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Taking a Flight in a Restaurant Wine Menu

  • Posted by CorkNoob
Yes, you’ve guessed it, the CorkNoob has tried wine flights! This week, I wanted to try my hand in ordering from a restaurant wine menu. In this case, Ibiza Wine Bar in Pittsburgh’s South Side was where I “took a flight.” After meeting a friend of mine at the new Steel Cactus Restaurant & Cantina […]

corkSWAGGER: How to Pick from a Restaurant Wine List

  • Posted by Danielle Gillespie
I recently read a great blog post referring to a sales technique that defined swagger as a “mix of positive expectation and objective indifference.” Since reading the article, I haven’t been able to stop thinking about other potential –swaggers, and more specifically about corkSWAGGER. The concept lines up perfectly with our quest to help people love and […]

Welcoming a Wine Newbie & Tasting California Cabernet

  • Posted by CorkNoob
As a newbie wine sipper, I’m hoping to provide a perspective that helps relate to other wine drinkers new to the scene and show experienced wine-o’s how we think. I’ll be providing a look into my different wine tastings and experiences in the wine world. Somewhat new to the wine experience, I have spent the […]

Wine Trade: How Small Label Wines Get Big Label Attention

  • Posted by Danielle Gillespie
“Popular”, a word that (for me) implies a complete lack of active curiosity or creativity, is one of my least favorite words. And I especially despise the word when a sales person or restaurant wait staff relates it to wine. This word, popular, was drifting around in my head when I recently sat down to […]

Oddball Wine Pairings

  • Posted by Danielle Gillespie
Inspired by a barista with a grumpy attitude (how is that even a thing?), I thought some practical wine pairing tips might be useful for wine lovers and the wine-curious alike.  Here are some inspired recommendations.   THE SALTY ATTITUDE In much the same way that you might want to chase your potato chips with […]

A Wine is Worth 1000 Words

  • Posted by Danielle Gillespie
  In our offices last week, we were enjoying some wine that a client dropped off (I mean, it would’ve been rude not to drink it, right?) and talking shop.  The conversation turned to our experiences, or lack thereof, with sommeliers and wine directors.  Personally, I have tremendous respect for those professionals that carefully craft […]

Country Clubs: Differentiate and Grow

  • Posted by The CorkGuru
Differentiate. Retain. Grow. These three missions work together to provide a sound foundation for any successful country club.   In today’s market it is important not only to continue to build value within your core areas but also to differentiate your club.  Meeting and exceeding expectations allows you to retain current members.  A membership that is […]

Wine Lockers? Wine Not

  • Posted by Danielle Gillespie
Last week I was talking with a colleague and we stumbled upon the topic of wine lockers.  What are wine lockers, he asked.   My wine-encouraged, flippant response: wine lockers are magical cubes, obtained by subscription or lease at the coolest restaurants, wine bars and private clubs. All joking aside, these temperature-controlled cubbies are used to […]

The Big O: Is Organic Wine Worth It?

  • Posted by Danielle Gillespie
By “Big O”, I mean organic – get your mind out of the gutter! With Earth Day right around the corner, I am reminded that we are all asked to stop and consider this planet that we live on and the footprint we will be leaving behind. It almost seems silly, though, to have only […]

How to Select Wines for Your Restaurant Wine List

  • Posted by The CorkGuru
The process of purchasing wine for a restaurant involves a careful consideration of your customer’s tastes and preferences, the type of food that you serve, regional favorites, and popular vintages. When considering the selection of wine for your restaurant wine list, it is important to build a relationship with a distributor or supplier, someone who has […]