Wine tastings with sommelier Jan Eißmann
When even local newspapers and radio stations are reporting on online wine tastings, then online wine tasting is clearly more than just a niche trend. As most wine-loving readers have probably already noticed, live tastings are now ubiquitous on social media and on winemakers' websites. I, too, decided relatively early on to offer my wine tastings live online and would now like to share my experiences.
But let's start at the beginning.
The virus, which we currently can't really escape in either the media landscape or everyday life, hardly needs mentioning here; its shadow precedes it. But where there's shadow, there's also light, and so some resourceful winemakers came up with the idea of simply holding their now-cancelled vintage presentations via livestream. It sounds incredibly easy, and it actually is. Many winemakers used their existing social media channels, especially Facebook and Instagram, and simply streamed themselves tasting their wines using the live function. Ideally, they promoted this event across all their channels, so that people could easily order the wines for home delivery or pick them up and participate live.
Image: Sommelier Jan Eißmann on live internet broadcast
Who would have thought that so many wine drinkers would forgo the beautiful wine cellar at the VDP winery, or trade the conviviality and expert discussions at the cooperative estate for the sofa and an antipasti platter? But what are the alternatives? And so, a flood of online posts quickly emerged from enthusiastic participants who photographed their tasting setups and shared them online. The viewers were at least as creative as the winemakers: buffets, cheese platters, decorated apartments, gardens, and balconies. Sometimes there were a questionable number of people in front of their screens, but the atmosphere was still great, and everyone had a lot of fun at the online tasting. Corona be damned!
The demand was huge and had to be met, which is why many winemakers turned to wine-savvy bloggers, or in my case, podcasters, who participated in the fun tastings and made their reach available. This is how I quickly got into the world of live tastings, and it soon became clear to me that this is a trend that will continue even after the restrictions are eased.
The challenge now is to develop a medium-term rehearsal concept that utilizes this momentum of curiosity but can also still function in a year's time.
Through the Weinstein podcast and my "analog" wine tastings in Saarland, I've learned that wine enthusiasts appreciate variety and enjoy exploring wines focused on specific themes. In the Weinstein podcast, I typically discuss very different topics, such as biodynamic winemaking or the Italian wine region. Therefore, I needed to offer wine tastings independent of specific wineries, and my goal was to be able to offer online wine seminars. After all, my experiences with wine tastings via Instagram and video conference over the past few weeks have been very positive, and all participants were enthusiastic about the new possibilities this offered!
Image: Sommelier Jan Eißmann in the vineyard
But what are the advantages of a live tasting from home, when (hopefully) normal everyday life will soon return?
- Firstly, there's the convenience, which motivates many to taste in their living room instead of getting into their car.
- You can leave the car where it is.
- Many amateur wine drinkers live in non-wine-growing regions.
- Not everyone has a good wine shop with wine tasting options around the corner.
- Increased degree of variety.
- Access to an online selection allows for a wide range of wines to be tasted.
- Maximum flexibility in choosing the tasting location.
- If you don't have time to attend, at least you have the wines and can perhaps watch a recording.
Plenty of reasons to offer live online wine seminars! So I set out to find an online shop that would allow me to offer online wine tastings featuring wines from more than one winery. The idea was to create several themed packages, each including a participant code for a video call via Zoom, Jitsi, or similar platforms. This increases the exclusivity of the wine tasting and fosters individual interaction among the participants.
With Winetory.net, I've found a reliable partner. Together, we've now completed seven wine packages, and more are in the works. Participants can now order a three-bottle package online, featuring both white and red wines, focusing on biodynamic practices and supporting Italian wine production. A dedicated page will keep participants informed about the live tastings and their corresponding wine packages. This makes it easy to compare dates with your own calendar and order, for example, the introductory biodynamic wine package. Each order will receive a link, and on May 22, 2020, at 7:30 p.m., I'll welcome participants to the video conference, where a fun evening filled with engaging conversation about wine can begin!
For me and my wine events, this means not only being able to continue offering fantastic seminars during the crisis, but also a clever expansion of my business model that I highly recommend. All you need is an internet connection and a smartphone, so getting started is a breeze. Welcome to 2020!
About the author Jan Eißmann
Jan studied English for teaching at the University of Trier, a wine region, and continuously expanded his wine knowledge alongside his studies. As a wine expert, he holds WSET (Wine & Spirit Education Trust) Level 3 certification. On June 18, 2018, his first 18-minute podcast, "The Visual Impression," was released on Spotify. Since then, over 70 more episodes have followed. He finds inspiration for his stories on regular wine tours through Germany, Austria, Italy, and France. Jan also shares his knowledge in his wine seminars, which can be booked through Winetory.
Video: Sommelier Jan-Eric Eißmann presents the new format "Jan's Wine Tastings"
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