FDFCD2006A
Conduct a standard product tasting

This specialist unit has been developed for the cellar door sales stream of the wine industry. It covers the skills and knowledge required to prepare the product and tasting area and to conduct unsupervised standard product tastings for a variety of cellar door customers.Standard product tastings include routine cellar door ‘on request’ tastings from individual customers and small groups. Tastings associated with VIP itineraries, the media or pre-arranged group winery tours are covered in FDFCD3002A Conduct a specialised product tasting.

Application

This unit provides the skills to plan, prepare and conduct standard product tastings include routine cellar door ‘on request’ tastings from individual customers and small groups. The unit includes providing product samples in a manner to maximise the tasting experience for the customer and answering customer queries.

The unit can apply to the conduct of both wine and spirit tastings.


Prerequisites

FDFCD2003A

Evaluate wines (standard)

SIRXCCS202

Interact with customers

SITHFAB009A

Provide responsible service of alcohol


Elements and Performance Criteria

ELEMENT

PERFORMANCE CRITERIA

1. Store and handle products

1.1 Products are cellared and stock is rotated according to product knowledge and workplace policy

1.2 Sediments and cork characters associated with ageing products are managed according to individual product and workplace requirements

2. Set up product tasting area

2.1 Products are prepared for tasting using techniques according to product knowledge and workplace procedures

2.2 Tasting equipment suitable to product and tasting requirements is prepared and placed ready for use by customers

2.3 Adequate supplies of suitable support materials are prepared and placed ready for use

3. Conduct product tastings

3.1 Customer preferences are established using communication techniques and support materials

3.2 Customers are encouraged to sample preferred product range in the most beneficial order to experience product characters effectively

3.3 Customers are given time and privacy to sample each product and make a decision

3.4 Customers are encouraged to ask questions and/or pass opinions on products

3.5 Customer queries are answered accurately and comprehensively, or referred to another information resource

3.6 Common product faults are identified and any associated customer dissatisfaction is handled in a positive manner according to workplace policy and procedures

4. Serve tasting samples

4.1 Product is opened using techniques and procedures suitable to product characteristics

4.2 Product faults are identified and rectified and/or reported according to workplace procedures

4.3 Product is poured and presented to the customer for tasting according to legal regulations and workplace policy

4.4 Waste is collected and disposed of according to workplace procedures

4.5 Work is conducted in accordance with workplace environmental guidelines

5. Maintain product in optimum condition

5.1 Open product is maintained according to workplace procedures

5.2 Sealed product is stored according to workplace procedures

Required Skills

Required skills include:

Note: The following required skills should be applied as appropriate to the equipment and processes that are used in the particular winery or workplace.

Ability to:

access workplace information to identify standard wine tasting and preparation requirements

confirm supply of necessary products, equipment and materials, their status and condition as required

liaise with other work areas

cellar wines appropriately in readiness for tasting, according to wine style and workplace policy. This will include consideration of:

ultraviolet (UV) light and sunlight

temperature

humidity

position and cork condition

vibration

ease of access

pest control

stock rotation procedures

prepare glasses for tasting. This should include:

selecting appropriate glass for product

cleaning appropriately (i.e. no detergent residues)

rejecting chipped or damaged glasses

polishing hygienically

ensuring sufficient quantity for customer requirements

positioning for easy access and use and to maintain cleanliness

prepare support materials. These may include:

tasting notes and evaluation sheets

wine and spirit lists

background or promotional documentation

pens and paper

napkins or towels

corkscrews

white table cloth and paper

appropriate food and water to accompany tasting

prepare spittoons or spit buckets. This may include:

cleaning and sanitising

filling with sawdust

prepare chilling equipment. This may include:

cleaning and sanitising

checking adequacy of supplies of ice

complete a standard sensory evaluation of products prior to tasting

identify out-of-specification products and materials or non-compliance with workplace standards and industry codes of practice.

