Tipping your Host on a Paid Tasting

[EHeffner]

On to my 100th thread re: my first Napa trip

We have 4 tastings planned for next week, all with tasting fees, with fees ranging from $45 to $85 a person. I assume it is proper etiquette to give a tip to our host/guide if we are pleased with the experience? If so, what is customary? $5 a person? $10 a person? No tip since I’m paying for the experience?

I figure a tip makes sense as the host/guide won’t see much of the tasting fee, just wanted to see what proper etiquette is

[Chris Blum]

I’m not gonna tip on top of a tasting fee. Sorry, not sorry.

[Victor Hong]

If the host/guide owns the business, or would not seem to depend centrally on tips as income, I would not tip.

[R. Frankel]

Not sure what you mean by host/guide.

For the four tastings (I assume at wineries) I wouldn’t tip. I’ve tasted at many wineries and these don’t usually feel like tipping moments. If I like the wine, I buy a bottle. If I like it a lot, I buy more.

If you’ve hired a guide who is accompanying you or driving you around, then I’d definitely tip that person.

[Jim Anderson]

Rarely do people tip the staff here at the winery. When they do it’s almost awkward as there is no expectation of tipping occurring. I would presume this to be commonplace. Don’t worry about it. If you feel someone had gone to extraordinary lengths then go ahead and tip them but don’t feel any pressure.

[Paul Luckin]

On to my 100th thread re: my first Napa trip

We have 4 tastings planned for next week, all with tasting fees, with fees ranging from $45 to $85 a person. I assume it is proper etiquette to give a tip to our host/guide if we are pleased with the experience? If so, what is customary? $5 a person? $10 a person? No tip since I’m paying for the experience?

I figure a tip makes sense as the host/guide won’t see much of the tasting fee, just wanted to see what proper etiquette is

as someone who hosts tastings on a daily basis, i'd say this:

tipping is never expected, and is always appreciated.

[Robert.A.Jr.]

Yea I’ve never thought that tipping was expected in this setting, but with memorable tastings, I have done things like send my host a special bottle of wine. Did that not too long ago at one CA winery that hosted me for a couple of hours and popped a lot of additional, and mature bottles. It wasn’t like I over-stayed the welcome, it was a slow day at their winery and things just naturally evolved. The host was a Francophile, and we talked about French wine and comparisons, so I sent him a bottle of something he had never tried.

[Brian G r a f s t r o m]

Paul, are there tip amounts that are so low you consider them insulting?


Separately, I would not tip in this scenario unless I felt I was getting special treatment above and beyond the experience I paid for, and even then my appreciation would more likely be expressed by and through purchases. But, that is coming from a guy who would like to see this country move away from tipping and towards paying folks living wages.

[JDavisRoby]

In my experience depends on the winery. The larger, corporate owned wineries can treat their tasting rooms like bars. As a result I’ve seen a tip line on the credit card signature slip.

[Paul Luckin]

Paul, are there tip amounts that are so low you consider them insulting?


Separately, I would not tip in this scenario unless I felt I was getting special treatment above and beyond the experience I paid for, and even then my appreciation would more likely be expressed by and through purchases. But, that is coming from a guy who would like to see this country move away from tipping and towards paying folks living wages.

insulting? no, not really. if a guest feels compelled to tip any amount i'm going to say "thank you" and assume it was because they enjoyed the experience. and like you referenced: i agree that purchases > gratuity in a traditional tasting room/seated/tour situation.

in my experience, those who want to tip will often ask if it's alright to do so (since we choose not to have a tip line on the receipt) when checking out, and the large majority of those guests are visiting from outside of CA.

ITB folks tend to be the most generous when it comes to gratuities, even when making a purchase they'll often throw a few bucks on the bar or slip it into a handshake goodbye. personally, when i go out tasting i'll make sure to tip the host as there is typically a comp or discount on purchase involved. i see it as a courtesy between fellow winery employees. $5 or $10 is enough for a beer after work and that's cool imo.

[dsimmons]

In my years of tastings I have never done it and never felt that it was customary or expected.

[EHeffner]

Thanks for the opinions everyone! I’d rather ask beforehand than make an awkward situation for myself lol

[Siun o'Connell]

I always assumed the staff at tasting rooms earned some type of commission - unless of course they were the owner?

[brodie thomson]

Only in the United States is this even a question.

[Paul Luckin]

I always assumed the staff at tasting rooms earned some type of commission - unless of course they were the owner?

