Designing a Better Tasting Room

With harvest season well underway and tasting rooms open, now is a great time to ask “Does our tasting room experience help drive more sales?”

In the October issues of Wine Business Monthly, they describe a few tips to keep guests in your tasting rooms longer. The more time your guests spend in your tasting room, the more dollars they spend. So, what do they recommend?

• “Give Guests Elbow Room”
  We hear this a lot. With construction costs at a high, it is tempting to try to cram more into your spaces. But if guests aren’t comfortable, they won’t stay.

• “Table Standing Counter Tastings in Favor of Cushy Seats”
  When space allows a combination of counter sales and seated tastings is best, especially when the seated area is secluded from the counters.

• “Acoustics, Lighting, and Flooring Can Determine How Long Guests Want to Stay”
  Rooms that are too loud or harsh on feet are not inviting. The same goes for rooms with lighting that is too harsh or too dark. We love the quote the magazine uses from Walt Disney — “Disney developed the concept that people perceive things with their feet… so when guests walk from one section to another, they subconsciously feel the change with their feet.”

• “Commanding Outdoor Space to Expand a Tasting Experience”
  When weather permits, outdoor spaces not only help you serve more people, it provides a connection with nature and your vineyard.

• “Tasting Rooms Custom-built from the Start to Make Guests Feel at Home”
  From the minute they walk through your doors to the moment they leave, make your guests feel welcome and comfortable. Need some inspiration? Check out our Portfolio.

We know that the better an experience, the more likely your guests are to stay, spend more, come back again, and even become brand enthusiasts. Learn more about how to create a great experience in our blog “Experience Matters: 3 Important Ways to Improve the Experience you Provide.”