Frequently Asked Questions

How much does it cost to make wine on-premise?

Good quality wines can be starting at $112.50 for a 4 week wine kit. The prices vary depending upon the different wine kits. The prices range from $112.50 to $230.00. This includes processing, labels and shrink wraps. Ask about our customized labels for that special occassion or as special gifts for friends relative or customers.

Are the Bottles Included?

Bottles are not included. We stock a variety of bottles for every occassion. The most popular are green bordeaux generally used for red wines at $0.95 a bottle or clear bordeaux for whites and roses at $1.00 a bottle. Or you can use recycled bottles that are clean and free of mold or other dirt that can cause wine to aquire off tastes, we do however reccomend you only use cork bottles and not screw cap bottles for rebottling.

How many bottles do I get from a batch?

Most batches make 23 liters, which is 31-750ml bottles. Port, Sherry, and Ice-Wine and some specialty wine kits kits make 11.5 liters.

Do I need an appointment to make wine?

No appointment is necessary to start your wine. Just drop by the store, choose your wine and sprinkle the yeast to start the fermentation process. In 4-8 weeks your wine will be ready for you to come in and bottle.

What if I can’t find my favorite type of wine?

While it is unlikely we will not stock some of your favorite wines as we have dozens of varieties in stock all the time, if you can’t find your specific favorite, just ask our friendly staff and we can order you your favorite special order from one of our four main suppliers.

How long can I keep my wine before it goes bad?

Properly made wine should not ‘go bad’. Wines improve with aging, they reach their prime, and they slowly begin to decline. Grape variety, tannin levels, quality (price), and proper bottling determine the longevity of each individual wine. At a minimum, we expect white wines to improve for 1 year and reds for 2 years or more. Beyond that age, consider drinking them. Higher quality red wines may be wonderful for many years.

What causes headaches when I drink wine?

Many people complain about headaches, especially from red wines. Sulphite is often wrongly blamed. A sulphur sensitivity usually results in either a true allergic reaction or respiratory discomfort, not a headache. For most headache sufferers it is like the presence of histamine-like compounds associated with the tannins in red wines that mimic migraine headaches. The best solution is to try low tannin wines such as Valpolicella, Gamay, or Bergamais. For more information on sulphites go to our sulphite page.

What are sulphites and can they be removed from wine?

Sulphites or Potassium Metabisuphite as it is properly called are naturally occurring compounds in grapes. In the winemaking process these sulphites are added to the wine as a preservative to prevent wine from spoiling (turning to vinegar). We can leave out the sulphites in the winemaking process however the customer risks wine spoilage or re-fermentation. Another alternative to reduce sulphites in the wines is to purchase our Vineaerius Decantus Wine Aerating System. Research has shown this aerator to remove up to 73% of the free sulphites in wines.

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