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Jay Bessell

@wineandcorks

3.5K

followers

2207

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Glass Half Full Wine Consulting I Melbourne / Narrm
* Wine edutainment
* Hospitality education
* Wine lists
* Corporate tastings
* Sommelier

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There’s a story behind every OpenTable Icon - Sofia Levin went looking for The European’s.⁠
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Head Sommelier Jay Bessell has spent 28 years removing the pretension from wine - proving it’s never about the “best” bottle, just the right one at the right moment.⁠
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It’s the same philosophy that’s kept The European exactly the same for nearly 30 years: no trend-chasing, no reinventing the wheel, just doing it properly, every time.⁠
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🔗 Book The European, and find more Icons on OpenTable via the link in bio by @wineandcorks

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a month ago

$22,000 bottle of wine.
Open Table Experiences Month @opentableau @theeuropeanmelbourne #melbournewine #winewithnopretension #wineshare #doubleunicornwine #magnum by @wineandcorks

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2 months ago

Corporate wine events don’t need to feel corporate.

Great wine, great food, a little education, but absolutely no pretension.

Reach out if you’d like me to host one of your events

https://jaybessell.com

#corporatewineevents #winewithnopretension #melbournewine #melbourneevents by @wineandcorks

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8 hours ago

The Napier Hotel has a fantastic wine list. But what brings a wine list to life?
It’s the staff.

Regular training throughout the year keeps everyone tasting, learning and talking.

Training builds confidence. Confidence builds conversations.
Conversations build sales.

That’s how you connect the punters to the wine list and build wine culture.

https://jaybessell.com

#napierhotel #winetraining #winewithnopretension #pubwine #wineculture by @wineandcorks

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a day ago

So, understanding creates confidence. Confidence creates passion. And passionate staff sell wine.

Education → inspiration → confidence → sales.

Wine be it Italian, French or Australian, the process is the same.

It’s why venues keep bringing me back. It works.

https://jaybessell.com

#melbournewine #hospitalitytraining #winetraining #sellmore by @wineandcorks

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2 days ago

See you in a week

Taking a week off for a holiday before Melbourne’s silly season kicks in.

For wine events, staff training or upcoming bookings, you can still reach me by email. I’ll be checking in while I’m away, though replies may take a little longer.

Back in a week, refreshed and ready for the run to Christmas! #corporatewine #wineevents #melbournewine by @wineandcorks

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9 days ago

I’ve got a new wine project… but I’m not telling you where just yet.

It’s a venue I’ve never worked with before, and I’m very excited to be joining them.

First clue: it’s a pub… with a pretty serious winery connection.

That’s all you’re getting for now.
Any guesses?

Need me at your venue?
https://jaybessell.com

#MelbourneWine #MelbournePubs #WineEducation #AustralianWine #MelbourneHospitality by @wineandcorks

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17 days ago

France is the foundation stone of the wine world. Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Cabernet, Syrah, Sauvignon Blanc…. so many of the grapes we drink today have their benchmarks here.

Learn Burgundy, Bordeaux, Rhone and Loire and suddenly wines from Australia, New Zealand and beyond start making a lot more sense.

Back at Meat Flour Wine Braeside talking all things French wine @meatflourwine

Wine education, masterclasses & events:
https://jaybessell.com

#frenchwine #wineeducation #winelovers #meatflourwine by @wineandcorks

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18 days ago

It’s a special weekend in Melbourne, so Friday Night Wine deserves a very special Victorian bottle. @bindiwines

2025 Bindi ‘Kostas Rind’ Chardonnay,
Macedon Ranges, VIC
City Wine Shop
Takeaway bottle price: $93

One of Victoria’s benchmark producers, from one of our coolest wine regions. Precise, elegant Chardonnay with citrus, stone fruit, beautiful texture and that unmistakable Bindi restraint.

Melbourne weekend. Victorian wine. That feels about right.

#FridayNightWine #Bindi #victorianwine #MacedonRanges #chardonnay by @wineandcorks

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21 days ago

Wine experts know their pick when it comes to choosing the perfect glass.

#cedarhospitality by @wineandcorks

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22 days ago

One thing teaching has taught me, confidence comes through repetition.

Taste it. Talk about it. Do it again.

That’s what I bring to hospitality training: building knowledge, inspiring people and giving them the confidence to sell wine.

#winetraining #wineeducation #hospitalitytraining by @wineandcorks

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22 days ago

If your wine list needs a fresh set of eyes this season, let’s work on it.

jaybessell.com

#winelist #hospitality #winebusiness #winewithnopretension by @wineandcorks

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24 days ago