Wine Pull Fundraiser (2026): How to Run One and How Much It Raises

Fundraisers are the very backbone of nonprofits, and you need them to raise money for your cause and make a difference. But standard raffles, auctions, and gala events can become stale and bland, which isn’t great for donor engagement and retention. If you want to keep them interested in what you have to offer, then you need to think outside of the box. 

This is where a wine pull fundraiser can come in and change everything. It’s unique, which makes it interesting, and everyone who enters is guaranteed to win a prize. It might not always be the fanciest bottle of wine out there, but it will normally be enough that even the smaller prizes will grab them and make them eager to get involved. 

We’re here to teach you everything you need to know about what wine pulls are, how they work, and how much they could potentially raise during your next event. 

What is a Wine Pull/Wine Wall Fundraiser? 

A wine pull fundraiser, sometimes known as a wine wall, is a fun and unique event that is often part of a gala or auction as an additional strategy for raising money. During the event, guests are able to buy tickets that will win them a random bottle of wine from a table or wall where they are all being kept. In some cases, the labels are covered, and in others they are left visible. 

Generally speaking, most wine pull events keep the bottles and labels covered because it adds some mystery and excitement to the game. While everyone who enters is a winner, no one knows what they are going to go home with, and it’s even more exciting when there are one or two bottles of expensive wine added into the mix. 

Note: Since alcohol is often served at a wine pull, please ensure that you encourage guests to assign a designated driver and that your volunteers coordinate this with them. 

How Does a Wine Pull Event Work?

A wine pull works best when it is paired with other events, making it a fun and engaging add-on to ensure that your donors remain interested throughout your fundraiser. It’s a wonderful way to raise more money, and it is popular when put together with silent auctions and galas. The way it works is very simple, and it can be broken down like this: 

• Source your wine and gather it for the event. You should ensure as much of it as possible is donated so that you aren’t losing money
• Wrap the wine in tissue, brown paper, burlap, or any other material that suits the theme of your fundraiser and keeps the bottles looking classy. Make sure the labels are covered
• Set the price for the wine pull, and remember that the rule is to make the price of a ticket slightly lower than the average price for a bottle of wine so that they’re getting a good deal 
• Let your guests pull the ticket and see which number they won. If there are a few expensive wines hidden in with the rest of them, this can add some serious excitement to the event

As you can see, the process is pretty easy. There’s a little more to it, which we will go through later, but the simplicity and engagement are part of what makes it the ideal choice for things like school fundraisers and other fundraisers that are centred around a specific cause. It’s especially good for filling in the gaps during silent auctions while everyone is waiting. 

Why It Works and the Benefits of a Wine Pull

The beauty of the wine pull is that everyone wins, which means people are more engaged and willing to buy a ticket. It is a low-cost event because most (if not all) of the wine is donated, and it works wonderfully as a high-margin add-on for larger events. It’s why it pairs so perfectly with galas and auctions because it’s like the appetiser before the main meal. 

Some of the main reasons why wine pulls work so well for nonprofits include: 

• They are simple to organise, and there is no need to worry about logistics or organising bidding systems to work around them
• Guests always get something in return for their donation, which means even if they don’t win the silent auction later in the event (for example), they still go home with a prize
• They are exciting and engaging because no one knows which bottle of wine they will win or what type it will be, which builds up a lot of anticipation 
• While they work well as a standalone event, they are the perfect pair for larger fundraising activities to help keep up the momentum and encourage further donations

Wine Pull vs Raffle vs Auction: Which is Best? 

All three of these events are good in their own right, and the one that works best really depends on what you want from your fundraiser. For example, a wine pull might be tied to a game of chance, but with a guaranteed winner, it also counts as an instant win. A traditional raffle doesn’t have everyone winning a prize, which can lead to some letdowns and legal struggles. 

Auctions are good for larger fundraising events such as silent auctions, galas, and banquets where you are hoping to raise a lot of money for your cause. A traditional raffle is more suited to something smaller, such as a community event or a school fundraiser, as it makes things more engaging and interactive. However, there is room for both here. 

