FAQs — Tasting Room
Section 1: Tasting Room General
Section 2: Tasting Room Membership
Section 3: Booking the Tasting Room
Tasting Room General
What amenities are available for my next wine tasting or party?
What amenities are available for my next business meeting or if I want to get some work done?
What is the Behind the Scenes Cellar Tour?
What is the capacity of the room?
Can the Fine Wine Reserve help me organize/host my event?
Who can use the Tasting Room?
Only those with a Tasting Room Membership (and their guests) are permitted to use our Tasting Room. A Tasting Room Membership is only available for purchase by clients of the Fine Wine Reserve who store their wines in one of our wine lockers. Under certain rare circumstances, we may permit non-members to hold an event (as our guest). Case Storage customers, wine industry participants, corporations and charitable organizations with an interest should call us to discuss.
What amenities are available for my next wine tasting or party?
We believe you will have everything you need. There is enough dishware, glassware, utensils, etc. to host a fully catered sit down meal for up to 20 people. There are plenty of platters, bowls, trays, cutting boards, baskets for bread, water jugs, and colanders etc. Various appliances including a toaster oven, microwave/convection oven, refrigerator, dishwasher, coffee pot, tea kettle are available for tasting room use. You'll find about 100 crystal wine glasses, 150 ISO wine tasting glasses, 3 decanters, 6 spittoons, and 4 water jugs in the room at all times. Plus more stemware and decanters are available upon request (allowing you to pour large verticals and hold complex structured wine tastings). There is also a good supply of ice, filtered water, serviettes, paper towels, food wrap, cleaning supplies, etc. An audio system with five disk DVD/CD changer, tuner and IPod adaptor will help create the perfect atmosphere for your tasting room gathering. A telephone with speakerphone, and free wireless internet access is provided for your convenience. These amenities are available to all members who use the room whether you are using it on a drop-in basis or for your own private event. The wireless internet access is also available in the cellar area, an added benefit available to members and non members alike.
What amenities are available for my next business meeting or if I want to get some work done?
We have free wireless internet access in the Tasting Room, and a telephone with speaker phone. There is also a coffee maker and tea kettle. When it is time to take a break, you can enjoy our library and read the wine-related books, magazines, auction catalogues and newspapers provided on site.
What is the Behind the Scenes Cellar Tour?
With advanced notice, and subject to availability, the Cellarmaster will give your guests a full guided tour. It is available for any event you are holding in the Tasting Room - be it a private or shared use booking, or simply a drop in event. Although members often take their guests on their own cellar tours, only the Cellarmaster can take your guests "behind the scenes". We can show your guests various restricted areas such as the climate control room; the security room vault; and inside some of our stunning case storage areas. We can also demonstrate some of our high tech equipment systems, such as the ultrasonic fogger system for humidity control. We can answer any questions your guests might have about storing or caring for wines in general, and/or our services in particular. But only if asked, we don't want your guests to feel like it's a sales pitch. The full guided tour takes about 15 to 20 minutes, but it can be adjusted (shorter or longer) to fit your needs. If you are interested in the Cellarmaster tour, please e-mail us (or select "yes" on the Book Tasting Room panel). Include desired tour length and at what time you would like it to start in your e-mail (or in the "Additional Notes" field on the Book Tasting Room panel). There is no charge for the Cellarmaster tour.
What is the capacity of the room?
For an informal stand up style event, the limit is 30 people. For a sit down event, the limit is 20 people. About 10 to 12 people will fit around the grand monastery style table which is available in that room at all times. Push up the drop leaf table against the grand table, and you can seat an additional 4 people. If your party will exceed that number, we have extra tables and chairs on site. Please give us plenty of notice (a few days) if you will require any extra items such as tables, chairs, decanters, stemware, etc.
Can the Fine Wine Reserve help me organize/host my event?
