Wedding costs quickly add up. Looking for creative ways to reduce costs and keep within your budget are important. Making your own wedding wine is a great way to save dollars without sacrificing quality.
How much cheaper is it to make your own wedding wine? Quite a bit.
Purchasing wine through the LCBO or your venue can be anywhere between $8 and $15 a bottle. At Wine Butler, you can craft 30 bottles of great Californian wine for $150 or $5 a bottle. And if you are planning on 150 to 200 guests, the savings add up.
Making your own wine requires a bit of planning. Most wine kits can be bottled in 4-weeks but to maximize the aromas and flavours it’s best to allow wine time to rest or age. The length of time you’ll need really depends on the type of wine you craft. On average white wines benefit for at least one month of aging and red wines at least two.
Check with your venue. Not all venues are willing to allow you to bring your own wine. But don’t stop after the first no. Your venue depends on liquor sales so negotiate. They might be a little more flexible if you are also planning on an open bar or allow the venue to sell second bottles to interested tables.
If your venue is open to you bringing your own wine, the next question is to ask about corkage fees. Most restaurants and venues levy a service charge for opening bottles and serving wine.
If you intend to serve your own craft wine you will require a Special Occasions Permit or (SOP) from the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO). There is an application fee and process. The regulations can change so it’s well worth your time to do this in advance as well.
Weddings are meant to be fun. Start early, craft your own wine and then personalize each bottle with your own wine label for a special touch!
The Wine Butler would like to remind all it’s customers, to always drink responsibly.
