Expert Advice on Hospitality Topics

Trendy Decor Ideas for Your Wine Bar

Posted by Nick Kaoukis on Mon, May, 06, 2024 @ 18:05 PM

Transform your wine bar with these trendy decor ideas that will impress your customers and enhance their overall experience.

Elevate with Statement Lightingpexels-brett-sayles-1374552

One way to create a trendy atmosphere in your wine bar is to elevate it with statement lighting. Install unique and eye-catching light fixtures that will serve as focal points in the space. Consider using chandeliers, pendant lights, or wall sconces with intricate designs or interesting materials. These lighting fixtures will not only provide adequate illumination but also add a touch of elegance and sophistication to your wine bar.

Another option is to incorporate LED lighting that can change colors. This will allow you to create different moods and ambiances depending on the time of day or the type of event you are hosting. Whether you choose bold and dramatic lighting or soft and romantic illumination, statement lighting will definitely make your wine bar stand out.

Create a Cozy Wine Nook

Make your wine bar feel warm and inviting by creating a cozy wine nook. Designate a corner or a small area in your bar where customers can relax and enjoy their drinks in a more intimate setting. Use comfortable seating options such as plush couches, armchairs, or even cozy booths. Add soft throw pillows and blankets to create a cozy and welcoming atmosphere.

To enhance the coziness factor, consider installing a fireplace or a faux fireplace. The flickering flames and the warmth it provides will create a relaxing and comforting ambiance. Additionally, you can decorate the wine nook with shelves or racks to display your wine collection, creating a focal point that adds to the overall aesthetic of the space.

Embrace Industrial Chic

Embracing an industrial chic style can give your wine bar a trendy and modern look. Incorporate elements such as exposed brick walls, metal accents, and reclaimed wood furniture. These materials not only add visual interest but also create a unique and edgy vibe.

Consider using metal bar stools or chairs with distressed finishes. These seating options not only provide a rustic charm but also add an industrial touch to the overall decor. Pair them with wooden tables or countertops to create a balanced and cohesive look.

To further enhance the industrial chic style, you can hang black and white photographs or vintage wine-related posters on the walls. These nostalgic elements will add personality to your wine bar and create a conversation starter for your customers.

Incorporate Greenery and Botanical Elements

Bring nature indoors by incorporating greenery and botanical elements into your wine bar decor. Plants not only add a refreshing touch but also create a calming and relaxing atmosphere. Choose plants that thrive indoors and require minimal maintenance, such as succulents, ferns, or snake plants.

Place potted plants on shelves, tables, or even hang them from the ceiling to add a touch of greenery throughout the space. You can also create a living wall by installing vertical planters filled with various types of plants. This will not only serve as a unique decor element but also act as a natural air purifier.

In addition to live plants, you can also incorporate botanical prints or artwork on the walls. These can be vintage botanical illustrations or modern abstract representations of plants and flowers. The combination of real plants and botanical elements will create a fresh and vibrant ambiance in your wine bar.

Personalize with Customized Decor Pieces

Make your wine bar truly unique by personalizing it with customized decor pieces. Consider working with local artisans or artists to create one-of-a-kind artwork or signage that reflects your wine bar's identity and style. This can be a custom-made neon sign with your bar's name or logo, or a mural that depicts wine-related imagery.

You can also personalize your wine bar with customized wine racks or shelves. These can be designed to fit your space perfectly and showcase your wine collection in an organized and visually appealing way. Additionally, you can have personalized wine glasses or coasters made with your bar's logo or a special design that represents your brand.

By incorporating customized decor pieces, you not only add a personal touch to your wine bar but also create a memorable and immersive experience for your customers.

Topics: wine inventory, Wine Control, wine inventory app, wine inventory solution, wine bar, wine inventory system

BAR MANAGEMENT: TRENDS TO LOOK FOR AND EXPLOIT

Posted by John Cammalleri on Thu, Mar, 15, 2012 @ 13:03 PM

The nightclub business can be a rough. With a plentitude of competing venues, and with customer tastes in constant flux, the average half-life of a bar or nightclub is all too brief. Survival can depend on your ability to stay ahead of the curve and be in tune with your customers’ ever-changing demands. In short, you need to be constantly aware of what’s in  and what’s not in order to remain vital. Here is a brief compendium, in three parts, of some of the emerging and continuing trends in the industry, just a few things to look out for in 2012 and beyond:

Part 1 of 3: DRINKS

Cocktails and Spirits

infused spiritsHerb-infused spirits. Whether they be whiskies, vodkas or gins are gaining herb-infused drinks are gaining in popularity. Expect gin, especially, to continue to make a splash as both large producers such as Bombay and a slew of new micro distilleries continue infuse this old stalwart with fresh and interesting botanicals.

