How Wine Aging Started

 

Are you a fan of wine? Are you unsure of whether or not to invest in a wine cellar? Below we explore the history of aging wine, the vessels used, the chemistry behind aging and why cellaring is important.

Building a Wine Cellar

Whether planning a wine cellar for your home or business, there are important factors to take into consideration. Below we highlight the top ten things to consider when constructing your dream wine cellar.

1. Primary function of your wine cellar: Will your cellar be used primarily for storage or for entertaining? Determining the primary use of your cellar will help you select the design elements that best suit your needs.
2. Cellar location: From basements to pantries to spare closets, wine cellars can be built in almost any space; however, keep in mind that the location you choose will have an impact on the cost of building and maintaining your cellar in the future.

Now that the weather is warming up...

It's time to start planning your next outdoor party. We’ve rounded up some ideas to enhance your entertaining space.

Time to Set the Table

First, create a festive scene. Entertaining accessories such as colorful linens, freshly cut flowers and greenery, plus lighting serve as the perfect setting for a delicious meal, good wine, and scrumptious treats. If you are using a tablecloth, make sure you keep it anchored with tablecloth weights to keep the fabric secured even in breezy weather. When selecting your tableware and glassware, try break resistant options that you can reuse throughout the years. Select sturdy plates that will not shatter if they are accidentally dropped. For outdoor wine glasses, select a shatter proof option such as Epicureanist’s Party Wine Glasses. Made of break resistant plastic, these reusable glasses can stand up to guests who have had more than a few glasses of wine.

On the morning of August 24th, 2014, the most powerful earthquake to hit the San Francisco Bay Area in over two decades struck less than 10 miles south of the city of Napa.

Fortunately, no lives were lost in this devastating earthquake, but the damage to homes, historical buildings, infrastructure, and the area’s world-famous wineries took years to repair. The 2014 harvest had just begun, but with the 2013 vintage still in barrels and many wineries still waiting to release wines from the highly anticipated 2012 vintage, the damage to the wine industry in the Napa and Sonoma valleys could have been crippling. While many wineries did experience quite a bit of loss, it could have been much worse. Even the hardest hit wineries were up and running just a few days later and moving forward with the 2014 harvest.

This earthquake serves as a reminder to those living in earthquake prone areas to earthquake proof every area of their homes including the wine cellar. There are a few steps that can be taken to protect your prized collection in the event that "the big one" hits in your area.

Creating a tasting space in your home can be a daunting task as an area for tasting cannot be distinctly defined or designed.

There are no rules as to what constitutes a room for tasting over another entertaining space, so it is important to think outside of the box and create a room that will suit its intended purpose. Whether you need a multi-functional space or one specifically for wine tasting, Vinotemp has many options to help you design a stunning space.
The key element of any tasting space is a tabletop surface on which to serve. This space will be used to pour wine and gather with friends. Some of our standalone wine storage options are topped with a functional serving table. Another option to consider is a wine credenza. A credenza can store wine and is low enough to serve as a bar or table. If you are looking specifically for a table, Vinotemp can custom build a table and incorporate wine barrel staves (pictured below).

Have you always wanted a custom wine cellar in your home, but are not sure where to put it?

Is space a concern? The good news is that with advances in cooling technology, a wine cellar can be built into nearly any available space. Maybe you have a basement or empty bedroom that can be converted into a large cellar or perhaps you have a considerably smaller available space such as a closet or nook. Any of these may be a viable option for building a wine cellar that will suit your collection. Today we are outlining important factors to consider when selecting your cellar’s location.

Wine can be very fragile. If you are currently storing your wine in a standard food refrigerator, it is vulnerable to the smells of any leftovers or open food. Even if you are storing your wine in a closet, pantry, or cupboard, the environment may be too warm and dry to properly age wine. A wine fridge can provide the ideal setting for storing your collection. Today we are rounding up some of our favorite and best reviewed wine refrigerators.

 

At nearly six inches wide, Vinotemp's 7-Bottle Wine Refrigerators are tiny but mighty. Despite their size, they still feature many of the same features as larger models including digital controllers, sturdy wire racking interior light, and a powerful compressor cooling system that will keep your wine at the proper storage temperature. This model is designed with front exhaust which allows it to be installed under counter. Available with a black, mirrored, or stainless-steel finish, it is perfect for the small space dweller with a love for wine.

It is February and many of us are getting ready to celebrate Valentine’s Day. While the children will distribute cards and treats to their class mates, us wine drinkers are imagining a nice dinner with a glass of wine. If you and your valentine are wine lovers, consider adding an aerator to your arsenal of tools to enhance the overall wine drinking experience.  Sleek and compact, our aerators also make the perfect gift.

Looking for the perfect gift for a host/hostess or wine lover? Below we’ve curated a handy gift guide to help you cross some people off your list. You may be tempted to buy some of these for yourself.