Wine estates and hospitality venues have specific requirements that differ from personal gift commissions. The pieces need to be consistent across a run of dozens or hundreds of units, they need to withstand regular use in a commercial setting, and they often need to be ready before a specific opening date or harvest event. This article covers what we offer for this sector and what to plan for.

Slate tasting boards: the most requested piece

Engraved slate tasting boards are the piece we produce most often for wine estates and restaurants. A typical board is 30 cm by 20 cm, engraved with the estate name and a motif, sealed with food-safe mineral oil. The oil sealant needs reapplying once a year in a commercial setting where the boards are washed regularly. We supply a maintenance guide with every hospitality order. Minimum run is twelve units; most estates order between twenty-four and sixty.

Wooden gift boxes and cork tags

Portuguese oak gift boxes, engraved with the estate name and vintage, are a popular choice for premium wine gifts. Cork oak veneer tags, laser-engraved, are a lighter and less expensive option for bottle labelling. Both materials are sourced within Portugal. For gift boxes, we work from the estate's existing box supplier if they have one, or we can source the blanks. Cork tags are produced entirely in the studio.

Consistency across a run

The most important thing we do for hospitality clients is maintain consistency. A run of forty-eight tasting boards needs to look identical. We achieve this by cutting a proof board first, getting written approval, and then running the full batch without changing any machine settings. We photograph a sample from the beginning, middle, and end of each run and keep these on file. If a board is damaged in service and needs replacing, we can match it exactly.

Planning ahead: harvest season and opening dates

The two busiest periods for hospitality commissions are spring (March to May, ahead of the summer season) and autumn (September to October, ahead of harvest events). If you have a specific opening date or event, contact us at least six weeks in advance. For runs of more than thirty units, eight weeks is safer. We will always tell you honestly whether a deadline is achievable before we accept the commission.

We have worked with estates in the Douro, Alentejo, and Vinho Verde regions. If you are planning a new tasting room, a product launch, or a seasonal gift range, write to us at studio@engraverefuge.com with the details and we will respond with a specific proposal.