The possibility to discover and enjoy a variety of wines in self-service with the help of so-called smart cards has been acknowledged as one of the hottest trends for promoting and selling quality wines. Wine bars and shops allowing guests to enjoy up to 100 or more wines by the glass have opened their doors all over the world over the past few years.

The basic idea is easy to understand: guests get a pre-charged card from the bar or shop enabling them to pour wines from the dispensers paying for it by inserting the card in the card slot at the dispenser. Next to a full glass, guests can choose a half glass or just a taster. Cards are usually prepaid but read-out at checkout is an option as well.

The self-service approach is perceived by the guests as an uncomplicated and playful way to discover new wines. This wine adventure almost always goes in one direction only - to the top: customers who can concentrate on their own taste simply discover that better wines also taste better. Expect wine sales to be 25% to 40% higher than in a normal wine bar, while customer satisfaction reaches new heights.