Wine a Little...You'll Feel Better!

Frequently Asked Questions

Below are questions that are commonly asked.  If your question is not there please email us, or stop by.  We are more than happy to answer any of your questions.  To answer the questions below simply click on the question.  To hide the answer, just click on the question again.

• Why would I want to make my own wine? 
  • Making your own wine is fun and easy in a friendly atmosphere with experienced people to help see you through the process.  It is very economical to make your own wine.  It is a unique way to celebrate special events.  In addition, by now you have heard about the health benefits related to moderate consumption of wine.  Red wines in particular seem heart healthy.  What is also true is that wine from kits is likely to be better for you than commercial varieties.
• What is a wine kit?
  • Wine kits contain all of the ingredients that you need to make a 6 gallon batch of wine.  Most importantly, there is a bag of sterile grape juice.  The juice comes from the best vineyards throughout the world.  The acids, tannins and sweetness in the kits are perfectly balanced with the grape juice to achieve the best possible wine, and they are remarkably consistent in their flavor from year to year. The other additives that are included are yeast, bentonite (helps clear the wine and prevent the protein haze), sulfites (help prevent oxidation and stabilize the wine) and the clearing agent.    There are four week kits, six week kits, and high-end eight week kits.  We carry kits from Winexpert, RJ Spagnols, and Advintage.
• Is the wine as good as store bought wine?
  • All of our wine juices and concentrates come from grapes picked in the finest grape-growing regions of the world.  They are styled after European table wines to ferment more quickly and age faster so you can enjoy them sooner. Many of the kits have won awards at Winemaking Competitions.  You will not find a better product for personal winemaking.
• How many bottles of wine will my batch make?
  • Each batch is formulated to make 30 standard bottles of wine (750 mL).
• How hard is it to make my own wine?
  • Making your own wine is extremely easy with us.  It takes about 15 minutes to start your wine and we will explain each step of the process to you.  When your wine is ready, we’ll contact you to come in and bottle your wine.  With our automatic bottle filler, floor corker and shrink top capsuler, you’ll be done in about 30 minutes.  Click here for more information on the process.
• What kind of wine can I make?
  • We have a large selection of red, white, and blush wines.  We also carry several lighter, sweeter wines similar to wine coolers.  Port, Sherry and Ice Wine kits are also available.  Click here to see some of our wines.
• What does it cost to make my own wine?
  • The cost of your wine made on premises will range in price from $4.00 to $8.00 per bottle, depending on the kit you choose.  The cost is comprised of the on premise fee, the cost of the kit and the cost of the bottles.   The on premise fee of $55 includes the use of the equipment, corks, labels and shrink tops for your bottles.  The cost of the kit ranges from $60 to $200.  Bottles can be purchased here by the case for $1.00- $1.50 per bottle or provided by you.  Custom labels are also available for an additional charge.  Click here to see the monthly special.
• How do the sulfite levels compare to commercial wines?
  • Sulfites are used primarily as a preservative in wine.  Commercial wines require a higher concentration of sulfites to help the wine endure a commercial chain of distribution and for ageing beyond several years.  Our kits contain 1/5 to 1/3 the sulfites of commercial wines.  We have found that many people who are sensitive to sulfites or get “wine headaches” can again enjoy wine made from the kits.
• What kind of wine can I make?
  • We have a large selection of red, white and blush wines.  We also carry several light, sweet fruit wines similar to mist wines.  Specialty wines such as Ice Wine, Port, Sherry and Sparkling Wines are also available.  Each fall we receive notice of Selection’s Limited Edition and RJ Spagnols Restricted Quantity kits that may be reserved in December for release in January through April.  They are always top quality, premium kits for the delight of our discriminating wine connoisseurs.
• How soon after I make my wine can I drink it?
  • All wines should be left for at least 2 weeks after bottling.  Wine undergoes what is termed “bottle shock” immediately after bottling and needs time to calm down.  Some of the 4 week kits (Vintner’s Reserve, World Vineyard, Island Mist, Niagara Mist and Orchard Breezin’) are very drinkable after 1-2 months but will continue to improve with time.  6 week kits (Selection, Selection International, Cru Select and Cellar Classic) are fuller bodied and will benefit from 1-3 months for the whites and a minimum of 4-6 months for the reds.  The complex, full bodied high-end 8 week kits (Eclipse and Winery Series) benefit from a year or more of ageing.
• How must a wine be stored to age properly?
  • Once you take your bottles home, you should let the bottles remain upright for 3-5 days.  This allows any carbon dioxide remaining in the bottle to escape prior to the cork sealing and your long-term storage.  After the 3-5 days, lay the bottles on their sides so the corks remain moist.  Wine is best kept in a cool, dark place:  50-60 degrees Fahrenheit is ideal.  Keeping a constant temperature is very important. The temperature should not fluctuate more than 10 degrees per week.   The wine can be stored at a higher temperature, but it may not age as well or keep for as long.  If possible, the humidity should be 65% to 75%.  This will keep the corks from drying out and leaking.  Minimize movement as that disturbs the ageing process.
• How should I store my empty bottles?
  • It is best to thoroughly rinse out wine bottles with hot water immediately after finishing the wine.  Do not use soap or detergent as this can leave a soap residue in the bottles and taint the wine.  It there is wine residue left in the bottle and you need to soak the bottle, use a mild bleach solution and a bottle brush to clean the bottle. We have cleaners and bottle brushes in stock.  Store the bottles upside down in the box and they will be ready to sanitize and refill with your next batch of wine!
• Can I make a sweet wine?
  • The kits are perfectly balanced for the different varieties of wine.  However, if you prefer a sweeter wine, when you come in to bottle your wine, we can add wine conditioner to achieve the desired sweetness.  There is a good selection of sweeter wines available- Island Mist, Niagara Mist, Orchard Breezin’ and Ice Wines.
• Can I increase the dryness of a wine?
  • We can increase the dryness of a wine by adding more tannin to the wine during the initial phase of winemaking.
• How do you get an oak flavor?
  • Generally, darker, heavier red wines and chardonnays have an oak flavor.  In lieu of ageing the wine in an oak barrel, many of the wine kits come with packets of oak chips or oak powder which are added during the initial fermentation stage.