It’s true! You can indulge in the highest-quality red and white wines without paying a fortune. Get LOTS of your favorite kinds of wine to enjoy whenever you want ... plus have plenty of bottles stored away in your private wine-cellar for sharing with family members, friends and business associates.

How?

Vintages’ Hand-Crafted Wines is a micro-winery, located in Old-Town Fort Collins, Colorado. We custom make high-quality, great-tasting wines for customers right here in our store -- at unbeatable savings. And we’d love to make your wines too!

It’s a simple process really.

The first thing we do is help you discover what wines you really love thru a personal wine-tasting. Then, you simply order one or more of these favorite wines whenever you wish. We’ll do all the work ... and make this wine according to your exact taste preferences (which we’ll determine when you come in for your tasting). You get the wines you love the most ... at the best possible prices.

My name is Lino DiFelice, and making wine has been a part of my family’s Italian tradition for well over 5 generations -- aside from my personal training as a young man studying under a master oenologist (wine-making expert).

In October of 1999 I threw open the doors of Vintages’ Hand-Crafted Wines to serve as owner and chief wine-maker. My one and only mission is making excellent wines affordable for anyone who wants to enjoy them.

“Your wine, your tastes,
made your way, at an unbelievable value!”

At Vintages, we offer a unique wine-making service. We do NOT mass produce wines for commercial sale. Instead, we sell wine grapes ... and make the wines derived from these grapes for you to enjoy at unbeatable savings. What’s more, these wines are tailored to your exact taste preferences.

Here’s how we do it. First we host ...

Your own private, wine-tasting at the Vintages’ store in Old-Town Fort Collins. Come yourself, with a spouse, companion, or a whole group of 12 family members and friends to enjoy your own wine-tasting.

Of course, we provide the wines and cheeses ... and you’ll take a tour of our facility too. See for yourself how far we go in making first-class wines. (This is an experience everyone loves, because it’s out-of-the-ordinary and great fun).

At the heart of it all ...

You’ll receive a personal wine consultation, so you can discover the varieties of wine you most enjoy. For those who love “details,” we can even discuss how to match wines with your favorite entrees and cuisines. (Your parties at home will never be the same after you start matching foods with complimentary wines).

This one-on-one consultation allows Vintages to develop a very specific taste profile on your behalf. It tells us what kinds of wine you like ... and how it should be “tweaked” in order to perfectly match your particular palate.

After helping you discover the kinds of wine you love, you’ll decide what wine(s) you want to make, and then buy the grapes for those particular wines.

Do you see?

You don’t purchase wines here at Vintages per se, you buy the grapes needed to make the wines of your choosing. Grapes for the wines you love ... based on your personal taste profile.

And as an added bonus ...

You automatically acquire your own private winemaker

After buying your grapes from Vintages I’ll oversee the creation of your wines from these grapes. These wines will be tailor-made for you as an individual. And I professionally guarantee your wine turns out just the way you ordered.

This means you’ll be enjoying fines wines that are unique, because they’re custom made. Instead of having somebody tell you what’s available in a store ... you’ll celebrate life’s pleasurable moments with handcrafted vintages -- prepared to your specifications.

As a Vintages’ customer, you pay less because we’ll make your favorite wines in bulk. You’ll get many more bottles of delicious fine wines for a lot less than you’d pay at any commercial store.

“We do the work, you do the fun part!”

After placing an order with us, your wines will be ready to bottle in about 8 to 12 short weeks. (Note: If you’re in a rush, and you need wine in a hurry for some special event, we CAN help you. Just call or visit our store for details). When this time comes, you’ll return to our store (with friends and family if you like) to bottle, cork, and label your wines. Of course ...

You may want to bring hors d’oeuvres to enjoy while “sampling” your new wine with guests right in our store. It’s all part of the fun at Vintages!

Vintages’ clients love this "bottling" process. You’re really going to delight in the unique, personal experience. (Even kids have fun using the pneumatic bottle-corker to tightly seal each bottle).

Many Vintages' customers love bottling their new wines so much they make more throughout the year ... just so they can come in for an afternoon of making memories. And they get to take home a LOT of wine in the process.

