Choosing wine for your fundraiser

Are you hosting a fundraiser that involves wine? There are a few key considerations to ensure you get the right wine for your event. We’re breaking down a few popular options to ensure your guests love the wine you pick out. From dessert to traditional options, there are many diverse bottles to select.

Learn more about how to choose wine for your fundraiser. 

How do you fundraise with wine?

You can incorporate wine into your event in a few different ways when brainstorming wine fundraising ideas.

Consider throwing a wine pull event where guests pay a small fee to choose a mystery bottle from a wall or table to take home. There are typically various kinds of wines in the pull, ranging from affordable to luxury bottles. You can also pair your wine pull with a raffle or silent auction. 

Some people also pair their wine pull event with a wine tasting element. This is usually organized with the help of a winery or wine merchant who may sponsor the event by donating the wine. Another idea is to add a wine toss where guests play ring toss with wine bottles. The winners take a bottle home!

Considerations for hosting a wine fundraiser

No matter what wine pull ideas you incorporate into your event, some important factors to consider to make it a huge success include:

• Ages: Ensure there is a strict age limit for your guests. That the event is open to adults only should be clearly stated on all your invitations or flyers. 
• Legalities: Before hosting a wine fundraiser, it is essential to check with your local alcohol regulations. 
• Location: Hosting a wine fundraiser at a winery can streamline the planning process. 
• Designated drivers: If you are serving wine or other drinks at your event, be sure to coordinate designated drivers. 

With an understanding of how to make this type of fundraising event run smoothly, it is time for the fun part — choosing the wines.

How to choose wine for your event

When picking out the right bottles for your fundraiser, it can be helpful to break down each different type. You’ll want to find options from various price points that your guests will enjoy. 

Consider the following wine categories and some examples of each:

Red wines

There are many varieties of red wine, ranging from light-bodied to full-bodied. You can find bottles at every price point. Common types of red wines include:

• Cabernet sauvignon: As one of the most popular types of red wine, cabernet sauvignon is a great option known for its full body and bold, dark fruity flavors. 
• Pinot noir: As a light-bodied red wine, this wine offers diverse flavors, including spice, fruit and flowers. Its smooth finish makes it a crowd favorite. 

White wines

When exploring options for your wine fundraiser, consider incorporating some popular white wines, such as: 

• Chardonnay: When exploring different types of chardonnay, you might encounter buttery and full-bodied options or those that are light and easy to drink. 
• Pinot Grigio: This white wine is especially light and refreshing. You can choose between sweet, dry or sour options for your event. 

White wines are available at every price point and are an excellent choice for summertime events. 

Rosé wines

Rosé wines can be a fun and fresh addition to your wine pull fundraiser. The following are two popular varieties of rosé your guests will enjoy:

• Provence rosé: This type of rosé is light with a fruity, dry flavor. This is a very popular variety thanks to its pretty pink color and refreshing taste. 
• Zinfandel rosé: Another common variety is Zinfandel, which can be very dry and sweet. It has a simple flavor profile and is especially easy to drink. 

Sparkling wines

Sparkling wine is a special category. From expensive Champagne to cheap rosé, there are bubbly options for many different varieties of wine. Incorporating a luxury sparkling wine into your wine fundraiser is a great choice for grand prizes. The following are popular fizzy wine options:

• Champagne: As either a white or rosé wine, Champagne is known as a celebratory drink with a fruity or bready flavor profile. 
• Prosecco: This variety is a popular sparkling white wine with dry, fruity flavors.

Dessert wines

Dessert wines — sometimes called pudding wines — are typically sweet and served with cake or ice cream. Your fundraiser can diversify your wine supply with some of these unique varieties, such as:

• Ice wine: Ice wine is a special variety produced using grapes that froze on the vine. This type of dessert wine is known for its fruity and honey flavors. 
• Moscato: This popular dessert wine is available in multiple styles and has especially sweet flavors. 

Fortified wines

Fortified wines tend to be especially expensive options. They are made with a distilled spirit and tend to have an herbal and spicy flavor profile. This type of wine can be a unique addition to your fundraiser selection and will spark interest among your guests. 

Popular types of fortified wines include:

• Marsala: Most Marsala wines are made with brandy. This variety is a popular choice for cooking and making wine cocktails. It can be either dry or very sweet, depending on the bottle. 
• Sherry: Sherry is a unique fortified wine with high alcohol content and nutty, dried fruit flavors. 

Consult a wine expert

When incorporating wine into your fundraising event, reaching out to an expert such as a sommelier can be very advantageous. 

A sommelier is a trained professional with expertise in wine. They can help you find the right varieties for your event, especially if you plan on adding a wine-tasting element. And if you don’t have a sommelier on speed dial, consider working with experts at a local winery. If you host your event at a winery, choosing wine will be simple. 

While it is possible to plan and host your wine fundraiser on your own, consulting with an expert will ensure you choose bottles that your guest will love!

Raise a glass with GiveSmart

The next time you plan a fundraising event, consider implementing industry-leading donor management and fundraising software from GiveSmart. Our solution makes it possible to stay connected with your donors and enhance their experience. Whether you are interested in hosting an auction or raffle, we have the technology to help you make the most of your fundraising efforts. 

We help you organize your campaigns and events with insightful analytics and a robust donor management platform that tracks all kinds of donations, including multipayment pledges and in-kind services. 

Interested in learning more about GiveSmart fundraising software? Request a demo to get started today!