Wine Makers Space

WineMakers Space

The MakerSpace concept, is a global phenomenon, these places for people who like to build, invent, tinker and/or learn new skills and expand their minds. Their membership has a wide range of skill sets and a large variety of tools available. In the fall of 2018 one of the Milwaukee MakerSpace members came to me with the suggestion of creating a space for wine makers. I loved the idea, so in December of 2018 we began our "pilot program" (test run). 

There are a few "you vint" franchises in our area, at those locations the client selects the wine to be made and starts it with the instruction of the staff. After that the franchise owner/employees complete the remaining steps. At the end of the process the client labels the wine bottles and takes them home. These franchises generally charge $300 to $500 per batch of wine. In our space the members do all of the steps with the help of our staff for a lot less.

What is The Purple Foot Wine MakerSpace

We are a physical space where members come, and have access to wine making equipment  as well as  the expertise of The Purple Foot staff to make your own wine from start to finish. We work in individuals and small groups to make wine. Each member selects the wine style they would like to make. The members come here to do the needed steps, if a member cannot come in within a certain time frame to perform the steps the other members have permission to do the current step.

What are the steps in Wine making when are they done?

• Week 1: Start the must (wine), each member starts their own wine.

• Week 2: Transfer the must to a glass carboy (jug).

• Week 4 - 5: Add clearing and stabilizing ingredients.

• Week 6 - 8 : First "Racking" (transfer away from sediment)

• Week 8 - 10: Second racking for clarity

• Week 10-16: Bottling is done on the Saturday of the 10th week in order to do all of the wines on the same day.

• Week ?: We meet for a celebration, we have wine, food and fun. We celebrate the new friends we have made. We celebrate the delicious wines we have made by sharing time with our new friends. Maybe even a wine bottle swap meet . 

What is the cost?

There are a few "you vint" franchises in our area, at those locations the client selects the wine to be made and starts it with the instruction of the staff. After that the franchise owner/employees complete the remaining steps. At the end of the process the client labels the wine bottles and takes them home. These franchises generally charge $300 to $500 per batch of wine. In our space the members do all of the steps with the help of our staff. We charge $100 -$175 for the use of our equipment and space plus the cost of the wine kit selected and any other items needed (bottles, corks etc.).

How do you become a member?

 We hope you’ll come be a part it, if you are interested call Karen Lau at 414-327-2130 to make an appointment or be added to our Wine MakerSpace list.