Proper Management of Your Texas Wine Cellar is Important

Most wine collectors may have experienced a difficult time finding a specific vintage from their residential wine cellar. If you are looking through each row of your wine racks, and pulling out every bottle to check the labels every time you search for a specific wine, you have an unorganized home wine cellar.

Don’t let your guests wait for a long time while you’re finding a particular vintage. Using the most suitable organization and tracking system for your collection will help you find a specific bottle in your wine racks easily and conveniently.

Wine Cellar Management Software from eSommelier

You want to avoid opening an expensive bottle of wine that is too early to drink or has aged longer than it should have. Drinking wine that has not matured properly will not let you enjoy its desirable flavors and aroma to the fullest extent.

The right wine cellar management software will help you achieve this. Some wine collectors may not see the need for a wine cellar management software until their collection is really out of hand.

Why wait for the time when you get stuck searching through the mess, when you want to drink or serve to your guests? If you have plans of growing your collection in the future, it is recommended that you invest in an inventory system that will save you from that tedious task.

The eSommelier wine inventory system, not only allows you to keep track of the wines you have, where you bought them, their price, vintage or producer; it also allows you to keep track of the wine’s maturation period.

Wine Cellar Specialists, an experienced wine cellar designer and builder in Texas, offers the eSommelier private cellar management system. Their aim is for their clients to manage their collection effectively in a simple way.

The eSommelier Wine Inventory System

The eSommelier wine management system is designed and engineered by Media Access Solutions. It is perfect for wine collectors who have large collections of unusual or rare vintages, and those who want to ensure that wine is consumed at its peak.

The eSommelier wine inventory system has 3 components – the touch screen terminal, wine barcode printer, and bar code scanner. The touch screen monitor is 12½” high, 15½” wide and 2″ deep.

It only takes take 2 minutes to enter new information for of a wine bottle. After entering the necessary information into the system, a customized barcode is printed. This unique barcode is affixed to the bottle.

Easy to Use Barcode Scanner

The barcode scanner allows easy removal of bottles from your home wine cellar. When you grab a bottle of wine from the wine rack, simply run it under the bar code scanner, and that particular wine will be erased from your inventory. You can opt to enter your own tasting notes and score after you mark a bottle as consumed. Very simple!

Software installation can be done in minutes after you receive the kit. You will need a wired or wireless Internet connection to be able to install the software.

Investing in a wine inventory system may not be possible for some because of budget constraints. If budget is a problem, you can still organize your wine cellar by using a logical organization system.

Logical Ways to Organize Your Texas Home Wine Cellar

When budget hinders you from purchasing wine cellar management software, you can create your own organization system such as arranging bottles by region, brand, varietal or price. With dedication and consistency, a system can also help you have easy access to the right wines without having to spend more.

By Region 

If you love to collect wines from different parts of the world, group those that are produced from the same region in one section of your wine racks. The region from where the wine came from has a big influence on the wine’s taste because of the variation in soils and climate. For many wine enthusiasts, the region of origin matters a lot when deciding which wine to pair with a certain dish.

By Brand 

Another way to organize your Texas home wine cellar is storing your wines by brand. This is most useful if you buy wine in bulk. After categorizing your wines by brand, you can break down each brand by vintage, varietal, region and price.

By Varietal 

Separating the red and white wines in wine racks is common for collectors who want to find the perfect vintage to pair with their meal. Others choose to arrange their collection by grape varietal. This way, Chardonnays, Shirazes, Cabernets and other varieties are grouped separately.

By Price 

Less expensive wines are usually meant to be consumed earlier than more expensive ones. By storing vintages with similar price range, you will know which wines are meant for short term storage, and which ones require longer aging periods.

Other Wine Cellar Organization Tips

If you think the two wine cellar organization options mentioned above won’t work for you, there are other simple ways to organize your wine cellar.

You can place the youngest wines at the top of your wine racks, and the older wines at the bottom. You may also choose a section in your storage racks for wines that you drink everyday.