While not yet officially launched, and available on a best effort basis at this time, we may be able to help you organizeand/or co-host your event. In association with our Partners, we may be able to provide you with any of the following Event Services: 1) A personal concierge to help you set up, clean up and/or escort guests in and out of the Fine WineReserve (plus handle any false alarms); 2) a host, hostess or guest speaker to host or co-host your event; 3) a wine sommelier to lead you and your guests through a structured or informal wine tasting 4) a cheese sommelier to lead you and your guests through a cheese tasting; 5) A wine/cheese sommelier to lead you and your guests through a paired cheese/wine tasting; and/or, 6) provide food for your event, from simple appetizers or a selection of artisanal cheeses, up to full course catered meals. We can even arrange a chef (and serving staff) to be on site and prepare a full, multi-course gourmet meal for you and your guests. Feel free to contact us for details, or select "yes" in the relevant panel when you make a private booking and we will contact you.
Tasting Room Membership
Who can purchase a Tasting Room Membership?
How much does a Tasting Room Membership cost?
What are the benefits of purchasing a Tasting Room Membership?
How do I know if the room is available for drop in use?
Who cleans up the room and what is the clean-up service?
Can the Fine Wine Reserve help me organize/host my event?
Who can purchase a Tasting Room Membership?
A Tasting Room Membership is only available to clients of the Fine Wine Reserve who store their wines in one of our wine lockers. Under certain rare circumstances, we may permit non-members to hold an event (as our guest). Case Storage clients, wine industry participants, corporations and charitable organizations with an interest should call us to discuss.
How much does a Tasting Room Membership cost?
Tasting Room Membership is $10/month + HST. Membership fees are due in advance for the full lease term (3, 6, 12 or 24 months) and are non-refundable.
What are the benefits of purchasing a Tasting Room Membership?
Membership permits unlimited drop-in use of the Tasting Room with 24/7 access to all the equipment, furnishings and supplies provided on site. Members can use the room to work, to relax, to sample their wines, to entertain their guests and to network/socialize with other member collectors. Members are also permitted to book the room for their own private events.
Drop-in use is just like it sounds. You have determined that the Tasting Room is available and you simply drop in to use the room. No reservations, advanced notice or payment is required. Drop-in use is non-exclusive use. It is understood that you may be sharing the room with other Tasting Room Members and their guests who have dropped in. The Tasting Room is available and open to all members for shared drop-in use at all times, except when it has been specifically booked by the Fine Wine Reserve (for a special event) or by another member (for private use).
This is when a Tasting Room Member has booked the room for their own exclusive use. Other members are not allowed to drop in during that time. Members who wish to use the room for a private event must book the room (go to TASTING ROOM - BOOK TASTING ROOM), and have sufficient TRCs (Tasting Room Credits) in their account for the booking.
How do I know if the room is available for drop in use?
There are two ways to determine room availability for drop in use. 1) Check our website at EVENTS — EVENT SCHEDULE and you'll find a list of all the special events and private bookings. In other words, it outlines all the times that the room is NOT available for drop in use. 2) Or you can simply drop by the cellar and check for the "Private Event" sign posted on the Tasting Room door. If the sign is up, then the room is NOT available.
I'm planning to drop in with friends, how do I know the room won't be booked private before I get there?
All private events must be posted onto the EVENT SCHEDULE with 3 days notice. To be clear, a member wanting to book a private event for Friday, must post it onto the schedule by 11:59pm on Tuesday. That means you can look at the schedule on any given day (i.e. Wed) and room availability will not change for the remainder of that day or the following two days (i.e. schedule is fixed from Wed through to Fri). This allows you to make advanced plans with your guests to simply "drop in", later that same day or at any time during the next two days, and you can be confident that room availability will not change. The only last minute change that may occur is if a booking is cancelled - sometimes these are removed from the schedule last minute.
Who cleans up the room and what is the clean-up service?