A wine pull is something that you can host on its own, much like a raffle, but it pairs perfectly with larger events as well and uses the same tools to make them work together. It’s a good way to keep people entertained while they wait for the big reveal, and it brings in extra money for the cause you’re supporting. It’s very versatile, and that’s part of what makes it so good. 

How to Run a Wine Pull Fundraiser: The Complete How-To Guide

If you want to be properly prepared for your wine pull fundraiser, you need to know how to do it right. That means a step-by-step guide on how to set your goals and choose a venue, all the way to sourcing donations and promoting the event. Lucky for you, we have everything you need right here so that you can go into the planning process feeling confident. 

#1 Set Your Goals and Budget 

The budget is the most important part of any fundraiser. Whether your wine pull is part of your main event or a separate thing entirely, you still need to ensure you know how much money has been allocated to it so that you don’t go over in your spending. This also means that you can calculate roughly how much of the money raised will go to your nonprofit. 

You also need clear goals. What do you want to achieve? How much money do you want to raise? How many guests are you planning on having for the wine pull? Questions like these determine things like how many bottles of wine you should have (one bottle for every 3-5 guests is standard) and what to expect in terms of earnings. 

#2 Choose Your Venue 

The venue needs to suit the theme of your event, especially if you’re pairing the wine pull with a gala or banquet. You will need plenty of space to display your wine wall and room to spare for the main event to take place comfortably. But, perhaps most importantly, you might also want to consider that some guests might want their wine served to them after the pull. 

That’s why you’re going to want to ensure the venue you choose has a liquor license so that alcohol can be served. This gives guests the option to drink their prize after they have won it so they can continue to enjoy the evening. You will also need to check any local laws that might have further restrictions or requirements before you commit to a venue. 

If you get really lucky, you might even be able to convince a local winery or vineyard to host your event for you. This would help with the alcohol licensing, and it would be a fantastic way to give the winery in question a little advertising. It also adds some elegant flair to the event, even if you’re hosting a gala or auction around it. 

#3 Form Your Committee and Gather Volunteers

Your event committee is the absolute backbone of your event. You can’t do everything yourself; there’s just not enough time, and you’ll be an exhausted mess by the end of it. Your committee should consist of people you trust and those who have experience running events so that they can handle some of the heavy lifting and take the pressure off your shoulders. 

Once you have formed a trustworthy committee, you can then find volunteers who will help with setting up and running the actual event. They don’t have the same responsibilities as the committee, but they are vital for keeping guests happy and ensuring things run smoothly throughout the night. You need them there to keep the event going. 

#4 Source and Collect Wine Donations 

Paying for every bottle of wine at the pull will bankrupt you, and you won’t be able to make the money back or raise enough for it to be considered a notable donation to your nonprofit. Much like other prizes and items at fundraisers, you’re going to want to get as many of the bottles as possible donated to you from kind and charitable businesses and vineyards. 

How Do You Get Wine Donated and Ask for Donations?

There are a few ways you can do this. The most common method is to call around and ask local wineries and vineyards if they would be interested in making a donation to your events. Usually, this is in exchange for advertising or an announced note of thanks at the event. Sponsorships like that can turn into long-term partnerships that benefit both of you for future events as well.

You can also solicit wine businesses and local stores to see if they would be willing to donate bottles. A polite email explaining your fundraiser and the importance of the cause you are supporting is a great opening point, and you can follow it up with information about how they would receive an honourable mention and advertising in exchange. 

Local businesses and large businesses alike are usually open to donating bottles to a good cause, and they might offer a discount or sponsorship opportunity instead. Some places to try for large wine companies include: 

• Stella Rosa 
• Total Wine & More 
• Wine.com 
• Pernod Ricard 
• Jackson Family Wines
• Brooklyn Winery 
• CLE Urban Winery 

You also have the option to host a Stock the Wall Party. This is a form of registry that works as a social event where people gather together and bring bottles to donate to your wine pull. Normally, this event is hosted by a supporter, and it takes place in their home or a town hall where there are snacks and drinks while people bring their donations. 

