The Home Vintner - The Home Vintner Monthly Newsletter - April 2012

April 2012

In this newsletter

Airdrie Echo
April Limited Editions
Buyer Beware
Italian Twins
Pineapple Pear
Twisted Mist
French Rose
3 hours to make wine
Blog of the month
Top 10 wine kits
Groupon Accolades
Gluten Free Beer
Facebook Winner Monthly Prize Winner
Wine & Beer Classes
Wine & Beer on Sale

 

 

 

 
 
  
 
 We will honour your Groupons after they expire. Click here to see our Event Calendar to find a convenient date for you to attend a wine & beer making class and then reserve your seat - either phone us at (403) 284-0486 or email us at info@thehomevintner.com.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Welcome Living Social members.  Check out our Event Calendar to book your wine & beer making class.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
WineMaker Magazine Int. Amateur Wine Competition is the largest amateur winemaking competition in North America.  Wine kits compete side-by-side in a blind judging across all categories with wines made from grapes and/or juices.  At the April 2011 competition wines made with Winexpert's premium quality brands were awarded 220 medals bringing our total to 1766 medals in the 9 annual competitions held so far.
 
 
 
 
 
 

 

 

We reward loyalty, every 11th kit is 1/2 price

 

 

 

 

 Referral Program

 
We truly appreciate you referring us to your family and friends. When the new vintner or brewer makes their first kit purchase, you both will receive 10% off the regular price of any kit. Referral certificates are available in our stores. (Cannot be combined with any other offer)

 

 

 

 

 

 

    

Winexpert is the world’s largest manufacturer of consumer winemaking products

Our wine products are supported by knowledgeable, dedicated staff.  In addition to helping choose the right wine, we will help you discover an exciting new experience...
the wine and beer making lifestyle.
Become a winemaker or grow your winemaking skills with Winexpert wine kits, equipment, supplies, and (most importantly) advice and ideas.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
We continually introduce new products, click here to  see our latest products
 
 
 
 

HOME VINTNER GEARS UP FOR 2012 PROVINCIAL WINE AWARDS

As published in the Airdrie Echo newspaper, March 28th, 2012 By Josh Eberley.

With 538 provincial, national, and international medals, The Home Vintner has successfully been helping average folks become expert wine makers since 1993.

Paul Sass is the owner of The Home Vintner and has nine separate Alberta locations he travels to and from.  Sass is dedicated to the quality of his service and insists his clients hold themselves to a high standard when drinking both wine and beer.

“Raising people’s standards is the goal and focus,” said Sass

click here to read full Airdrie Echo article...

click here to see the judging pictures on facebook...

APRIL LIMITED EDITION AVAILABLE NOW!

Click here to view this years Limited Edition videos - with complete written descriptions of our five 2012 Limited Edition wines. 
Washington Meritage - sold out
South African Sauvignon Blanc-Semillon - sold out
California Petite Sirah/Zinfandel - still available
German Traminer Spatlese - still available 
Spanish Matador Trio Red - our first shipment has arrived - over the next few weeks we will bring in our allotment.
 

BUYER BEWARE – IMPORTANT – AVOID CHEAP WINE BOTTLE SALES!! from Paul
Research provided by GlassRite Research Data

Glass offers protection from UV light that can affect wine and beer quality. The correct quality of the glass and colour can enhance the protection of your wine and beer. Thinner bottles and poor colouring have implications for its ability to protect your wine. Light & short wave lengths in the UV & blue end of the spectrum causes chemical reactions within the wine which shows up as “wet dog and cooked cabbage”! This reaction is known as Light-Struck and occur within hours of exposure to light.  Red wines, because of their tannin content, are less susceptible to Light-Struck flavours than white wines.

click here to read more... 

THE ITALIAN TWINS

A few Italian Amarone have arrived, the Italian Brunello in our Selection International with Grape Skins varieties will soon be available - huge demand! Please phone first to see if we have stock.  The 4 grape skin products have been very successful and we are excited to be adding these 2 very popular products to this line.  Many of you will recognize these kits as all 6 have been Limited Editions from previous years.

click here to read more about these great Italian wines...

