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Home Bar Snacks

8/20/2019 10:51 AM

Delicious Snacks to Pair with a Well-Stocked Home Bar

Whether gathering snacks for your next Netflix binge, super bowl viewing, or tasting party, today we are rounding up our favorite finger foods to serve guests. We are dividing each menu by drink of choice so you can have delicious treats on hand that will have everyone salivating.

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Comments | Posted By Desiree David

Build Wine Knowledge

7/25/2019 11:23 AM

Fun Beginner Friendly Ways to Build Your Wine Knowledge

Even the most knowledgeable sommeliers had to start somewhere on their wine journey. While breaking into the wine scene may feel intimidating, it does not have to be. Below we discuss how to become well versed in all things wine, all while enjoying yourself.

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Read and Research

Your desire to learn more about wine is as limitless as your imagination. There are many books on the topic as well as apps you can download to your smart phone. Before uncorking a bottle, try using an app to scan its barcode and learn more about its origin. Visit your local library (or your favorite search engine) and start reading about the different wine regions around the world. Look up the history of wine and explore how it was stored and shared over hundreds of years. You have the potential to become your friends’ and family’s own local wine expert.

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wine knowledge

Comments | Posted By Desiree David

Storing Larger Format Bottles

7/25/2019 10:37 AM

How to Store Large Format Wine Bottles

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Solomon, Nebuchadnezzar, Jeroboam, Magnum, Imperial --- large format wine bottles have intimidating names to match their size. Large format bottles have become increasingly popular over the years for a number of reasons. The bottles are made from a thicker glass, protecting its contents from light, temperature fluctuations, and vibrations. The more wine housed in a bottle, the smaller the surface area to the cork. This means wine will age more slowly and gracefully. Large format bottles are also a smart investment as large bottles are produced in smaller amounts and at a higher price point. Their rarity means their value will appreciate.

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wine storage

Comments | Posted By Desiree David

Beginner Wine Tips and Tricks

7/25/2019 9:54 AM

Wine for Beginners: Bring Out the Best in Every Bottle with These Tips

Nearly all wines will taste better if effort is made to serve them properly. Whether you are uncorking a bottle of red or white wine, there are a few tricks to keep in mind to ensure you are bringing out each wine’s full potential. Follow these simple hacks and impress your guests.

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Temperature Matters

Prep for a party by ensuring your wine is brought to the proper serving temperature. If you do not own a wine cellar or wine refrigerator, this may require placing your wine inside the fridge for about an hour to allow the wine to cool. If you are bringing your wine to a party, you can keep it cool during travel by using a bottle chilling wrap. You will also want to have a thermometer on hand to check the temperature of the bottle.

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Comments | Posted By Desiree David

How Much Wine Should I Serve at My Wedding or Large Event?

7/3/2019 1:01 PM

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Wedding season is in full swing and some of you may be planning your big day.

If you are not planning a wedding, you may be prepping for your own special occasion, like a graduation party or charity event. While it is easy to estimate how much food each guest will consume, it’s trickier trying to plan how much wine. Additionally, if your event is being catered by the venue or an outside party, their wine selection may not meet your taste and you may be thinking of bringing in your own drinks. We will explore how much wine to buy for larger celebrations, ideas for serving, and the glasses.

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Comments | Posted By Desiree David

Wine Cellar Flooring Guide

6/5/2019 10:36 AM

Reclaimed Wine Barrel Floor in a Vinotemp Cellar

The floor of your cellar is just as important as the storage options in your wine room.

Not only does the floor add overall style, it provides insulation. Today we are discussing cellar flooring options as well as a brief introduction to the basics of cellar flooring. Combined with the help of a Vinotemp expert, you will be able to make an informed decision when selecting materials for your wine cellar floor.

Flooring Basics

Keep these important elements in mind when shopping for flooring:

1. Weight: Since 500 wine bottles can weigh up to 1 ton, it is critical that you select a material that will not buckle under substantial weight. If you are building your cellar over another floor, weight becomes an even greater factor; you do not want your flooring to crack and cause structural issues.

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Comments | Posted By Desiree David

CAD Design

6/5/2019 9:52 AM

Custom Glass Wine Cellar 3D CAD Design by Vinotemp

Vinotemp has worked with homeowners, designers, and builders all over the world to provide beautiful, functional, and one-of-a-kind wine cellars for our clients.

Many of these projects begin in our CAD department where we create 2D and 3D renderings of our customers’ future wine cellars or cabinets. From small lower-capacity cellars to larger multi-room cellars, each CAD drawing includes full capacity and dimension data. Larger cellars can benefit by seeing the design from a 3D perspective.

Prior to contacting us for a design and custom quote, we ask that you have the following information ready:

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Comments | Posted By Desiree David

Father’s Day Gift Guide

5/24/2019 1:34 PM

Father’s Day is just a few weeks away.

If dad is a fan of spirits, wine, and entertaining, we have curated gift ideas he is sure to love. Check out our shopping guide below.

Epicureanist’s Helix Whiskey Glasses, $21.95
Featuring a patented design, each glass spins and aerates the whiskey for you. Aerating the whiskey helps to unlock its unique flavors.

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Comments | Posted By Desiree David

Charcuterie Board Inspiration

5/24/2019 12:09 PM

Spring and summer weather create the perfect setting for outdoor entertaining.

Pair a delicious charcuterie board with some wine for an easy to prepare menu your guests are sure to enjoy. Your cheese board may serve as a light meal or as the appetizer. Below we are giving you a cheat sheet with tips on what to include, how to assemble, a sample menu, and some of our favorite cheese boards.

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Staples of a charcuterie board include:

• Bread or crackers in a range of textures from crunchy to crisp
• Cured meats (appetizer portion: 2-4 oz/light meal portion: 5-6 oz) – salami, prosciutto, chicken liver mousse, pork rillette, and soppressata are good options
• Cheese – brie, burrata, mozzarella, Parmigiano-Reggiano, sharp cheddar, goat cheese, and pepper jack are popular choices
• Olives, pickles, artichokes
• Nuts – almonds, cashews, pistachios, etc
• Dried or fresh fruit and vegetables
• Jelly, jam, and/or honey
• Dips/sauces like hummus, olive oil, etc.

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Comments | Posted By Desiree David

Wine Cellar Spring Cleaning

5/23/2019 12:45 PM

Now is the perfect time to make it a new goal to dive deep into your wine cellar and make it more efficient than ever.

We have created a checklist for you to not only clean up, maintain, and update your cellar, but to also learn more about wine and share that knowledge with others. The goal is not to overwhelm yourself, but instead set your wine cellar up for success so that you may enjoy every drop of wine to its fullest.

Clean Your Cellar

1. It is important to maintain order in your cellar by making sure bottles stay organized.
2. Know what bottles you have. This will make it easier to plan what you want to drink and what you need or don’t need to buy.
3. Physically investigate your collection. It is important to check your stored bottles for leaks or damages to the corks to ensure they are aging properly and that the quality of the wine is not compromised.
4. Dispose of expired or damaged wine. Most wines have a window of time in which they should be consumed. Whether you drink it, share it, or gift it, make sure that someone is enjoying the wine at its peak, or at least before its aromas and bouquets start to decline.

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Comments | Posted By Desiree David