Depends on the winery and their structure. Many hourly employees receive a commission based on club signups. Management might get a % of net sales or commissions based on sales goal achievements. There’s really no “standard” due to the myriad of winery operation setups.

[Paul Luckin]

Only in the United States is this even a question.

Agreed.

[LMD Ermitaño]

Only in the United States is this even a question.

Agreed.

I just follow whatever the local custom may be. In the US, to my mind, the general default setting is to tip, moreso for good service. What I get confused with is when the one showing/taking me around is a winery “higher-up” or owner. In my culture, offering/giving such person a tip would be considered an insult. Am unsure what such case would be in the US.

[David Cooper]

Pay with a credit card. If the add a tip window comes up then decide. I would say yes but I like tipping so that is my answer.

[John Davis]

In my years of tastings I have never done it and never felt that it was customary or expected.

This.

[Tim Heaton]

Only in the United States is this even a question.

bingo

[robert creth]

IMHO tipping is a way to compensate servers who get paid a crappy wage or those who provide a direct service. I will tip at bars and restaurants, the cable person and the person who towed my car. It would not occur to me that after paying for tasting, I should tip anyone. If I enjoyed the experience, I buy some wine, if not, I don’t. Just came back from England where tipping in pubs is considered tacky. It was a point of conversation and those English folks who have traveled to the US say they were confused by the tipping model. That and right turns on red lights.

[Pat Esposito]

The tastings we do now usually involve just a small, private group and a host that has your undivided attention for an hour or two. In those situations we always slip them a $20 or more depending on the level of service and say 'grab a beer or two on us tonight'. If they were a shitty host, we don't, but I haven't encountered many like that.

It always amazes me when people that spend hundreds or thousands of dollars on wine (and food and whisky) get so cheap when it comes to tipping.

[Karen Troisi]

It very much depends on the winery. If the owner is not hosting, feel free to tip. Most wineries in Napa and Sonoma only give a bonus on wine club sign-ups (not a sales commission per bottle) and your host is probably earning $15-20 per hour for the duration of your tasting (this is the standard hourly wage in Napa/Sonoma and is not dependent upon bottle price or cost of tasting).

We always tip similar to enjoying a meal in a fine dining establishment.

[Paul McCourt]

The tastings we do now usually involve just a small, private group and a host that has your undivided attention for an hour or two. In those situations we always slip them a $20 or more depending on the level of service and say 'grab a beer or two on us tonight'. If they were a shitty host, we don't, but I haven't encountered many like that.

It always amazes me when people that spend hundreds or thousands of dollars on wine (and food and whisky) get so cheap when it comes to tipping.

I'm pretty much of the same mind. Depending on how I'm feeling at the moment I'll mostly grab a few bills and say thanks. Sometimes not. I don't sweat it and I don't really ever angst over it. In the moment I basically try to think "don't be a dick" and the rest takes care of itself, but what I am not going to do is run a million permutations through my mind to try and figure out the "right" amount or deeply contemplate whether I should or should not tip.

[James Billy]

The workers in Socialist countries get sufficient pay as to not need a tip.

[David Wright]

Do you live in a socialist country? Do you need a tip every time you do your job?

[Tom G l a s g o w]

The workers in Socialist countries get sufficient pay as to not need a tip.

The state doesn’t own the means of production in the US. Some distribution systems are state owned (PA & NH).

[mike pobega]

Owner/winemaker-no tip. It's bad form. If I gave Thomas Rivers-Brown a C-note at the door, he'd run me over with an exotic car and I'd be full of Rutherford dust........
Employee does an awesome job, tip. I am sure always appreciated.

[Sean Devaney]

I don't tip but I do send an email to the winery when I have an exceptional experience (or a poor one.) I have given a few bottles to tasting room staff over the years.

[Steve Crawford]

wait, people actually pay for tastings?
/s

[Siun o'Connell]

I'm still wondering about Robert Creth tipping the cable guy .... and thinking the Brits know anything about good service.

[Blake Brown]

I tip for services that are rendered with passion, precision and consideration regardless of any other costs. Its about reward for those who serve righteously. Why not encourage more of the same for others?

[Chris Blum]

Why not expect people to provide a modicum of customer service as part of their job?

[ykwon]

Owner/winemaker-no tip. It's bad form. If I gave Thomas Rivers-Brown a C-note at the door, he'd run me over with an exotic car and I'd be full of Rutherford dust........
Employee does an awesome job, tip. I am sure always appreciated.