take corrective action in response to out-of-specification products or materials or non-compliance

report and/or record corrective action as required

apply a high standard of personal presentation. This may include:

personal hygiene

appropriate and clean clothes or uniform

handle wines appropriately to maintain optimum wine condition. This may include consideration of:

age of wine

deposits

disintegrating cork

tartrates

identify a wine that requires decanting

decant a wine discreetly, taking customer perceptions into account

identify customer’s tasting preferences. This may include:

questioning techniques

active listening

observation techniques

referral to wine list

demonstrating an open, friendly and interested attitude

interpret product labels and select correct wine and spirits according to requirements and/or specifications

open product for customer tastings. This may include:

selecting correct product according to product list (e.g. vintage)

removing top section of capsule cleanly and completely

extracting cork cleanly and completely

selecting appropriate opening mechanism

dating the bottle

opening sparkling wines

serve the product for customer tasting. This may include:

checking date of opening

assessing soundness and quality

decanting prior to serving

correct pouring technique to avoid drips

pouring correct tasting volume

encourage and facilitate responsible tasting by customers. This may include:

identifying customer tasting preferences as soon as possible and offering an appropriate selection of products to taste

providing a spittoon

providing water and/or soft drinks

providing food

pouring tasting samples according to workplace policy and procedures

maximise the pleasure of the product tasting for the customer. This may include particular attention to:

serving product in optimum condition

selecting clean, polished glassware of appropriate style

providing complementary drinks or food to cleanse the palate

providing clean spittoons and napkins

providing accurate and relevant information on the products tasted appropriate to customers’ needs

allowing the customer time and privacy to taste

encouraging the customer to ask questions and/or pass opinion on the product

identification of product faults before presenting to the customer and removal of the product from tasting

steering the order of tasting to allow products to be tasted in the most beneficial order

displaying the product label to the customer

resolve customer complaints effectively, promptly and courteously

maintain open product between tastings. This may include:

stock rotation

removing air from bottle and resealing

refrigeration

labelling

shut down equipment as required

prepare equipment for cleaning

record workplace information

maintain work area to meet housekeeping standards

manually clean and sanitise equipment according to enterprise procedures

advise on products and services according to enterprise procedures

sell products and services according to enterprise procedures

use oral communication skills/language to fulfil the job role as specified by the organisation, including questioning, active listening, asking for clarification and seeking advice from supervisor

work cooperatively within a culturally diverse workforce.

Required knowledge includes:

Note: The following required knowledge should be applied as appropriate to the equipment and processes that are used in the particular winery or workplace.

Knowledge of:

product range and quality characteristics

common product faults, features, causes and the corrective action necessary

product sensory evaluation techniques (standard)

operating procedures for equipment and services used

optimum cellaring conditions for a range of products (e.g. wines of varying maturity, fortified and liqueur wines, and spirits)

preparation requirements and procedures for glasses, spittoons, chilling equipment and support materials

product handling procedures and techniques (e.g. opening, decanting, pouring and displaying the label)

procedures to maintain product quality between tastings

product knowledge. This may include:

product style and taste characteristics

optimum serving requirements

preparation requirements

stock availability

label interpretation

purpose and principles of standard wine tasting

relationship of sales area to other enterprise work areas and activities

promotional and brand objectives of the enterprise

workplace policies and procedures on:

customer service

customer complaints

responsible service of alcohol

safe food handling

product storage

product tastings

personal presentation

stock rotation

communication techniques, including:

body language

questioning

active listening

providing information

available information resources (e.g. wine lists, price lists, background documentation, winemaker, brand manager, senior staff and staff with special expertise)

occupational health and safety (OHS) hazards and controls

procedures and responsibility for reporting problems

housekeeping requirements and procedures

recording requirements and procedures

techniques for manually cleaning and sanitising equipment where relevant

techniques for advising on products and services where relevant

techniques for selling products and services where relevant.

Evidence Required

The evidence guide provides advice on assessment and must be read in conjunction with the performance criteria, required skills and knowledge, range statement and the Assessment Guidelines for the Training Package.

Overview of assessment

Assessment must be carried out in a manner that recognises the cultural and literacy requirements of the assessee and is appropriate to the work performed. Competence in this unit must be achieved in accordance with food safety standards and regulations.

Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit

Evidence of ability to:

ensure appropriate cellaring and rotation of stock to maintain product quality and suitability for tastings

prepare tasting area, equipment and supplies in a manner suitable for the range of products being tasted and the number of customers in the tasting

ensure products are correctly opened, checked and served to customers

communicate effectively to customers, including finding preferences, answering questions, and adjusting tasting order or range, to facilitate customer enjoyment

demonstrate knowledge of products being tasted

resolve customer complaints effectively, promptly and courteously.

