didn’t get poisoned. Modern-day sommeliers quickly transitioned into stuffy old white guys in suits who had an encyclopedic and often intimidating knowledge of wine, regions, and vintages. When I became a sommelier, I was 24 years old, I refused to wear a suit and was often met with “Are you even old enough to pour this wine?” Today, the sommelier can be found in a variety of shapes, colors, and sizes, dawning jeans and a band T-shirt, all the way up to Michelin-level suited (but friendly) ladies and gents that not only help you pick the perfect bottle but curate a beautiful experience. Sommeliers are experts at reading the room and setting the tone. They also have a variety of tools at their fingertips to craft the ultimate guest experience.
Sommeliers Are Storytellers - people relate to people, not tasting notes. The best sommeliers will take you on a journey, eloquently describing the place the wine comes from, the people who made it, and the generations of family that built the property. The stories they tell are stories that everyone can relate to because they are not technical. Good sommeliers bring people in and give them an experience that is bigger than “I just had a chardonnay I really liked.”
Sommeliers Bring the Party- wine should be fun. A good sommelier uses the wine from the wine list as a tool to make their guests relax into the space and set the tone for having a good time. Pouring a surprise wine with an extra gifted mid-course makes everyone light up. Offering Champagne with French Fries at a fine dining restaurant makes everyone relax a bit. There’s an old saying that “magnums show you care.” Choosing wine out of magnum or large format says: we are here to have a great time. The way the sommelier utilized the menu at their fingertips can make even the stuffiest-looking restaurant a relaxed and fun environment.
Sommeliers Are Chameleons- They notice. The job of a sommelier is to sell wine. A good sommelier not only notices when you are running low, so they can offer another bottle, but they also notice the more subtle cues indicating whether or not you are having a good time. I would argue that sommeliers are the most equipped people in a restaurant to facilitate an incredible guest experience. Why? They interact with every guest. They also have the entire menu and bar (including nonalcoholic for those that don’t drink) at their fingertips to use as tools to create the best guest experience. They utilize these tools as an avenue for connection. Not everyone wants to talk about wine, a good sommelier recognizes that and tailors their ‘show’ to meet the needs of each individual guest.
At Acquire, we use Sommeliers as event hosts nationwide. Meaning that when we plan our client dinners at restaurants across the country, we send in a sommelier to facilitate the event on our behalf. Why? Because they are the best at curating the ultimate guest experience. Yes, they speak to the wine with each course, but they go beyond that by noticing the needs of each guest and tailoring their approach to meet those needs. They also draw information out of attendees and take guest notes, which aids our clients in crafting the most personalized follow-up. We work with the best restaurants in the business, however, they are all stretched thin. Having someone there that is fully dedicated to our clients' events is an extra that goes above and beyond and shows that added attention to detail. I think of sommeliers as the wizards of the dining room: they create the magic. Let us help you craft the best experience possible at your upcoming event by visiting us at acquire-wine.com.