Members are required to clean up after themselves and are generally happy to do so. This rule applies for all types of use - be it drop in use or a scheduled private event. However, if you would prefer to just "get up and go", you may request our cleaning service. Advanced notice (minimum 5 days) is required, and your request is subject to availability. Provided you booked the service in advance, cleaning costs are $50+$25 per hour (+HST). It is unlikely to go much above $75+HST unless you use so much dishware/stemware that clean up requires multiple dishwasher loads. Provided you booked the service in advance, cleaning costs are $50+$25 +HST per hour. It is unlikely to go much above $75+HST unless you use so much dishware/stemware that clean up requires multiple dishwasher loads.
Can the Fine Wine Reserve help me organize/host my event?
While not yet officially launched, and available on a best effort basis at this time, we may be able to help you organize and/or co-host your event. In association with our Partners, we may be able to provide you with any of the following Event Services: 1) A personal concierge to help you set up, clean up and/or escort guests in and out of the Fine Wine Reserve (plus handle any false alarms); 2) a host, hostess or guest speaker to host or co-host your event; 3) a wine sommelier to lead you and your guests through a structured or informal wine tasting 4) a cheese sommelier to lead you and your guests through a cheese tasting; 5) A wine/cheese sommelier to lead you and your guests through a paired cheese/wine tasting; and/or, 6) provide food for your event, from simple appetizers or a selection of artisanal cheeses, up to full course catered meals. We can even arrange a chef (and serving staff) to be on site and prepare a full, multi-course gourmet meal for you and your guests. Feel free to contact us for details, or select yes in the relevant panel when you make a private booking and we will contact you.
What if I don't leave the room clean, leave lights on, or forget to take down the Private Event sign?
We think a $10/month Tasting Room Membership is very fair for the facilities we provide in the Tasting Room. Unless you are booking the room for private use, there should be no other costs for you to use the room provided you clean up after yourself. Clean up is defined as follows: 1) You take all your garbage to the conveyor room and put a new bag into the garbage receptacle; 2) You wipe off the table, kitchen counter, coffee table and side tables (assuming you used it); 3) You pre-process your stemware; 4) You wash anything larger than a dinner plate by hand (i.e. decanters, breadboards, platters, spittoons, etc), and leave them on the sink drain to dry; 5) You put your pre-processed stemware and dishware into the dishwasher (unless the blue light CLEAN is ON, in which case neatly stack dishes and pre-processed stemware beside fridge); 6) You clean the floor of obvious items such as broken glass, spilled food or wine, confetti, etc, (otherwise floor cleaning is not required); 7) You switch on the dishwasher before you leave (only if more than 2/3's full); 8) You return the chairs, tables and any other furniture you moved to their normal positions; 9) You turn off the A/C; 10) You reset the heating thermostat to its normal marked position; 11) You take the private event sign down (if applicable); and 12) You turn off ALL the lights. In other words, you leave the room exactly how you found it. If the room is left untidy, garbage not removed, stemware not "processed", etc, you will be billed for the clean-up at a rate of $100+$25 per hour, and/or invoiced at $25 per infraction (i.e. $25 for lights left on, $25 for A/C left on, $25 for private event sign left up, etc). If you arrive to an empty room which is not clean, you are not required to clean up after the last member, but you are responsible for switching things off (i.e. #9 through #12 above). But please let us know right away. We will review the records, and bill the party responsible. If there are multiple members in the room, the last member in the room will be held responsible for the clean-up, and returning the room to normal use (i.e. lights off, etc). For that reason, you may want to think twice about who you decide to join in the tasting room, and/or let us know about members who leave you with their mess.
Booking the Tasting Room
Who can book the Tasting Room?
How do I book the Tasting Room?
What is a Tasting Room Credit (TRC)?
What is the difference between a Private Use and Shared Use booking?
Is there a deadline for making a booking?
Is there a minimum time length for a booking?
What about setting a "start" and "end" time for my booking?
What is the Behind the Scenes Cellar Tour?
How do I know how many TRCs I have left in my account?
How do I cancel or modify a booking?
What if I make a mistake when I book the Tasting Room?
