THE FRUGAL OENOPHILE
Wine Appreciation through Education
email newsletter: may 2005

There are as many different types of winemaker as there are types of wine. My favourite are the types who make wine mainly for the satisfaction of doing it well and of having a better quality wine at a modest price. Someone who is doing his bit to make this possible for his clientele is Charles Fagenbaum of Fermentations! u-vint in Toronto. I joined Charles recently for his "Sideways & Pinot" open house, and was very impress with both his wines and the way he makes them.

Fermentations! is different from other u-vint operations in a number of ways. The most obvious difference is the decor. Instead of the usual whitewash-and-stainless steel look, the shop is painted a shocking canary yellow and adorned with eclectic art. A cozy sitting area dominates the room, and the entire approach is casual and possibly a tad irreverent.

Charles has chosen to provide only fresh grapes (more than 25 tons in 2004!) rather than the ubiquitous concentrate kits. He brings in grapes and fresh must each year, mainly from Niagara and California. To add a note of authenticity as well as fun, he allows his customers to become "pieds noir" by crushing their own grapes. A mini bladder press makes the job of juice extraction that much easier.

I first encountered Charles's wines when I judged a competition of the Amateur Winemakers of Ontario, of which Charles is an active member. It wasn't hard to award his wines the highest honours.

If you've been looking for a way to make your own wine but don't have the space, and don't want to work with concentrates, give Charles a call or drop by the store. I can guarantee that the wines this unassuming shop produces are among the best an amateur can create.

Fermentations!
201 Danforth Ave
Toronto, Ontario
416.778.9000
charles@fermentations.ca

Inspirational Quote

"It may come as a surprise to some, but Canada is now home to a vibrant, forward-thinking and very exciting wine industry with a pencil-tip focus clearly sharpened on creating fine wines from the noblest of grapes which can compete in quality standards at every international level" - Julie Arkell

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