Restaurants, hotels & service teams
Practical wine training for hospitality teams
Help your team talk about the wines they actually serve. Training with Sergio Rubí focuses on clear recommendations, useful questions and confident communication with guests.
Start with a real service need
Perhaps new staff need an introduction to your list, guests ask questions the team finds difficult, or recommendations vary between shifts. We start with one example from your service and agree what would be useful to practise.
Training works alongside your manager, sommelier or existing supplier support. It makes sense where there is a specific task to reinforce, rather than repeating what your team already does well.
Wine Service Essentials
A focused 90-minute session for up to 12 staff from one venue. Preparation uses up to three wines from your current list and your menu. The session includes practical role-play and a concise recommendation guide.
- Ask about preferences and budget with tact.
- Describe a wine in clear, guest-friendly language.
- Recommend an available option and explain the reason.
- Know when to check a detail rather than guess.
Wine Service Sprint
For a broader need, a four-week programme offers two practical sessions, a focused review of the list and a manager review. The scope is agreed around a specific priority, with time to discuss what the team has applied between sessions.
If the review identifies an ongoing need, monthly support can be discussed separately. A one-off session does not commit you to a recurring programme.
How delivery works
Sergio is based in Cork. In-person work elsewhere in Ireland is quoted with the relevant travel arrangements. Remote delivery can be considered with a manager or facilitator at the venue to coordinate staff and materials.
The venue provides the agreed wines, glassware, room and staff participation. The proposal confirms preparation, deliverables, dates, responsibilities and full price. Staff can practise the communication exercises without tasting alcohol.
Questions from managers
Is this an official WSET course?
No. This is independent, practical workplace training from The Wine Taster. It does not award a WSET qualification.
Can we use our own wine list?
Yes. The work is built around agreed wines from your current list and your menu, with product details checked during preparation.
How do we assess the session?
We agree observable skills, practise them and review examples. Commercial results depend on many factors; an increase in sales is not guaranteed.
What is the first step?
A short discussion with the person responsible for the team. Share your venue, staff numbers and the service task you would like to improve.
A good experience starts with a conversation
Tell me what you have in mind.
Choose a service, share a few details and prepare your enquiry. We will agree availability, arrangements and the full price before you book.