If you’re getting married or you’re paying for one, you should consider making your own wine instead of commercial or “store bought” wine. Your first thought may be “sure if your cheap”, or maybe a kinder way of saying it… “but we have different standards.” It’s defiantly true, it does cost less. Instead of $18-$30 for LCBO wine, you might pay $6 or even $8 per bottle when crafting your own. I once thought crafting your own wine was for people who couldn’t afford the good stuff. After trying a few different wines at the Wine Cellar and having them explained to us, we realized that it really is just a matter of value. It may have been true in the past that there was an obvious taste difference, and that you could tell by the first sip that you were drinking crafted wine. That certainly was not the case with the wine we made for our son’s wedding. When considering this important process, it also makes a difference where you make your crafted wine. They may all look the same on the outside, explaining that they are an “on-premise” craft wine store, but very different on the inside. What separates one store from another are the productline they carry, knowledge on making wine, cleanliness, atmosphere and much more. The only way our guests could tell that we didn’t purchase the wine from the LCBO was by what was on the personalized labels. For one of the 3 bottles on each table we labeled with the table # which was kind of different and easier than place cards. Because we were serving beef, we had 2 reds and a white all were made from high quality juices, and aged for 4-6 months. Everyone commented on how good it was.
As for legality of using it, the only additional stipulation in Ontario is that you can’t sell craft wines and you must apply for a special occasion permit at the LCBO. You can only give it away, which is what you do at a wedding dinner anyway. Since it lasts up to 3-5 years if stored properly, the new married couple will have lots left over with their custom labels to remember their wedding day.
Crafting your own Wine for Your Wedding. Why it’s a Great Idea?
Another good reason for using crafted wine is the variety. The Wine Cellar has more than 100 different juices to choose from that come from all over the world, including Australia, Chile, California, Washington, Italy, Argentina, and more.
My final reason for suggesting this is the education you get from being part of the process of making your own wine. The Wine Cellar staff knew their stuff. They knew everything about the wine, why it was different than other similar wines, where it came from, what extra steps are involved with some and why. Then they walk you through the production from the yeast addition to the printer settings on your custom labels. The whole time it was Fun!
I might never go back to the LCBO for wine again. Many thanks to Marie and Pat, owners of The Wine Cellar, for adding their awesome wine to the many details that made our Son’s wedding day great!
