Tiare Technology announced today the appointment of Master Sommelier Jonathan Pullis as its Chief Wine Officer. Jonathan joins Tiare to lead product development for the Wireless WineList and VIPSeat Restaurant systems, providing his expertise in wine, spirits and restaurant operations and serving as Wine Ambassador for the company. As one of only 211 certified Master Sommeliers worldwide, Jonathan’s appointment furthers Tiare’s commitment to providing its customers with the most comprehensive technology and service for wireless ordering solutions.
”I am excited to be joining Tiare Technology,” says Pullis. “I wanted to work with Tiare because they truly understand the time and thought that goes into building a wine program, and their products reflect that understanding. I am particularly sensitive to anything that can get in the way of the relationship between the restaurant guest and the server. Tiare’s products are the catalyst to encouraging a dialogue directly between the guest and the sommelier. This care and respect for service make the company superior to others who have recently come on the scene with ‘apps’ for food and beverage menus.”
Pullis continues, “The advancement of wine education is important to me; Tiare’s products foster this knowledge at the point of service and beyond. Tiare innovated this technology over a decade ago, and their experience is reflected in the quality of the product.”
“We could not be more delighted to welcome Jonathan to the Tiare family,” says Jeffrey Krevitt, President, Tiare Technology. “The Master Sommelier Diploma is the ultimate professional credential anyone can attain worldwide in the service of wine and spirits. It is wonderful that Tiare can provide our customers access to Jonathan’s rare expertise. Whether you are a Michelin-recognized restaurant with a 3,000-bottle wine list or a neighborhood wine bar with 100 thoughtful selections, Jonathan can assist to bridge the transition from a traditional paper list to the custom features of Tiare’s digital one.”
Jonathan will also serve as Tiare’s Wine Ambassador. His duties will include wine education seminars as well as contributing to “Travels with Tiare,” a podcast dedicated to wine, food and travel. The podcast will provide wine and food enthusiasts with interviews and information that will speak to their passion for all things gastronomic.
Using patented technology, the Wireless WineList application allows restaurant guests to easily view and order wines and cocktails using Apple and Android tablets or a guest’s Smartphone with Tiare’s proprietary software. Guests can use the application to browse the wine list and quickly sort the wines to display by region, varietal, price range or other categories, or click to search the list to pinpoint a specific selection. “One of the great aspects of the Wireless WineList system is that it speaks to oenophiles as well as those who may not be as well versed in wine,” says Pullis. “The restaurant’s ability to customize the software to categorize and display the wines translates into a solution that anyone can navigate, regardless of their level of wine knowledge.”
The Wireless WineList solution allows the restaurant to update information immediately, to hide items that may be temporarily unavailable or change the vintage of a selection. “The ability to update the wine list in real time is truly a game changer for the sommelier,” says Pullis. “Now you can always provide your guest with the most current information available, while saving a significant amount of time, paper and overall cost by not having to reprint the wine list every time there is a change.” With Tiare’s optional inventory management module, the system automatically adjusts the list as guests deplete wine selections. “Tiare puts valuable time back in the hands of the wine director to develop the offerings and focus on the customer,” says Pullis.
The VIPSeat Restaurant software combines the Wireless WineList solution with the ability to view the entire food and beverage menu. The system can recommend wine parings with food items selected and offer dynamic information about the sourcing of the ingredients, the chef and other features about the restaurant. Point of Sale system integration allows guest and staff orders to speed directly to the kitchen or bar.
Master Sommelier Jonathan Pullis’ interest in wine began in Rochester, New York, watching his father’s appreciation and enthusiasm for finely crafted wine. In 1993, after receiving a degree in economics at the University of Vermont, he followed his passion for wine to St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands, to study and hone his expertise at the renowned Le Château de Bordeaux. Back on the mainland, Pullis continued to build his wine and service skills at Rancho de San and The Pitcher Inn in Warren, Vermont. In 1998 Pullis joined The Little Nell, Aspen, Colorado’s legendary five-star, five-diamond hotel. Promoted to Wine Director in 2008, Pullis oversaw the celebrated Montagna restaurant’s wine program which included a 20,000-bottle cellar featuring 1,500 labels. Pullis is currently Restaurant Manager and Beverage Director at the exclusive private club and restaurant, Casa Tua in Aspen, noted for its fine Italian cuisine, award-winning wine program and art collection.
During his quest for wine knowledge, Pullis completed the four levels of the Court of Master Sommeliers educational program and in 2009 he received the coveted Master Sommelier Diploma. The Court encourages rigorous standards of beverage knowledge and service in hotels and restaurants and is the premier international examining body. The Master Sommelier educational program culminates in an invitation-only, comprehensive exam covering world wine classifications, tests of service and food pairing, and a blind tasting to precisely identify six wines in less than 25 minutes.
Tiare Technology, the pioneer of wireless ordering technology, develops and markets to the global hospitality and leisure industry wireless communication products and software services, using patented technology, that increase revenue, generate labor savings and enhance customer service. The company offers solutions that allow guests at hotels, resorts, casinos, cruise ships, stadiums and other leisure locations to order food, beverages, merchandise and services using wireless devices featuring proprietary software and wireless technology. Tiare products include the intelliChaise, VIPSeat Restaurant, VIPSeat Gaming, VIPSeat Stadium, Wireless WineList and Tiare GuestBook ordering systems. The solutions offer interfaces to major point of sale systems. Tiare products seek to eliminate, where possible, the use of paper – promoting an eco-friendly platform to provide guests with information and services. The product platform has been granted U.S. and international patent protection (U.S. Patent 7,945,477). Founded in 2002, Tiare Technology is a privately held corporation based in New Jersey. For more information, visit www.tiaretech.com or follow us on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.
