What does it take to open a wine shop? The case Enoteca Banfi

From wine, to combinations, to the atmosphere: here is how Enoteca Banfi at the Castello Banfi Wine Resort was born and some suggestions for opening yours.

How to open a successful wine shop?

In recent years, the phenomenon of wine shops, wine bars and cellar tours in Italy has become increasingly popular. Many people, therefore, wonder what it takes to open a wine shop and how to start a successful one. In this short guide on how to open a wine shop we will answer all the most frequently asked questions on the subject.

Difference between wine shop and wine bar

First of all, a distinction must be made between wine shop and wine bar, which are often misused as synonyms:
the wine shop is the place where wines (either home-made or imported) are sold together with other alcoholic beverages and local food products. Compared to a normal wine shop, the enoteca offers a more select choice of labels and the possibility of guided tours of the cellars, also accompanied by wine tastings;
The wine bar, on the other hand, is a real place to eat, with a menu, seating and various dishes to accompany and enhance the wine.

What does it take to open a wine shop?

As with any business, it is essential to draw up a business plan. The latter should include several types of analysis, for example:
that on costs, which are necessary to open the business;
an analysis of the target audience, i.e. the types of users you want to reach with your activity;
on location design;
on the medium and long-term objectives of the business.

What to do to get a licence to sell wine?

If you want to open a wine bar or an enoteca, it is useful, for example, to have obtained a diploma from a hotel school, to have at least two years'experience in catering before opening your business and to have attended sommelier courses.
The regions also regularly ban SAB courses (Food and Drink Administration) courses, that is training courses for the purpose of enabling the exercise of activities in the food trade and for the sale of foodstuffs and beverages. In addition, it is mandatory to have the HACCP certificate relating to hygiene and safety standards necessary to serve food and drinks to the public.
It is also necessary to have a licence to sell alcohol. But what do you have to do to obtain a licence to sell wine? It will be sufficient to submit the appropriate application to the Customs and Monopolies Agency, also by registered mail. Finally, among the documents required to open a wine shop or wine bar, you must have:
Certified Declaration of Commencement of Activity (SCIA) for commercial activities;
VAT number;
Corresponding ATECO code.

How much does it cost to open a wine shop?

Documentation, permits and licences are the initial items to be included in the spending plan for opening a wine shop, to which must then be added the cost of renting or purchasing the premises, furnishing, supplying wine and hiring staff.
On average, the initial cost of opening a wine shop is around EUR 30,000, excluding wines.

Enoteca Banfi: a case of success

To understand what it takes to open a wine shop, the advice is to take the example of successful activities in our territory, such as the Banfi Enoteca, located in the heart of the land of Brunello, at Castello Banfi Wine Resort, only 20 km from Montalcino.
The first thing that strikes visitors upon entering this wine shop is its atmosphere: the décor has been made with fine materials and antique furniture to recreate a Tuscan shop of bygone days. Entering the Enoteca Banfi is not only a purchasing experience but also an immersion in the discovery of places and traditions linked to the world of wine.
It is also a wine shop that is characterised by the variety of products on sale: sparkling wines, grappa, extra virgin olive oil and many other excellences of local gastronomy as well as, of course, the careful selection of Banfi wines, renowned and appreciated all over the world for their quality and taste.

What the Enoteca Banfi offers

Finally, the Enoteca Banfi organizes for its guests tasting experiences with typical local products (e.g. cheeses, cold cuts, etc.) in combination with the wines offered, as well as fascinating visits to the Banfi cellars. These are real tours that include a walk through the vineyards, where you can admire the many varieties of grapes grown in the estates Banfi, and at the cellar, an elegant, rustic and yet modern.
The customer’s care and the excellence of the products on sale remain another fundamental element to keep in mind to open a successful wine bar.