Wine Walk

352-750-9455 My CPM

Thank you for participating in this year’s Wine Walk at Spanish Springs! We’re excited to partner with you in bringing this wonderful event to The Villages. It is part of our commitment to continue offering opportunities to connect our community residents with you, our valued hometown business partners.

In preparation of the event, we wanted to provide you with some information and resources to help make the most out of your participation. Below you’ll find checklists of items to gather prior to March 3rd, tips to prepare your staff for the event and the day of the event preparation, and what you can expect during the event.

Supplies List

Set Up Necessities

Table(s)
Table Cloth(s)
10'x10' tent with 25lb weights on each leg (only if you do not have a storefront on the square) *if you do not have a tent or weights, reach out to Bobby Davenport
Coolers with ice to chill wines and/or appetizers

Serving Supplies

Chafing Dishes with Burner Cans
Trays, Dishes and/or Food Display Items
Serving Utensils
Wine Chillers/Ice Buckets to Display

Essentials

CORKSCREW
Lighter for Chafing Dishes
Ice
Garbage Cans
Garbage Bags
Napkins/Towels
Serving Gloves
Water

Display

Themed Décor & Props
Bistro Lighting, Lanterns, Ambiance Lighting
Ice Buckets
Donation Bucket to Support Buffalo Scholarship Foundation
Table Signage (Item Names, Ingredients, Potential Allergens — nuts, soy, etc. — Gluten Free, Vegan, etc.)
Promotional Signage or Collateral to Give Walkers (Coupons, Handouts, Brochures, etc.)

*If you intend to use a generator, please be sure it is a “whisper quiet generator” or battery pack generator. If you should need a generator or power from your establishment, please do not run cables or extension cords across sidewalks. For any questions, please reach out to Bobby Davenport.

Download Participant Checklist

Employee Preparation

Designate a minimum of 4 employees to serve Wine Walkers at your in-store set up or tent.
Friendly reminder, those serving wine need to be 18 years or older.
Please adhere to food safety standards (keep appetizers at proper temperatures, use of gloves, tongs, spoons, etc.).
Encourage your employees to dress in costume according to your theme!
Be sure you and your staff know the proper technique to open a wine bottle.

Day of Event Set Up

Please have your business set up and ready for the event by no later than 5:30pm.
The wine you selected and ordered will be delivered to your storefront or tent by a team member of The Villages Entertainment by 2pm. Upon delivery, please give the delivery personnel a check for your wine order. Please make checks payable to “The Villages” and have it available at the time of delivery. Should you have any questions or concerns with this delivery please contact: Lisa Gruber, 352-750-5411 ext. 5609.
Please keep chilled wines on ice or refrigerated. We recommend having 6-12 bottles of wine uncorked and ready to serve beginning at 5:45pm.

During the Event

Wine Walk starts at 6pm, but we will begin checking in Wine Walkers at 5:30pm in front of The Sharon L Morse Performing Arts Center.
Walkers will be given a 2oz wine glass, tray, napkin, bag and program with a map showing all of the businesses participating, along with each of their wine and appetizer selections.
Walkers will stroll around the square sampling the wines and hors d'oeuvres from each business.
Please be sure to check all Walkers served are wearing a MERLOT wristband that signifies they have purchased a ticket and their ID has been verified.
The event runs until 9pm, so we ask that you do not break down your station until the event ends.
Crowd control may not let you enter the square during the duration of the event.
If you rented a tent from Entertainment, a member of their team will be by to collect it after 9pm.
Please ensure your space is clean and tidy and restored to the same condition as you arrived.

FAQs

Do I need to check IDs Wine Walkers that come to my booth?
No. All IDs will be already be checked when a Walker is given their wristband at the beginning of the event.

What should I do if someone approaches my booth without a wristband?
Politely refuse to serve them food or wine. Remind them it is a charity event. Also keep in mind ID's are checked upon receiving their wristband. You don't want to serve someone who is potentially underage.

What should I do if a Wine Walker seems intoxicated?
We encourage all Walkers to drink responsibly and urge you to use your best judgement in serving patrons. If you feel someone has been overserved, you may politely refuse to fill their wine glass and offer them a glass of water.
Please review the DBPR and https://www.gettips.com/online/alcohol-certification-florida#state-regulatory if you have concerns or need to brush up on identifying if someone is being overserved. While we have not had any issues with over serving in the past, should you need assistance during the event, please contact the CPM on-call line at: 352-750-9455

What should I do if I run out of wine?
Relax and enjoy the event! Limit your pours to the 2oz per guest throughout the event. Focus on selling your goods or services if you run out of food and drink.