Frequently Asked Questions

How long does it take to make a wine?

Depending on the wine you choose, it will take between 4 and 8 weeks to complete the winemaking process.

Can I make wine that is as good as store bought brands?

Yes! Winexpert sources juices and concentrates for their wine kits from all over the world. We follow the same processes as a winery, just on a smaller scale.  For the best wine, allow your it to age in the bottle – the longer you wait the better it will become, just make sure you drink it within about a year.

Is it expensive?

Not at all. We offer a wine for every budget.  Because you are making the wine yourself, you save the high tax rates associated with beverage alcohol.  In fact, our wines can be made for as little as $5 per bottle, making it very affordable compared to store-bought wine.

How do I make my own wine?

First, you need to decide if you will make the wine yourself at home, or at our Brew On Premise (BOP) location.

If you are making your product at Island Brew Byou, (a BOP) you’ll first select your wine. We can recommend a great style based on what you already like to drink. We will prepare your juice and you’ll sprinkle the yeast.  Over the next several weeks your wine will follow all of the necessary steps to create a delicious wine. When your wine is complete, you’ll return to bottle it.  You can either bring your own bottles that are clean or purchase new bottles here. We offer a variety of bottle labels (both regular and personalized) and coordinating shrink tops.

Alternatively, if you make your wine at home you’ll find that it’s easy and rewarding. You’ll need a bit of equipment, which is inexpensive and pays for itself after your first couple of batches. We have starter kits with everything you need to begin.  All of our kits come with step-by-step instructions and will take only about 4 hours total over the course of a few weeks. The process can vary slightly from wine to wine, but generally there are 4 basic steps: Primary Fermentation, Secondary Fermentation, Stabilizing and Clearing, and Bottling.

What is the alcohol content of the wines?

The alcohol level in our wines varies by style and ranges from 11% to 14.5%. Our specialty dessert wines are as high as 17% and our Island Mist Fruit wines are lower at 6%.

Do Winexpert kits make sweet or dry wines?

We offer both dry and off-dry wines. We can help you choose a wine that’s as dry or as sweet as you like.

Have more questions? 

Email us at islandbrewbyou@shaw.ca, or drop by the Byou (pronounced by- you) at 871 Station Ave

(The Jacklin end of Station – The exact center of Langford – we have been told)