Make award-winning wines from around the world
| Business |
By LeRae Haynes
People who enjoy the hands-on satisfaction of making their own wine, beer, wine coolers or cider can find expert information and high quality products at Caribou U-Brew. You can make red wines, whites, blush, ice wines, dessert wines, ports and champagnes with the knowledge that you are not only enjoying superior taste, you are also enjoying significant savings.
Customers at Caribou U-Brew can enjoy ‘do-it-yourself’ wine making a couple of different ways. You can get all the equipment and supplies you need to make it in your own home, or choose a kit, start it at Caribou U-Brew and come back to bottle in 4-6 weeks.
No matter which method you choose, Caribou U-Brew is there for expert information and support throughout the process. “The cost savings are tremendous and the quality is amazing: the wine is smoother, cleaner, has no chemicals like commercial wines and has far less sulphites,” said owner Sylvio Aumond. “Our environment here is very carefully controlled, we use reverse osmosis water in the process and all our products are guaranteed.”
Caribou U-Brew, located at 225 Barnard Street, is an exclusive local dealer for ‘Winexpert’. Every year at the Wine Maker International Wine Competition, Winexpert wines win, and New Millennium Sparkling wine won three years in a row for ‘Best of Show.’
“You make the product yourself and enter the competition,” Sylvio said. “Many of the winners every year use Winexpert products—it’s the consistency of the product and the very best grapes.”
Customers can have personalized wine labels made for special occasions, such as weddings, anniversaries, and birthdays or grand openings. They can also find beautiful storage racks, wooden wine boxes, openers, decorative corks and glasses at the store. 
Sylvio has been in the business for 17 years. “We used to be located next to Comer Street Pub, and moved here 11 years ago,” he said. “I bought this building from Breck’s Appliances, and the move triggered a 25% growth in my business.”
He said that the whole building was renovated, and has been updated and improved over the years, including paving the parking lot. “More and more people are interested in the U-Brew process. They see how easy it is, how much money they can save and they recognize that it’s a great product,” he continued.
One event at Caribou U-Brew that brings residents and guests back in increasing numbers is the annual wine tasting for next year’s Limited Edition wines. On November 5 the community will have the opportunity to taste three red wines and two white wines and enjoy presentations by a Winexpert speaker, along with catered food and wine pairing.
Sylvio and staff member Alyce Coulombe said that providing good customer service at Caribou U-Brew is easy. “When you like your job and you like your customers, it’s a natural thing,” he explained.
Caribou U-Brew is a strong supporter the community, helping organizations like the SPCA, the Wildwood Fire Department, Ducks Unlimited and the 139 Children’s Fundraising Society.
For more information about Caribou U-Brew and the pre-Christmas wines on sale now, visit the store at 225 Barnard Street or phone 250-392-2739.
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