NEW-PINEAPPLE PEAR PINOT GRIGIO

Available Now

This delicious wine leaps out of the glass with juicy sweet pears, succulent, ripe pineapple, and a bright and flowery fragrance. Firm acidity from the Pinot Grigio gives it mouth watering juiciness and a refreshing finish.

click here for more info...

TWISTED MIST RETURNS!

Available mid April

The new Twisted Mist Hard Pink Lemonade and Lime Margarita are now available.  This product is also available in a combo pack which will produce 15 bottles of each with bottle labels included for both.  Bring on summer! Please phone first to check on availability.

click here to read more...

NEW-FRENCH ROSE

Available mid April -  a dry Rose

Talk about a wine made for relaxed summer fun and spontaneous barbecues! This easy-going Rosé from France is brimming with the fresh flavors of red fruits - strawberry, raspberry and a hint of citrus. A blend of predominately Syrah and Grenache grapes brings a refreshing well-structured wine. This Rosé is dry, similar to our previous year's Spanish Rose and is capable of handling summer's best fare, from grilled veggies to Asian spice, certainly a wine to be stocked and ready to go all summer long!

FROM OUR WINE MAKER OF THE YEAR / Ronnie

I hear it almost every day, "I just don't have time to make more wine".  So here we go with how long it actually takes to make a wine kit from start to finish.  Total time comes in at 3 hours and 10 minutes - that works out to 10 minutes a bottle.

Now about the wine - Domaine Des Brumes - Brouilly, the largest Cru in Beaujolais, is a wine noted for its aromas of blueberries, cherries, raspberries, strawberries currants and floral notes. Our brouilly is called Domaine des Brumes, a refreshing, easy drinking red revealing a slender texture, smooth tannins and a medium finish. The Gamay grape is light and fruity in the same palette as a Beaujolais wine.

click here to read more... 

 FRESH SCHMESH!! by Terry

I think most of us have seen those tv ads for commercial beer, touting it's "freshness". I was always a little skeptical of the advantage of freshness, as beer is a fermented beverage, and, like wine, should probably smooth out and generally improve with some ageing. Since I started making my own beer, however, I have chosen to throw the fresh idea out the window. Here's why - last summer, my friend and I made a straight-up Dutch Lager using a Baron's kit with the yeast and hops that were included in the box.

click here to read the rest of this blog... 

click here to read all of our blogs...

OUR TOP TEN WINE KITS

These are the top 10 wine kits sold by Winexpert in Canada:

World Vineyard Italian Pinot Grigio
Vintners Reserve Liebfraumilch
Selection Italian Pinot Grigio
Vintners Reserve White Zinfandel
Vintners Reserve Merlot
Selection Australian Shiraz
Vintners Reserve Mezza Luna Red
World Vineyard Australian Shiraz
Vintners Reserve Vieux Chateau du Roi
Vintners Reserve Pinot Noir

20 ACCOLADES FROM OUR GROUPON CUSTOMERS

Awesome class! I have been making wine at home for a year now, but can't seem to get it to not have that "homemade watery" taste to it. After this class, I now have confidence that I will make great wine at home with the tips and tricks that I learnt at this class. I will also be starting to make beer at home at the same time as well. I will be back to buy my kits soon!

click here to read the other accolades... 

AVAILABLE THIS WEEK - THE HOME VINTNER GLUTEN FREE BEER KIT

We're excited to announce that after much research, The Home Vintner has sourced ingredients to make a great gluten-free beer kit  - all ingredients are certified gluten-free!  Yes, we have a waiting list - contact us to have your name added.

click here to read more...

 

JOIN US ON FACEBOOK TO QUALIFY FOR OUR MONTHLY DRAW

Join us on facebook to enter our draw. To qualify for the draw become a friend of The Home Vintner on Facebook. This months winner of a $25 gift certificate is: Tlou C.

click here to become a friend on facebook...

