The Naked Vine helps enlighten the palate
By MARK PAVILONS Editor

Taste is a very subjective thing. But a Bolton brew-onpremise outlet goes out of its way to educate and satisfy even the most discerning of palates.

The Naked Vine, which opened its doors one year ago this month, has become the passion for sisters Vera Robinson and Candice Plibersek.

Robinson said they started making wine roughly four years ago and found it to be fun and a very interesting process. They saw the potential and took over an existing outlet in Bolton, expanding the business and offering a complete, one-stop shopping environment.

The industry, and process, has come a long way in recent years.

Robinson noted many can't believe the quality and taste of the wines brewed on the premises. The unique blends all begin as kits that contain real fruit juice packs and natural ingredients.

You can really create high quality wines on site in 4-8 weeks. Most customers embrace the idea because it's very cost effective (you can brew 23 litres of wine for just over $100) and it becomes a social outing when it comes time for bottling. Several customers make a day of it, and invite friends to help in the bottling process. They then often engage in a wine exchange at their homes.

At The Naked Vine, you can make vineyard quality wines which contain less preservatives than storebought varieties. Robinson noted their wines typically contain 75% less sulphates than those found in stores. People who can't tolerate store-bought red wine, for instance, can enjoy the varieties made at The Vine.

"They (customers) come in happy and leave happier," she stressed.

The Vine offers a wide selection of wine, including some new limited release wines from both Vineco and Cellar Craft. Cellar Craft also offers an on-the-skin fermentation that is truly remarkable - a Nappa Valley merlot; cabernet sauvignon; California cabernet sauvignon and South African shiraz.

Cellar Craft also offers an Amarone style wine from the Valpolicella area in northern Italy. Vineco boasts its popular and award-winning KenRidge lineup.

Believe it or not, now is the time to begin making those delectable summer wines - reds, whites, fruit, ice wine, sherry and port.

Robinson said one of the misconceptions of the process is it's messy and time-consuming. Initial startup takes only 10 minutes. Once the fermentation process starts, The Naked Vine staff take care of the rest, ensuring the wine is properly processed and filtered. The final product arrives in four to eight weeks. Customers are then called in to bottle their wine.

The Naked Vine also offers one-stop shopping for connoisseurs, offering a full line of supplies and giftware. From glasses to decanters, you can find everything for that dinner party, or romantic intimate dinner for two.

One interesting item is the Eisch "No Drop Effect" carafes and decanters.

Their product almost completely prevents the formation of drops at the rim of the glass. The recently unveiled Eisch Breathable Glass is heralded as the next generation in stemware. These glasses accelerate the decanting process, in only two to four minutes.

Wine Cellar Express has magnetic coasters that actually ages your drink two years in only 30 minutes! It does this by softening the harsh, bitter tanins in young red wines.

Another popular item is The Naked Vine's etched wine bottles. These decorative bottles can be engraved and hand-painted with a company's logo or any personal message, and given as gifts or prizes at events. Several local companies have already ordered these for their customers.

Now that wine bottles are accepted for return at The Beer Store, many wine drinkers will have a challenge carting their empties to the store.

The Wein Case solves that problem. It's a sturdy, plastic crate that holds six bottles securely.

Staff at The Naked Vine can help you with all of your wine-making needs, and even set you up to host that special soiree. Give them a call at 905-951-7253 or visit them at www.thenakedvine. com.