I am organizing an event and polling guests for their availability, can I put date/times on hold?
I have booked the room "Private", how do I ensure privacy at my event?
Who can book the Tasting Room?
Only Fine Wine Reserve clients with a wine locker, a Tasting Room Membership and sufficient TRCs (Tasting Room Credits) in their account can book the Tasting Room. Under certain rare circumstances, we may permit non-members to hold a private event (as our guest). Case Storage clients, wine industry participants, corporations and charitable organizations with an interest should call us to discuss.
How do I book the Tasting Room?
- First get a Tasting Room Membership — contact us if you are a client and you don't have one yet.
- Retrieve and prepare to use your Member ID — contact us if we don't have one on file.
- If you do not have TRCs to book your event, order them now — for instructions see the FAQs below.
- Retrieve and prepare to use your Password — if you don't have one, go to: How do I get a Password?
- Provide 3+ days of notice or your request is rejected (i.e. a Friday booking must be completed by 11:59pm Tue).
- Book your event, go to TASTING ROOM — BOOK TASTING ROOM and book your event.
- After booking, check EVENTS — EVENT SCHEDULE to make sure it posted correctly.
What is a Tasting Room Credit (TRC)?
TRC's are required to book the Tasting Room for private or shared use. Only Tasting Room Members are eligible to purchase Tasting Room Credits (TRCs). Tasting room credits are NOT required when using the room on a drop in basis. One TRC buys 1 hour of “Private Use” (evening hours between 5pm and 8am), 2 hours of “Private Use” (daytime hours between 8am and 5pm), or 2 hours of “Shared Use” (anytime). Unused TRCs are non-refundable, but never expire. They can be accumulated and used for as long as you are a client of the Fine Wine Reserve with an active wine locker account. TRCs more than three (3) years old may be subject to an adjustment and re-valued to reflect the TRC pricing at that time. Although you can pay for them later, you must have sufficient TRCs in your account BEFORE you book your event. If you book an event that exceeds the number of TRCs in your account, you are automatically billed for the shortage at the UNDISCOUNTED hourly TRC rate.
TRCs range from $20 to $30 each (+HST) depending on the volume purchased. From time to time, TRCs may be offered at a lower rate. For details, go to: TASTING ROOM — PURCHASE TRCs.
TRCs may be ordered on-line on our website by going to the TASTING ROOM — PURCHASE TRCs The TRCs you order will automatically be deposited into your account. You will receive an invoice for your order within 30 days.
You need a password to use most of the functions on our website. If you don't have one, go to: TASTING ROOM — BOOK TASTING ROOM, select ‘Forgot Password’, enter your email address and submit. A ‘forgot password email’ will then be emailed to you with further instructions. If this email does not arrive within three minutes, then one of three things probably happened: 1) our ‘forgot password email’ to you got spammed, please check your spam or junk folder; 2) you typed your email address incorrectly, please go back and try again; or, c) you are using an email address that we do not have on file, please go back and try using a different email address.
What is the difference between a Private Use and a Shared Use booking?
Private use is the exclusive use of the Tasting Room for you and your guests. Other members are not allowed to use the room at that time. Shared use is if you only want to guarantee room availability at some point in the future. While your booking prevents anyone else from booking the room Private, the room remains open to other members for dropin use during your event. Please note: you may only make a Shared Use booking if the total number of people in your party will be 6 persons or less. Please note party sizes are audited. If the limit is exceeded, your ‘Shared Use’ booking is upgraded to ‘Private Use’ and you are automatically billed accordingly (i.e. additional TRCs are deducted from your account and/or you are invoiced at the undiscounted hourly TRC rate).
Is there a deadline for making a booking?
Yes. You must make your booking at least 3 days in advance or your request will be rejected. To be clear, if you want to book an event for Friday, it must be posted onto the schedule by 11:59pm on Tuesday.
Is there a minimum time length for a booking?
Yes. Your event must be at least two (2) hours in length or your booking request will be rejected.