Before the event, a price limit is set so that everyone knows what the value of their bottle should be (which is important so that you don’t overcharge or undercharge for tickets to the wine pull). It’s also a fantastic way to help your community grow, which has the potential to bring more people to your fundraising events and auctions through these parties. 

#5 Wrap, Number, and Label Bottles 

Tissue/burlap/bags; numbered tags/corks

Every bottle should be wrapped for a traditional wine pull, and that means concealing the labels and the glass so that no one knows what’s behind them. You can use anything you want to cover them, although the most popular option is tissue, as it comes in a range of colours and patterns and it looks quite elegant. 

However, burlap is also a solid choice, as small sacks are often very sturdy and excellent at concealing the contents because they are very thick. You can also use standard gift bags for wine as, much like tissue paper, they come in a variety of designs and patterns that can be matched with your chosen theme. 

After they have been wrapped, you will need to ensure that each bottle is labelled. You can either put the number of the corresponding raffle ticket on the cork or attach a tag with the number to the bottle instead. Most wine pulls have the corks numbered, as it makes them more visible from the wall and it offers a much smarter aesthetic. 

#6 Build and Display Your Wine Wall 

Before you can start posting pictures of the wine wall and building hype over the event, you need to build your wine wall and get it display-ready. Usually, this is done using a wine rack so that the bottles are held securely. You can use a metal wine rack that allows everyone to see the bottles in all of their wrapped glory or a wooden one that conceals everything except the cork. 

It all depends on what works best for your budget, the displays you have available, and how you want it to blend with your current theme or decor. You will need to determine a colour scheme that keeps things exciting and pops on the screen when people are scrolling online, and you want it to stand out when they’re at the event in case you have additional tickets available. 

You will need to have a sign with the price listed clearly, especially if you are only selling the tickets at the event, and you should include the average MSRP of the bottles on the wall to show people that they are getting a good deal. Hand-written signage is always a hit, especially when it’s done artistically with chalk. Once that’s done, you can start promoting it. 

#7 Promote Your Wine Pull 

Your wine pull isn’t going to get any traction without proper promotion and advertising. It’s a good way to stay connected with your existing audience while also branching out and finding new members of your community who might be interested in your cause and the events that you host. But you need to ensure you are promoting your wine pull the right way. 

Some of the best ways to promote your event include: 

• Online ticket sales 
• Social media posts 
• Email campaigns 
• Mail invitations (VIPs)
• Physical flyers 
• Livestreams and videos (on TikTok and YouTube)

Donation pages are also a great way to consolidate all of the important information you have for your wine pull in one place. PayBee offers this as part of your account creation, allowing your supporters to learn everything they need in one place. It’s one of the many features we offer when you decide to work with us for your nonprofit events. 

Social media is always going to be the best way to reach your target audience and get the word out there, but you can boost it with little things like adding QR codes to your physical invitations to give them more information and encourage things like gifts and recurring donations. The most important thing to remember with promotions? Be consistent and post engaging content.

#8 Sell Pulls and Run the Big Reveal 

Cash/card/mobile; the reveal moment

Now you have to sell the wine. That means determining how you want to sell the tickets and what’s going to raise the most money. Online, live, and hybrid events are all options you can choose from, but you need to take a look at your target audience and what your donors are going to prefer. That’s how to maximise the amount of money you raise. 

1. Live wine pull: Having a live event is very traditional, and it’s a great way to get everyone together in a physical space for a classic gala or dinner. It makes things physically fun and engaging for the wine pull and any other events you have planned, but it does mean that those who can’t make it there physically won’t be able to attend.
2. Online wine pull: Online events are great because they allow everyone to get involved. It doesn’t matter where your donors are; they can buy tickets and win a bottle of wine without having to be there in person. But it does take some of the engagement away, as everything is done via livestream and on the website instead of at an actual venue.
   Hybrid wine pull: This is the best of both worlds because a hybrid event allows the accessibility and freedom of online events for remote donors while also giving you the engaging and active side of things that comes with a live event. It suits everyone, which means you appeal to a much wider range of donors, and you can livestream the wine pull while also giving people physical options for selecting their tickets and wine. 

