|
Something
Vino: The Little Old Winemaker, You Andy stands
at the counter in the shop’s vestibule. Kristie is seated
behind the counter. Both have been welcoming customers since Something
Vino opened, around Thanksgiving of 2005. The shop is located on
Ferry Road, a side street in what has become the arts/crafts/restaurant
quarter of Fort Walton Beach. Among their neighbors are the Northwest
Florida Ballet, dance and yoga studios, bistros and coffee shops.
A do-it-yourself winery seems natural here. The interior of the store is rather dim, with a rustic timber and plaster look, something like a vintner’s reception room in the wine country. A few tables display wine accessories like corkscrews, decorative stoppers, glasses, and trays. Behind the counter is a service bar, with glasses and assorted half-full bottles of representative samples of wine. A printed list on the counter details the prices by category. All wines made at Something Vino are produced in lots of approximately 30 bottles of 750 ml., or 60 bottles of 375 ml. Prices vary by category, and depending on how much of your own work you want to do. The list I was shown was divided into five categories. First are fruits, offering peach, strawberry, raspberry, blackberry, cranberry and green apple flavorings for both white and red wines. Next is Reserva, a list of traditional styles and varietals such as Chianti, Shiraz, Chenin Blanc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir, Red and White Zinfandel, and others. Classic is next, then Connoisseur, and Terrior. The latter more expensive categories, offer wines and grape varietals from Austria, South Africa, Spain, Australia, Chile, and New Zealand. “We do three things,” says Andy. “First, we retail wine, made here in small batches with customized labels.” Customers wishing to make a gift of wine, or celebrate an event, can bring in artwork, photographs, or online graphics, which the Edwards convert into labels. Kristie adds that they can also do online art searches for customers looking for something special in a label. The second service is the blending of juices to create the start of a “private reserve” wine, suited to each customer’s expectations. The Edwards purchase juice in bulk from producers and distributors around the world, and make an effort to keep current on what’s available. The next step after blending is fermentation. The wine is stored in large, transparent containers then shelved in a special room to begin the process. The Edwards maintain a stock of natural flavorings, such as oak, which they add to the fermenting juices to give it desirable characteristics. At this point, says Andy, “we take over,” watching over the fermenting juice until the proper moment, when it is time to bottle. “We invite the customer in, they bring friends, make a party of it.” In the bottling room, the customer and his associates fill bottles with their new wine. “It takes about an hour,” says Andy, after which the bottles are corked and labeled, ready for consumption or storage. The third service offered by Something Vino is the identical to the regular service only the customer does nothing beyond choosing the kind of wine he wants. “We can do it all,” says Andy. This full service costs a bit more than the rates on the printed list, and varies according to the wine. Wondering about the legalities? According to the Edwards, private persons can make up to 200 gallons of wine per year, without having to pay an excise tax. Andy is from Lakeland, Fla. Kristie comes from North Carolina. “We were in the kayak business in North Carolina,” says Andy. “We were looking for something unique.” The Edwards got the idea for Something Vino from talking to a friend in a similar business. They are largely self-taught, with no formal training in wine making. What drives them is enthusiasm for the product. “We love
to drink wine,” says Kristie. |
||
Copyright © The Beachcomber, Inc. 2003 - 2008. All rights reserved.