Wine Service Training

Training Delivered On-site in All Areas

Course Overview

This is a 1-day training delivered on-site at your establishment. This training course will equip your staff with basic knowledge about South African wines, where it is made, how it is made, and wine service etiquette. It also focuses on the varietals used in winemaking, basic food, and wine pairing guidelines as well as upselling. Suitable for restaurants, hotels, resorts, and other tourism & hospitality businesses.

Target Group

This course is suitable for:

• restaurant servers AKA waiters and waitresses
• wine sommeliers/ stewards
• hosts
• supervisors and captains.

This short course is designed for new and existing restaurants, hotels, lodges, resorts, guest houses, and other hospitality businesses.

Duration for this course is 1 day for existing staff, however, we need more time for new staff that does not have the experience. The minimum number required for on-site training is 8 staff. Contact us now for a quote. 

Course Objectives

This course is packed with topics that will give you a better understanding of the topic of wines. After taking this course, your restaurant staff will be able to confidently serve wines to your valued guests. 

Here are the topics contained in this course:

• South African wine regions
• Winemaking process
• South African red wine grape cultivars
• South Africa white wine grape cultivars
• Sparkling wine – Champagne and MCC
• South African wine styles
• Storage of wine and glasses
• Wine service procedure
• Wine and food pairing guidelines
• Suggestive selling and upselling

South African Wine Regions

This topic will teach the learner about South African wine regions. This is important as it gives the learner more understanding of the wine region including its terroir.

Wine Making Process

This topic takes the learner through all the stages of the winemaking process, including:

• Choosing the right period to harvest
• Picking stage and process
• Destalking
• Crushing the grapes
• Fermentation (adding yeast)
• Removing the skins
• Maturation
• Racking
• Blending
• Stabilizing
• Fining
• Filtration
• Bottling, etc.

Red Wine Grape Cultivars

This topic focusses on the significant grape cultivars used in red winemaking in South Africa, including:

• Cabernet Sauvignon
• Merlot
• Shiraz / Syrah
• Pinot Noir
• Pinotage

And many more. You will learn in detail about each varietal as well as how it is served and which food goes well with each varietal.

White Wine Grape Cultivars

This topic focusses on the significant grape cultivars used in white winemaking in South Africa, including:

• Chenin Blanc
• Sauvignon Blanc
• Chardonnay
• Semillon
• Riesling
• Gewürztraminer
• Viognier

And many more. You will learn in detail about each varietal as well as how it is served, correct serving temperatures as well as which food goes well with each varietal.

Sparkling Wines – Champagne & MCC

This topic discusses in detail Champagnes, where they come from and the popular Champagne served in South Africa, including Veuve Clicquot, Moet & Chandon, Taittinger, etc.

Methode Cap Classique (MCC) is the South African version of Champagne. This topic will teach the learner the popular MCCs, including TOKARA, Plaisir De Merle, Klein Zalze, Krone, and many more.

You will also learn how Champagne is made, how to serve Champagne as well as food that goes well with Champagne.

South African Wine Styles

This topic looks in detail, the different South African wine styles, both natural and fortified. We look at the following styles:

• Blanc de blanc
• Blanc fume / fume blanc
• Blanc de noir
• Brut
• Cuvee
• Carbonated sparkling wines
• Cape blends
• Muscadel
• Dessert wines
• Estate wines
• Noble late harvest
• Vintage, etc

Wine Storage and Glasses

This topic focuses on proper wine storage and the glasses used in serving wines. 

Wine Service Procedure

This topic will teach the learners proper wine service procedures, from presenting the wine list,  presenting the wine to the host, opening wine with a cork, screwcap, and sparkling wine, pouring for taste, and serving to the guests. It also focuses on the different procedures for serving red wine, white/ rose wines, and champagne. sparkling wines.

Food and Wine Pairing Guidelines

This module teaches the learner basic food and wine pairing guidelines. We will provide guidelines based on your existing menu. 

Suggestive Selling and Upselling

Goof food and wine make great experiences. This topic will teach your staff the skills to be able to suggest and upsell wines to your valued guests. 

If you have 8 or more staff, we will come to your establishment and provide the training on-site/in-house.  Contact us now for a reasonable quote by filling in the form below.

© 2022 Sam Hospitality  • More Than a Decade Experience in Consulting & Training for Safari Lodges, Hotels, Resorts and Restaurants • Creating Success Stories!