What about the payment methods? The beauty of a hybrid wine pull is that you can accept cash, card, and mobile payments effortlessly. This is also something that PayBee supports with its event packages, allowing you to be as accessible as possible to your donors. You tend to raise more money when you’re able to reach and include more people. 

Wine Pull Variations to Consider 

A wine pull doesn’t always have to be picking tickets out of a hat or basket. You can put your own fun spin on things and turn it into a themed event that everyone will remember. Some of the best and most fun ideas include: 

1. Wine tasting: Hosting a little wine tasting table near the event space can help spark excitement in guests before the pull starts. It gets them interested in what’s on offer and means that they can connect and bond over what’s on offer. 
2. Wine and beer pull: Not everyone is a wine drinker, so you can always mix things up by offering a selection of wine and beer bottles as part of your pull. That way, you attract more donors, and everyone has the chance to win something they’re going to love drinking. 
3. Premium raffle bottle: Something that can draw more people in is knowing that one of the mystery bottles is a very luxurious and expensive one. Having a premium bottle added into the mix makes things more exciting, and everyone will be hoping for it. 
4. Themed wine pull: If you are running a holiday wine pull or your gala/event is themed around something in particular, you can wrap your bottles in the same way. Make the wrapping stand out with something that matches the theme, and it adds a splash of fun.
5. Lucky bottle pull: You could always attach a few extra prizes to some of the bottles. Wine gift cards and accessories always go down well, and pulling a lucky bottle is sure to be exciting for those who get it. Plus, it adds an extra layer of engagement to the event. 
6. Spin the bottle: This twist on the classic game has guests paying to spin the bottle. Whichever wrapped bottle it lands on is the one they win. It’s the kind of thing that makes things more exciting and also brings some nostalgia with it. 
7. Around the world: Separate your wine bottles by country or region so that when your guests go to choose their winning bottle, they get to experience a global adventure of their own. It’s an aesthetic thing, but it also makes the event more engaging. 
8. The golden ticket: This is an additional prize that is hidden with one of the wine bottles, and it could be something like a vineyard tour and tasting experience or a weekend in wine country. It has to be something big to be worthy of being called a golden ticket, and it’s sure to make everyone in the room feel even more hyped about the pull. 

These are all memorable ways to twist the classic wine pull and give it a more exciting edge. But there are even more variations you can explore. Everything from the cork pull and ring toss to pairing it with your hybrid event or hosting a cashless wine pull is covered below and should give you plenty of fantastic ideas. 

Is There a Difference Between a Cork Pull and a Wine Pull?

A cork pull is slightly different from a wine pull. The concept is the same in that everyone wins a bottle of wine that matches the number they pulled, but the execution is where things change. Instead of pulling a ticket from a basket, guests pull a cork. That cork has a number on the top that matches the cork of one of the bottles on the wine wall. 

It’s a fun way to mix things up, and it really leans into the theme to make it feel a bit more engaging. It’s also easy to get the corks because you can ask people to donate the corks from their old wine bottles to the cause. Think of it as an act of upcycling, and the corks can always be reused the following year. 

Can You Run a Virtual/Hybrid Wine Pull?

A virtual or hybrid event works very well with a wine pull. The online side of things is beautifully paired with livestreaming to reach a wide audience, and the hybrid aspect takes this and combines it with a physical event so that you can enjoy the best of both worlds. It stops you from limiting yourself to an in-person event, and these are some great ways to run it: 

• Instant buy: This is like a buy-it-now for the wine bottles. The mystery bottle is listed online with a price by it, and the number available is set to one. When someone buys it, it is marked as being sold out, and the bottle is theirs. Just make sure you mark the bottles correctly so that you don’t get them mixed up. 
• Livestream reveal: Set up the items so that participants can purchase them during the livestream, which ensures they are actually paid for before they receive them. At the end of the event stream, you can do an unboxing where you reveal which bottle of wine they won for the audience before you ship it out. 
• Random wine pull: Make one instant buy listing on your website and mark the number available as the total number of wine bottles you have for the pull. When someone buys it, they will be randomly assigned one bottle of wine from the batch. If you want to be extra fair, you can use a random number generator to ensure it’s completely fair.  

