“Why should I train our tasting room staff if they leave after six months?”
It’s a question we hear often – and it’s completely understandable. But here’s the thing: if your staff aren’t trained, your wine knowledge and service may not reflect the true quality of your brand. That can lead to missed sales, lost customers, and fewer returning visitors.
Investing in your front-of-house team, even for a short time, pays off in the long run. Every guest interaction is a chance to build loyalty and turn a casual visitor into a lifelong customer.
Feedback from recent training at Saronsberg is really positive, and they have already booked for Level 2:
"The training our tasting room team did with Neil was incredibly valuable. Our staff feel uplifted, empowered, and far more confident to engage deeply with guests about our wines. It’s been amazing to see how motivated they are to share their knowledge and create more meaningful experiences for visitors. They are all excited to do the next course – the momentum and enthusiasm it’s created have been fantastic!" - Luciana van Huysteen, hospitality manager at Saronsberg
That’s why the wine.co.za DTC Academy offers professional onsite training for tasting room staff – with a minimum of just 4 people. If you’ve got fewer team members or want to stagger the training, no problem! Join one of our scheduled sessions at our offices in Somerset West, at Kingfisher Park, Ou Paardevlei Road (right near Builders Warehouse).
Let’s help your team shine – no matter how long they’re with you!
Wine Advisor Level 1: Introduction to wine and service
The morning session looks at the basics of wine; the history and culture of wine, where grapes grow best, how wine is made and understanding the label, before looking at the main wine regions of South Africa.
The afternoon session focuses on understanding guest needs and suggestive up-selling, which includes practical application of newly acquired skills.
Cost: R1 890 ex. VAT
Dates
- Monday, 23 June 2025
- Monday, 21 July 2025
- Monday, 18 August 2025
- Monday, 22 September 2025
Wine Advisor Level 2: Deeper dive into wine and effective engagement
The morning session offers a deeper knowledge of South African wine, its regions, climates and soils with an enhanced understanding of winemaking. Candidates will learn to compare key wine styles with international examples to give context and background when talking with guests.
The afternoon session provides strategies for building professional rapport, effective selling and delivering a real wow factor, leaving guests wanting to come back for more.
Cost: R2 300 ex. VAT
Dates
- Monday, 30 June 2025
- Monday, 28 July 2025
- Monday, 25 August 2025
- Monday, 29 September 2025
Wine Sales Advisor Level 3: Sales and Sservice focus
Cost R1 500 ex vat
This is a sales and service orientated course, designed to enhance the guest experience and deliver a Wow! Factor for wine knowledgeable teams.
The course works with candidates to explore the following areas:
- Communication: How do we communicate with guests? How body language is important. The winery story and the wines it makes, and explaining them in a knowledgeable and understandable way.
- Guest Experience: First impressions and guest interaction. Service efficiency and building rapport.
- Sales Strategies: Professional relationship selling and understanding guests needs. Selling a solution and closing the deal.
- 5 Star Service: Service etiquette and the Wow! Factor. Professional wine service and etiquette.
- Brand Loyalty: Retaining customers and residual sales. Wine clubs, loyalty programs and online sales.
Cost: R1 500 ex. VAT
Date
If you have 4 or more staff who need training, we would be delighted to come out to you to present at your premises.
Included: Full Study Guide, Certificate, Waiters friend and coffee/tea
Excluded: Travel, lunch
BOOK NOW
For queries, contact Judy Brower: judy@wine.co.za | 021 851 2737 | 076 011 0753
Please take a minute to complete our TRAINING NEEDS QUESTIONNAIRE HERE so that we can understand your requirements better.
