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How to Entertain in 2020

8/31/2020 10:42 AM

The safest way to serve your guests while following socially distanced guidelines is to offer individual servings of food and drinks and move the celebration outside.

Taking the proper steps will ensure your guests are comfortable while still providing a delicious feast. Luckily, Vinotemp’s online catalog is full of accessories to help you keep everyone safe while also creating an appealing spread.

Add a mini-cheese board to each table and load it with a selection of delicious cheese, crackers, fruit, and meat. Wine Bottle Cheese Board and Knife, $19.95

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entertaining

Comments | Posted By Desiree David

Celebrate the End of Summer with These Wines

8/31/2020 10:14 AM

Summer is quickly wrapping up, and before we know it, it will be time to plan Halloween festivities.

Take advantage of the last few moments of warm weather and outdoor picnics by adding a few glasses of wine to elevate your mood. Below we round up our top five wines to toast to the end of summer.

Image source: pexels.com

Pool Boy Rose’ – A good rose’ has become synonymous with summer drinks. Pool Boy Rose’ is no exception. Open this bottle when you are in the mood for berries with a hint of citrus. Part of the charm of Pool Boy Rose’ is its plastic bottle and twisty top. The packaging makes it easy to transport, and you don’t have to worry about shattering glass when you’ve had a few too many drinks.

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summer wine

Comments | Posted By Desiree David

How Best to Age Your Wine

8/31/2020 9:45 AM

Most of the wine sold in stores today is not meant to be aged and must be consumed within a year or two after purchase.

Even so, it is important to keep those bottles appropriately stored to ensure that when the wine is finally uncorked, it tastes its best. Now, for the 1% of wine that is meant to be cellared long term, proper storage conditions are even more critical. Wines designed to be cellared for 10, 15, or 20 years are considered an investment and should be treated with care. Here is an essential guide with tips and tricks for aging wine.

Custom Understair Glass Wine Cellar with Modular and Peg Racking by Vinotemp

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age wine

Comments | Posted By Desiree David

Should I Refrigerate Wine?

7/23/2020 11:18 AM

Wine ages best when it has been stored in a cool and humid environment where it can be sheltered from sunlight and vibration.

The best environment for wine is a wine cave or wine cellar. Since most wine lovers do not have the budget or enough wine to fill a wine cellar, what are the alternatives for storing wine? Can you simply place your wine inside a refrigerator?

Vinotemp 15-inch Panel-Ready Wine Cooler

Storing Wine in the Fridge

The kitchen refrigerator is far too cold and dry for long term wine storage. The ideal temperature for wine is 55◦F with a relative humidity of 70%. A standard refrigerator where you store your milk and eggs is normally set for 38-40◦F with no humidity. When wine is in an environment that is too cold it can begin to crystalize. When it is too dry, the corks begin to dry out and contract, allowing for oxidization.

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wine storage

Comments | Posted By Desiree David

What is the Best Way to Store Wine?

7/23/2020 11:06 AM

Has your wine been tasting flat, or even worse, more like vinegar?

Has your wine been tasting flat, or even worse, more like vinegar? Wine is a delicate substance that requires specific conditions to ensure it tastes its best. If your wine is tasting off, it is probably because you are not storing it correctly. Here we will discuss some surefire ways to create perfect wine storage.

Wine caves have long been thought to be a perfect place for long term wine storage. This is because they are naturally dark, cool, and humid spaces where wine can rest undisturbed for many years. Being below the ground, they are taking up little surface area. They are also protecting wine from natural disasters such as a fire. Wine caves are believed to be an eco-friendly solution since the cave relies on the naturally occurring environment rather than a cooling system that requires electricity. Since most wine lovers have space for a traditional wine cave, it is time to get creative and think about some alternatives.

Vinotemp VinCave 450-Bottle In-Ground Wine Cellar

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wine storage

Comments | Posted By Desiree David

Can Wine Be Stored at Room Temperature?

7/23/2020 10:31 AM

Creating the best storage environment for your wine is the first step towards protecting your collection.

If you have been doing your research on proper wine storage, you know that wine is a delicate substance that needs a cool consistent temperature, proper humidity, darkness, and stillness to properly age. In other words, you want to designate a space for wine that closely mimics a wine cave. Can wine be stored at room temperature? It depends on a few factors.

Ideal wine storage conditions are specific. Wine can safely be stored between 40 to 65◦F, with 55◦F being the ideal temperature. Large daily temperature swings greater than 1-3 degrees should be avoided as they can ruin your wine. The room should have a relative humidity around 70% which will keep the corks moist, therefore maintaining a tight seal and preventing oxidization. Wine should sit relatively still as it ages. When wine is moved, it can kick up the sediment inside the bottle which will affect the taste of the wine. UV rays and harsh light are wine’s enemies. White wines in particular are most susceptible to becoming “lightstruck”. When a wine has become “lightstruck” it will have an undesirable odor and smell.

