The current recession might have caused people to start tightening their wallets when it comes to certain goods, but studies show that people are still using whatever money they have left to purchase alcohol. And since bank accounts aren’t looking so hot recently, people want to spend their money on a drink they will really enjoy.
What’s better than being able to actually make your own wine?
Inside Studio Vino, courtesy of J. Paul Bigelow Photography
At Studio Vino, every visitor is given the opportunity to become his or her own personal winemaker. The Tempe-based winery opened in March 2008 and allows people to create and bottle their own wine, as well as design a custom label for the bottle.
There are six steps involved with the wine-making process at Studio Vino, starting with tasting different wine varietals – a term used for wines based on the type of grape utilized to make the wine. The ingredients are then mixed to start the fermentation process. The wine stays with Studio Vino for 75 days. Then the customer is invited back to bottle, cork and label the wine.
Kari Zemper, owner of Studio Vino, says she and her husband visited a make-your-own-wine location in the Valley (which is no longer open) right after their marriage, and they really enjoyed the whole process. “We gave the bottles [of wine] to friends and family at Christmas,” Zemper says. “It was an extremely cost effective and highly personal gift.” The experience inspired Zemper to open up her own business. “I thought, ‘I could get really, really excited about doing this every day,” she says.
Zemper says the goal of Studio Vino is to provide a very unique and memorable experience and giving visitors the opportunity to learn a little about wine and wine tastings.
The cost varies on how much wine is ultimately purchased – the more wine, the less the cost of the bottle, she says. But on average, prices range from about $12-$15 per bottle. The cost includes a wine tasting (complete with cheese and crackers), custom label design and a bottling party. “When you come back, you can do whatever you want in terms of a bottling party,” Zemper says. “I allow customers to bring their own food and invite as many guests as they want.”
Zemper says her business is doing very well, and July was the best month she’s had since the winery has been open. “I’ve done a lot more marketing and sales myself, and the efforts are paying off,” she says. “I’ve been doing more social networking, and Studio Vino has a Facebook and Twitter.”
Management senior Jayme Manos says he would love to visit Studio Vino because it sounds like an awesome idea.
“It lets people be their own drinkmaster without having to have all of the equipment and buy thousands of pounds of grapes,” Manos says. “It’d be sweet to brew from my house, but it’d be expensive so this cuts down a lot of the costs.”
Between making your own wine, corking it and designing a label, Zemper jokes that Studio Vino is like Build-A-Bear for adults.
Contact Information:
Kari Zemper – 480.897.1800
1825 E. Guadalupe Road
Tempe, AZ
http://studiovino.com
Reach the reporter at charlsy.panzino@asu.edu.
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
I host events at Studio Vino regularly, and I can attest to the fact that they are not only a class operation but tons of fun, too! I highly recommend them.
If you would like an amazing experience that is unique and so fun for a group of friends, book your tasting NOW!!! It is perfect for special occasions (think 40 birthday!) but also for a group night out! You will not be disappointed and you won’t leave without purple teeth:)!!