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About Us

We’re the UBrew on Cliffe!

VanIsle Wine and Beer Makers has been one of Comox Valley’s popular on-premises wine and beer making services and supplies since 1983. Previously known as Corks and Caps, the business was bought by Dave Ball and Tracy Bassam in 2018.

Facility Renovations & Winemaking Equipment Upgrades

Dedicated to providing customers with a great UBrew experience and an even better end result, Dave and Tracy quickly set about to make some changes to improve the cider, beer and wine making experience. These included:

  • a fun and welcoming interior design with bright cheery colours,
  • new art on the walls,
  • an outdoor cooler compressor, 
  • removal of heat and noise from inside the facility,
  • new wine bottling machines, 
  • custom labelling for wine
  • kettle beer system
  • automated counter-pressure, beer bottle fillers, and
  • a new fruit press for apples, pears and other fruits.

The wine and beer kit inventory was expanded to include more kit choices. There is also more beer and wine wine making equipment available for sale.

Our staff work hard to provide a clean and modern production facility. After all, we want you to feel as comfortable in our store as you do in your own kitchen—only you get to leave the hassle and the mess with us.

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“Fantastic locally owned business. Tracy, Dave and Courtney are so knowledgeable. This is my first experience with them. I had a friend recommend them to me. I had lots of apples/fruit and they helped me turn them into the most delicious cider I have ever tasted. I normally buy cider from the store, however I don’t plan to anytime soon. It is the best cider I have tasted. So clean and crisp. And how great is it to drink cider from your own apples? It’s so easy. Bring your apples/fruit in and they will press and ferment them. 6 weeks later you have cider. They will take the time help you fine tune your product to just how you like it. If you have any questions, don’t be afraid to ask. They are happy to share their knowledge. I am thrilled to share my experience with my family and friends. Not only can they help you make cider, but other products such as wine and beer which is next on my list to try. They also sell take home products for all your home brewing needs.”
The Best Cider I Have Ever Tasted!
Nikki Poon
“Dave at corks and caps is like the Wine God. Us rookies can't live without him.”
WINE GOD!
Ray
“Like this place, helpful staff, good products.”
Awesome Local Business
Andrea

HOW THE UBREW / UVIN SYSTEM WORKS

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Making Wine

  • Drop by our shop at 2440 Cliffe Ave to select a wine kit. Together, we’ll get it started.
  • Then come back in 4 to 8 weeks with 30 clean wine bottles and together we’ll bottle, cork and label your wine in about 15 minutes.
  • You’ll have 30 bottles of ready-to-drink wine, after a week or two’s rest in the bottles.
  • Your role in the process is to start the wine (Sprinkle the yeast) and then bottle it when it’s ready. If you want to do more, or learn more, that is also available
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Making Beer

For beer lovers, the process is the same. 

  • Drop in, select a beer style and together we’ll get it started.
  • In 4 weeks, shop staff will have it fermented, racked, cold filtered, carbonated and ready to bottle.
  • You arrive with 5 – 1/2 dozen clean beer bottles and together we’ll sterilize, bottle and cap your beer in about 30 minutes.
  • Your beers are ready to drink as soon as you get them home!
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Making Cider, Coolers, or Fruit Wines

We also make cider and coolers, and amazing fruit wines. The way to start is to drop by and discuss what you like. We’ll show you the choices and just how easy it is. The process is then remarkably similar to making wine and beer, with some extra elements depending on the beverage you choose to make.

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