You can build-up your own private wine cellar this way ... fast. A wine cellar filled to the brim with stocks of selected varieties. And enjoy all-natural, top-shelf wines all year long ... without paying thousands of dollars for the privilege!

After your wine is bottled and corked, you’ll share a unique message with family and friends thru your own, one-of-a-kind, personally-designed label on each and every bottle ...

During the time we’re making your wine, you’ll send us a favorite picture ... one that illustrates your own “personal identity” ... “personal passion” ... or some other “unique feature” you’re enthusiastic about sharing. Then you’ll give us a "message" to go along with it. Both picture and message will appear on your bottle labels.

To see some examples of what other Vintages’ customers placed on their labels click here.

The labels are peel-and-stick -- one for every bottle. Then Vintages caps your bottles with professional, colored shrink-wrapping on top.

When you’re finished, you’ll have many, many bottles of wine to enjoy:

• at Home ... sipping with your favorite elegant evening meals, savoring at casual afternoon barbecues, and sharing with family and friends.
• at Reception Gatherings ... where family and friends raise glasses during special times of
• celebration.
• at Rehearsal Dinners ... where bridal party members and family, and friends gather for intimate toasts and shared memories.
• as Elegant Favors ... given to guests you’ve chosen to celebrate with
• you and your loved ones.
• as Fine Gifts ... for unique occasions, business associates, valued customers, trusted vendors or suppliers who keep your business’ wheels turning.
• and any Other Ways you might creatively come up with to fill a wine cabinet or bring a smile to someone’s face.

Here’s the thing ...

Affordable excellence is possible because we make your wines locally...

Imagine having your own wine cellar, stocked with bottles of first-quality wines you can freely enjoy yourself, share with friends, or generously hand out to business associates whenever you wish ... like a Rockefeller, Carnegie, or Vanderbilt.

Well, you can ... by hiring Vintages to make wines for you. And you’ll treat yourself to an old-world, romantic European experience at the same time.

You probably already know most large commercial establishments generally over-charge customers for their wines. Costs of $18-$24 for just one good bottle of wine are common. It's not necessary for most wines to cost that much.

However, you may not know commercial wines generally suffer in taste quality also. The natural taste of the grape is often compromised because nearly all commercial wines (including those from small wineries) are mass produced.

Producers in the commercial arena often make as much wine as they can for the lowest possible costs. This is great for profit margins. But mass production methods strip many wines of their true natural flavors.

The story doesn’t end here.

Most commercial wines are shipped to retail stores across the country (or the world). To prevent these wines from going bad in transit, commercial winemakers usually fill them with large amounts of chemical preservatives. These chemicals also affect the taste-quality of most commercial wines. These additives also cause headaches and allergies in certain individuals.

Chemical preservatives are used to cover up extreme temperature variations and other “mis-handlings” in transport. These obstacles dramatically affect taste-quality -- often leaving wines with bitterness and unpleasant after-tastes.

Ever wonder why many wines today don’t come with corks in the bottles? They’ve got screw-on caps. Why? Because they’re filled with chemical preservatives.

It’s not supposed to be this way!

Great-tasting, healthy wines are an all-natural, delicate product. They need to be stored properly ... in right conditions ... at certain temperatures.

To top it off, the commercial buying process is impersonal and confusing. Can you imagine walking down store isles, looking at row upon row of bottles? Trying to guess which wines taste good? Wishing someone was there to answer your questions, or help you discover wines you’ll love? And the ones that perfectly enhance your favorite foods?

Asking a retailer for suggestions about which wines are “good” is usually a dead-end. Either they don’t know ... or they can’t take time in helping you figure out what you’re looking for.

You may simply pick out wines you can afford (based on what’s available in the store at that moment). Never knowing if you’ve made a good choice or not, until you crack open the bottle and take a sip.

When you acquire your wines in bulk from Vintages’ Hand-Crafted Wines however, you never have to experience overpriced or bad-tasting wines ever again!

Vintages Brings the Vineyards of the World to Fort Collins, Colorado

By using our wine-making service at Vintages’ Hand-Crafted Wines, your wine isn’t made somewhere else and then shipped to Colorado. We ship IN grapes ... from the finest vineyards around the world ... to make wines for our local clientele. This enables you to enjoy premium wines at 50% to 65% savings, because you're having your wines made locally here at Vintages.