Vinotemp Modular Stainless Understairs Wine Cabinet

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wine storage

Comments | Posted By Desiree David

How Long Can I Store Wine?

7/21/2020 11:10 AM

When you age wine, you place it inside a dark, cool, and damp space, where it can rest undisturbed for many years.

The bottle should rest horizontally so that the wine is always wetting the cork. During this time, the wine improves, developing flavors, textures, and aromas it would not have had if it had been uncorked shortly after purchase. Cellaring wine is a sophisticated practice with a long history, one that is as enjoyable as drinking the wine itself. That being said, should every wine that enters your home be cellared?

Vinotemp Wine Cellar with Cable Racking

How long you store your wine largely depends on whether or not it was meant to be cellared in the first place. Only 1% of the wine in the modern wine market is meant to be cellared or aged. There is the thirty dollar rule that says that if the wine is less than thirty dollars it should be consumed shortly after purchase. The wine above thirty dollars should be consumed within 5 years of purchase. This does not mean that you should place cheaper bottles of wine on top of your refrigerator and forget about it. Even cheap wine benefits from proper storage, you just do not have to be as patient about waiting to uncork it.

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wine storage

Comments | Posted By Desiree David

Where Should I Place My Freestanding Wine Fridge?

7/14/2020 2:44 PM

If you have collected enough wine to invest in a wine refrigerator, you may have a few key questions before you spend money. First, what is the best wine fridge for you? Second, where in your home should it be installed?

The best wine fridge will help your wine collection age gracefully. Wine is delicate by nature and requires a specific environment to ensure it does not spoil. Wine is light averse and requires a dark space. Wine should not be subject to unwanted movement as too much movement or vibration can loosen any sediment and will negatively affect the taste. The temperature should be kept cool (around 55◦F for long-term storage) and consistent. A space that is too warm or subject to temperature swings will essentially cook the wine. Too cool and it will freeze. While a wine cellar is certainly the ideal place for wine, it is out of budget for most people. A wine cooler is a worthy and cost-effective alternative.

The market for wine refrigerators is filled with a wide selection of different units of varying styles, sizes, shapes, and quality. You will soon learn that in addition to selecting between stainless and black trim, you will have to decide if you would like a unit with front or rear exhaust. What is the difference between the two and why does it matter?

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Comments | Posted By Desiree David

How Tall is a Wine Fridge?

7/14/2020 2:17 PM

If you are on the hunt for the best wine fridge to match your storage needs, it is very important to select a size that works well within your space.

While height is certainly important, you should also pick a wine refrigerator that will match other criteria including your budget, space constraints, and style. Below we will discuss what to consider before you purchase, finding the best size wine cooler for you, as well as other features to look for when shopping.

Vinotemp 300 Bottle Dual-Zone Wine Cooler

What Size Wine Fridge Do I Need?

Before purchasing a wine chiller, there are important factors to consider. The number of bottles you currently own plus your purchase and drinking habits will affect how much wine your fridge will have to store. Next, analyze the space where you will install your new wine cooler. Will you be installing your wine fridge into a kitchen island? Are you looking for a tall refrigerated wine cabinet that will blend into existing cabinetry? Or would you like a counter height wine cooler that will fit seamlessly with your home bar or kitchen? Wherever the location, there is surely a wine fridge that will complement the space. Lastly, determine a budget. While wine coolers are much more cost effective than a traditional wine cellar, there are some cost considerations that may determine the size of cooler you are able to afford.

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Comments | Posted By Desiree David

Can You Put a Wine Refrigerator on Carpet?

7/13/2020 1:31 PM

Installation, location, and maintenance are crucial to extending the life of your wine fridge.

Not only will these three factors help your wine cooler last for many years, but it will help to prevent any unwanted temperature problems. Today we are talking about all three of these important points plus whether or not you should place your wine cooler on the carpet.

Vinotemp’s Private Reserve Series 41-Bottle Backlit Panel Commercial 54 Single-Zone Wine Cooler

Where Should I Put My Wine Fridge?

There are a few things to consider when picking the best location for your wine cooler.

Pick a spot that is level.

Wine refrigerators are made for flat surfaces. Avoid any place where your floor may slope up or down, in other words, the spot should be as level as possible. This will prevent your wine cooler from accidentally toppling over.

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Comments | Posted By Desiree David