Context of and specific resources for assessment

Assessment must occur in a real or simulated workplace where the assessee has access to:

personal protective clothing and equipment as required

work procedures, including advice on company practices, safe work practices, food safety, quality and environmental requirements

instructions, information, specifications and schedules as required

equipment, services and corresponding information as required

products and materials as required

internal and external customers and suppliers as required

cleaning procedures, materials and equipment as required

documentation and recording requirements and procedures.

Method of assessment

This unit should be assessed together with other units of competency relevant to the function or work role.

Guidance information for assessment

To ensure consistency in one's performance, competency should be demonstrated on more than one occasion over a period of time in order to cover a variety of circumstances, cases and responsibilities, and where possible, over a number of assessment activities.


Range Statement

The range statement relates to the unit of competency as a whole. It allows for different work environments and situations that may affect performance. Bold italicised wording, if used in the performance criteria, is detailed below. Essential operating conditions that may be present with training and assessment (depending on the work situation, needs of the candidate, accessibility of the item, and local industry and regional contexts) may also be included.

Policies and procedures

Work is carried out in accordance with workplace procedures, licensing requirements and legislative requirements

Workplace information

Workplace information can include:

Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs)

workplace policy and procedures in regard to conducting product tastings

specifications

work notes

instructions or verbal direction from the manager, supervisor or senior staff

Products for tasting

Products for tasting may include:

wines and spirits

Product knowledge

Product knowledge may include:

product style and characteristics

optimum serving condition

cellaring potential

storage requirements

stock availability

serving requirements

food or occasion matches

vintage characteristics

production techniques

price

discounts

special offers

sizes

Cork characters associated with ageing products

Cork characters associated with ageing products may include:

shrinkage and expansion in response to inconsistent temperature

corks drying and shrinking where wine is not kept up to the cork

natural cork deterioration through ageing and exacerbated by vermin (e.g. mice and rats)

random bottle oxidation from some corks allowing more air in than others

cork bleeding, allowing wine and oxygen transfer across the cork barrier

Management techniques and practices for corks of ageing products

Management techniques and practices for corks of ageing products may include:

maintaining a constant cool temperature in bottle storage areas

maintaining the seal by keeping bottles in an inverted position and corks wet and expanded

monitoring bottles for signs of random bottle oxidation (e.g. darkening or browning of white wine colour) or wine and oxygen transfer (e.g. wine dripping onto the floor below an imperfect seal), and crusting around the seal

undertaking assigned responsibilities in a cork maintenance program for museum wines eg submitting wines to laboratory for resealing and bottle topping

controlling vermin in the cellar door sales and bottle storage area

Tasting equipment

Tasting equipment may vary and should include that which is required to prepare for and conduct a wine tasting according to workplace policy and procedures, and may include:

spittoons

glasses

corkscrews

foil cutters

champagne cork removers

decanters

wine thermometer

stoppers or vac-u-vins

Chilling equipment

Chilling equipment for product tasting may include:

ice buckets

fridges

cool box or bag

rapid ice

Support materials

Support materials may vary and should include that which is required to prepare for and conduct a wine tasting according to workplace policy and procedures, and may include:

product information sheets

promotional materials

tasting notes

evaluation sheets

napkins

ice

water

light food

pens or markers

wine lists

Customers

Customers may include:

regular, new, external, or enterprise personnel

people from a range of social, cultural or ethnic backgrounds and physical and mental abilities. English may not be their first language. Buying or ordering experience and expertise may vary

Product faults

Product faults may include:

tartrates

oxidation

haze

cork taint

excessive sulphur

packaging defects

Cellar door outlet

Cellar door outlets may vary according to:

size

type

location

Team members

Team members may include:

people from a range of social, cultural and ethnic backgrounds and physical and mental abilities

Staff

Staff may:

be full time, part time or casual

work in other areas of the enterprise

Trading or working conditions

Trading or working conditions may be:

routine, busy or quiet

Information systems

Information systems may be:

print or screen based


Sectors

Unit sector

Wine operations


Employability Skills

This unit contains employability skills.


Licensing Information

Not applicable.