You probably tasted new foods and drinks during the holiday merriment, but how many of the wines you tried were craft wines?
Evelyne Jackson, one of the owners of Water’n’Wine in Truro’s Fundy Trail Centre, says more wine drinkers are giving craft wines a go.
“Crafted wines offer wine drinkers so many great options and the selection has never been better.”
QUALITY
At Water’n’Wine Truro, Jackson says quality is the most important factor in any wine they stock for customers to make and enjoy.
That’s why the two companies represented in their store are RJS Craft Winemaking and Winexpert. RJS Craft Winemaking is owned by Arterra — and its family of wineries includes Jackson Triggs and Kim Crawford — while Winexpert is owned by Andrew Peller Limited.
“The juices for craft wines are purchased the same way juices are purchased to make commercial wines,” explains Jackson.
PERSONALIZATION
Jackson says the beauty of crafting your own wine is that you can make it your own.
Wines come balanced for oak, sweetness and alcohol. While many craft wines are designed to achieve a certain flavour profile, some changes can be made to suit your palette.
“Some of our winemakers would prefer their wines a little sweeter or with a little more oak,” says Jackson. “These are personalizations that can be done when a wine is made or just before it is bottled.”
VALUE
It’s no secret that making your own wine is usually more economical than buying it, and Jackson says there are wines for every budget.
“A wine can be made in-store for as little as $99 or up to $200. It all depends on what you're looking for,” says Jackson.
She says a batch of wine is usually 23 litres, and those litres can be divided up any way you like. Some customers choose to fill standard 750ml bottles while others prefer the convenience of bagged wine in a box.
The season of holiday parties may be over, but Jackson says it’s the perfect time to explore craft wines. Not only is making wine a fun and creative hobby, but it’s something that you can do for years — even making batches to give as gifts for next Christmas.