Can You Run a QR/Cashless Wine Pull?

You can run a QR wine pull quite easily, and cashless fundraisers have become more popular over the years. You can have guests scan the QR code at the event, and then the link takes them to a payment page so that they can complete their purchase. This ensures that their pull has been properly recorded so that they can find their wine bottle. 

It means there are fewer lines because everything is done digitally, but you also get the benefit of recording donor data for your records and analytics. PayBee specialises in QR code purchases, and we have it all set up so that you can make cashless purchases a seamless part of your event. All you need to do is set the codes up and encourage people to take part. 

Can You Pair a Wine Pull with a Gala or Silent Auction? 

Galas and silent auctions are the perfect pairing for a wine pull because it works well as part of your gala revenue stack. The whole night is spent building up to the grand reveal of who has won the silent auction, which means you need entertainment in the middle to pass the time and keep your guests engaged. What better way than a wine pull? 

It’s a way to raise more money, and it’s an exciting event that will bring more engagement from your guests. You can even utilise PayBee efficiently, as it uses one checkout with auctions to streamline everything perfectly. The whole point of a fundraiser is to raise as much money as possible to help your cause, and additional events like this work wonders for that. 

What is a Wine Toss (Ring Toss)? 

Bringing the carnival to your event can add a whole new level of fun, and the wine toss is a great way to get everyone involved. Think of the classic ring toss where players toss rings over poles or hooks to win a prize. The only difference here is that the pole they manage to land their ring on will determine the wine bottle that they win. 

It makes the event more hands-on than pulling tickets or corks in a traditional raffle style. This can help to break the night up and make it more entertaining, especially if you are hosting a silent auction or a virtual gala where the night tends to be spent waiting in anticipation for the grand reveal at the end. 

What is a Mystery/Blind Wine Pull?

If you want to make things really exciting, you can make a display board (ideally with some fairy lights for added pizzazz) and stick the corks in holes on the board. They should have the numbers facing down so that no one can see them, and when a guest pays for a cork and pulls it, their number is then revealed. It’s just a way to add an extra splash of fun to the event. 

What Kind of Wine Should You Choose? 

Choosing the wine is very important. You will want a good range of prices and types so that everyone has the chance to win something they will love, and you can always consult a sommelier if you feel as though you could benefit from additional guidance. But we have a quick guide to selecting wine for your wine wall that you can flick through. 

Red wine has so many variations, and that means it can be hard to choose one that your guests might like. However, you can never go wrong with the following: 

• Pinot noir 
• Cabernet sauvignon

White wine is equally popular, although it tends to be much crisper and lighter than its red counterpart. Some of the most popular white wine options include: 

• Pinot grigio 
• Chardonnay

Following this, you have rosé and sparkling wine. They add a little bit of fizz to any gathering, and they are a very popular choice. Some of the best options include: 

• Zinfandel rosé
• Provence rosé
• Champagne 
• Prosecco

Dessert wines are sweeter and usually served with cake and other sweet treats. Then you have fortified wines, which tend to be quite expensive. Some good options for these include: 

• Moscato 
• Sherry
• Ice wine 
• Marsala 

This should be a good starting point for your wine wall, and it certainly gives you plenty of options to consider while planning your event. We highly recommend working with your local wineries to ensure you pick bottles that will get people excited and make them more likely to enter for the chance to win them. 

How Much Should You Charge for a Wine Pull?

The pricing for your wine pull is going to vary according to the wine you have and its value. It’s important that the price of the ticket is slightly less than the average value of the wine that they are hoping to win so that they get a deal no matter which bottle they win. Using the average also means any premium bottles in the mix don’t go too cheaply. 

What is the Minimum Bottle Value? 

The wine pull price should start at $20-$25 per pull with a minimum bottle value of $20 or more. If you are using mid-range bottles, then the pulls should be priced at $30-$40 each, and premium bottles should have the pulls at $50-$100. For the events where you have exceptionally valuable bottles on offer, you should consider pulls at $100 or more. 

