Wine List Development
Create balanced, profitable, and engaging selections tailored to your concept and clientele.
Service Description
Best for Restaurants, bars, and retailers seeking a thoughtful, profitable wine program aligned with their concept, cuisine, and customer base. Your wine list is more than a menu. It is a reflection of your brand, your service philosophy, and the experience you offer your guests. Wine List Development is a consulting service designed to help hospitality and retail businesses create wine programs that are balanced, engaging, and financially sound in real world service. Working collaboratively, Suzanne Bonham evaluates your current wine offerings, identifies opportunities for improvement, and designs a wine list that supports both guest experience and operational efficiency. The focus is on clarity, cohesion, and usability rather than unnecessary complexity. Engagements may include varietal and style balance, pricing strategy, margin optimization, and sourcing guidance with trusted distributors. Every recommendation is tailored to your concept, service model, and clientele, ensuring the final list feels intentional and easy for staff to execute. The result is a wine program that tells a clear story, complements your food and atmosphere, and performs confidently on the floor. A list designed to work as beautifully in practice as it does on paper. Engagement Structure Most wine list development projects span one to two weeks, allowing time for review, design, and refinement. Typical engagements include four to eight hours of active consultation, research, and follow up. Pricing Base engagement includes Complimentary 30 minute discovery call Full wine list audit and assessment Recommendations by style and price point Pricing and margin guidance Sourcing strategy and distributor guidance One revision meeting or follow up review Optional services may include distributor coordination, staff training or tasting support, and ongoing list maintenance or seasonal updates. Additional consulting is available at one hundred seventy five dollars per hour. Additional Details Travel Travel within Raleigh, Durham, and Chapel Hill is included. Locations outside this area may require a travel fee or negotiated day rate. Virtual Option Most consulting services can be delivered virtually at adjusted rates. Customization Multi service packages and long term retainers are available upon request.
Cancellation Policy
Default Booking, Cancellation, and Waitlist Policy By booking a service with The Wineologist, you agree to the policies outlined below. Full details are available on our website in the complete Booking Policy. Booking and Payment Bookings are subject to availability and are confirmed once payment and written confirmation are received. Full payment is required at the time of booking unless otherwise stated. Private or corporate events may require a deposit to secure the date, with the remaining balance due prior to the event. Cancellations and Changes Cancellation and refund eligibility vary by service type and timing. Please refer to the Refund and Cancellation Policy on our website for specific terms. Requests to change dates, times, or guest counts must be submitted in advance and are subject to availability. No Shows and Late Arrivals Events begin promptly at the scheduled start time. Late arrivals may not be able to join once the educational portion has begun. No shows and last minute cancellations may be non refundable. Waitlists If an event is full, you may request to be placed on a waitlist. Placement on a waitlist does not guarantee a spot. If space becomes available, participants will be contacted in the order requests were received and must confirm promptly to secure the opening. Wine and Food All services provided by The Wineologist are educational in nature. Wine and food are not sold. When applicable, wine and food may be provided by the client or arranged separately as reimbursable expenses for educational tasting purposes. Age Requirement All participants must be 21 years of age or older for events involving alcohol. Proof of age may be required. For full details, please review the complete Booking Policy on our website before reserving your experience.
Contact Details
919-480-8959
suzanne@thewineologist.com
525 South White Street, Wake Forest, NC, USA