I’m hosting a wine tasting at my home tomorrow for a small number of friends. A wine professional will be coming to lead us through the tasting and talk to us about the wines. This person has helped select the wines, will be bringing them, setting up, making sure they are the right temperatures, pouring, talking to us about each wine and discussing it with us, etc.
If this were a caterer, I’d definitely be tipping, in an envelope at the end of the evening, but I’m not sure about the wine expert. I am leaning toward tipping, but don’t want to offend by tipping when it’s not appropriate.
Is this more of a caterer-host situation or a professor-student situation?
Thanks for any insight you all might have!
It sounds like this expert will be acting as a cross between sommelier (in that he’s picking wines and teaching you something about them) and a caterer (in that he’s serving you in your home and ensuring that the wines are served at their best).
Both of these services would normally involve a tip, so my inclination in this case would be to tip somewhere between 10% and 15% if you’re happy with the evening.
Thank you! I really wasn’t sure where sommelier fell on the tipping continuum.
I would say definitely tip. If they are extremely knowledgeable about wine, I would tip commensurate with their level of knowledge and assistance they provide.
How did you get this person? An expert friend who’s volunteering? A wine salesperson who hopes to sell to your guests? Someone who does this as a business? Do you have some kind of contract? Are you already paying for this person?
Some casual friends own a wine store, and the person coming to lead the wine tasting is one of their employees. I am paying a small fee for the visit, but it is not much.
Then I agree with others, you should definitely tip.
Thanks. That brings us to 100% in favor of tipping. Very glad I asked!