Even if they don’t like to drink wine, almost everyone can appreciate the art and craftsmanship behind it, the history and tradition.
There is a particular kind of elegance that you’ll sense at a winery that is hard to find in any other place that you wouldn’t spend a lot more money to get into.
It’s both luxurious and down to earth, sophisticated and rustic, modern and ancient all at the same time.
And that’s what makes winery corporate events so perfect.
They’re ideal for bringing a group of employees together for a purpose, as everyone can be immersed in an 8000-year-old tradition and taste its fruits.
They can quite literally smell and taste the results of stellar teamwork and coordination.
Clarify Your Goals
The first step is the one that is most commonly forgotten.
Of course, going to a winery is a lot of fun, and everyone will enjoy it.
But it’s vital to keep your mission in mind so that everything stays on track and your winery corporate event results in more than just a nice trip.
Now, we’re not saying that it won’t be a nice trip, as we’re sure it certainly will be.
What we’re saying is that, whether it’s team building or just rewarding everyone for a job well done, it’s good to have your goals clear.
Decide On Your Budget
Vineyards can run the gamut from relatively cheap, local mom-and-pop operations to ritzy corporate establishments with 5-star hotels on site.
So, you’ll want to be conscious of your budget and be aware of pricing.
That means getting itemized lists of everything you’ll need to spend money on before you start spending.
It also means figuring out which things are essential and which ones you’re willing to let go of for the sake of the budget.
For instance, you might really want to go to a particular winery in the remote countryside, but it might take 2 days to get there.
That means everyone will need to be housed somewhere and fed for at least one day in transit. And that’s not counting the fuel costs.
Instead, you can eliminate all that by choosing to host your winery corporate event at a place closer to the airport.
Which brings us to…
Select A Great Winery
You’ve got a lot of great options all over the country, especially up here in Minnesota, where we are.
And the country itself is enormous, with a variety of different altitudes and climate zones, as well as the different seasons during which you could visit.
So, bear all that in mind as you’re collecting the names of your candidate wineries and narrowing them down.
You’ll want to not only select one that is attractive to you, but also reserve it during a time of the year that’s agreeable.
Additionally, you’ll ideally want to choose a winery that aligns with your company’s values and offers all the amenities that you and your team will require for your winery corporate event.
Learn Stuff
One of the cool things about wineries is that they’re like living museums.
Put another way, they’re like museums where the exhibits are still growing and producing.
And, like any other museum, there are abundant opportunities to learn new things, from guided tours to tasting and even live demonstrations.
You can absolutely drink the wine, but don’t you also want to know more about where it came from, who made it, why they chose this profession, what inspires them, and how they articulate their vision of the future for their industry?
There are so many valuable and fascinating lessons you and your team can take away that you can all then apply to your own projects and objectives.
So, remember to create and schedule at least one or two experiences to give you and your team members a chance to really explore not only the flavors but also the people and culture behind them.
Give Something Away
We know you’re already giving everyone a trip to a winery, and that’s very cool.
But you can put the icing on the cake by doing a surprise giveaway at the end.
A gift that someone didn’t expect to receive impacts them more than something they already thought they were going to get.
Whether you’re giving a bottle of wine to everyone on the team or something a little more personal for a team member whose wife just had a baby, the goal here is to show your team members that you really care about them as people.
You want them to feel that they’re more than just a number in a spreadsheet.
Make It Personal
Most people who work aren’t doing the job they dreamed of as kids, and most wouldn’t keep working if they never got paid for it.
We all understand this blunt but painful truth about the modern world.
Unless you’re running a vineyard, you’re probably in the same boat.
And that’s ok.
We’re all adults, and we all have bills to pay.
But just because we’re not astronauts, brain surgeons, or millionaire social media influencers doesn’t mean the work we do is unimportant.
So, focus on the good each person does for the company and how it benefits the rest of the team.
