Winemaking
Italian Centre Shop is the largest importer of wine grapes in Western Canada.
There are three ways to make wine. From grapes, fresh harvest juice & kits.
If it wasn’t for the Italian Centre’s founder, Frank Spinelli, home-brewing might still be illegal in Alberta. Frank successfully lobbied to overturn a Prohibition-era law in 1964 and since then, the Italian Centre Shop has become the largest importer of wine grapes in Western Canada.
If cleaning grapes off the vine is too much work, try fermenting harvest grape juice instead. Every year, we bring in 100% pure fresh harvest grape juice, which just needs to be stored in a warm dark place. Nothing needs to be added. Get it right, and the wine should be ready by Christmas.
If you miss the year's harvest, there's always wine juice kits (known as the 'Sterile Must' version), to which you add yeast.
EQUIPMENT
We specialize in everything you need to crush, ferment, bottle and age your own wines at home, including a great selection of Drums, Barrels, Presses, Crushers, Carboys, Air Locks, and Racking Equipment.
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GRAPES
Every September we import thousands of crates of grapes. Choose your passion.
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RED Alicante, Barbara, Cabernet Sauvignon, Grenache, Merlot, Pinot Noir, Ruby Cabernet, Sangiovese, Valdepenas, Zinfandel. . |
WHITE Chardonnay, French Colombard, Muscat, Thompson Seedless. |
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GRAPE/WINE JUICES
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RED We stock the varietals below in both 100% pure fresh harvest grape juice and also wine juice (technically called ‘Sterile Must’, S.M) that needs yeast added. Grape Juice & Sterile Must: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Pinto Noir, Shiraz, Valpolicella, Zinfandel Sterile Must Only: Amarone, Barolo, Cabernet Franc, Chianti, Lambrusco, Montepulciano, Sangiovese |
WHITE We stock the varietals below in both 100% pure fresh harvest grape juice and also wine juice (S.M) that needs yeast added. Grape Juice & Sterile Must: Chardonnay, Chenin Blanc, French Colombard, Moscato, Pinot Grigio, Riesling Sterile Must Only: |
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