Village Winemakers Take Heart: Kits Are Ready In Kailua

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Lindsey Patterson (left) demonstrates proper corking technique. Photo by Nathalie Walker

What’s not to love about wine? And by creating 30 of your own personalized bottles - it’s even better. That’s what the new kid on the Blockbuster block, Oeno Winemaking, had in mind when it opened in September.

Introduced to the idea by his dad, Greg Minarik and co-owner Lindsay Patterson spent the past three years researching, renovating and working out the details. What they’ve created is a unique hands-on experience that offers quality wine and affordability.

The wine is sold in kits, which include reds, whites and even fruit wines. Each one makes about 28-31 bottles of wine and costs between $300 and $430 a kit (which is $10-$14 per bottle). The kits include the bottles, corks, shrink caps, labels and, of course, the wine. Currently Oeno offers 50 different wine kits, which are available for sampling.

Lindsey Patterson watches as Greg Minarik (left) shows how to fill a bottle with wine as customers Kevin O’Brien and Christina Hoe observe. Photo by Nathalie Walker

The process is simple: First, sample the wine; second, select the wine and the design of the label; then come back for a bottling party.

“We do all the work on premise,“explained Minarik.“The wine ferments here for about four to six weeks. Then they are able to come back in and do the bottling. It ends up being a lot of fun. The wine is ready to drink when they bottle it, so often they’ll open a bottle or two.” The wines come from select vineyards all over the world, and he said all kits are of the highest quality.

In addition to wine, Oeno also offers a selection of wine accessories and gifts,such as glasses,racks,pourers and wine charms.

Oeno Winemaking is located in Kailua at the Blockbuster Center, 26 Hoolai St., Suite 900.

For more information, call 263-6366 or visit www.oenowinemaking.com.

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