MONTHLY STORE DRAW

Monthly, each wine or beer purchase automatically enters you into our monthly draw.  Congratulations to Kevin R- pick up your $34.95 Breathable Eisch wine glass.

 

OUR WINE & BEER MAKING CLASSES

Paul demonstrates the making of a wine kit from the first steps right through to removing the CO2 and proper corking. Years of experience are shared, so the novice wine maker can be successful on their first attempt. For those who have made wine for years, there are new methodologies which will improve your end result. Also, step by step Paul walks through the making of a beer kit with secrets shared so your first kit will be a success. Pre-registration is required. Payment of $25 per person is payable at the class. Each student will receive a coupon worth 15% off their next wine or beer kit.

click here to see our current calendar...

WINE ON SALE IN APRIL

Vintner's Reserve - continues to set the standard in it's category by yielding wines of excellent quality, flavour and aroma.

Vintner's Reserve World Vineyard - featuring popular grape varietals, with grape juices and concentrates from some of the finest growing regions in the world, this 10 litre kit produces high quality wines that you can enjoy within one month after bottling.

Vintner's Reserve Pinot Noir - $5 Off

This very popular grape produces a wine with very fruity, yet spicy characteristics. Pinot Noir has a velvety flavour that is met with a fullness of aroma resembling black currants. Ageing uncovers further complexity. Pinot Noir has been grown for winemaking for over two thousand years. It’s primarily associated with France’s Burgundy region, but it’s now also found throughout Europe, theU.S.,Canada, andAustralia. In general, younger pinot noir has fruity flavors of raspberries and cherries, and will pick up an earthier, truffle flavor as it ages.

Sweetness: Dry | Body: Light-Medium | Oak Intensity: None

Wikipedia - click here for more info...

Vintner's Reserve Pinot Blanc - $5 Off

A versatile varietal grape which displays an agreeable dry, sharp, lightly fruity yet full-bodied taste. Rich pear and citrus aromas on the nose with lively acid on the finish, this wine is a true example of a Cool Climate wine. The palate is full and creamy, with a dry finish.

Sweetness: Dry | Body: Light-Medium | Oak Intensity: None

Wikipedia - click here for more info...

World Vineyard Australian Shiraz - $5 Off

Australia's route to fame on the world wine stage,Shirazfrom Down Under offers lush berry aromas that beg for a hearty whiff. A wine of ripe fullness, its concentrated blackberry fruits and fragrant spiciness are a delight on the tongue. It has the uncanny quality of allowing early consumption despite its complexity and bigness'. Robust and lively, Australian Shiraz is a savoury treat.

Sweetness: Dry | Body: Medium | Oak Intensity: Light

World Vineyard Australian Chardonnay - $5 Off

Supple and slightly buttery, with aromas of peach and mango with layers of toast and spice, this wine lingers on the palate in a vanilla-laden oak finish.  Lovely, rich aromatics of smoky oak, nuts, praline, toffee, malo and wild ferment. Brilliant forward and zippy wine. Full of fruit and elegance. Seductively nutty palate with cornish cream and crème brûlée richness.

Sweetness: Dry | Body: Medium | Oak Intensity: Light

Wikipedia - click here for more info...

BEER ON SALE IN APRIL

AMBER ALE - $4 OFF

Malty rich flavour and body. This reddish ale has slightly more bitterness than typical ales but its maltiness gives a nice balance between sweetand bitter. Our unique blend of 2-row pilsen, crystal and chocolate malts gives this ale its incredible character. Comparable to a Sleeman's Amber Ale.

Our HV Tartan Ale recipe starts with a Barons Amber Ale - 500 grams of smoked malt and dry malt rather than dextrose ($10). Try Wyeast 1728 Scottish Ale yeast. We were pleasantly surprised with this Scottish style ale with warm amber hues and complex aromas, giving it a full-bodied taste with a slightly smoky finish

Click here to read our blog on Alexander Keith's Limited Release Tartan Ale. 

 
The Home Vintner - 1-888-222-0486 - Contact Us Unsubscribe