Revenue in a Bottle: What’s a Wine Pull & Why Does It Work?

Looking for fresh, creative ideas to elevate your next fundraising gala? Why not uncork some fundraising fun with locally crafted wine—or simply wine in general?

More and more organizations are incorporating fixed-priced packages into their auction events and raising additional proceeds by offering a wine pull (or wine wall) for guests to purchase alongside traditional silent auction items.

In this guide, we’ll walk you through all your questions about a wine wall:

With this resource, you’ll be closer to reaching your fundraising goal with every bottle you sell.

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What is a Wine Pull?

Wine pulls are a fundraising strategy that you can easily include in your charity auction or another fundraising event.

With a wine pull, you’ll offer supporters the chance to select a random bottle of wine from a wall or table. The average wine pull is priced at around $25.

The fun part of a wine pull is that each bottle is covered in paper, bags, ribbons, or other decorations so that supporters have no idea which wine they’re pulling. Because the bottles vary in value, attendees might walk home with a bottle priced less or significantly higher than the amount they donated.

It’s a game of chance with a tempting prize that not many of your guests will be able to refuse!

How Does a Wine Pull Work?

Here are the steps to hosting an engaging wine pull:

Steps to hosting a wine pull or wine wall fundraiser, also detailed below

  1. Pair it with the right fundraiser: Ideal for events like auctions and golf tournaments, wine pulls provide a simple yet enticing opportunity to keep supporters involved and excited.
  2. Decide on the right venue: Ensure your event space is adequate for a wine wall or table, has the proper permits for serving alcohol or staff to manage the wine pull, and meets any other requirements.
  3. Procure your wine: There are a few ways to procure your wine, such as purchasing the bottles yourself or working with a sponsor. More on that in the next section!
  4. Handle all other event planning tasks: Finalize details like date and time, marketing and promotion, securing sponsors, and managing logistics for a smooth and successful fundraising event.
  5. Prepare your wine pull: After decorating your wine bottles, set up the event space in a way that spotlights the wine wall. Arrange the display to create a visually striking experience for your guests.
  6. Host the wine pull: Invite guests to purchase a chance to select a random bottle of wine and have them choose one from the display. As each guest picks, they’ll reveal their bottle, adding an element of surprise to your fundraiser.

Wine wall fundraisers are a great way to generate more revenue for your nonprofit’s cause while inspiring excitement and extra engagement with guests.

Where Can I Source Items for My Wine Wall Fundraiser?

Finding wine for your wine pull is where the fun begins. Here are a few ideas for sourcing your bottles:

Places to source wine for a wine pull or wine wall fundraiser, also listed below

  • Ask local wineries and vineyards for donations: Connect with vineyards in your area to see if any would be willing to donate bottles of wine. Offer sponsorships in return for donations to incentivize more vineyards to donate and emphasize the additional advertising they’d receive by partnering with your organization!
  • Solicit sponsorships from large wine businesses: Check out established stores like Total Wine & More, Wine.com, Stella Rosa, and other large retailers that might support your fundraiser by donating bottles, offering discounts, or partnering as event sponsors.
  • Host a “stock the wine wall” party fundraiser: Sign-up parties are fun gatherings that bring people together for a unique experience. Why not host one to stock your wall while building community? Set price guidelines and have each guest bring a bottle of wine to contribute.

Remember, you can always reach out to your existing supporters for in-kind donations of wine! Donors may have spare bottles they don’t mind giving away for a good cause.

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How Can I Put a Unique Spin on My Wine Pull?

If you’re already familiar with wine pulls and want a way to spice your next one up, look no further than these ideas:

Unique wine pull and wine wall fundraiser ideas, also listed below

  • Wine tasting: Before the wine pull begins, invite guests to sample a selection of wines to enhance the anticipation for the wine pull.
  • Wine and beer pull: Mix it up by offering guests both wine and beer options. This expands the event’s appeal to a wider audience, helping you raise more!
  • Spin the bottle: Add a layer of entertainment and chance by having guests pay for a spin, with each spin landing on a random bottle. Whatever bottle they land on, they win ! This is an easy yet effective way to keep the energy high.
  • Wine ring toss: Create a playful, carnival-like atmosphere where guests toss a set number of rings, aiming to land one around a bottle of wine they hope to win. It’s an interactive way to add excitement to your event!
  • Special prizes: Add in more surprises by attaching prizes to the bottles. Think of gift cards or wine accessories that add a little extra thrill for your guests as they participate in the wine pull.
  • Themed wine pull: Decorate the bottles to match a specific theme, whether it’s holidays, mission-related, or a fun theme. This adds a creative touch to your wine pull.
  • Unwrapped bottles: Skip the wrapping! Assign each bottle a number and write matching numbers on the corks. Guests then pay to draw a cork; whatever bottle matches, they win. Less work for you with the same amount of surprise for guests.
  • “Around the World”: If you’ve gathered wines from various places, separate them by country or region so your guests can “travel” the world as they choose which bottle to pull. This makes your wine pull a global adventure!
  • Golden Ticket Pull: Secure a grand prize, like an exclusive vineyard experience, to turn each pull into a chance to win big! Hiding a “golden ticket” prize in one of the wine bottles brings another element of surprise.

Let your creativity shine—host a brainstorming session with your event team to come up with engaging ideas to combine with your wine pull.

Pour a Glass to Your Successful Wine Pull

Wine pulls are flexible revenue generators that can fit almost any fundraising event and require little effort to organize. Plus, they’re a great way to secure audience buy-in, boosting registrations and engagement. Consider your nonprofit’s event calendar and ask yourself if a wine wall fundraiser would improve your upcoming events!

For more information about other fundraising ideas, read through the resources below:

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