Last year, our partners at Isante – the online magazine for restaurant professionals – put the spotlight on multi-award winning restaurant owners at the Yono and the Elbow Room. Their owners and experts shared their insights on their own success with Le Verre de Vin preservation systems. Here we capture their most salient points in our top tips for building a credible by-the-glass program.
Why do we need the #PerfectServe?
Today’s wine-savvy guests are looking for enticement by restaurants who can add value and deliver a luxury experience. They expect a strong by-the-glass program worthy of not just their money, but also their trust. In short, they can no longer be expected to drink anything less than the very best. So, what tips for success can the experts offer?
TIP#1 – Offer a flawless by-the-glass program with a full range of options…
Wine is one of the few affordable luxuries, which is why it is so important to draw in guests with a list that offers several wines at different price points. A top-tier wine preservation system will allow you to serve an array of wines including sparkling selections that would not otherwise be sensible by-the-glass options. Wine savvy guests, who are confident their wine is being served at its peak freshness, return satisfied and get bolder in their tastes. It’s a win-win—as you have the ability to sell more expensive wines at higher profits per pour, you will entice your guests to return frequently to try that luxury experience in the safe environment you’ve created.
TIP#2 – Be ready to seize opportunities for growth with a dynamic variety of specials
Elevating your wine-by-the-glass selection with aspirational wines at value prices not only entices guests to try more options, it will save you money, reduce waste, and create new opportunities for sales and better purchasing. For instance, a reliable preservation system removes restrictions and helps build relationships with vendors who are only too pleased to work with operators serving their wine as their winemaker intended. This allows restaurateurs to take advantage of sales and special offers on wines they wouldn’t normally have access to for a by-the-glass program. One of those deals just might become a new customer favorite. The prospect of being able to try something special keeps loyal guests coming back for more, spurring sustained growth and earning higher profits with the added bonus of little to no waste.
TIP#3 – Inspire, know the trends, and respond to demand
Wine preservation is an essential component of service, not just for what it brings, but also for what it eliminates in terms of extra hassle and worry. The Le Verre de Vin systems allow your servers to know the wine they are trying tastes just as the maker intended, regardless of when the bottle was opened. It also protects the credibility of your staff who get to share their own ideas and tastes. Knowledgeable servers make the best recommendations of wine for your customers. They exemplify a culture of excitement, genuine trust, and shared experiences. Today, more than ever, it is important that your staff build their knowledge by sampling your extensive wine list for themselves. A preservation system that preserves and reseals still & sparkling wine in one easy step can act as that much-needed foundation from which restaurants can inspire their staff, evolve and set their own trends, and successfully respond to a diversity of palettes.
How will you deliver the #PerfectServe?
Premium service is now the expected standard. Today’s guests expect and respond to #Perfect Serve – Show, Taste, Pour & Enjoy. At Bermar our goal is to help hospitality professionals who know their guests have evolved their tastes and interests. How restaurateurs respond should be nothing short of excellent in order to leave those customers satisfied, while also controlling costs. A quality wine preservation system and process is a critical step towards a successful by-the-glass program, delivering an outstanding customer experience with a premium service and helping you boost sales and profits. The investment is reasonable and the returns are exceptional. Just ask and we’ll be pleased to share how easy it is to implement a Le Verre de Vin with #PerfectServe. Click HERE to learn more.
Thank you to Dominick Purnomo, Yono’s, New York and Michael Shirinian Elbow Room, California for their insights. Extracts of these tips have been edited from Insante. To read the full blog series please click HERE.