Your Member ID uniquely identifies you and your booking (anonymously or otherwise, your choice) on the Event Schedule. It is used in lieu of your email address to display booking events.
What about setting a "start" and "end" time for my booking?
The system automatically puts in a 30 minute buffer between adjacent events to ensure an orderly turnaround. Having said that, your event is expected to begin and end when you said it would, and in fact the room becomes open to drop in use during that 30 minute buffer period. Although you may continue using the room after your event officially ends (provided the new arrivals haven't booked the room ‘private’), the Private Event sign must come down and there is an expectation that the room is presentable at that time. It can be a little uncomfortable for all concerned if your event is still in full swing and/or you are only starting to clean up when other members arrive
What is the Behind the Scenes Cellar Tour?
With advanced notice, and subject to availability, the Cellar Master will give your guests a full guided tour. It is available for any event you are holding in the Tasting Room, be it a private or shared use booking, or simply a drop in event. Although members often take their guests on their own cellar tours, only the Cellar Master can take your guests ‘behind the scenes’. We can show your guests various restricted areas such as the climate control room; the security room vault; and inside some of our stunning case storage areas. We can also demonstrate some of our high tech equipment systems such as the ultrasonic fogger system for humidity control. We can also answer any questions your guests might have about storing or caring for wines in general, and/or our services in particular. But only if asked, we don't want your guests to feel like it's a sales pitch. The full guided tour takes about 15 to 20 minutes, but it can be adjusted (shorter or longer) to fit your needs. If you are interested in the Cellar Master tour, please e-mail us (or select ‘yes’ on the Book Tasting Room panel). Follow up with an email indicating at what time you would like the tour to start; please DO NOT FORGET THIS. There is no charge for the Cellar Master tour.
While not yet officially launched, and available on a best effort basis at this time, we may be able to help you organize and/or co-host your event. In association with our Partners, we may be able to provide you with any of the following Event Services: 1) A personal concierge to help you set up, clean up and/or escort guests in and out of the Fine Wine Reserve (plus handle any false alarms); 2) a host, hostess or guest speaker to host or co-host your event; 3) a wine sommelier to lead you and your guests through a structured or informal wine tasting 4) a cheese sommelier to lead you and your guests through a cheese tasting; 5) A wine/cheese sommelier to lead you and your guests through a paired cheese/wine tasting; and/or, 6) provide food for your event, from simple appetizers or a selection of artisanal cheeses, up to full course catered meals. We can even arrrange a chef (and serving staff) to be on site and prepare a full, multi-course gourmet meal for you and your guests
Members are required to clean up after themselves and are generally happy to do so. However, if you would prefer tojust "get up and go", you may request our cleaning service. Advanced notice (minimum 5 days) is required, and your request subject to availability. Provided you booked the service in advance, cleaning costs are $50+$25+HST per hour. It is unlikely to go much above one hour and so $75+HST, unless you use so much dishware/stemware (>100 glasses) that staff have to return more than twice to load and unload the dishwasher. Be aware that the cleaning staff may arrive at the time you said your event would end. If asked to wait, the hourly charge applies from the time they arrive.
How do I know how many TRCs I have left in my account?
Go to TASTING ROOM — MEMBER TRC BALANCE.
| Amount of Cancellation Notice Provided | Cancellation Fee (# of un-refunded TRCs) |
|---|---|
| 30+ days | No cancellation fee (all TRCs refunded) |
| 15 to 30 days | 0.5 TRC not refunded |
| 5 to14 days | 1.0 TRC not refunded |
| 1 to 4 days | 1.5 TRC not refunded |
| Same day (before event start time) | 2.0 TRC not refunded |
| You do not cancel your event on the website | All the TRCs in your booking are lost |
To be clear, "same day" notice is submitting your cancellation on the day of your booking, but BEFORE your event ends. Once it ends, your booking falls off the schedule, and considered an un-cancelled event (no refund).
