Tastings That Get the Team Talking
Our Cellar Team Building sessions are built around easy conversation, shared tasting notes and small group activities that help people connect without the awkward icebreaker feel. Each event is designed to suit the group in front of us, whether you have 8 people in a meeting room or 80 staff members gathered for a year-end function. We keep the format practical and relaxed, with a strong focus on South African wine, bubbly and the stories behind each pour.
Sessions can be hosted in Franschhoek, Stellenbosch, Cape Town, Johannesburg, Durban, Paarl, Somerset West and Constantia, or arranged at your company venue if the space works for service and glassware. For coastal venues we plan for humidity and warmer serving conditions, while inland bookings are timed to suit afternoon heat and load-shedding where needed. The aim is simple: give your team a memorable shared experience that feels polished without being stiff.
- Guided tasting of 4 to 6 wines or bubbly pours
- Conversation prompts and light team activities
- Optional blind tasting segment
- Food pairing add-ons for canapés, cheese or small plates
What Is Included in a Cellar Team Building Booking
Every booking is planned with the group size, venue and occasion in mind. We supply the tasting structure, the product selection, and the coordination needed to keep the session moving smoothly. Where required, we can also advise on glassware counts, table setup, seating layout and timing around company schedules or transport.
Depending on the format selected, your session may include a hosted introduction from our team, a curated mix of still wine and sparkling wine, printed tasting notes, scoring cards and a facilitator-led discussion after each pour. We can keep the tone educational, social or a mix of both. If your team prefers a lighter social evening, we dial back the technical detail and lean into conversation and pairing.
- Hosting by an experienced tasting facilitator
- Curated bottle selection matched to your group size
- Basic tasting sheets and discussion prompts
- Setup guidance for tables, ice, bucket service and waste collection
- Optional pairings for cheese boards, snacks or plated bites
How We Plan the Session from Enquiry to Event Day
Once you send an enquiry through the contact form, we confirm your preferred date, location, expected headcount and the style of session you want. We then suggest a tasting structure and confirm whether you need a daytime workshop, an evening social, or a formal client-facing event. Clear communication matters, especially when staff are spread across departments or when the venue has limited access for deliveries.
After the brief is approved, we finalise the wine list, timing and service requirements. For Johannesburg and Durban events, we allow extra time for transport and temperature control. For Western Cape bookings, we can often accommodate shorter lead times, though private team sessions are best booked early in peak seasons. On the day, we arrive with the agreed stock and run the tasting from first pour to close, so your team can focus on the experience rather than the logistics.
- Send an enquiry with your date, area and group size
- Choose the format, tasting style and add-ons
- Confirm the product mix and event schedule
- We deliver, host and manage the tasting flow
- Afterwards, we can supply follow-up notes or a future club proposal
Group Sizes, Venue Needs and Practical Specs
Our team building tastings work well in boardrooms, private dining rooms, hospitality spaces, wine farms and selected office venues. The setup needs enough table space for glasses, chilled bottles and food if included. For standing functions, we recommend short tasting rounds and passing trays so the group can move easily between conversations. If the venue is near the coast, we will advise on chilling and storage because bubbly can warm quickly in humid conditions.
We also factor in power, ice and serving access. During load-shedding, we can adapt the format with pre-chilled stock and a simplified service plan. If your venue has municipal noise or closing restrictions, we keep the session within the allowed time window and make sure setup and pack-down fit the rules. Small things like a clean water station, enough bins and a safe storage corner for boxes make a big difference on the night.
- Ideal group size: 8 to 80 guests
- Session length: 60 to 120 minutes
- Recommended table space: 60 cm per guest minimum
- Glassware: 1 tasting glass per guest, plus spares
- Stock: 4 to 6 bottles per 10 guests depending on pour size
Pricing Approach and Turnaround Times
Pricing depends on the number of guests, the wines selected, the venue, travel distance and whether food pairing or extra facilitation is included. We quote for the whole session clearly, so you can see what is covered before you commit. If your team wants a simple tasting with minimal extras, the cost stays lower. If you need a fully hosted evening with pairing and custom timings, we build that into the quote from the start.
Typical turnaround is 3 to 7 working days for standard bookings, although larger groups, festive season dates and multi-city events need more notice. For monthly company functions or end-of-year planning, we suggest booking early to secure your preferred date. We do not believe in hidden add-ons, and we will always flag delivery, venue handling or special product requests before final confirmation. That keeps budgeting straightforward for HR, events teams and office managers.
Where a business wants recurring team sessions through the year, we can map out quarterly tastings and seasonal changes to the selection. It is a practical way to keep staff engagement fresh without starting from scratch every time.
Keeping the Experience Fresh for Repeat Teams
For companies that book more than once a year, we rotate the tasting theme so the team does not get the same format each time. One month might focus on crisp whites and MCC-style bubbly, while another highlights bold reds, lighter summer wines or food pairing combinations. This is particularly useful for sales teams, customer service groups and management teams that want something social but still structured.
There is no maintenance in the technical sense, but there is ongoing event care. We review the guest count, timing and product mix after each booking and adjust for the next session. If your team shifts venues, grows in size or changes working hours, we update the plan accordingly. That way the event stays relevant, the pours stay balanced and the evening feels considered rather than copied.
- Seasonal rotation of wines and bubbly
- Adjusted formats for repeat groups
- Feedback review after each event
- Easy planning for quarterly or annual staff sessions
Key facts
| Service area | Franschhoek, Stellenbosch, Cape Town, Johannesburg, Durban, Paarl, Somerset West, Constantia |
|---|---|
| Group size | 8 to 80 guests |
| Event length | 60 to 120 minutes |
| Tasting format | 4 to 6 wines or bubbly pours |
| Booking turnaround | 3 to 7 working days for standard events |
| Setup needs | Table space, glassware, ice, water and serving access |