Here’s a partial sampling of the many varieties of superior wines we can make for you at Vintages ... using grapes from all over the world:

• Reds: Barbera (California), Zinfandel, Valpolicella (Italy), Sangiovese (Italy)
• Whites: Chardonnay (California), Soave (Italy), Gewurztraminer (Germany), Reisling (Germany)
• Estate Series (Limited Quantity): Sonoma Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon (California), Susuin Valley Cabernet Sauvignon(California), Pinot Noir (Carneros)


• Australian: Australian Cabernet/Shiraz
• Chile:Merlot
• France: French Syrah, Muscat
• Italy:Soave, Nebbiolo, Merlot, Sangiovese, Valpolicella, Amarone Della Valpolicella
• California: Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Zinfandel, Rosé, Petite Syrah

Merlot, Colorado: A luscious, medium to full-bodied red wine … that will even show hints of chocolate and vanilla after 6 months to a year in the bottle. This is a versatile food wine that pairs well with foods such as lamb, red meat (such as filet mignon), herb roasted chicken, grilled pork chops ... and other spicy-sauced dishes. It also goes extremely well with flavorful tomato-sauced pastas and lasagna. Its fruit-forward flavor answers spicy sauces perfectly.

Petite Syrah, Colorado: Despite having the name “petite”… it isn’t. This wine is extremely robust (intense) … with a dark, inky color. Has full tannins and excellent “mouth feel” -- with jammy blackberry, black pepper and chocolate notes. It’s an excellent paring with hearty chicken or pasta dishes. You’d want to try it with meals like Spinach and Cheese Ravioli or Chicken Marsala.

Old Vine Zinfandel: This wine is deep, rich and bold. Contains low tannins, with a full, well-rounded profile. Great with heavy pasta dishes or spicy barbecue ribs, or Filet Mignon. The Zin’s black pepper spice, acidity, and ripe tannins carry all red meats to a new dimension.

Barbera: Full of zesty acidity, that accents layers of plum and cherry. Makes it an especially good complement to rich sauces and grilled meats… Pork Loin and Lamb come to mind. Like nibbling hot dogs? Barbera goes perfectly with this All-American favorite too. Even if you smother it with all the 'fixins.' So go ahead. Heap on spoonfuls of relish, mustard, ketchup or onions. Your Barbera only makes it all taste more heavenly.

Cabernet Franc: This grape is the genetic parent to Cabernet Sauvignon. This wine is a bit lighter, and displays more fruit than Cabernet Sauvignon. The small worldwide grape production and low tonnage per acre make it a rarity to see a 100% Cabernet Franc in the bottle. (It’s usually used as a blending wine for all the elite wines of Bordeaux.) This wine is a perfect match for rich dishes like braised lamb shanks, New York strip steak, pepper steak with French fries, grilled rack of venison served with a fresh onion tart … and blue cheeses.

Viognier: The intense fruitiness of this wine suggests rich sweetness, but it shows a surprisingly dry, aromatic finish. It bursts out of the glass with apricot, peach and spice aromas. As it matures it can also display hints of jasmine, honeysuckle and kiwi. This is the perfect wine for spicy Asian foods and light Shellfish dishes. Just sample it with Indian Curry over rice … or Scallops in Red-Hot Pepper Sauce over Pasta to see what I’m talking about.

Chardonnay: This Chardonnay is known for its slight citrus undertones. Matures early (ages up to 18 months) and tastes very clean and crisp when it’s young. A classic “sipping” wine due to its low acidity and viscosity mouth-feel. It’s an excellent pairing with appetizers (for any meal) and light fish dishes. For example …try this with Salmon in lemon dill sauce … or a saffron risotto dish. And in summertime this wine goes great with grilled chicken , or corn on the cob ... with LOTS of butter.

Valpolicella: Corvina, Rondinella and Molinara are the 3 principle grape varieties in this wine. The finished product is a delicate, nutty scented, and slightly bitter-tasting wine. It’s meant to be enjoyed young, while it exhibits its most fragrant and intense fruit. A classic “pasta wine” - perfect for antipasti and lighter pasta dishes. Also compliments Seafood and lightly grilled White Meats.

Pinot Noir: Can be savored with barbecued salmon or lake trout. With this wine you can even go from fish to a burger ... in just one sip!

