Friends split a wine kit by buying it together and dividing the roughly 29 finished bottles among themselves. Island Wine Experts does not divide a batch, so the group decides who pays what and who takes which bottles. Two friends who each buy a different kit and swap half end up with two wines for the price of one kit each, which is what the shop means by "bring a friend and mix and match."
How do you divide one wine kit between friends?
A kit makes about 29 bottles, so the simplest split is by bottle count, with any leftover bottle shared by agreement. The cost columns use a $99 Classic kit, made at home or made in the shop with the $81.50 fee and HST.
| People | Bottles each | Share of a Classic kit made at home | Share of a Classic kit made in the shop |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 14 or 15 | $49.50 | about $96.37 |
| 3 | 9 or 10 | $33.00 | about $64.24 |
| 4 | about 7 | $24.75 | about $48.18 |
The bottle count is approximate, since a little wine is always left behind with the sediment. Agree before bottling day on who takes any extra.
How does mixing and matching two kits work?
Each person pays for one kit, and once the wine is bottled they swap half. A Classic red and a Classic white bought by two friends leave each with about 14 or 15 bottles of each wine, for $99 each if made at home or about $192.73 each if made in the shop.
The same works with three people and three kits, or with a red, a white and a rosé. The kits do not have to come from the same range, as long as the group agrees on how to settle the difference in price.
Who buys the kit and picks it up?
It is simplest for one person to order and pick up. Online orders are pickup only, at 238 University Ave, and are usually ready the next business day, with a message from the shop when they are.
For on-site wine making, the person ordering chooses "Make it here" on the kit's page. Just for the final stage: bring your bottles in for bottling. Each kit needs 28 to 30 bottles of 750 mL, so the group can pool bottles saved from earlier batches or buy new ones in the shop.
What should a group agree on before starting?
Before anyone pays, the group should agree on the five points in this checklist.
- Which wine, or which two wines to mix and match.
- Made at home, and at whose home, or made in the shop.
- How the cost is shared, including the $81.50 fee plus HST if the shop makes it.
- Who brings bottles, and how many each.
- Who takes any extra bottles.
Pick the kits together, choose one or two that suit the group, and order online for pickup at 238 University Ave, Charlottetown.
Related guides: What Does It Cost to Make Your Own Wine on PEI? and Bottling Day: Bottles, Corks and What to Bring.