In your company, are you responsible for booking venues, facilities, restaurants and organizing transportation for meetings and events?
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As is always the case, dining is affected by the key factors in many industries: money, technology and utility. Go out and see how these trends are reflected in the places you frequent around the Houston area.
selecting wine for a corporate dinner
When you are entertaining clients or important associates at a restaurant for dinner, some crucial yet subtle goals are to impress them and set the tone for how you do business. Part of this is selecting wines for the table, which can be incredibly intimidating if you don’t know much about them. Perfectly matching food and wine is something of an art, but it doesn’t have to be beyond your reach. Take a look at the following suggestions for how to select a proper wine and look confident while doing so to add to a successful evening.
Pairing food and wine is about complementing the flavors of both to enhance the overall tasting experience. In general, delicate meals and lighter foods like fish and salads go well with lighter, crisper wines. Heavy foods like red meats and rich sauces go with darker, bolder wines. For starters, consider the restaurant’s forte—if it serves seafood, maybe go white; if it serves steaks, maybe go red. This general rule can work well if everyone orders similar dishes, but what if the menu is incredibly diverse? Don’t worry about the complicated matching of specific varietals to dishes. Rather consider getting a red and a white so guests can choose their preference.
When it comes to choosing actual bottles off the list, remember that just because a wine is pricier does not make it better. Some truly amazing wines can be found under $40, so first consider your budget and then look at the options. Successful business people can identify value, and value on the wine list is no exception.
If you know nothing about wine, you still have a chance. Nowadays, many restaurants post the wine list online. If so, find it and study it before you go to determine which wines fit your budget. You also can research and learn about the different varietals online. If the list is not online, stop by the restaurant before the dinner and consult with the sommelier on suggestions. This small investment in time will have big impact at the dinner. By the time you are handed the list, you’ll be able to choose one quickly and with certainty.
If you see a really familiar brand name of wine, consider avoiding it. Chances are everyone knows them and can get them anywhere. Instead try something exotic or international that’s within your price range. Many wines from New Zealand, Argentina and Chile are truly superb and still won’t break the bank.
If the restaurant has a sommelier, take advantage of the service. After all, good business people know how to delegate, and it’s the sommelier’s job to know the wines intimately. If you’re really stuck, decide how much you want to spend, choose an interesting or unusual wine around that price and then ask the sommelier if that is a good wine while pointing at the price. Sommeliers are used to this; they understand what you’re asking.
When it comes down to it, the worst thing you can do is try to fake it if you lack confidence. If you are still confused, a great strategic idea is to ask around the table and see if someone there truly takes pride in their own knowledge of wines. The gesture makes them feel important and useful, and delegating responsibility shows that you welcome a collaborative working environment.
However you choose to go about it, make sure your confidence comes through when selecting a wine at a business dinner. It can truly impact the entire evening.
selecting wine for a corporate dinner
When you are entertaining clients or important associates at a restaurant for dinner, some crucial yet subtle goals are to impress them and set the tone for how you do business. Part of this is selecting wines for the table, which can be incredibly intimidating if you don’t know much about them. Perfectly matching food and wine is something of an art, but it doesn’t have to be beyond your reach. Take a look at the following suggestions for how to select a proper wine and look confident while doing so to add to a successful evening.
Pairing food and wine is about complementing the flavors of both to enhance the overall tasting experience. In general, delicate meals and lighter foods like fish and salads go well with lighter, crisper wines. Heavy foods like red meats and rich sauces go with darker, bolder wines. For starters, consider the restaurant’s forte—if it serves seafood, maybe go white; if it serves steaks, maybe go red. This general rule can work well if everyone orders similar dishes, but what if the menu is incredibly diverse? Don’t worry about the complicated matching of specific varietals to dishes. Rather consider getting a red and a white so guests can choose their preference.
When it comes to choosing actual bottles off the list, remember that just because a wine is pricier does not make it better. Some truly amazing wines can be found under $40, so first consider your budget and then look at the options. Successful business people can identify value, and value on the wine list is no exception.
If you know nothing about wine, you still have a chance. Nowadays, many restaurants post the wine list online. If so, find it and study it before you go to determine which wines fit your budget. You also can research and learn about the different varietals online. If the list is not online, stop by the restaurant before the dinner and consult with the sommelier on suggestions. This small investment in time will have big impact at the dinner. By the time you are handed the list, you’ll be able to choose one quickly and with certainty.
If you see a really familiar brand name of wine, consider avoiding it. Chances are everyone knows them and can get them anywhere. Instead try something exotic or international that’s within your price range. Many wines from New Zealand, Argentina and Chile are truly superb and still won’t break the bank.
If the restaurant has a sommelier, take advantage of the service. After all, good business people know how to delegate, and it’s the sommelier’s job to know the wines intimately. If you’re really stuck, decide how much you want to spend, choose an interesting or unusual wine around that price and then ask the sommelier if that is a good wine while pointing at the price. Sommeliers are used to this; they understand what you’re asking.
When it comes down to it, the worst thing you can do is try to fake it if you lack confidence. If you are still confused, a great strategic idea is to ask around the table and see if someone there truly takes pride in their own knowledge of wines. The gesture makes them feel important and useful, and delegating responsibility shows that you welcome a collaborative working environment.
However you choose to go about it, make sure your confidence comes through when selecting a wine at a business dinner. It can truly impact the entire evening.
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If accepted, your submission will be edited for length and clarity. There is no monetary payment if your item is used; instead, you can publicize yourself through a five-line biography with your contact information that will appear at the end of the article.
Send submissions to
editorial@MeetingPlannerResources.org. We will contact you if your submission is chosen.