How to Run a Successful Virtual Event—Start with Wine!

In today’s environment, most companies are now running virtual events to help coworkers and clients stay connected while working remotely. It’s a tough task for any manager or event planner: ensuring registration and attendance, MCing, fostering discussion, technology and much more.

At purple cork, we spend a lot of time facilitating virtual events for our corporate partners. 

Here are a few tips, in case they are helpful as you’re planning your next event!

1. Start with exceptional wines and winemakers

To avoid a stiff corporate event, get some good wine involved! We seek out small, under-the-radar, independent wineries with big flavors and stories. Owners or winemakers also join our tastings to share their personal stories and tasting notes.

If you have non-drinkers in your group, there are plenty of creative options, including non-alcoholic sparkling, cheeses or even olive oil (most wineries make their own).

2. Create a shared experience

To ensure virtual attendance and bonding, we highly recommend that everyone shares the same wines and accompaniments. Create that sense of virtual camaraderie by sharing a glass and learning together from the winemaker.

Step 1: send all participants the same wines. We find that the sweet spot is two bottles of wine, or a sampler kit of four smaller pours. purple cork has a small highly curated portfolio of boutique wineries to make this easy for you, and we’ll handle all of the shipping and logistics.

3. Use breakout rooms for networking

Networking virtually can be even richer and more intentional than IRL. For example, you can strategically put your customers and raving fans in a “room” with your prospects to help sell the benefits of your product.

Use breakout rooms to create smaller groups where people feel more comfortable jumping into conversations. We find that 6-10 screens per breakout room is the sweet spot for lively discussion. Sprinkle in customers, prospects and exec sponsors.

You want people walking away saying, “Wow, that was like a great party!” (and don’t forget the afterparty…)

4. Content is king

You don’t want your wine tasting to turn into a wine seminar (and that is coming from a wine nerd!). Interactive and immersive content is your friend. Incorporate videos, photos and polls into your event. Ask people about tasting notes, or favorite content sessions from the day. The sky’s the limit.

Please get in touch if you want more ideas on how to do this well. Content is our thing!

5. Facilitate!

Last but not least, virtual events need more structure than IRL meetings and conferences. You need a clear “run of show” so participants know what to expect and the timing. Bringing in third parties (MCs, winemakers, chefs, etc) can provide that much-needed structure as well as new faces and personalities to liven up the experience.

This won’t feel like just another Zoom meeting…

If you need help running and hosting a successful virtual event or conference, we would be happy to help!