Using a mix of budget and premium bottles is the best way forward because it creates more of a buzz around the event and gets people excited for what they might win. You can also bundle pulls together and offer a discount if you want, giving them incentive to buy multiple pulls for more bottles of wine (which works fantastically for groups who want to participate). 

The Importance of the Bottle-to-Guest Ratio 

You need to ensure that you have enough bottles for those who want to take part in the wine pull. Realistically, not every guest at the event is going to want a ticket, so the rule of thumb is to have 3 bottles for every 5 guests, which is around 30 bottles per 50 people. This is the baseline you should work with, and you can always increase it later if sales suggest it’s needed. 

Working on a Pricing Strategy and Price-Point Mix

The pricing strategy is going to vary according to the size of your event and the bottles that you have on offer. This is part of what makes your guest list so important. However, the general rule of thumb you can go by is as follows: 

• Number of bottles: 3 per 5 guests 
• Price per wine pull: $20-$25 
• Minimum bottle value: $20 

You can adjust the number of bottles by the total guests that you have, and the minimum pull price will also change with the value of the bottles that have been donated. However, this is a great base to work from, as you can build up from it and use it as the foundation for your first wine pull. Just remember to mix up the wines so you have some high-value ones in there. 

How Much Money Can a Wine Pull Raise? 

Wine pulls have the potential to raise a lot of money, especially since the bottles are usually donated. The only thing you might have to account for is any processing fees that are taken from the payment methods used. However, there are usually donor tipping options that ensure they cover the fees (if they choose to) for digital payments. Cash has no processing fee. 

The Legal Side of Wine Pulls 

Before you can host a wine pull, you need to be aware of the legalities surrounding it. Without proper preparation, you could wind up in a lot of legal trouble because you’re missing licenses or permits for a wine pull. That’s why we’re going to take you through everything from age enforcement and tax deductibility to wine pull permits. 

Do You Need a Liquor License for a Wine Pull?

You will need to adhere to state liquor laws if you want to host a wine pull, especially if you are allowing guests to drink their bottles on the premises. In some states, you may be required to have a Special Occasion Permit. This is commonly used for venues that don’t have a liquor license so that you can still host the event there. 

Do You Need a Raffle License or Gaming License?

You will likely need a raffle license before your wine pull. Even if everyone wins a prize, a raffle in any form is considered to be a game of chance, which means it is regulated by any and all state gaming laws. Whether you need a license or a permit will vary between states, and so it is important for you to check your state before you start the planning process. 

Enforcing the 21+ Age Requirement

You must ensure that all participants in the wine pull are aged 21 or over. You and your volunteers are responsible for checking the IDs of all participants and questioning those who look as though they may be under the age requirement. You cannot sell tickets to someone under the age of 21 or allow them to pull a bottle. 

Tax Deductibility and Schedule G 

Raffle purchases not deductible; Schedule G if >$15k

Raffle purchases are not considered a tax-deductible purchase because they receive a prize in exchange for their participation. Even if it is only a chance to win, that chance is still viewed as something they have received by the IRS. You must ensure that all of your participants are made aware of this with a tax disclaimer before they purchase their tickets. 

Similarly, there can be tax implications for you as a nonprofit if you generate revenue from a wine pull. You must report any earnings from raffles and gaming activities to the IRS using Form 990. If the total raised from the raffle is more than $15,000, then you will need to fill in Schedule G, Part III, which details your income and expenditure. 

You should always consult an accountant or tax professional to ensure full compliance, and nonprofits are required to keep and maintain accurate records of every purchase, donation, ticket sale, or anything else pertaining to their charity. This is for transparency and also because some states have strict laws on how money raised from raffles should be spent. 

Wine Donation Request Template 

This wine donation request letter template will offer you the best possible start to soliciting donors for your next wine pull. All you need to do is fill in the relevant information (and make any tweaks that fit your nonprofit), and you’ll be ready to send it off. 

Wine Pull Donation Request Letter

[Date]

[Name of Business You are Contacting]

[Address]

Dear [Name of Potential Donor],

We are getting ready for our upcoming [Event Name] on [Date of the Event]. This will be in support of [Nonprofit Name and Cause], and as part of the event, we will be hosting a Wine Pull. This is a fun game that allows guests to support our mission and win a bottle of wine. We are looking for donations of wine bottles valued at [$20-$25] or more. 