To be clear, cancelling with 1 day of notice is submitting your cancellation by midnight the day before your booking.
Fractional TRC refunds are rounded down to the nearest half TRC.
How do I cancel or modify a booking?
Should you want to modify your booking, cancel the incorrect booking first, then book the modified one. To cancel your booking, go to EVENTS — EVENT SCHEDULE, find your booking, and select CANCEL. For the cancellation to go through, you will have to use the email and password you used when you booked that event. If you have since changed your password, you will not be able to cancel that booking. First change your password (‘CHANGE PASSWORD’) to the one you were using formerly, then cancel your booking. You can keep that old password or change it back to the new one. If you cannot remember your former password, you will have to contact management for assistance.
What if I make a mistake when I book the Tasting Room?
If you made a mistake, then you must cancel your event and re-book it. Cancellation fees will apply. So please, checkyour information BEFORE you submit.
I am organizing an event and polling guests for their availability, can I put date/times on hold?
Sorry no, there is no way of submitting a tentative booking. All bookings are final once submitted . However, if you are planning your event at least 30 days in advance, you can book multiple events, poll guests, and cancel the unrequired bookings at no charge. Do it 2+ weeks in advance, and it will only cost 1/2 a TRC per canceled event.
I have booked the room "Private", how do I ensure privacy at my event?
The EVENT SCHEDULE on our website shows all the times when the Tasting Room is NOT available. But keep in mind that members may drop by the cellar without having consulted the website. You can ensure privacy for your ‘Private Use’ booking by posting the ‘Private Event — Please Do Not Disturb&rsquop; sign on the Tasting Room door. Please remember to take down this sign at the time you said your event would end. Members are instructed not to enter the room if they see this sign. For members requiring extreme privacy, FWR can arrange it so the Tasting Room door will be locked and set up so only your pass card (and guest card) will unlock the space during your event. These requestsrequire advanced notice (5 days), and are subject to a set-up charge that varies according to the particulars of your event.
What if I don't leave the room clean, leave lights on, or forget to take down the Private Event sign?
We think a $10/month Tasting Room Membership is very fair for the facilities we provide in the Tasting Room. Unless you are booking the room for private use, there should be no other costs for you to use the room provided you clean up after yourself. Clean up is defined as follows: 1) you take all your garbage to the conveyor room and put a new bag into the garbage receptacle; 2) you wipe off the table, kitchen counter, coffee table and side tables (assuming youused it); 3) you pre-process your stemware; 4) you wash anything larger than a dinner plate by hand (i.e. decanters, breadboards, platters, spittoons, etc), and leave them on the sink drain to dry; 5) you put your pre-processed stemware and dishware into the dishwasher (unless the blue light CLEAN is ON, in which case neatly stack dishes and pre-processed stemware beside fridge); 6) you clean the floor of obvious items such as broken glass, spilled foodor wine, confetti, etc, (otherwise floor cleaning is not required); 7) you switch on the dishwasher before you leave (only if more than 2/3's full); 8) you return the chairs, tables and any other furniture you moved to their normal positions; 9) you turn off the A/C; 10) you reset the heating thermostat to its normal marked position; 11) you take the private event sign down (if applicable); and 12) you turn off ALL the lights. In other words, you leave the room exactly how you found it. If the room is left untidy, garbage not removed, stemware not "processed", etc, you will be billed for the clean-up at a rate of $100+$25 per hour, and/or invoiced at $25 per infraction (i.e. $25 for lights left on, $25 for A/C left on, $25 for private event sign left up, etc). If you arrive to an empty room which is not clean, you are not required to clean up after the last member, but you are responsible for switching things off (i.e. #9 through #12 above). But please let us know right away. We will review the records, and bill the party responsible. If there are multiple members in the room, the last member in the room will be held responsible for the clean-up, and returning the room to normal use (i.e. lights off, etc). For that reason, you may want to think twice about who you decide to join in the tasting room, and/or let us know about members who leave you with their mess.