Experience Wine offers two attractive alternatives: Wait Staff Training or Professional Certification in conjugation with our affiliate the International Wine Guild. Either of these options will improve your image by demonstrating your investment in your staff's wine savvy. By recommending the perfect wine, your team will create a memorable experience that your guests will continue to talk about after they leave, generating interest from their friends and associates and promoting repeat business.

Wait Staff Training

The markup on wine is significant; are your employees effectively recommending or up-selling your wine inventory? Experience Wine will train your staff with a comprehensive program aimed at increasing your wine sales. This program is for restaurants that may not find having a professional certified wine sommelier cost effective.

• Knowledge opens opportunities: your staff won't be comfortable recommending something they don't know anything about. Motivate your staff to focus more on the wine list. We'll teach them what they need to know.
• Practice builds confidence: knowledge without action does not equal results. We'll challenge your staff to practice new skills and exercise their new knowledge.
• Integration leads to permanence: build our specific techniques into your training program and encourage practice to permanently improve your sales.

Our Comprehensive Training Program includes: introductory wine class, sales training, practice materials, and 2 follow-up visits for just $250.

Contact Experience Wine for more information or to book your Staff Training event.

Professional Certification

Having a Certified Wine Sommelier on your staff can greatly benefit your restaurant. Experience Wine coordinates professional Wine Certifications locally through its affiliation with the International Wine Guild in Denver.

• Convert questions into sales by directing customer questions to a certified "expert". Your Certified Wine Sommelier can recommend specific food/wine pairings and up-sell your wine.
• Upgrade your wine list with the recommendations of a trained Sommelier. Active partnership between your Chef and Sommelier will create pairings that impress.
• Maintain Your Edge by having your Sommelier conduct regular wine training for your wait staff.
• Contact Experience Wine to find out when the next certification seminar will be held in Colorado Springs.

Wine Sommelier Certification by the International Wine Guild is $485, and is most convenient when taken in Colorado Springs. Otherwise, students must travel to Denver for the 1 1/2 day course.

Feedback from the management at California Pizza Kitchen

"...increased our wine sales by over 35% following training"

"...time & expense well worth it"

"Very educational"

"...price worth increased sales"

"...motivated staff to focus on our wine list"

"Staff now promotes wine with confidence"

"75% staff participation"

"Having a trained Sommelier on our staff didn't make sense, so this program fit perfectly for us"

Feedback about professional certification by the International Wine Guild

"Classes I have taken from the Guild have fast forwarded my knowledge, experience, and enthusiasm for wine... Because of my classes through the Guild, I now have the best job of my life and love going to work every day."
-Michelle (Executive Wine Sommelier)

"The Advanced Wine Course (Level II Certification) at the International Wine Guild has helped me become a much better winemaker. The faculty are one of the greatest resources to me and my winery. Thanks to the guild I now have more confidence than ever in all aspects of my business."
-Jessie (Owner/Winemaker)

"After completing an MBA, I decided upon a career in the Wine Industry... After considering the competition, nationally and internationall, and after completing several courses through the International Wine Guild, I can confidently say that my educational expectations have been greatly exceeded. I would recommend the International Wine Guild to anyone that is serious about making a quality investment in themselves and their future in the wine industry."
Tim (National Accounts Manager, major wine import company)