Flavored tonics. Tonic  water is a simplest mixer  there  is, and an obvious staple to anyone serving drinks. A variety of new tonics are hitting the market, however, which can transform the most basic of mixers into something more sublime. Look for new tonics to elevate simple drinks like gin and tonic into something for more interesting and complex.

Cask-aged cocktails. Drink mixes aged in wooden barrels for added nuance continue to gain popularity in major urban centers from New York to San Francisco.

Cocktails on tap. Cask-aged or not, expect mixed drinks to come out of a tap. For speed and consistency, many bars are starting to produce a selection of well-crafted cocktails in large

Solid summer cocktails. Remember the Jello shot? Expect to see it re-emerge, as mixologists exercise their creativity to concoct artistically-layered versions of an old party favorite. With the use of lecithins and other ingredients—which can alter the consistency and texture of fluids--becoming more widespread, expect solid-form cocktails to gain traction. You can also expect to see more and more cocktails turned into sorbets and popsicles when summer rolls around.

Super-premium beverages. Spirit enthusiasts and wine aficionados seem prepared to pay top dollar for a small taste of luxury potables. While they may not be willing to spend $300-$1,000 for a bottle of top-top-shelf cognac or premier-cru, more and more enthusiasts are showing a willingness to pay a premium for an ounce or two.

Smoked spirits. Flash smoking is making a move from the chef’s kitchen to the bar top. Still a relatively new phenomenon, bar-top smokers—used to infuse spirits with, you guessed it, a mild smokiness—are beginning to be found in a number of popular bars in most major cities.

Combination drinks. More and more bar owners are discovering the benefits of marrying two drinks and selling them together in order to boost sales. Whether it’s the classic shot with a beer chaser, or a more inspired combination of two cocktails with complementing flavors, double-hitters promise to become a hit among bar patrons.

Return to the classics.Cocktail menus have become chockfull of creative concoctions and signature drinks. More and more drinkers, however, are starting to embrace some of the

classics. It may be a good time to make room on the menu for the old standards—Daiquiris, the Manhattan, the Sidecar….

Skinny drinks. Expect cocktail menus to offer more and more low-cal beverages—whether lighter versions of standard fare or entirely new concoctions. Popular among the ladies and health-conscious patrons wanting to limit the number of “empty calories” they consume, skinny cocktails are a good way for drinking establishments to cater to this growing segment of their clientele.

Ingredient Trends:

Bitters—celery, whisky, lemon

Zwack, an herbal liqueur from Hungary made with a secret blend of 40 herbs and spices

Rye Whiskey

Honey Liquor

Beer

Vintage beers. A variety of aged, vintage beers are becoming available. The Modern in New York for instance offers a 1999 J.W. Lees Harvest Ale to drinkers wanting a taste of the past. Meanwhile many microbreweries are offering a variety of interesting, higher-alcohol beers meant mellow with age.

Lower-alcohol beers. While higher-alcohol beers continue to be popular, expect a rise in demand for flavorful, lower alcohol beers. Rather than nurse a pint of high-gravity, high-alcohol beer, many patrons will opt instead for high-flavor, lower-alcohol beers that they can drink in greater in quantities. Patrons’ taste for quality, low-alcohol beers is good news for bar owners, as they present an opportunity for increased sales.

flavored beerSeasonal and flavored beers. While nothing new, seasonal and/or flavored beers are starting to gain traction.

Wine

Local Wines.The movement towards locally-grown wines—from a variety of regions, including New York, Michigan, Texas, Virginia, Ohio, Ontario—c ontinues and is expected to accelerate in 2012.

Lower Alcohol Content. The popularity of big, fruit-bomb wines with high alcohol content is waning, while more classic –style wines—e eegant and more structurally balanced, with alcohol levels below 13% or 14%--are beginning to gain favor.