Make sure to place them separately from wines that are expensive and meant for long-term storage. Everyday wines should be stored in accessible areas, such as in an eye-level section of your wine racking, or near your wine cellar door, while those that require aging can be stored higher.

When storing wines in double-deep wine racks, the same bottles should be stacked at the front and back. This way, you won’t need to pull the bottle at the front to know what’s next to it.

For wine collectors who live in earthquake-prone areas, it is best to place expensive wines on the bottom section of your wine racks to prevent the impact that would result from a high fall off the rack.

Invest in an Effective Wine Inventory System and Get the Right Wine from Your Wine Cellar in Seconds

Organizing your wine should be fun. It shouldn’t feel like you’re at work maintaining a spreadsheet (although that would be a very effective way to do it if you had way too much time on your hand.)

If you’re like most of us, without oodles of time, go for eSommelier’s wine cellar management system to ensure effective inventory of your collection and ease of access to your wines.

For more information on this product, call Wine Cellar Specialists today at 866-646-7089. Don’t have a Texas home wine cellar yet? Request a FREE 3D custom wine cellar design  now!

Before buying a new variety of wine to add to your collection, it makes sense to know its characteristics. The main reason you are collecting wine is to consume it after it reaches maturation, thus it is important to have a good bottle in your residential wine cellar.

Knowing something about the history of wine also makes sense. It can be the topic of conversation during wine tasting parties with your friends. Let’s talk about California wine’s history and a specific wine variety that deserves to have a place in your California home wine cellar.

California Wine History

California has been very important in the United States’ wine industry. Considered the world’s 4th largest wine producing region, California produces almost 250 million cases of wine annually. Nearly 20% of the production is exported.

In 1683, the first planting of a vineyard recorded was by Eusebio Francisco Kino, a Jesuit Missionary. The vineyard, which was located at San Bruno was never harvested. Franciscan missionaries planted the first sustained vineyard of California at Mission San Diego.

The missionaries were directed by Father Junípero Serra, who has been known as the “Father of California Wine”. The grape variety he planted became what they call the Mission grape. This variety dominated the wine production in California until about 1880.

Today, there are more than 100 different grape varieties cultivated in California and around 3, 500 wineries. One of the leading varietals is Chardonnay, which can adapt well to different climates and soil types, resulting in a wide range of styles. Chardonnay is popularly known as the “queen of whites” and has become the generic white wine in America.

California Chardonnay – Characteristics

California Chardonnays are categorized based on the region where the grapes are grown such as Napa Valley, North Coast, Carneros and many sub-regions. Different vintners produce different styles within the region.

Old styles of Chardonnay are characterized by vanilla and buttery flavors imparted by aging in oak barrels. Today, many wine companies in California produce Chardonnay wines that exhibit citrus and green apple flavors. Creamy, buttery and fruity Chardonnays are now rare.

Chardonnay’s complexity and distinct taste make it a great choice for casual or fine dining. Just like other wines, Chardonnay develops its complex nuances and rich flavors when aged. It is common for wine collectors in the United States to have California Chardonnay stored in their home wine cellars. Not only is it great tasting, but it can easily be paired with various dishes too. If you want to drink a California Chardonnay, pair it with pasta or seafood.

Some of the Best California Chardonnay Wine Producers

If you’re planning to add Chardonnay to the bottles stored in your wine racks, it is a good idea to buy one from a reputable California winery. This will ensure that you have a good bottle added to your collection.

Stony Hill Vineyards 

The owners of Stony Hill Vineyards are Fred and Eleanor McCrea. They began planting their vineyards with Chardonnay in 1947. Today, their vineyards have 25 acres of Chardonnay, 3 acres of Gewurztraminer, 10 acres of white Riesling and 1 acre of Semillon. Their small winery was completed in 1952.

Stony Hill Chardonnay (2011 vintage) has distinctive notes of apple and citrus. Its crisp acidity gives it the ability to develop richness as it matures. It is ideally aged for more than 5 years. It was fermented for 2 weeks in barrels (5 to 25 years old) and aged in old French oak barrels for 10 months.

