A Shop for Wine Lovers

People who love wine will be interested in a new business on East Main Street in Milford.

The shop, 77th & Vine, takes its name from the street address. It offers kits and supplies for making wine. The inspiration was childhood memories of winemaking, said owner Matthew Metti, who grew up in a neighborhood of Providence.

"I made wine with my grandfather as a kid," Metti said. "It was part of my Italian heritage."

Now semi-retired, Metti decided Milford was the right location. He chose an emtpy storefront on East Main Street, and opened 77th & Vine on Sunday.

The shop sells everything you need to get started in winemaking, from grape juices to corks. The shop has more than 60 varieties of juices — including shiraz, pinot noir, syrah and chianti — and Metti can order more obscure varieties on request.

The start-up cost, for the fermenting container, juice, supplies and other essentials, is about $200. The kits are $125. But the kit materials, once purchased, are reusable. Home-bottlers can expect to end up with a cost per bottle as low as $3, depending on the wine variety, Metti said.

Each kit produces about 26 to 30 bottles.

The process, from fermentation through settling, takes about four weeks. It's fairly easy, and doesn't take up much space.

The steps are explained in detail in each kit, and Metti is also available for consultation. The quality is superior to the homemade efforts of previous generations, because the juice is pre-packaged and the fermentation steps are easier to follow.

"It's not your grandfather's wine."

77th & Vine is open seven days a week: 3 to 7 p.m. weekdays, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturdays and 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sundays. The address is 77 E. Main St., Milford. Parking is available on the street, or across the street in the Midas lot.