In the back of Stomper’s in Kits, thousands of litres of wine wait to mature, resting in massive sealed glass jugs called carboys.
Watching over them is Sylvie Tanguay, winner of 37 wine-making medals since she began competing in 2009. She provides wine-making kits and her expertise to people who want custom-made wine. “With the recession going on and off, it’s quite economical for people to come in and make their own wine,” Sylvie says. But it’s not just about lower costs — she works with wedding planners and caterers, as well as people who just want something fun, different and personalized.
Sylvie began her career in wine-making in 1997, when she opened a store in partnership with her son’s godparents, who already owned nine wine stores. A year later, she took ownership, devoted herself to her wine business full-time, and learned as much as she could about the trade.
“You learn the tricks as you go along. I’ve tasted about every wine that I’ve made. It’s dedication. When I close the store for two weeks, there’s still someone that comes in and has to look after the wine; it doesn’t look after itself.” Sylvie says she can tell the condition of a wine without using a hydrometer.
