Getting Your Vino
The first thing to consider when starting a wine bar is where you will get your wine. Good wine bars have a lot of choices, but great ones have an incredible amount of wines to sample and enjoy. That's the key to success for any wine bar operator. You will constantly need to import, experiment and try new wines to keep an impressive selection of wines for everyone.
Choosing a Locale
Location, location, location is just a few of the three most important things when starting any business. For a wine bar you should consider locations that draw the wine crowd. Where do they like to go on Saturday? What about through the week? A good wine bar might do well close to other restaurants, near the airport, or attractions like shopping and fun but mellow outdoor activities like hiking and horseback riding.
Setting the Mood
Your wine bar is not a sports bar, and it's no hole-in-the-wall rock joint. It's a sophisticated place where people can go to get away from places like this. So, decorate it with upscale furniture and art from exotic places. If you can find pictures of wine country, even better. Or, how about a piece of winemaking equipment? Try setting the tables in a real 18th-century wine-smashing tub. That would really be unique. All of these elements are going to lead to a better atmosphere and a better wine bar.
Network
Talk to other entrepreneurs before you dive into this big investment. See what they learned and what mistakes they made. You should also visit as many wine bars as possible to see how they conduct business. Notice what's on their menu, and think about what you could do better. Compare your plan to the competitors in your area to see how your bar can be better.
Tags: when starting, wine bars