Frequently Asked Questions
What is your shipping policy?
DOMESTIC
All orders for preserves must be in multiples of 3 Jars (3, 6, or 9). Preserves are sent by USPS priority mail. Wines are shipped by UPS.
Orders can be placed online, or by calling (304)842-8945
(304 whiskey lineup not available for online purchase)
INTERNATIONAL
Please contact us for international shipping options (304)842-8945
I have a gift shop - How do I order wholesale?
Please contact Becky at (304)842-8945 or contact us by email
Do fruit butters contain any dairy?
No! The "cream of the fruit" is what these non-fat, non-dairy fruit butters really are. Filled with intense fruit flavor, they usually contain less sugar and 33% less carbohydrates than fruit preserves. Their smooth, spreadable texture is the perfect complement to muffins, waffles or toast.
Are your products gluten free?
Generally there is no gluten found in any jelly or fruit preserves –since the majority of jellies are made with just fruit, sugar, and some other ingredients that do not include any wheat or binders. ... Most jellies, jams and preserves will contain vitamins, minerals, enzymes, and fiber from the fruit used to make them.
What is Pectin?
Pectin is a soluble fiber found in most plants inside the cell walls and often binds cells together. It is most abundant in:
Apples
Plums
The peel and pulp of citrus fruits
In food, pectin is most commonly used to thicken jams, jellies, and preserves. Its concentration is highest when the fruit is at the just-ripe stage. It is a carbohydrate, vegan, and is also a source of soluble fiber. Pectin is different than "gelatin" as gelatin is a protein derived from the collagen of animal bones and skin.
What is the difference between Preserves, Jams and Jelly?
It can be confusing, so here are a few sweet hints to help you buy the one that’s right for you:
Jellies are made from the juice of the fruit or berry, and when fruit pectin is added and cooked with sugar, they . . . well, gel. A Jam is made from crushed or pureed fruit and sugar, usually at a half sugar, half fruit puree ratio. Jam usually is a bit thicker than jelly and seeds and skins sometimes make an appearance. Preserves contain whole fruit chunks. seedless preserves are pressed through a specialized colander and the seeds or pit is extracted. This makes them much thicker, with an even higher fruit content to sugar ratio than jelly or jam.
What is Fruit Wine?
Generally a wine that is fermented from fruits or berries, rather than a typical wine fermented from grapes alone. We do not artificially add artificial colors, or fructose syrup in our fruit wines.
Are your fruit wines sweet?
Our fruit wine is surprisingly not as sweet as a dessert wine, and not dry. People who don’t usually drink or like wines, typically love our fruit wines. It’s just a little less sweet than a Moscato.
How long can I store preserves?
Your fruit preserves can be stored unopened for approximately 2 years in cool dry storage. Once opened, they should be refrigerated and you can expect to enjoy your preserves for 30 - 60 days. They are all natural and will mold if opened for long periods of time. Due to the fact that they use sugar, sometimes preserves will slightly crystalize on top if not used. This is a normal process, and simply needs stirred to reintroduce the crystalized sugars.
Do I need to let my fruit wine breathe?
You do not need to aerate or let them “breathe”, but there’s no harm in doing so. Fruit wines are designed to be enjoyed right out of the bottle, hence the reason we use a twist cap instead of a cork.
What is the calorie count of your Fruit Wine?
Like any wine, the bulk of the calories come from the alcohol content. Our wines are 11-11.5% Alc/Vol and roughly 110 calories per glass.
Why do you use twist caps instead of corks in your wines?
Screw caps eliminate the problem of TCA, or “cork taint” - an occasional chemical issue that affects many corked wines, affecting the smell and flavor. We use screw caps to avoid those issues, and better sustain their true fruit flavors. Fruit wines are also meant to be enjoyed un-aged, therefore ready to drink, and screw-tops make it easier to store and keep fresh longer.
How do I serve Fruit Wines?
Our fruit wines are best serve slightly chilled. (see individual ideal wine temperatures). Served alone or over ice, as the fruity notes in each varietal continue to release as the ice slowly melts. They also mix into any cocktail and mocktail creation. Try experimenting with your favorite base spirits and mixers. For more ideas, see our recipe section!
Share your creations by tagging us in social media @wvfruitandberry
How long can I store Fruit Wines?
Fruit wines are not meant to age as traditional grape wines. Unopened, your fruit wine will last about two years before it begins to lose its full flavor potential. Once opened, keep the bottle refrigerated with the cap tightly closed to preserve quality for approximately 3 to 7 days. Although we recommend enjoying when first opened or within the first three days.
Can I have an allergic reaction to Fruit Wine?
This is a question for your doctor! If you are allergic to any fruits used in our wine, you may have a reaction, so definitely check with your doctor first.
What is the sediment at the bottom of some of the wine bottles?
As with any natural fruit wine, sediment occurs during fermentation, and can sometimes occur after the process has completed. It is essentially fiber and proteins from the fruit itself. It does not affect the flavor of the fruit wine.
Where are your fruits and berries sourced? Are they organic?
Currently we do not use organic fruit or berries. Organic farms still use pesticides. Over 20 chemicals are commonly used in the growing and processing of organic crops approved by the US Organic Standards. And, the actual volume usage of pesticides on organic farms is not recorded by the government. We choose to work with processors whose practices we wholly trust to provide the highest quality ingredients and processing sanitation standards for our fruit wines and fruit preserves to deliver the best quality product to our customers.
Are your Preserves and Fruit wines made at your farm?
We started out as berry growers in 1995 in the Sun Valley area of Clarksburg West Virginia, originally to supply wineries and producers across the state. (for full story, see About Us ). We do not produce our final products on location, and we no longer continue to grow berries as we wouldn’t be able to keep up with supply. We are only a small family business. There are also not enough berry growers in the state to scale the amount we need, especially with the short growing season in the region. However, we are a 100% owned West Virginia company and continue to help bring revenue to, and make a name for, the Mountain State by using as many West Virginia vendors as possible!
Will drinking West Virginia Fruit and Berry® Fruit Wines make me more attractive?
Of Course! Having West Virginia Fruit and Berry products shows you have a Wild & Wonderful spirit, like to break boundaries, take country roads less traveled, and not afraid to try something new.
Who wouldn’t find that sexy?
Q: I received my mail order but have a broken jar/bottle….
Please inspect your order upon reception and contact us immediately if the item is damaged or if you receive the wrong item, so that we can evaluate the issue and make it right.
DO NOT THROW ANYTHING AWAY UNTIL VERIFIED. Broken jars rarely happens, but from time to time the mail man has a bad day and takes out his frustrations on your shipment… Simply take the photos needed (listed on the right) and send to info@wvfruitandberry.com - we will ship you out a replacement instantly (or refund item amount if preferred).
REFUND / REPLACEMENT POLICY
Damages and issues
Please inspect your order upon arrival and contact us immediately if the item is damaged or if you receive the wrong/missing item, so that we can evaluate the issue and make it right.
To ensure food safety, we do not issue returns or exchanges on products purchased online.
Refund/Replacements are only available for items that are damaged during shipping. If this is the case with your order, please note the following:
We have a 5-day replacement policy, which means you have 5 days after proof of delivery of your item to request a replacement.
To be eligible for a replacement, your item must be in the same condition that you received it, in original package/box, with shipping label on original packaging. Please complete the following steps:
Take required photos (listed above refund policy)
Send required photos to info@wvfruitandberry.com and state if you’d prefer a refund of damaged items or an immediate replacement shipment.