[Bob Davis]

Visited Napa last fall and considering the size of the fees being charged, I would not consider tipping.

[Gerhard P.]

I have no idea of tastings in Napa - only in Europe - and I usually (almost) never pay for tastings, so also no tip.

But what I do almost all the time is bringing an interesting bottle with me, usually from Styria/Austria ... or an Austrian GV or Riesling etc.
Always appreciated - and more often than not I get something (in bottle) back - in addition to what I usually purchase.

[Randy Bowman]

Define HOST.

If you are hiring somebody to drive you around to the tastings and they have arranged the tastings, you tip.
If you are hiring somebody to drive you around to the tastings and you arranged the tastings, you tip.
If your host is a friend, buy him lunch, dinner and offer him $100. He will refuse it.
If your host is the winery, no tip. Buy wine.

[Brian G r a f s t r o m]

I hope you all tip your doctors, lawyers, accountants, kids' teachers, optometrists, investment brokers, etc etc etc, too. I'm with Chris --- to a certain extent, good customer service should be expected, and when it is provided it's reasonable to simply call it a Good Business Decision, as good customer service encourages repeat patronage.

My previous post re: tipping for service above and beyond that which you paid for still stands, however.

[Robert.A.Jr.]

I hope you all tip your doctors, lawyers, accountants, kids' teachers, optometrists, investment brokers, etc etc etc, too. I'm with Chris --- to a certain extent, good customer service should be expected, and when it is provided it's reasonable to simply call it a Good Business Decision, as good customer service encourages repeat patronage.

My previous post re: tipping for service above and beyond that which you paid for still stands, however.

I once got a tip. A huge one. But just once. I must suck as a professional.

So my wife brought this subject up. Evidently she and all her girlfriends go to this one place that does Botox, lips, laser and all that stuff. Yea new to me as well, but she handles all the bills so I know nothing. Evidently they are all up in arms as the place added a tip line on the Visa printouts. Made them all quite uncomfortable. One lady told the owner, and voila, she immediately took it off. Don’t offend those “rich” (joking) tennis ladies!

[K John Joseph]

Visited Napa last fall and considering the size of the fees being charged, I would not consider tipping.

So this was my deal. I get pinched into a tasting at Hall for various reasons that don't matter here. Tasting is $125 a pop for my wife and me. I buy a six pack of fairly expensive stuff while we're at the 90 minute tasting which was okay because the group we were paired with was young and fairly fun. Otherwise, it's a basic tasting, just their higher end (but not highest end) stuff. Some nuts, some cheese, 5 or 6 wines from various plots and vintages. Guy hosting talks about the wines, but not a ton to it. Tasting fees not comped on the 6-pack purchase. 8 seats at the table or so. It's like $1000 to the house for the tasting. I did not tip above the $250 we paid in tasting fees. Some of the other folks did and I was very surprised and kind of felt like a bastard. But at the same time, did not feel like a tip was necessary, expected, or appropriate in the situation.

[Matt K]

I tip any tasting room staff member that provides excellent service and can answer my asinine questions. Owner/winemaker I wouldn't consider tipping.

[Jason T]

Tasting fees not comped on the 6-pack purchase. 8 seats at the table or so. It's like $1000 to the house for the tasting. I did not tip above the $250 we paid in tasting fees. Some of the other folks did and I was very surprised and kind of felt like a bastard. But at the same time, did not feel like a tip was necessary, expected, or appropriate in the situation.

Fees weren’t comped? Yikes. That’s steep. I would not have tipped either.

[Nate Simon]

At the prices charged at almost all of the Napa places, the idea of tipping is the equivalent of saying, “Thank you, sir, may I have another?“

[Brandon R]

We went to two wineries this weekend in the Yakima Valley. At one, we were the only ones there and the winemaker, a very nice young man, was pouring. There was no charge for the tasting, but we each bought a few bottles (which is customary for me when there's no tasting fee). Then, upon swiping my card on the iPad setup thingy, he turns the display around for my fingertip signature and there's the first screen: how much to time. It was based on the price of the bottles and I absentmindedly hit 15%. I just tipped the dude $10 for selling us wine. I don't blame him, but I just don't see the need to tip someone for selling me something (which, for me, is what a tasting is designed to do).

[Craig G]

I tip the winery owners too. Have you seen the country club dues in the Napa area?