Would your business be interested in or willing to donate a bottle of wine for the event? In exchange for your generosity, we would be happy to work with you in a sponsorship agreement or display your business name and logo next to the wine wall. We would also give you a personal acknowledgement as thanks during the event. 

We can arrange for a volunteer to collect donations at your convenience, or we can provide details for where they can be dropped off. Please let us know if you would be willing to assist us before [Deadline Date]. Thank you so much for your time and consideration. We hope to hear from you and count on your support for [Cause]. 

Warmest Regards, 

[Your Name]

[Your Title]

[Name of Nonprofit]

[Contact Phone Number]

[Website or Email Address]

Printable Planning Checklist

With this printable planning checklist, we hope you’ll feel more prepared to face your wine pull and get started with it. We know it can be daunting, especially contacting local distributors for donations, but this list makes everything feel much smaller and simpler so that it becomes more manageable for you to get through. 

6 Weeks Before the Event 

• Check local laws 
• Set goals and budget 
• Determine the price of pulls 

4 Weeks Before the Event

• Solicit wine bottle donations and secure them
• Try to procure high-end bottles where possible 
• Start promoting the event 

1 Week Before the Event 

• Wrap the bottles and prepare them for the event 
• Take note of inventory and ensure you have everything 
• Set the display area up and decide on how you want it to look 

On the Night of the Event 

• Get the check-in process set up and ready
• Set payments up and ensure they are working 
• Launch the wine pull (virtual, live, and hybrid all apply) 
• Encourage guests to unwrap their wine at the venue to reveal their prize and get people feeling more engaged and willing to participate 

Frequently Asked Questions 

How Many Bottles Do You Need for a Wine Pull? 

As a rule, you should have one bottle of wine available for every 3-5 guests. This should account for 30-40% of your total number of guests because not all of them are going to take part in the wine pull, but you want to have enough bottles that everyone who wants to is able to buy a ticket. For example, an event with 50 guests will need between 15 and 25 bottles of wine. 

How Much Should You Charge for a Wine Pull? 

The price for a wine pull varies massively according to the type of event you are hosting. Some events might only start at $20-25 per ticket; galas and banquets tend to go as high as $40, and then the really big fundraisers that have luxury bottles of wine available often have tickets priced at $100 or more. It depends on your event, the guests, and the wine you’re offering. 

Are Wine Pull Tickets Tax Deductible? 

No, wine pull tickets are not classed as tax-deductible. Since you are getting something in exchange for your ticket and it is not technically a game of chance, wine pulls are seen as a commercial exchange of goods instead of being a charitable donation. Even though the money goes to charity, you are classed as receiving substantial goods or services in return. 

What’s the Difference Between a Cork Pull and a Wine Pull?

In a wine pull, the bottles are wrapped so that no part of them is visible, but they normally have a number on the cork that corresponds with its raffle ticket. During a cork pull, the wine bottles are unwrapped and on display. Guests then reach into a basket filled with numbered corks and pull one out. Whichever bottle matches the number they pull, they win. 

Is a Wine Pull a Raffle? 

Wine pulls are similar to raffles, but the difference is that not everyone in a standard raffle will win a prize, as it’s a game of chance. In a wine pull, everyone tends to be a winner and get a wrapped bottle. The only difference is that the wine bottles are fully wrapped so that the labels are covered and they are identified by numbered corks. 

Start Planning Your Wine Pull with PayBee

Wine pulls are a fun and unique way to raise money for your organisation. A good bottle of wine can go a long way, and it gives guests the chance to win something they are going to enjoy. But you’re going to need some help getting started, and that means finding a platform that will support your nonprofit and give you the tools you need to succeed. 

PayBee was designed to help nonprofits of all sizes host incredible, memorable events that raise money and make a difference. We offer a free demo on our website so you can see how you feel about the way we work before you commit, and we have world-class support to ensure you never feel lost. All you need to do is get in touch, and we’ll give you a hand.