Editor’s Note: Working from Home & What We’re Drink… You know what we mean.
These unprecedented times have brought equally unprecedented changes to most of our day-to-day lives. At Wine Enthusiast, we’re proud to still be 100% available for our customers. And although Wine Enthusiast is open for business and ready to serve your needs, daily operations here have been fine-tuned for the safety of both customers and employees.
Our talented team at Wine Enthusiast is working from home, but we’re still fully operational! In fact, our Wine Storage Consultants are doing an amazing job offering the usual exemplary customer care uninterrupted. They’d love to help you consider, discover and buy your next wine-related purchase, whether it’s updated glassware or a custom-designed wine cellar.
We reached out to some of our in-house team to learn how they’re coping with this “new normal”. Below are some of our favorite answers. Enjoy!
Q: Are our customers’ wine storage buying habits any different during these tenuous times?
Michael Dreyfus
Wine Storage Consultant:
“I am seeing a lot more husband and wife consultations since they are ‘stuck together at home,’ so decisions are made faster as well. A lot of my customers who have had to cancel expensive vacations or re-think other high ticket purchases are turning to home projects and renovations. People want to re-invest, enjoy their homes, and enjoy the comfort and joy of wine collecting and consumption.”
Darren Gold
Sales Account Manager:
“Alcohol and wine sales are on the rise and our customers need a place to store and mature these fantastic wines. If anything, people need more storage!”
John Tucci
Wine Storage Consultant:
“Our customer’s wine storage buying habits are similar to before, however with more of our customer’s at home I find they actually have more time to complete previous wine storage projects than in the past, which is leading to even more productive sales.”
Q: What are customers asking about delivery, and what are you doing or offering to reassure them?
Marshall Tilden III, DWS, CSW
VP of Sales & Wine Education:
“Delivery is the most interesting dynamic right now, as our White Glove in-home delivery has to be executed as safely and with as much precaution as possible. Some customers prefer to handle the end delivery on their own, rather than risk having someone come in their home, regardless of how big the wine cellar is. However, we make sure our shippers are fully gloved, masked, and sanitized as we understand the importance of caution in this environment.”
Adam Dunefskey
Wine Storage Consultant:
“I advise my customers that we are fully operational and our warehouses are still shipping. The deliveries might take a little longer than usual but they will be contacted with an appointment so the trucking companies do not just show up.”
Dino Sapienza
Wine Storage Consultant:
“I am pointing out that all carriers are practicing social distancing, and if the carriers do feel that the situation calls for procedures other than the White Glove Home Delivery, they will confirm with the client prior to delivering. If the client feels they do not want that service, the carriers will gladly hold the delivery until the situation clears up—without collecting storage fees—for up to 90 days.”
Lou Ann Hesch
Wine Storage Consultant:
“They’re mostly asking how soon can they get it!”
Q: What has your experience been like, working and selling from home?
John Tucci
Wine Storage Consultant:
“Working from home was a little bit of an adjustment at first, but soon the new routine combined with my daily job responsibilities became second hand. Selling wine storage is what we do best, no matter from the office or the home!”
Darren Gold
Sales Account Manager:
“Wine Enthusiast is my second family so to be away from my coworkers is strange but knowing everyone is safe it is worth it. Our clients can sleep easy knowing no matter what, we will provide the best experience possible, whether it be from our corporate office or our home office! It makes me happy knowing that we are able to provide some semblance of normalcy in their lives during these unprecedented times.”
Josh Ravano
Wine Storage Consultant:
“Working from home at this unusual time and not being able to see my co-workers everyday is a bit different but whether I work from home or in the office we still provide the best customer experience.”
Lou Ann Hesch
Wine Storage Consultant:
I have a tremendous passion for what I do and the wine lifestyle, so as long as I have the ability to communicate with customers I can do so from anywhere. What I am finding out while speaking with customers is that what we all have in common—our love of wine, spirits, and the togetherness that we are enjoying with our families at home.
Q: What wines (or beers/liquors) are your go-to’s during quarantine?
Darren Gold
Sales Account Manager:
“I have been drinking a mixture of both red and white. A nice red with a beautifully grilled steak and, if I have had a long day working and homeschooling the kids, I may relax with a succulent Riesling for dessert.”
Marshall Tilden III, DWS, CSW
VP of Sales & Wine Education:
“What aren’t I drinking? I have been enjoying some great Sonoma value reds from our WineExpress.com wine partner, particularly the Folie a Deux Cab and the Technique Red Blend. But on more stressful days, I’m reaching for the Clyde Mays Whiskey and the Ardberg 10 Scotch. For me, the more smoke and peat the better!”
David Moseler
Wine Storage Consultant:
“I can finally enjoy some of my favorite daily Napa Cabs, such as the 2017 Double T — and, of course, some Angel’s Envy Bourbon.”
Michael Dreyfus
Wine Storage Consultant:
“I wake up to either a mimosa or bloody mary every day and then drink steadily throughout the day with whatever is on hand, then around 5 I start pouring bourbon until I pass out… Kidding. Seriously, I’ve been enjoying some nice wines from my collection—really everyday wine—a glass of wine early evening is very comforting. I pulled a 2012 Jefferson Vineyard Meritage from Charlottesville, VA to enjoy at Easter. I have relatives from there and have visited the vineyard – so I found again the comfort and joy in a good glass of wine. Also bought a case of Guinness to get through the lockdown, Nothing a pint or two won’t cure!”
Dino Sapienza
Wine Storage Consultant:
“Currently some Pinot and a lot of Tito’s Vodka!”
Operational Changes Due to COVID-19
Wine Enthusiast is offering our full, uninterrupted service during the outbreak, and we are looking forward to safely serving you however we can.
Our warehouses and shipping facilities are also fully operational, and we are shipping out orders on-time. We have bolstered sanitary protocols for our White-Glove Delivery Service, including (but not limited to) wearing protective shoe covers, sanitizing hands, wearing rubber gloves, and sanitizing delivery vehicles. If you’d like to hold your delivery until a later date, we are more than happy to accommodate.
For continued updates on our customer care during the pandemic, read our Customer Care Message about COVID-19,
Give Us a Call!
Our expert consultants are available 24/7 through phone and chat—and they love to do just that!
Whether you need advice, have a question or just want to wax poetic about that prized bottlein your collection—trust us, our Wine Storage Consultants want to hear all about it. Reach them anytime through our Wine Storage hotline at 800-377-3330.
Are our customers’ wine storage buying habits any different during these tenuous times?
I am seeing a lot more husband and wife consultations since they are ‘stuck together at home,’ so decisions are made faster as well.
What are customers asking about delivery, and what are you doing or offering to reassure them?
Delivery is the most interesting dynamic right now, as our White Glove in-home delivery has to be executed as safely and with as much precaution as possible.
What has your experience been like, working and selling from home?
Wine Enthusiast is my second family so to be away from my coworkers is strange but knowing everyone is safe it is worth it. Our clients can sleep easy knowing no matter what, we will provide the best experience possible,
