Top tips for National Wine Month

ViVAS reveals its top selling summer wines: Furious Boar Zinfandel Rose – a sweet rosé with raspberry flavours Ca Marengo Pinot Grigio – a star white wine over delivering in fruit and freshness at every turn Conti Vechio Pinot Grigio Blush – a lighter and drier style of rosé than the New World produces but with enough red fruit to provide depth of flavour Jackalberry Chenin Blanc Colombard – a popular South African white wine with cool citrus and peach flavours Cambio 7 Sauvignon Blanc – a young, refreshing and tropically fruity white wine with well-balanced acidity Spring into summer with ViVAS's May offers: During May, ViVAS is offering customers deals on its top wines, including: 20% off popular Champagnes and sparkling wines 20% off ViVAS's Sauvignon stars Buy four cases of ViVAS's exclusive Gumnut Wines and receive a case of Rosé Gumnut absolutely free To celebrate ViVAS introducing the first English wines to its list (tying in with English Wine Week from 28 May – 5 June), ViVAS is offering 15% off Primrose Hill wines. Henry John, marketing manager at ViVAS, comments on some recent findings regarding wine trends: "Research shows that seasonality influences consumers' purchasing decisions and they're more likely to try new things, especially when it comes to wine. "On average, as the weather starts to get warmer consumers steadily spend more on wine. So, there are plenty of opportunities for operators to encourage their customers to discover new wines and trade up to something more special. "Whilst more than two thirds of operators understand that staff recommendation is an important factor in wine purchasing decisions, a quarter make no attempt to educate their staff to upsell . "The average customer is hugely risk averse when it comes to choosing wines when dining out, so it's down to operators to support customers by offering friendly, genuine advice. Don't leave the hard work to the customer. Instead, signpost them to new wines that they wouldn't normally consider or be brave enough to try. "With summer approaching, Rosé is an obvious choice for consumers looking for light and refreshing wines that are packed full of sweet red berry flavours. Other light sparklers like Prosecco, Cremant and Cava are also great drinks to gather customers together to celebrate the light, warm evenings. "But, what lines are best to push at this time of year to attract customers and, more importantly, how do you encourage your staff to drive sales? We've outlined some handy tips to show you how easy summer selling can be." VIVAS's top tips 1. Premium promotions: Promotions are a great way for operators to generate interest whilst encouraging trial and repeat purchase. Why not offer a percentage off your high-end wines during selected evenings, or provide a free glass of wine if customers spend over a certain amount on food? Just remember to advertise your offers well and ensure that you position your key wines to catch customers' eyes. 2. Offer samples: Operators looking to persuade their customers to try something new should offer samples. This is a massive opportunity to trade people up very easily. Not only does sampling create an open and interactive environment, it also encourages customers to become more adventurous and educate their palates. 3. Be specific: Signposting customers to wines they can trust is a great way to encourage them into areas that are out of their comfort zone. Start your recommendation with: 'if you like this, you'll love…'. It demonstrates that you're listening to their likes and dislikes and are working to give them a better experience. 4. Incentivise: Why not run a competition for your staff National Wine Month? The employee who sells the most bottles of a selected wine wins a small prize. Or, encourage staff who understand basic principles to train new starters. Understanding that not all operators are in a position to offer financial rewards, consider putting alternative plans in place