Mount Eden Vineyards 

Farming 20 acres of Chardonnay, Mount Eden Vineyards produces 1,200 – 2,000 cases annually. The Estate Chardonnay grapes they harvest are pressed without crushing. They use 1-year old French oak barrels for fermenting all the fruit juice. They release the wine for sale after 2 years of cellaring.

If you are looking for lemon, mineral flavors and hints of hazelnut, Mount Eden Vineyards’ Chardonnay deserves to be stored in your wine cellar. Two to four years of aging is recommended for the wine to release its most desirable characteristics. Many vintages of Mount Eden Estate Chardonnay are enjoyable after 15 years.

Build a Wine Cellar for Your California Chardonnay – Contact Coastal

Coastal – a California Wine Cellar Builder You can Trust

California Chardonnay, the generic white wine of America, is a great addition to your home wine cellar. When aged well in a stable environment, you and your guests will enjoy its crisp, fruity flavor.

Don’t have a wine cellar yet? Contact Wine Cellars by Coastal today at (888) 735-8889. Let them design and install a wine room for your California Chardonnay.

Have you opened a bottle of wine from a cabinet in your kitchen or a box under your sink and found out that its smell is not floral, fruity, or spicy? Have you noticed some discoloration? You should know that these are signs that your wine has a defect and may be undrinkable.

Let us find out the different possible wine defects and learn the ideal wine storage options that will preserve wine’s quality and desirable characteristics.

Oxidized 

When unwanted air mixes with wine, it is subjected to hot temperatures, or is aged too long, oxidation occurs. The original vibrant fruity scents in wine become lifeless or flat, losing their aroma, flavor, and color.

This results in stale, stewed fruit and a burnt marshmallow, sherry, or vinegar-like smell. The moldy smell is caused by the TCA or Trichloroanisole in corked wine due to high level of oxidation.

The insipid taste in oxidized wine is caused by the bacteria that oxygen promotes when it gets into the wine. The alcohol in wine turns into acetic acid, causing unpleasant taste.

The color of an oxidized wine is usually a shade of brown, while other wines look dull. These are the clues that indicate wine defects.

Oxidation can happen prior to or after bottling of wine and even while it is stored at home or in a restaurant. So, next time, you will know when to pour wine down the drain or return it to the restaurant or wine store where you bought it from.

Corked  

The cork of wine bottles functions as a seal to protect wine from being exposed to unwanted oxygen. How can a cork cause wine to spoil? When wine comes in contact with a contaminated cork, it will smell and taste like a wet newspaper, rotten cardboard, or damp cloth, resulting in what they call “corked wine”.

A cork is contaminated when 2, 4, or 6-Trichloroanisole (TCA) is present. This chemical compound is usually formed when the natural fungi that reside in cork come into contact with chlorides.

Chlorides are found in sanitation products used in the winery, such as bleaches. Using infected corks will cause cork taint, a wine defect that destroys the natural aromas and fruitful flavor of wine.

Maderized  

Maderization is a process where wine is heated and oxidized to make it taste like Madeira wine that has a nutty and caramelized character. When talking about wine defects, the term “maderized” refers to the condition of wine exposed to too much heat or very high temperatures (greatly higher than 55 degrees Fahrenheit). This usually happens in wines with low alcohol content.

There will be greater chances that your wine will become maderized when you keep it near a radiator or any heating device in your house. An under-the-stair space where hot water pipes are installed is also a bad storage place for wine.

Too much heat exposure increases the rate of wine’s aging, resulting in spoiled wine. This is why proper wine storage must be practiced to preserve wine the right way.

Ideal Wine Storage Solutions – Wine Cellars and Wine Cabinets

One of the major reasons wine gets spoiled is from storing it in a place where stable temperature and humidity levels are not present. Wine needs to be stored in an environment with temperature ranging from 55-75 degrees Fahrenheit and humidity levels between 50-60 percent.