Burgundy Wines. With Bordeaux wines commanding huge prices, consumers are more and more turning their attention to the more affordable Burgundy region.  As reason wine auctions have shown have shown Burgundy wines are rising stars.

Organic Wines. The movement towards organic products has extended to the wine  world, where more and more wine makers are beginning to explore natural wine-making techniques. Expect consumers to start embracing these “sustainable” wines in coming years.

ProsecoValue. After several years of economic recession, consumers have acquired a taste for value wines. They are seeking bang for the buck—not cheap inferior wines, but good, well-balanced, flavorful wines at an affordable price. With many of these wines coming from Spain and South America, expect Spanish, Chilean and Argentinian wines to continue to grow in popularity.

Alternatives to Champagne. In keeping with consumers’ growing thirst for value, high-quality sparkling wines from regions other than Champagne are gaining popularity.  Sparkling wines from Germany, Austria, Portugal, the U.S. and Italy are expected to gain ground. Consumers are discovering that a nice, quality Prosecco can be just as enjoyable as a Champagne, often at a fraction of the price.

Non-alcoholic Drinks

Coconut water.  Already popular in cities like New York and L.A., coconut water will continue to gain popularity. With strong celebrity backing, and with major investments from the likes of Coca Cola, we should begin to see coconut water available everywhere, including the nation’s bars and nightclubs.

 

Topics: liquor inventory, Bar inventory, wine inventory, bar, alcohol, beer inventory, Bar trends, NightClub Management, bar business, Bar drinks, Bar Management, Bar products, Nightclub trends, blends

Drink Selection: Optimizing Your Liquor Inventory

Posted by Nick Kaoukis on Mon, Sep, 12, 2011 @ 10:09 AM
By Elizabeth Godsmark
Atlantic Publishing
 

Part 2 of 4: Make the Right Choice of Wines

wine inventory

Choice of wine is a very individual matter. There are no rights and wrongs. It is important, however, to pander to customer preferences. Whether you run a bar, restaurant, club or specialized wine bar, you must purchase wine according to the demands of your clientele. If you get it right, profits will soar. But, if you choose wines that aren't a hit with your customers, you end up pouring your profits, as well as the unsold wine, down the drain.

  • Competition. Look at the competition. Keep up to date with which wines are moving well. Read trade journals and publications, such as the "California Wine Growers Institute," to learn more about current trends, or consult the California Association of Wine Grape Growers: 555 University Avenue, Suite 250, Sacramento, CA 95825; www.cawg.org.

  • Regularly review the wine list. Be ruthless - if a wine is slow-moving, remove it from the list.

  • Get ahead of the crowd. Introduce wines from up-and-coming wine regions. Suggestions include: New Zealand Riesling, Gewurztraminer and Sauvignon Blanc for whites, and South African Pinot Noir or Merlot for reds.

  • Storage. Wine is a vulnerable product. One of the most effective ways of reducing costs and avoiding waste is to store wine in the correct environment (temperature, light and ventilation are particularly important). See www.storing-wine.com for handy tips on storing wine.

  • Opened bottles. Establish par levels for each wine stocked behind the bar. Only open as many bottles as you need for one shift. All wines, particularly whites and cheaper house reds, become oxidized and deteriorate quickly once opened. A useful tip is not to pull the cork completely out of the bottle. If a cork is only partly pulled, the wine remains sealed, preventing oxygen from entering the bottle.

  • Cost controls on empty bottles. Count empty wine bottles at the end of each shift. This practice makes sure that bartenders aren't overpouring. For example: you use six 1.5 liter bottles of wine during a shift; your standard portion for wine is 5 ounces; then sales for 60 to 61 glasses should show up on the register tape.

  • Discount premium wines. Discounting premium wines results in a higher potential for profits. It also gives bartenders the opportunity to up-sell customers from standard house wines. This plan works well with "special buys" and wholesaler promotions.

 

This article is an excerpt from the Food Service Professional Guide to Controlling Liquor Wine & Beverage Costs, authored by Elizabeth Godsmark, published by Atlantic Publishing Company. This excerpt has been reprinted with permission of the publisher. To purchase this book go to:

Atlantic Publishing Company
Amazon.com

Topics: wine inventory, red wine, wine list, white wine