We (Steve and Ida) came to New Brunswick in November 2006 for a “Lifestyle Change”. Steve was born in Toronto and I was born in Miramichi. Steve was in the military, as was my dad, and when we got married, we knew that one day we would come “retire” in New Brunswick.
While living in BC, we continually searched the internet for “Businesses for Sale” in New Brunswick. We hoped to buy an existing business, believing that an established business would be easier to manage than a new one.
As far back as the early 70’s we made our own wine – even though our first attempts were less than satisfactory. We fermented grape juice, using bread yeast and white sugar. Of course, our methods were hit and miss; but we decided to keep on trying.
While researching the origin of wine kits, I came across information showing me that “WINE KITS” were used in ancient civilizations. By taking grains and dried dates, crumbling them into water and fermenting them with the natural yeast already present on dates, the first wine kit was born.
During the prohibition era, California grape producers would transport bricks of dehydrated grapes to Chicago and New York. Following is the warning label they attached to the grapes:
CAUTION
Do not add these grapes to five
gallons of water and five pounds of
sugar, with yeast, or it will ferment into wine, which is ILLEGAL.
The first “Official” wine kits began to appear on North American supermarket shelves in the 1970’s – featuring cans of grape concentrate, packs of nutrient and yeast. This mixture would ferment into a beverage called “wine” – even though it tasted nothing like real wine. We made wine from these kits, with appalling results.
By the mid-1980s carefully processed concentrates were mixed with fresh grape juice, balanced and placed in sterile bags, preserving the flavours and aromas in the juice. This product was a precursor to the modern wine kits we have access to today.
In the late 80's, while sharing a bottle of wine with our friends, we mentioned how shocked we were at the high cost of wine at the liquor store. Since we had recently returned to Canada, after residing in Germany for 4 years – we were experiencing sticker shock, on wine at the liquor store. Our friend informed us, that the wine we were drinking was one he had made from a kit. This was his way of beating the high liquor store prices, while ensuring a good quality wine. Since we had no brewing equipment anymore, he mentioned a new on-premise store, where we could go and create wine from a kit.
The resulting wine we made, at the on-premise store, was the main reason we continued our research. With each subsequent move we made, we would quickly find an on-premise store where we could continue to pursue our hobby.
When we decided to turn wine making into our new “retirement” careers, we pulled out all the stops to create a shop that encompassed the positive aspects of on-premise centres we had utilized. We strive to live up to our mission vision statement, printed on our business cards - “U-Vint Centre For Incredible Wine”.
Since we also make our own beer at home, we wanted to have a shop with quality products available for the beer hobbyists. As with our first wine kit experiences, when we started making our own beer, there was very little available. The original kits contained a can of concentrated malt which needed to be cooked up. You would then add the sugar and yeast, which resulted in a finished product called beer. (questionable at best)
Today there are many kits which no longer require as much fuss, which means the final product is easy to make and share with friends and family. People are always astonished at how tasty homemade beers have become. Many home brewers have moved away from corn sugar and are now using malts or enhancers to give their beer a superior taste and appearance.
One of the most popular “BIG BOX” beer kits we carry in the store, is Festa Brew. Each of their popular styles of beer is made from premium North American and European ingredients. To start these kits, customers will pour the wort into a primary fermenter and sprinkle the yeast. Year round availability means there is no reason to run out of great tasting beer.
One of the other “NEW” items in our shop is the Big & Easy Bottle Brew. Only 3 easy steps required to complete this beer “Drop the Pill – Wait – Then Chill”. Prep time is about 10 seconds and the beer is ready in approximately 2 weeks. This beer is made from Brewer’s Wort, which is converted to alcohol, when you drop the yeast capsule into the wort. The taste is amazing.
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