The two most in-demand and efficient wine storage solutions are custom wine cellars and refrigerated wine cabinets. When choosing between a wine cellar and a wine cabinet, consider the size of your collection, your space, and your budget.

Residential Custom Wine Cellars 

Nowadays, home owners in many parts of the world, including Canada, who have the right budget, invest in a residential wine cellar to keep their finest wines safe from harmful external factors.

Wine cellars are carefully designed and installed to ensure that a climate-controlled environment is provided to your finest wines, especially those intended for long-term aging. Proper room insulation and installation of a vapor barrier are the primary steps to prepare the room for construction.

Blue Grouse Wine Cellars Designs and Installs Custom Wine Cellars in Canada

In Vancouver, Canada, a team of experienced designers and installers, Blue Grouse Wine Cellars, has been building custom wine rooms for many years. With their expertise, any extra room can be converted into a functional resting place for your wines.

For them to achieve the ideal temperatures and humidity levels in their client’s wine cellar, they use efficient wine cellar refrigeration systems suitable for the storage needs and requirements of the collector.

The right wine cellar door material and seal must also be installed. Other things that must be given consideration are the wine rack material and design and wine cellar lighting. All of these can affect the stability of the conditions inside a refrigerated wine cellar.

Building a home wine cellar in Canada may not be affordable to some, but in the long run, you will realize that having one will save you money since it lowers the risk of having a defective wine in you collection.

Below are some photos of high-end wine cellars built by Blue Grouse Wine Cellars:

Wine Cabinets  

If having a wine cellar in your home is not possible due to budget and/or space constraints, you shouldn’t worry because there is another wine storage option that is more affordable – the wine cabinet.

Wine cabinets with a built-in wine cooling system are called refrigerated wine cabinets. Even though it is a budget-savvy option, a refrigerated wine cabinet has the ability to maintain an environment similar to wine cellars.

One of the most popular brands of wine cabinets in Canada is Eurocave. Their sturdy, high capacity and stylish products are being used by Blue Grouse Wine Cellars in many of their wine cellar projects. Learn more about Eurocave wine cabinets by clicking here.

Eurocave Wine Cabinets – a Top Choice of True Connoisseurs

In addition to sturdiness, style, and capacity, other features that you should look for in a wine cabinet include internal lighting, an alarm system, and vibration exclusion. Keep in mind that wine cabinets only accommodate a certain number of bottles, unlike wine cellars that allow your collection to grow in the future.

A collector’s goal is to store his wines in such a way that its desirable characteristics are preserved properly. Storing them in a climate-controlled environment is the key to achieving this. Depending on your needs and budget, make sure that your choice of storage solution can help prevent wine defects.

If you need expert advice in choosing the right wine cabinet to suit your needs, call Blue Grouse Wine Cellars at 1.888.400.CORK (2675) or visit their website at http://bluegrousewinecellars.com/.

A residential custom wine cellar in Los Angeles, California is one of the many wine storage solutions, and the most ideal of them all. A residential custom wine cellar is not only your wine collection’s house, but also its sanctuary. Therefore, it is important that your wine cellar isn’t just beautiful, but also durable and functional.

One of the most important parts of a home wine cellar in Los Angeles, California is the flooring. Wine cellar flooring isn’t just something you step on when you’re inside your storage room. It plays an important role in keeping the temperature and humidity within the cellar at the ideal levels. Wine cellar flooring also contribute to the beauty of your custom wine cellar.

Learn all about custom wine cellar flooring in Los Angeles, California by reading through this page.

Custom Wine Cellar Flooring Weight

Wine cellar flooring should be able to withstand the weight of wine bottles in the wine cellar. Wine cellar bottles can be very heavy, and if your flooring is not durable, it can break, and the temperature and humidity in the cellar will be compromised.

Installation of a Vapor Barrier

A lot of wine collectors choose to have their residential wine cellars in California built in the lower levels of their houses (e.g. the basement), because the temperature in these areas is generally cool and constant. If a wine cellar is built in the lower level of a house, the wine cellar floors are usually installed over concrete. Over time, the material used for the flooring may warp due to the humidity inside the wine storage room. To avoid this, it is imperative that, before the wine cellar flooring is laid down, a vapor barrier is installed.

