Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to make an appointment?
Country fruit wines are made by appointment only. Starting a wine from your fruit takes a little longer than starting a kit. If you want to start a kit wine or beer, an appointment would be greatly appreciated. Without an appointment, we will try to fit you in, but appointments will take priority. We love spending time with our customers and don't want to rush the process.
What is the customer's role at a Ferment on Premise?
- To pay for the kit and any service charges
- To sign a declaration stating that the product will be used for personal use only, no reselling
- To mix ingredients and add yeast to the batch
- To patiently wait for the fermenting process to happen
- Make an appointment to come in and bottle your batch
We would love to help the customer every step of the way, but there are a few things we cannot do...
- We cannot allow anyone under the legal age in BC (19 years old) to make kits.
- We cannot start the wine for you.
- We cannot supply samples for you to try before you buy your kit.
- We cannot package, bottle or label your wine.
- We cannot store your wine after it has been bottled.
Can we make beer at your shop?
Please go here for more information about in-house craft beer making.
What is the difference in making a wine from a kit or wine from fresh grapes?
Kits use grape concentrate which make them very easy to use. So easy they're almost fool-proof. All of the ingredients and additives are found in the kit, premeasured. By using a concentrate, the sugar and acid levels are already adjusted for you. The recipes are easy to follow and the results are very predictable. There are numerous kits available, with juice from grapes all over the world.
Making wine from fresh grapes is a more complex process. The destemmers, crushes and presses that are required when starting with fresh grapes can be expensive and time consuming. When you're making wine from fresh grapes, you must adjust the sugar and acid levels yourself. Selecting the correct yeasts and additives to use can be challenging. However, when making it yourself there is greater control in tweaking the recipe. You have the opportunity to make the wine more to your liking.
Making wine from fresh grapes is a more complex process. The destemmers, crushes and presses that are required when starting with fresh grapes can be expensive and time consuming. When you're making wine from fresh grapes, you must adjust the sugar and acid levels yourself. Selecting the correct yeasts and additives to use can be challenging. However, when making it yourself there is greater control in tweaking the recipe. You have the opportunity to make the wine more to your liking.
How long does it take to make a batch of wine from a kit?
The first visit usually only takes about 15-20 minutes. Once you've chosen what to make, paying for it, mixing and pitching (adding) the yeast is the quickest step in the process.
Once the fermentation process is done (4-8 weeks, depending on the kit you've chosen), you will need to make an appointment to come in and bottle the wine. We will book you in for an hour appointment. This should be plenty of time to wash and sanitize your bottles, as well as filling, corking and labeling.
Once the fermentation process is done (4-8 weeks, depending on the kit you've chosen), you will need to make an appointment to come in and bottle the wine. We will book you in for an hour appointment. This should be plenty of time to wash and sanitize your bottles, as well as filling, corking and labeling.
How much wine will I get from a kit?
A batch of wine usually makes 23L or roughly 30, 750ml bottles of wine. There is now the option of making 1/2 batches of Country Fruit Wine!
Can I bring in my own bottles for bottling?
We love the practice of reduce/reuse/recycle! If you would prefer to bring in your own bottles, please ensure that they are relatively clean. The best way to do this is to rinse any residual wine out of the bottle when it's empty. Placing them upside down in a box for storage will help make sure bugs and dust don't have a way to get trapped in the bottle. Bring your bottles into our shop and use our bottle washer to thoroughly clean and sanitize them before use.
Any bottles with dirt, leaves, cigarette butts, garbage, mold or any other "nasties" cannot be used in our store. If you do not have enough bottles, or would like a fresh set, we always have new bottles on hand.
Any bottles with dirt, leaves, cigarette butts, garbage, mold or any other "nasties" cannot be used in our store. If you do not have enough bottles, or would like a fresh set, we always have new bottles on hand.
How should I store my wine at home?
After bottling, your bottles should be left standing up for about 7 days. This reduces the chance of popped corks as excess air will be allowed to escape. After this time, lay the bottles on their sides. You can keep the bottles in the boxes, laying it on its side, or place in a wine rack. This will keep the corks damp and the bottles sealed tight.
The best storage place would be dark and cool. Light will change the colors of the wine and if it gets too warm, the wine will age too quickly and lessen its shelf life. Find some place free from too much vibration. Vibration will stir up sediments and interfere with proper aging. Basements with unheated floors are perfect for storing wine at home. However, do not place your wine directly on cement. Place a piece of plywood down between the floor and the boxes.
The best storage place would be dark and cool. Light will change the colors of the wine and if it gets too warm, the wine will age too quickly and lessen its shelf life. Find some place free from too much vibration. Vibration will stir up sediments and interfere with proper aging. Basements with unheated floors are perfect for storing wine at home. However, do not place your wine directly on cement. Place a piece of plywood down between the floor and the boxes.