Wine Cellars

This page provides information about various types of wine cellars, wine racks and other wine storage units that you can use in your home. I have not included anything about decanters.

When I open a bottle of wine, it never gets a chance to be decanted. In my opinion, there's only one reason for opening the bottle - to drink what's in it.

A room for wine storage will add value as a desirable amenity in your house. While the primary intent of building a custom wine cellar should be for your private enjoyment while you reside in the home, it also increases the house's resale value.

Custom wine cellars, wine refrigerators and wine cabinets are among the most trendy additions and 'must haves' for luxury homes. They are particularly appreciated in large homes situated in upscale neighborhoods.

Wine is a favorite subject of mine. I first tasted wine when I was 2 years old. My grandparents put a finger into a glass and then matched it with Ginger Ale. Thankfully, they didn't do the same thing with Espresso.

This trend continued, and on my 55th birthday my daughter's boyfriend gave me a present - a sweatshirt that read "Old Wino". I explained to him that what I drank was healthier than what he drank (Coca Cola), but I don't think he was listening.

I wear the sweatshirt often. I can't see a problem with being old, or with liking wine. And it's a good conversation starter.

In 2003, my wife and I moved to the North Fork of Long Island. Our house is within a 20 minute drive of not-less-than 30 wineries.

The vineyards used to be potatoe farms, but about 40 years ago a couple of these hard-working (but struggling) residents decided to try grapes. And the rest (as they say) is history. But I digress.

The phrase "wine cellars" can be confusing because it is used to describe more than one thing. Some manufacturers of wine-chilling refrigerators use it to name their products. Most of us think of a room in the home used for wine storage. This latter description is what we will deal with here.

If you enjoy collecting wines, you have probably thought about an appropriate place for a wine cellar in your home. However, there are many aspects to creating the proper environment for wine, and many components you can use to make your wine cellar work for you.

Here is a page that will help you "do it right". building a wine cellar.

The most common component in most wine storage rooms is wooden wine racks. There are many shapes and sizes.

Another common feature is the wine coolers. Cost is usually related to size.

Tips About Buying Wine:

1) If you find a winery that has wine you enjoy, you should probably stick with it. There are three people who are critical to making good wine - the person who tastes the grapes and decides when they come off the vines; the person who tastes the wine in the barrel and decides when it should go into the bottle; and the person who mixes (blends) the wine. If these three people know what they're doing, the wine from that winery will be consistently good.

2) There are 3 ways to buy wine: through clubs; from a store; and from a winery. Going to a winery or two is a very pleasant way to spend an afternoon.

Many of them have live music on weekends. I can't think of too many things I'd rather do than sit on a porch with a glass of wine, overlooking a vineyard and listening to live folk music.

However, if you go there for a tasting, and then decide to buy a few bottles, you will eventually find out that the wineries charge more for their wine than the local liquor store. By the way, you should have a designated driver when you do this.

So does that mean that you should buy from a liquor store? It depends on the selection. You need to find a retailer with a variety of wines from all over the world, and in all price ranges. If you're not close to a good wine store, join a club.

Wine clubs can provide excellent value for selected wines. The negative is that they keep presenting different wineries and it's almost impossible to re-order a wine you already know.

They are a good way to try several wines from various locations, in many price ranges. They also help you determine which wineries you prefer. Here are a few recommended California wine clubs.

So what's the best course of action? When I was going through this, my conclusion was that you should have both a club and a store to buy from.

Make notes about the wines you like, and the foods you like them with. Eventually, you will have a list of "favorites" you can stick to. That's when you can start buying by the case, and needing a space for wine storage.

If space is an issue, look at under stairs wine cellars.

Here's how to find out how we will help you design and build a wine cellar that fits your budget wine rack plans.

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Don't hesitate to contact me if you have questions about wine cellars by clicking here.

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