Never Use Carpet for Custom Wine Cellar Flooring

Never use carpet for your cellar flooring. It is quite humid inside a residential wine cellar in Los Angeles, CA and if carpet is used for the custom wine cellar flooring, mold can grow over time. Moreover, carpets are hard to clean if you do make spills.

Wine Cellar Flooring Materials

There are various materials to choose from for your custom wine cellar flooring in Los Angeles, California. The most common types include wood, mosaic, stone, and reclaimed wine barrels. Each one has beauty to offer. The wine cellar flooring material you choose should match the design of your entire home wine cellar in CA, and should complement the existing décor in your house.

Wine Cellar Designer in California

It is always best to have your custom wine cellar in CA designed and built by a professional. With a professional, you can be sure that your wine storage room will not only look good, but will also be efficient at keeping your wines safe.

Coastal Custom Wine Cellars is one of the best choices for a wine cellar designer in Los Angeles, California. They will take you from the design process up to the completion of your wine storage room. Wine cellars by Coastal are a few of the most beautiful cellars in California. Have your 3D custom wine cellar design made today!

Wine, unlike most beverages, is very sensitive. It can spoil easily if exposed to light or heat. Wine requires specific conditions in order to mature properly. This is why, if you plan to start a wine collection, you need to understand the essentials of wine storage first.

Wine can be stored in a variety of ways. One of the best is through a residential custom wine cellar in Dallas, Texas, with a quality wine cellar refrigeration system installed. In fact, this is the most ideal wine storage solution.

Wine Cellar Spec, a leading wine cellar builder company, designed and built one of the most interesting custom wine cellars in Dallas. This unique wine cellar was built in a home in Frisco, a suburb of Dallas, Texas. Learn more about this home wine cellar by reading through this page.

Home Custom Wine Cellar Wine Racks in Texas by Wine Cellar Spec

In one of the residences in Frisco, Dallas, Texas, Wine Cellar Spec converted a kitchen pantry space under a staircase into a lovely home wine cellar.  The design of this custom wine cellar was made to match the existing home décor and maximize the given space.

For this wine cellar, Wine Cellar Spec used wine racks made from rich Mahogany. In order to accommodate bulk storage, lower double deep solid x bins were designed for the custom wine racks. A wine tasting table top was included too. Since the wine storage room was under a staircase, a full wall of horizontal single deep racks and a waterfall style rack were added, to complement the slanting ceiling.

Lacquers and finishes are important, too, when it comes to wine storage. The wrong type of lacquer or finish can potentially damage your wine collection. In this residential wine cellar project in Dallas, Texas, not only did the wine cellar designer choose a lacquer that would complement the home décor, but also one that was non-aromatic. There are many wooden wine rack finishes that produce an odor that can ruin your wines. It is important to remember that home wine cellars are rooms that are tightly sealed, which means that even the slightest odors can build up after some time. Bad odors can affect not only the aroma, but also the taste of your wines.

Custom Designed Wine Cellar Door

A wine cellar door is another important aspect of a custom wine cellar, because its design and build can affect the consistency of the temperature and humidity inside the storage room. For this home wine cellar in Dallas, Tx, the custom wine cellar door was built with a square top and an arched dual plane glass panel with a wrought iron inset. To match the existing cabinetry and molding style in the client’s home, custom stain was applied and custom made moldings were added.

Home Wine Cellar Refrigeration System

A wine cellar refrigeration unit provided by US Cellar Systems was installed in this wine cellar in Frisco, Dallas, Texas. More specifically, a Rack Mount 2600 was chosen in order to meet the requirements of the wine storage room. Wine cellars in Texas need an efficient wine cellar cooling unit because the temperature and humidity in the state vary a lot throughout the day and through the seasons. A quality wine cellar cooling system can make sure that the ideal temperature and humidity inside the residential wine cellar are kept at constant levels.