Pinot Grigio: Lots of “up-front” taste. Bright, crisp, and fresh fragrant with a clean finish. Also lighter in alcohol … making it a great sipping wine before dinner. It matches very well with salads, most appetizers, and even shellfish. Try it with olive oil over Pasta … or with Tomato, Basil and Mozzarella Salad. Or refresh yourself with a glass while grillin’ in summertime.

Chardonnay, France: This Chardonnay exhibits the minerally dry and earthy type profile of the wines from Pouilly Fuisse’ in France. (This is NOT your typical Chardonnay!) It goes extremely well with Fish, Shellfish, White Meats in creamy sauces, Poultry and Sweetbreads.

Sauvignon Blanc, Austria: A very distinctive, aromatic, herby and sometimes smoky-scented wine. You’ll want to try this one with gourmet plates such as Halibut and Rosemary Potatoes and Chicken Cordon Bleu. Or summer chicken doused in Italian dressing ... with a plate of roasted veggies.

Gewurztraminer: A great compliment to exotic plates like blackened Mahi Mahi, or Cajun Chicken with fresh mango salsa.

Your own custom-made wines at unbeatable savings ...

What if someone asked you to guess how much a wine-making service like Vintages charges for helping you discover which wines you love? While supplying and crushing the grapes (shipped from exotic vineyards around the world) needed to make these wines? And professionally crafting these wines ... especially chosen for your individual taste-preferences at the wine-makers facility?

You’d probably say, “Lots ... and lots of money!”

Right?

After all ... this is a first-class (almost exclusive) ability. Individually ordered, custom-designed, fine wines ... professionally made for you by a master winemaker.

This is exactly what you have thru the winemaking services at Vintages! Choosing exactly which kinds of wine you love ... more affordably than you’ve ever dreamed possible.

Please keep in mind, you're getting a lot of wine at great pricing because we make it in bulk. Every order of Vintages’ wine is fermented in one 5 gallon “batch” - - yielding 24 bottles per batch ... or 48 mini-bottles. (Mini-bottles make wonderful gift items for family members, friends, wedding party members ... etc.)

Our most popular wines average just around $180 per “batch,” ... just $7.50 per 750ml bottle. Fine wines purchased from stores (priced at $30 - $40 a bottle) would cost at least $720 for this same amount. And 24 bottles of lesser-quality, commercial wines (typically selling for $12-$18/per bottle in stores) would cost $360. As you can see ... Vintages’ offers an extraordinary bargain.

With today’s inflated prices, it’s often hard telling what products and services represent an exceptional value. Vintages’ Fine Hand-Crafted Wines certainly represent this kind of rare value for you if you take advantage of our services.

I’m able to offer wines at such incredible bargain prices because instead of making wines and shipping them across the globe, I bring in grapes from premier vineyards around the world and make wines exclusively for customers in our local area. Grapes (and sometimes juice) shipped-in from places like California ... Australia ... Italy ... France ... Hungary ... Chile ... and Germany.

In other words ...

Ordering custom-designed wines in batches from Vintages’ Fine Hand-Crafted Wines is perfect for building up your own private wine cellar ... popping corks for special occasions ... or giving away as gifts to friends and business colleagues.

Acquiring several wine varieties almost guarantees everyone you know will find a particular flavor to delight in. (I can’t tell you how many times word gets back to me that Vintages’ wines are among the most “talked about” products featured at private parties and weddings).

Vintages’ Hand-Crafted Wines offers you healthy, first-class wines, taken from exotic grapes, carefully crafted by an expert schooled in the old-world traditions of the European wine-masters ...

... affordably!

Before I close ... let’s talk for a moment about the one issue that prevents a few wine lovers from acquiring their wines at Vintages. This would be the fact that the least amount of wine you can order at a time is one full batch ... or 24 (750ml) bottles... of one variety of wine.

Is this a problem? It’s only a problem if you don’t absolutely love the wine(s) you choose. If you want many different varieties of wine then you’ll simply do what many of my customers do ...

Order different batches (of differing kinds of wine) with several friends. That right, you may go in together with 1, 2, 3, or even more friends and end up with several batches of wine. Just split up the wines when they're ready to go.

