Posted on: Wednesday, April 18, 2001

Bottle your own at new Island winery

By Vicki Viotti
Advertiser Staff Writer

Diamond Head Winery, a make-and-bottle-your-own-vintage emporium patterned after similar companies throughout Canada, will open April 27 at 330 Sand Island Access Road.

The company is owned by Val Texeira, who said she hopes the concept will appeal to Island gift-givers interested in personalizing their private vintage with a label of their own design.

Texeira said that hers is a manufacturing company that will market its own label after the wine ages for about 18 months. However, customers who buy the make-it-yourself kits will have a wine that is palatable after eight weeks, she said.

Kits will retail for $180 to $230, depending on the variety, and each kit will include grape juice, yeast and other ingredients, as well as bottling materials. The final yield is 26 bottles, or five gallons, for most types; dessert and fruit wines will yield three gallons.

The staff will help customers bottle their wine on premises, and customers can design their own labels.

Store hours will be noon-8 p.m. Wednesday-Saturday, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday. Information: 841-WINE.