Custom wine cellars in Miami, Florida should be designed and built properly, because these are the safe haven for wines. If they are not properly designed or built, your wines may become damaged. Many times, residential wine cellars in Miami, Florida are poorly designed and built because home owners try to utilize the cheapest ways to have them constructed.

The following are the most common mistakes committed when constructing a residential custom wine cellar in Miami, Florida:

1. Poorly Installed Insulation and Vapor Barriers

1. The cooling unit needs to be returned to the manufacturer for service.

   This is can be tedious because you will have to take out the system out of the wall, put it in a box, ship it to the manufacturer and wait for them to return the unit. This is why before you purchase a wine cellar cooling system, check first if the manufacturer is located locally.

2. The unit cannot efficiently cool the air to the ideal range.

   It is imperative that you have a professional calculate the heat load inside your residential wine cellar to make sure that you purchase the appropriate wine cellar cooling unit for your storage room.

3. Having Windows Installed on the Exterior Walls

In the realm of wine collecting, one of the more important things to consider is how to store your wine properly. Wine aging is a delicate and complicated process, thus the proper conditions must be met in order for this to happen without a hitch. In this regard, investing in a good wine cooling system is crucial.

Wine Cooling System – How it Protects Wine

How exactly do wine cellar cooling systems work? A wine cooling system is a device that stabilizes the temperature in Vancouver wine cellars. Temperature should not fluctuate beyond the acceptable range for wine to mature properly before it is served and drank.

The ideal wine storage temperature is 55 degrees Fahrenheit. This can fluctuate, but ideally not more than 2 degrees Fahrenheit.

Aside from regulating the temperature, wine refrigeration systems are designed to help maintain the ideal humidity as well. Humidity levels are important factors that must not be taken for granted.

Low levels of humidity can cause the wine cork to dry up. If the wine seal is compromised, oxygen can seep in and cause the wine to spoil making it undrinkable. If humidity levels are too high, on the other hand, molds can grow in your custom wine room and can damage your wine racks (especially if they are made of wood). The wine labels can deteriorate too if the wine cellar is too damp. The ideal humidity level is between 55%-75%.

What to Consider Before Buying a Wine Cooling System

1. The Capacity of Your Wine Cellar 

First you have to check how many bottles of wine you intend to store and the capacity of the space that will be used to accommodate your collection. Also take note if you’re planning to add more bottles to your collection in the future. The greater the number of your wine bottles, the larger the capacity of the wine refrigeration unit you will need.

2. Location  

If you intend to place your wine cooling system in a very visible area of your house, you might want to consider its look and design. Take a look at the existing aesthetic of your room and choose an appropriate wine cooling system.

You will also need to consider the amount of space it will take up. Make sure it will blend seamlessly with the rest of the room without appearing too chunky or bulky. If your wine cooling system will be located in the garage, then the design might not be that important.

Besides this, you may want to think about the noise level that a wine cooling system will produce. There are types of wine cooling systems that can be quite noisy, while others keep noise at a minimum or non-existent.

3. Specific Temperature Zones 

If you intend to store wine for just a short period of time, single temperature wine cooling units will work best for you. However, if you intend to store wine for a longer time, your best bet is a wine cooling system that allows you to fiddle with its temperature and humidity controls.

4. Budget  

The good news is that there are plenty of wine cooling systems out on the market today, and they are designed to fit the requirements of any budget. While you do not want to spend too much on your wine cooling system, remember that the quality of your wines largely depends on how properly they are stored.

If you scrimp on a wine cooling unit initially, this may end up costing you more in the long run if your precious wine bottles get spoiled. So, never compromise quality over price.

Make sure that your wine collection is safe and protected by having the most suitable Vancouver wine refrigeration system in your wine room. Need help? Contact Blue Grouse Wine Cellars today at 1.888.400.CORK (2675). They will provide you the best wine storage solution because for them, every client deserves nothing but the best.