The Process

In-store winery services are known by various names: U-Vint, U-Brew, Brew-on-Premise, Brew-on-Site, etc...

On Day One, you will select – with our help if you need it – the wine kit of your choice. When paying for your kit and the in-store winery fee, you will be asked to sign a bailment contract, which for legal purposes moves ownership of the soon-to-be wine from the store owner to you, and acknowledges that you are making wine for personal use only (not for resale).

You will then be directed to the preparation area within the winery, and the winemaking process will commence. Store staff will pour the liquid content of the kit into a sanitized primary pail. To ensure you are legally making the wine, you will add the yeast and stir the contents, adding any extras such as oak chips, clarifying agents, and other flavour enhancing ingredients.

Once mixed, we’ll attach a log card with pertinent information such as date started, wine type, contact information, etc., and move it into the ‘in-progress’ section of the store with many other full pails and carboys.

Now, to wait! You may now go home and wait for your bottling appointment (approximately 5-8 weeks, depending on the kit type and store scheduling). During this time, your wine will progress through fermentation and clearing; store staff will perform many necessary tasks, which include hydrometer readings, several rackings (transfers), stabilizing, clearing, and the final step of filtering the wine. Of course, you may bring your own bottles to re-use, or you may purchase bottles in-store.

NOTE: In-Store Wineries and the Law

There are Canada Revenue Agency regulations by which we must abide when operating in-store wineries. For instance, store owners or staff are not permitted to bottle wine on a customer’s behalf. Wine will be set aside until the customer can come in and bottle it personally.

The CRA regulations dictate the following:

  • Winemakers must be of legal drinking age to use in-store winery services.

  • Wine sampling prior to purchase is not permitted.

  • Wine sampling prior to bottling (the day of) is limited to 170ml (five ounces) per batch by the winemaker whose name appears on the contract.

  • Winemaker’s assistants must be of legal drinking age.