Rotary Told Making Wine is a Recession Beater

Wine-making experts Tess and Mark Szamatulski told Westport Roatary Club members today that the wine-making business is very good despite the recession. The Szamatulskis have owned and operated the Monroe-based Maltose Express Home Beer and Winemaking Supplies store, the largest home-brew and wine-making supply store in Connecticut, for more than 20 years. They said the poor economy has made people more price conscious and probably contributed to increased alcohol consumption. The combination has propelled their business, they said. Pictured (l-r) are Tess Szamatulski and Rotarian Fred Feuerhake opening a bottle of home-made wine for tasting as Mark Szamatulski explains the finer points about the process for making wine at home. “In Canada, 25 percent of consumed wine is home made,” he said. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com