This not only cuts down on your expense (if you want to save even more) but you can still get a variety of wines to begin savoring at once.

The way to save hundreds ... even thousands of dollars for many bottles of fine wines is by having us make them for you in bulk here at Vintages. Having us make your wines in custom-ordered batches ensures the best value for your money. You get top quality ... at extraordinary pricing.

How can you stock up on top-shelf, fine wines at the best possible bargain?

1) Come to Vintages Hand-Crafted Wines storefront at 120 West Olive, Fort Collins, CO in old-town Fort Collins. Or call us at 970-484-4089 to arrange for a small or large group wine-tasting.)

2) Discover your favorite wines at Vintages. Decide which one(s) you’d like to order (along with any custom-designed changes you’d like to apply as determined by your taste-profile).

3) Buy the grapes necessary for us to make your wine(s).

4) Design your personal wine labels. Send us a favorite picture or logo along with your own personal message to appear on each label.

5) Come in to bottle your wine when it’s ready. Brings some friends to share in the fun too ... and make an afternoon of it!

In closing, here are the big advantages you’ll revel in using Vintages as your personal winemaker:

• Vintages’ Wines are Tailor-Made for Your Individual Tastes. Every batch is customized for the unique preferences of your palate. Because you’re in on its production, you can custom order wines that are drier ... sweeter ... fruitier ... or fuller-bodied ... etc ... whatever you like.
• Enjoy the Highest-Quality, Freshest Wines Available. Our unique grower-to-owner method ensures your wines aren’t sent to middlemen typically involved in the retail process. The quality of your wines won’t be degraded or subject to poor handling. This means the taste quality of your product is superior.
• Vintages’ Wines are Healthier Than Commercial Wines. Most store-bought wines use high amounts of chemical stabilizers - - which can cause headaches ... or allergic reactions. Vintages’ wines retain their natural flavors because only the lowest amounts of sulfites are ever added for stability.
• You’ll Stock a Lot More Wine on Your Shelf for Less Cost. Bottling at Vintages offers exceptional value. You’ll take pleasure drinking the finest wines available for less than half the cost of store-bought.
• Vintages’ Wine Experience is Truly Unique. Our distinctive winemaking process lets you order just one, two, ... or multiple batches of wine to relish with family and friends. And a wide variety of first-class wines are available too. I’ve helped many “discover” the delights of wine thru Vintages’ one-of-a-kind process.

Your Vintages’ Wine Guarantee is Unmatched by any Retail Establishment!

Vintages unique wine-making service comes with an iron-clad guarantee. The promise I’ll make you is the same one I’ve given to every one of my customers:

“I treat the Vintages’ bottles on your dinner table as if they were my own. If you’re ever unhappy with your purchase ... just tell me. I’ll let you order a new batch of wine or give your money back. Even if it’s 2 days, 2 weeks, or 2 years after your purchase. No retail store will ever promise you this ... but it’s standard for us at Vintages!”

Now ... here’s a special invitation just for you ...

A touch of Old-European culture at it’s finest ... toasting life’s happiest moments ... celebrating with family and friends ... is something Vintages’ customers do affordably.

Making wines here has even become a family tradition for many of my clients. In fact, many of the first wine lovers (who bottled with me back in 1999) still come back every year and have us make all their wines.

This is why I’m extending this personal invitation to you:

Call Vintages at 1-970-484-9813 and schedule your personal wine tasting. It can be for one, two, or even a select group of up to 12 family and friends. Visit our store in old-town Fort Collins. Take a tour of our facility.

Let us show you what affordable, custom winemaking is all about. Then you’ll be able to make an informed decision to see if Vintages’ unique service is for you.

When you come in, either myself, or a dedicated member of my trained staff will be on hand to host you, and answer any questions you may have. There’s no cost. And no obligation. We merely want an opportunity to show you why we offer the very best option when it comes to wine-buying.

So just pick up the phone and call the Vintages store at 1-970-484-9813 and schedule a private wine tasting. Stop by our storefront in Old-Town Fort Collins. Perhaps even make your visit to our store a “night out on the town.” You’ll see how fine wines are made ... and get a firsthand look at what makes Vintages so special.

I look forward to meeting you in person.

Sincerely,

Lino DiFelice
Your Personal Winemaker