Making Your Own Wine?

LilTexasGal

Yes please! There is this place in Austin where you can make your OWN wine. I'm thinking this might be a fun thing to do for a date night, and then serve it at our wedding!

It takes 45 for the wine to be "ready", you get to create your own label, and one session makes 28-30 bottles! I was thinking that we could also give some of these bottles away in gift baskets for our bridal party and our parents (yes we would have other types of wine at the wedding so there would be enough wine).

I would also want to save a few bottles, like for our honeymoon or one year anniversary.

So what are you ladies' thoughts about this? You think it would be cool, or corny?

Peaseblossom55

That is a really cute idea.  I'm a big wine person though.  It sounds like fun to do and what a great idea for favors too. 

I have friends, who every year in the fall get family and friends together and make their own wine.  I've been to a few of the parties and it's a lot of fun.

melmac86

I love this idea! I've never heard of something like this. Its super unique, thoughtful, personal, and something that your guests would surely remember about your wedding.

mookow86

DH did this with his family a few years ago and they had a blast. It sounds like a cute idea!

LilTexasGal

Thanks ladies! I am a huge wine drinker, and I was going through one of my bridal magazines and saw an ad for the place in Austin and I got super excited. I'm glad I'm not crazy thinking this sounds kinda cool. I just hope they help us make something that tastes good... could you imagine if you made something like this and it turned out tasting horrible?

melizabethp

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_not-engaged-yet_making-your-own-wine?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special%20Topic%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:136Discussion:030da75b-7583-4661-b5a9-ecfe98ee8abcPost:47eff1ac-e272-4783-b683-57fb5a3d44be">Making Your Own Wine?</a>:
[QUOTE]Yes please! There is this place in Austin where you can make your OWN wine. I'm thinking this might be a fun thing to do for a date night, and then serve it at our wedding! It takes 45 for the wine to be "ready", you get to create your own label, and one session makes 28-30 bottles! I was thinking that we could also give some of these bottles away in gift baskets for our bridal party and our parents (yes we would have other types of wine at the wedding so there would be enough wine). I would also want to save a few bottles, like for our honeymoon or one year anniversary. So what are you ladies' thoughts about this? You think it would be cool, or corny?
Posted by LilTexasGal[/QUOTE]

<div>This sounds like SO much fun. Do it! :) It's amazing that one session makes so much! So what does it entail exactly?</div>

JordanL1221

Do you know how much it costs or is there a website?

LilTexasGal

Meliza - From what I've read you go in, chose from a selection of their grapes and work with one of their wine makers to create a wine. Not sure all the steps that go into the process, just read a little bit from their website. They, however, do all the work after you leave, so it isn't like you have to come back and "baby sit" your wine.

Jordan - I don't know how much it costs, and I couldn't find the price online, but they have lots of different locations. I'm going to call soon and find out how much it will cost.

melizabethp

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_not-engaged-yet_making-your-own-wine?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special%20Topic%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:136Discussion:030da75b-7583-4661-b5a9-ecfe98ee8abcPost:152826ab-cbd7-4288-9399-273b67b2ecc2">Re: Making Your Own Wine?</a>:
[QUOTE]Meliza - From what I've read you go in, chose from a selection of their grapes and work with one of their wine makers to create a wine. Not sure all the steps that go into the process, just read a little bit from their website. They, however, do all the work after you leave, so it isn't like you have to come back and "baby sit" your wine. Jordan - I don't know how much it costs, and I couldn't find the price online, but they have lots of different locations. I'm going to call soon and find out how much it will cost.
Posted by LilTexasGal[/QUOTE]

<div>I was hoping they would let you stomp the grapes, too, a la I Love Lucy. :) But that's still pretty awesome. And if you do decide to serve it at your wedding, it will be something unique & memorable!</div><div>
</div><div>A good friend of mine is a homebrewer, so he & his wife had home-brewed beer at their wedding as favors (and centerpieces). There were four or five varieties, each with a different wedding-inspired name & a different engagement picture of theirs on the label. It was so cool & such a perfect showcase of their personalities. It sounds like wine would be that for you!</div>

kitkatchica86

Sounds like fun! And I love the idea of saving some, and having some at the wedding reception. Very cool idea

thelamarrs

It sounds like a super cute idea! The personalized labels would make everything very personal. I love it!

BF's BFF tried to make his own wine from scratch... he would let it ferment for a long time and when we tried it it was so strong I was buzzing so hard from a glass.

Not to mention it didn't taste that great, so I was thankful for the heavy buzz. :P

LilTexasGal

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_not-engaged-yet_making-your-own-wine?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special%20Topic%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:136Discussion:030da75b-7583-4661-b5a9-ecfe98ee8abcPost:a2397dfa-ea45-446d-a865-1611b3a31105">Re: Making Your Own Wine?</a>:
[QUOTE]Mo and I homebrew beer, which is a similar process though not quite as involved. I think it's a great idea, though it of course could "go wrong." We've been homebrewing for two years and have gone through many, many batches, and we had one that came out wonky, even though we had made that recipe at least a dozen times before. So maybe at least do one test one first?
Posted by LivLeighton[/QUOTE]

<div>The more I've read about this, the more I realize how "idiot proof" they make the process. From what I've read you sample wines you like and then note the ones you liked the best, and they guide you in the wine making process to help re-create the wine, but with your personal flare. They do all of the work at the winery, after you "throw the yeast", so we technically won't be the ones brewing it. I hope that limits the risk of failure.</div><div>
</div><div>Luckily, they allow you to come in whenever you like and sample your wine, and yes, I would just HAVE to pop a bottle open as soon as I got it. I don't have that kind of patience!</div>