How much will iPads impact restaurant wine service?

[kaysyrahsyrah]

Did you guys catch the September 3 New York Times technology story, "Choosing Wines at the Touch of a Screen"?

I've been mulling it for a couple weeks. It does a great job of covering the pros and cons of putting a tablet PC device in the hands of a customer, rather than a paper list, and the potential impacts that the new device may have on the way wine is served in a restaurant.

In short, I believe that tablet PCs will rock the sommelier world in nearly every restaurant that pushes a decent wine list. Those mid-tier restaurants and wine service pros who embrace this technology will gain an advantage for awhile as others follow later, or not at all.

Here is a case where a tablet PC wine list could greatly improve a wine service experience: Last night, I was at the posh Waterfront in San Francisco. The paper wine list (a solid one) came out with the menus, and we quickly ordered a bottle of pinot grigio from Alois Lagerder ($44 list/great QPR).

No less than 10 minutes later, the server told us that the sommelier was backed up, and coming shortly. At minute 15, he comes out -- does an extremely minimal presentation of the wine, unscrews the cap, and pours it. The minute I accept it, he is gone for the rest of the night. No offer of an ice bucket.

In general, this is the kind of service that drives me crazy, and makes me wonder why the sommelier role exists at all in many restaurants. It's much better if I didn't know there was a dedicated steward in the first place, and my wine is brought promptly by the server instead.

But the experience triggered some thoughts: how could Waterfront's wine service be improved with iPads? While I think last night's errors were due to service execution and overall service policy, I do think that Waterfront is the perfect candidate for iPad wine lists. And that customers would embrace a richer information source (and perhaps an ordering button if offered), and meanwhile, the wine steward could focus more on great service, and less on the tactical issues that he faces day to day.

What do you think about iPads and wine lists?

[njfoodies]

I can tell you that I use my iPad all the time at home now to access CellarTracker, and it is so easy and convenient. No need to keep a printed list hanging in the cellar anymore. And friends and neighbors think it is one of the awesomest things ever. Example in point: we were sitting out in front of our house at our bistro table having dinner when some neighbors walked by to shoot the bull with us. After about 15 minutes, I asked them if they wanted a glass of wine, and when they said yes, I asked them what kind of wine they wanted. They said they didn't care, and to pick on. I said, nah, tell me a varietal and I'll show ya what I got. He said cabernet, so I sorted my cellar on CellarTracker by varietal, and let him pick from one of the 148 bottles of cabernet I have in stock. Simply put, he thought these were two of the greatest pieces of technology ever. First the iPad, and second that there is a website where you can track you wine inventory. Good stuff! -mJ

[Midlife]

Just one more reminder of that fact that I live in a marginal (as in NONE) cellular service area. I suppose I could go out in the driveway every time I wanted to access my wine inventory, but that just doesn't seem practical. ;o)))))

[RicRios]

By the same token, people now choose their spouses on-line.
Effective? Maybe.
Fun? Not at all.
Why? It denies use of (most of ) your senses in the choosing act: touch, sight, among others.

[Midlife]

Tic.................."people now choose their spouses on-line"??? I know they MEET prospective spouses online, but do many actually CHOOSE them there? My sister-in-law seems to have found the first possible long-term-relationship guy of her 50+ years that way, after a LOT of go-nowhere relationships both off and on line over the years. It just seems like a new way for some people to make connections they wouldn't otherwise make................ if they're careful about it. Just sayin'.

[kaysyrahsyrah]

Great story. A perfect case where a tablet PC actually adds a whole bunch of value.

One of these days, Cellar Tracker won't be such a painful app to get data in and out of, and when it changes, I'll manage my wine collection that way as well.

[Midlife]

I've yet to see an iPad that could open and pour a bottle of wine. ;o) My guess is that the tablet devices will somewhat reduce the role of somms but won't replace them in restaurant situations where specific pairing advice is needed. In some ways it may be like the cork vs. screwcap thing.

A friend of mine is opening a large, but moderately-priced pizza/burger/salad place soon. Part of his model is to replace order takers with iPads on which you choose your meal (down to the last detail) and even pay your bill. He told me it's part of a strategy to keep costs down and reduce dependence on what he feels is the weak link in moderate establishments....... quality service. He DOES understand, however, that iPads are just a tool (too easily looked at as a gimmick), and the food is what will tell the tale.

Should be interesting.

[kaysyrahsyrah]

I think the four and five star restaurants wont change that much. Paper menus and very talented servers and wine stewards will reign supreme.

But when it comes to Marriott hotel restaurants, TGI Fridays and all those restaurants that are terrible at managing wine inventory and selling it -- those are the places where it may make sense to hand a customer an iPad and let them spin around to find what they want. And even order it.

[Maximilien]

One of the few advantages of the "digital" wine list would be up to the minute inventory in case wine X was entered with the wrong year and waiter/sommelier has to run up and down to warn client and go back to suggest something else )and easier wine searching.for people who know about those things (wine).

One bigger advantage for restaurants with a know good wine service would be to have wine pairing suggestions with the current menu (and daily specials) and tasting notes.

M.

[Bill Hunt]

The digital wine list can have some pluses. If the developer has added a barcode feature, and the staff adheres to that, if the '05 Condrieu runs out, then it will disappear from the list. A diner cannot order it, only to find that it is all gone.

Hunt

[Bill Hunt]

Auerole in Las Vegas, http://www.aureolelv.com/, did this about 6 years ago. One got a touchpad display, with access to the wine list and the sommelier's comments. I was less than impressed.

Hunt

[Delucacheesemonger]

Had same experience there late in 2008. Granted not an iPad, thus less interaction, but it was far more difficult to play with than the paper equivalent. However, they had some awesome Gruners when l eventually found them.

[Bill Hunt]

A lot of the usefulness of any wine list, whether on-line, on a LAN, or on paper, is about how it is laid out. Some just make things too difficult, and this is often when the writer gets "cute," at least in my experience.

Personally, I do not care about the delivery, so long as I can choose great wines.

Hunt