Wine Events

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Book me for your Event

When you book an event with me you get ME – all in – I charge a flat fee of £10,000 ex VAT (plus travelling time) then £60 a head ex VAT (or more if you wish) on wine. I run it in the most fun, engaging way I know how, making sure all your guests have a great time.

“Thanks for a wonderful evening last night. The thank you’s are pouring in. You run the room in such a great way, making it so easy and fun for us to integrate with our clients. With your help this has firmly cemented our client relationship”

Matt Franklin Regional Director Consilio

“Thanks for everything. Another absolutely superb evening with you. I cannot wait for the next one. Thanks for always making us feel so special!”

Michelle Buckman CBRE

“What a superb evening, fantastically set up, tutored and guided through a set of really interesting and stunning wines. Like a fine Barolo, Tom, you seem to get better and better with age!”

Joel Smith Hogan Lovells

“We have had so many lovely comments from our guests and my new team members who were blown away by how slick an evening it was and how magical it was to enjoy people’s company in person again, over a glass of vino whilst learning about wine.”

Joel Smith Hogan Lovells

“From us as a company, I want you to know how much we enjoy working with you, your events are aways so much fun and you as a presenter/sommelier are incredibly engaging. Since you were first introduced to us by Savills, I think all departments have booked you in on recommendations from us all!”

Amy Young GLP

“The EVENTS we run with your team are THE BEST NETWORKING events in our diary. Our clients keep asking when the next one is.”

Richard Sullivan National Head of Industrial and Logistics Savills

“The events we have done with you and your team have bought us more business enquiries than any other activity we have done in the last 18 months.”

Nick Payne Charles Rivers Associates

“The Tom Gilbey team run these dinners brilliantly for us, creating the perfect relaxed, informal, interesting and intimate feel to make for great conversation and connections.”

Humphrey Baker Senior Partner Graphite Capital

“It was delightful in every way. My LinkedIn account is fizzing this morning. Highly recommended for any corporate hospitality event. I shall certainly be asking them to do something for my work soon.”

Siward Atkins Maitland Chambers

“The quality of the organisation and of the wines was excellent and you created a very lively and light-hearted-competitive atmosphere which is exactly what our guests enjoy - so full marks again!”

Clive Hopewell Partner Bird & Bird LLP

If a Tom Gilbey wine event sounds right for you, please email me to chat through and perhaps reserve up to three event dates to ensure you get the event you want.

My fee does not include wine, food, venue hire, equipment hire etc.

Please find all information you need on the FAQ’s below.

Contact me

FAQs

How much does a Tom Gilbey event cost?

A Tom Gilbey event costs £10,000 ex VAT plus £60 a head ex VAT (or more if you like) for the wine.

Can you help us with venues?

We can put you in touch with a venue finder who can source you the perfect venue

Do we have to buy the wine from you?

No you don't have to buy the wine from Tom however Tom will want to choose the wine for your event to ensure the wine presentation part of your event is perfect.

Can I host this in my office/home?

Yes. Tom is happy to come to your office and or home and will gladly advise on the set up of your space.

How do I work out corkage charges with venues?

We will generally use 2 glasses (a third of a bottle) of sparkling wine per person and a bottle of still wine per head for the wine event.

How do I work out food costs with venues?

For evening events we recommend substantial canapes during the 30 minute drinks reception then a good amount of food after the wine tasting (either 8:30pm or 9pm depending on start time). We suggest ideally a hot buffet. Failing that, substantial charcuterie and cheese or bowl food (3 per person)

What are the timings for your events?

We advise inviting guests to arrive at one particular time 'PROMPT' (they'll always be late). For an evening event we recommend inviting them for either 6pm or 6:30pm PROMPT. We start with 30 mins of a drinks reception after which the wine event starts and continues for nearly 2 hours. For a lunch event we recommend inviting guests for 12:30pm PROMPT. We ensure our events finish in good time for guests to catch trains home for a sensible hour.

How should I word the invite?

Be sure to ask your guests to arrive at one specific time PROMPT.

e.g. Charlie Thornton and the team at Bloggs Construction invite you for an evening of fine wine tasting with Tom Gilbey, The Wine Guy on Thursday the 3rd November.

When: Thursday 3rd November 6:30pm Prompt

Venue: Carousel London, 21 Charlotte Street, W1T 1RW

Carriages: 10pm

Delicious food will be served to accompany the wines

R.S.V.P. to Jo Bloggs by (sharpish) jo@bloggsconstruction.com

When should I send invites out?

Send a save the date out as soon as you know you are putting on the event. Send the invite out three months in advance if you can. People's diaries get very booked up, especially for Wednesday and Thursday evenings in peak season.

How long does the event last?

The actual wine tasting or lunch lasts approximately two hours once the tasting part has started. In all allow for 3 hours to welcome guests and pour them a few glasses at the end.

What are the best timings for an evening event?

Be sure to invite guests to arrive PROMPT and invite them ideally for 6pm, failing that, 6:30pm or at a push 7pm. Any later than that makes it difficult not to rush the event.

What is the best format for an event?

The best format for an evening event is a team based blind wine tasting which we call the Wine Challenge. It's great fun and a bit competitive. No previous knowledge is required. For a lunch, the best format is for guests to be seated on tables of between 6 and 8 people with Tom running through six wines during three courses with a few quiz questions thrown for tables to compete against each other.

Do you do dinners?

Yes we do and Tom runs them in a similar style to the lunches. Six wines served over three courses with a few quiz questions in to keep the guests entertained. If numbers allow we recommend having the guests seated around circular tables in groups of between 6 and 8 people.

What glasses and equipment do the venue need to provide

We need the following from any venue Tom works in please:

1 Champagne flute per person

3 wine glasses per person (one for white wine, one for red and one for after the wine tasting)

1 Water Tumbler

Jugs or bottles of water for each table

Decanters (Ideally 4 or 6)

We will bring spittoons, tasting sheets, pens, corkscrews and of course wine.

How the venue set out the space

We need tables around which guests can be stood or seated. Ideally 6 to 8 guests around each table. The Champagne flutes must not be on these tables as these are for the reception beforehand. On each table, in front of each guest, we need two wine glasses (one white and one red) and one water tumbler.

Bringing Wine To Life

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Bringing Wine
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