We talk to dozens of restaurants every day and they often tell us one of their top challenges is training their food & beverage staff. And training staff on the wine list can be extra difficult because there can be a lot of items, many details to know and it changes all the time. There are a few key things you want your staff to know about your wine offering:
• What’s actually on the menu or what you have in stock
• What drinks pair with dishes on your menu
• How to talk intelligently about the wines with your customers
• How to serve drinks to customers
Given the challenges with keeping staff well informed, here’s a list of ways to consider training your wait staff to increase their wine and beverage knowledge.
1. Wine Tastings
Holding regular tastings with your staff is a great way to increase their wine knowledge while allowing them to taste what’s actually on your menu. Want someone to lead your staff tastings? Ask your Bon Coeur account manager.
2. Required Reading
There are some great wine books and resources out there that may help your staff more than you may ever be able to. The WSET courses are great for staff, it enables them to learn, at the same time getting a qualification. Click here to view our recommended wine books.
3. Food and Wine Pairings
One of the most important skills your servers need to be armed with is pairing wine or other drinks with dishes on your menu. It will lead to a more enjoyable experience if your staff can assist staff with the perfect drink. Consider holding wine and food pairing training sessions just for staff. Explain not only what pairs with each dish, but why. (please see our food and wine matching wheel.)
4. Study Tasting Notes
Having descriptions or tasting notes available for wines, on your menu, can make it easy for staff (or customers) to learn more and choose the perfect wine for the occasion. If not on the menu, make them available for staff to read in their own time. This is especially helpful for getting staff up to speed on new menu items.
5. Review New Menu Items
At many restaurants, new wines are rotated on the menu frequently due to changing wine vintages or just refreshing the list with new wine offerings. Make sure your staff are not only aware of the changes, but knowledgeable on the new selections. Cover new menu items consistently in pre-shift meetings and reiterate at your regular staff meetings.
6. Get Assistance from Bon Coeur
One place you can turn for assistance is Bon Coeur. We want to promote our products and will always be happy to help train your staff and get more time in the restaurant. Please just liaise with your Account manager. Short, concise training sessions are a good way for the staff to learn more about your wine offerings.
7. Quiz Your Staff
Training has to be consistent and your staff have to understand the menu and be ready to answer any questions. Do some role playing and be sure to quiz your wait staff on your menu, food pairings, general knowledge and service standards. Practicing and reviewing the material is key.
8. WSET
We are very proud to be accredited by the Wine & Sprit Education Trust (WSET) as an Approved Programme Provider for WSET level 1 and 2 Awards in Wine. As a key partner to the WSET we are able to offer these courses to our On-trade customers. We will invest in your key personnel by putting nominated ‘wine champions’ through this accreditation as part of our wine supply agreement with you. By supporting your staff with this key industry training scheme, we will help you get the best out of your staff and maximise the opportunities you have in wine. For more information, please contact trade@bcfw.co.uk
Having world-class restaurant staff in your restaurant takes time and a lot of effort. And when you think you finally have it down, your menu changes and your staff will turn over. The best way to keep high standards and consistency is to make training activities a regular activity, not a random event. Instil wine training into your regular meetings and your staff will be better armed to delight your guests and sell more wine.
