Singles Wine Tasting

[bbally]

For the last six months I have been working on a singles wine tasting event outline.

As with all the event functions I start out with the research. Our wine dinners are among the best attended events in western Colorado now. But we sell the tickets just once a year to our main event, the rest are a few smaller wine dinners that are just basically high end plated caterings.

So to fill in a gap we will have in cash flow this year I am working on this idea of a singles wine tasting, learning night. Culminating in a season end plated wine pairing party.

With Al, Mike, Zane, and Myself food menu is not a problem, but I am wondering if any of you have tried of held or just catered one of these type events? I see the UK has a few going and some mention of similar events in Chi town and NY NY. West coast has some women only ones as well.

Anyway if any of you have done one, attended one, or catered one, please let me know what your feelings about the event were!

Thanks as always.

Bob

[Robu]

Done wine dinners, but what is the definition of a singles wine tasting?

[mark1]

Haven't been to one Bob, as LOL, don't qualify, but I know there's a lot of singles wine tasting events that go on here in L.A. and I believe they're well attended.

[bbally]

So in the business I do "what is next" stuff a lot. And I think this is a next thing!

I received a book for my birthday from Zane and Mary Lou, the title is Inter Courses. The recipes are OK, BUT the ideas in the book are out of the box interesting!

The book pushes forward on sexy, sensual and damn close to dead center of erotic.

With us looking like we will have a hole in the cash we generate from the biz meeting, it is one of my things to figure out the replacement. So the book gets me thinking (which is why they get me these things to begin with) that if I were to combine this "Singles Wine Event" with some of these cutting edge Inter Courses, we just might create a sensation or at least the most talked about part of the local dating meat market scene.

So the Singles Wine Event seems to me to run like the the true 19th Century Tapas (different research for later this summer) event. While the Spain events now handle a 12 to 3 PM and 7 to 10 PM time slot, the length has remained about the same. But artificial lighting has changed the actual time of day the events are held. Wine and lots of little plates of food, So Tapas in Sauce, Salad, Pates and the other cold tapas, and then the tapas with bread.

Anyway this whole deal has had me looking into what is happening in the valley's single scene, what is not being met (which is most important) and what type of clientele may be available to attend this type of event.

I have found a place to host the event, I have ensured that if it goes big we can host more than one per month to keep some others from jumping into my niche. But I am still missing information from anyone that has done one, attended one or knows someone I can talk to who has done one or both of the above!

The idea I get from a chef in New York (totally different demographic than I am dealing with) it is set up as a speed dating, come wine pairing type thing. But he assumed I knew what speed dating was, when I asked about it he really could not explain it. Some type of mini interview thing on a timer. (and they thought us geeks with slide rules where wierd?) Anyway if anyone has that type of experience or understands what exactly speed dating is, please let me know. If you don't want to post it, e-mail me please.

Mostly a format thing is what I am looking for so I can figure out how to plug in the wine and the food to the deal.

[mark1]

Had a thought bob, post your questions on Chowhound, either the wine or 'not about food' category. As it's national with lots of contributors, you're very likely to get your answers, and you don't have to be a member to read any of the posts.

[Frantastic]

Years ago (in the 70's) my husband and I joined a 'wine club' which was purchasing wines in quantity (minimum order was 1 case). The vendor would schedule an evening at your home - you invite several guests to the wine tasting and have food to compliment the wine. I'm sure it is on a much more 'casual' basis and the whole concept back then was to sell the wine.

I remember at Wolfgang Puck Cafe upstairs in fine dining, we had special 'wine pairing' menus and each course was done in a flourish with a moderator (host) at your table the entire time. Each course as it was served was brought out by and described in detail including the dessert. So much fun but it wasn't private.

The demographics of where you live and where I live are totally different - so I would first find a location that would be suitable for a private class/session. With wine, I think about my clientele - older group, white collar, willing to experiment, must have good food but not wierd food to compliment. If you had a series of 'compliment' classes - what wine compliments dessert series; beef series; seafood series, appetizer series. leading up to the grand finale - maybe a 7 course meal with the wines learned. The presentation of the invitation itself is going to be what catches their attention - if you are focusing on high end, it should be a personal invitation created and not a generic one bought at a store.

Going back to demographics - in my area, it's the doctors, dentists, bankers, private business owners and realtors that I would focus on. They love personal attention and have a short attention span so you might be able to throw in a 'hands on' class every once in a while (making their own puff pastry bread sticks, a nice wine vinaigrette, demo on chocolate dipped strawberries, etc.)

The younger yuppie type group get more... physical and drink alot more. Don't knock the "professional women's night out" until you've checked it out. Banker, educator and real estate chicks are my first choice. Geez - did I ramble or hit close to the mark. lol

[chefjamielynn]

i know speed dating is where you get a bunch of single guys and gals together in one place, usually the girls stay put and the men move from table to table. Just 2 per table and they are set on a timer, anywhere from 2 to 5 minutes, if after talking they want to meet again they exchange info. if not, they don't. they keep moving until they have met everyone. i'm not sure exactly how that would tie in to wine tasting, unless you had guys and girls move in opposite directions, with each table attached to a specific wine or something of that sort, but that would probably lead to a huge chaotic mess.....I've not heard of a singles wine tasting before, but it sounds like it would be fun....

[Kelly Johnson]

Is anyone else unsuprised that it's Bobby that comes up with the food-porn juxtaposition all bundled in a sexy red silk bag?

You have the ball BB.....RUN!

[bbally]

Well look what the cat has dragged forward for us to see!

The real Kelly Johnson!!!

Thanks Chef I will have a good time with it.