Back to school with Enotria

Enotria has launched a training programme for the pub and casual dining sector, designed to equip staff with the know-how to serve wine with confidence.

Aimed at both front-of-house and bar teams, the course is pitched at those with little or no previous knowledge of wine and can be tailored to a venue’s own wine list.

The initiative was developed in house with the help of some of the UK importer’s key customers, including pub group Mitchells & Butlers.

Sheila King, brand manager for Mitchells & Butlers, Village Pub & Kitchen, offered her support to the scheme, saying: “We feel it provides our staff with the skills and knowledge to serve wine with confidence to our customers.

“We particularly liked the focus on ensuring the customer experience is enjoyable and the fact that it is tailored to our own wine list”.

Enotria’s marketing director John Grieveson stressing that wine education “very often gets limited focus” in the on-trade, despite the fact that “staff training can have a profound impact on wine sales”.

More generally, Grieveson placed this scheme within the context of an improved customer experience, explaining: “We have identified that good customer service comes from attitude and skill.

“We know from consumer research conducted in casual dining restaurants that the level of wine knowledge and how wine is served can significantly impact a customer’s overall perception of the venue.”

For detailed analysis of the importance of wine training in the on-trade and the various courses available, see the drinks business’ new on-trade report Eat.Drink, out with the October issue.

Gabriel Savage, 21.09.2010