Chicago Wine Cellars Benefit Well From Quality Wine Cellar Cooling Units

Written by CustomWineCellarsChicago

Wine cellar refrigeration systems in Chicago are an essential aspect of wine storage. Wine cellar cooling units help make sure that the temperature and humidity in your residential wine cellar in Chicago are kept at the ideal ranges. Wines cannot mature well if they aren’t kept in the ideal temperature and humidity ranges.

Residential Wine Cellar Project in Long Grove, Chicago, Illinois

A beautifully designed wine cellar in Chicago by Baroque Designs LCC is an example of a wine storage room that can provide the ideal conditions for wines.
This residential wine cellar is built in a home in Long Grove, Chicago, and can accommodate more than 1000 wine bottles.
Wines can be stored in many different ways, but when it comes to huge wine collections, custom wine cellars are the best place to keep them. The huge home wine cellar was built in a renovated billiard table room that is 15 x 17 feet.

Custom Wine Cellar Chicago – Unique Design

The residential wine cellar in Chicago was uniquely designed and built by Baroque Designs LCC. The wine cellar had a classic feel with a medieval design. The stonework was done in the wine storage room up to the 10’ ceiling. The wine racks were handmade from reclaimed barn wood, which was obtained from their local supplier. Four niches that were 2’ high and 6” deep in the corners of the wine racks were included, to showcase magnums. The wine racking was made to accommodate individual storage and a diamond bin was included for bulk storage.

Wine cellar doors are also an important part of custom wine cellars because how they are built may affect the temperature and humidity conditions inside the wine storage rooms. A purpose-built wine cellar door imported from Europe was installed in this beautiful home wine cellar in Chicago, Illinois.

A classic design wine tasting room is another beautiful feature of this Chicago residential wine cellar. The tasting room has a table and a few chairs. A reclaimed wine barrel head from Sonoma Valley in California was used as décor in this tasting room. The barrel head had the client’s name customized on it.

Wine Cellar Refrigeration System Chicago – Effectively Installed

Every home wine cellar in Chicago needs a wine cellar refrigeration unit to help make sure that the temperature and humidity are kept at the ideal levels. Wines will get damaged if there are constant fluctuations in these levels.

For this wine cellar project in Long Grove, Chicago, Illinois, US Cellar Systems provided an effective wine cellar refrigeration unit and had a licensed HVAC technician install the unit. The unit was a 300 cubic feet capacity Ductless Split Type Cooling unit.

Chicago Wine Cellars – Reading & Understanding Wine Labels

Written by CustomWineCellarsChicago

Drinking wine is a common part of social activities, especially for wine enthusiasts. No dinner or party is complete without a glass or two of wine to complement the food and lively conversation.

For wine lovers and collectors, it is essential to understand not just the taste and flavor of the wine, but also its producers and the region where it came from. It is interesting to note the kinds of wines that collectors have in their wine cabinets, wine racks, or wine cellars.

A basic lesson in wine is reading the wine bottle label. By reading the wine label, one will find a lot of information on the wine he is about to add to or pick from his Chicago custom wine cellar.

For those who don’t have a home wine cellar, it is easy enough to get table wines from wine stores, but it is important to have a basic understanding of the wine labels just in case the wine clerk is not adept to answer your queries.

You will also be assured of the quality of the wine you are buying as certain features are written on the label. A collector’s wine bottles in his residential wine cellar are a pure joy to show off to friends and acquaintances, especially if one knows how to read or what to look for in wine labels. This is probably the true test of one’s knowledge of wines.

Buy Quality Wines for Your Chicago Wine Cellar – Learn How to Read a Wine Label

There are five basic elements written on wine labels. These are the vineyard, vintage, appellation, bottling, and alcohol content.

Vineyard
The vineyard is where the wine is produced. The name of the vineyard tells the buyer its reputation. Sometimes for wine collectors, the name of the vineyard is enough motivation to buy or collect a particular wine bottle.

Vintage
The vintage is the year the grapes were produced and not the year the wine was bottled. Looking at the year together with the appellation and vineyard or producer will tell the collector if the wine is good to be aged for years or not. However, in most commercial wine cellars or wine stores, wines are ready to be consumed and not aged too long as this may affect the quality of the wine.

Appellation
Wineries in certain regions possess qualities that dictate the kinds of grapes that will be produced. Grapes grown and harvested in Napa Valley are different from the grapes grown in other areas.

In most wine-producing countries, vineyards are bound by government laws in the usage of the grapes used in the wines they produce. For example, if 95% is required by law, it means that 95% of the grapes used must be produced in the vineyard indicated on the label and the remaining 5% can come from other areas or regions.

To indicate good wine made from high-quality grapes, it is important to look for these phrases on the wine label:
France: Appellation d’Origine Controlee (AOC)
Italy: Denominazione di Origine Controllata e Garantita (DOCG) or Denominazione di Origine Controllata (DOC).
Portugal: Denominacao de Origem Controlada (DOC) or Indicacao de Proviniencia Regulamentada (IPR)
Spain: Denominacion de Origen Calificada (DOC) or Denominacion de Origen (DO)

Other wines have these on the label:
Grands Cru or Premiers Cru means the wine is produced in a high-quality vineyard from a region in France
Gran Reserva means that the wine is bottled for 5 years
Mis en Bouteille au chateau / Domaine / a la propriete / Gutsabfüllung (estate bottled) means that the wine is bottled by the producers themselves and not by a different entity.
Vieilles Vignes (old vines) means that the wines used are harvested from the vineyard with old vines, usually more than 40 years old in existence. These old vines produce grapes with richer flavors but in lower quantities.

Bottling
Details on the bottling of the wine are crucial. Usually, good wines are those with grapes grown and harvested by a reputable vineyard and bottled by the same producers. Some vineyards have others bottle their produced wine and this must be indicated on the label.

Alcohol content
The alcohol content is the amount of alcohol contained in the wine. It also indicates the body and sweetness of the wine. Wines with an alcohol content of 14% and above are more full-bodied and tannic. Wines with an alcohol content of 11% or below are sweeter and lighter. This information can also be used by wine drinkers to know how much alcohol enters their system.

To be familiar with the appellations and vineyards, wine enthusiasts must educate themselves by reading books and other materials about them. One can then take a trip to the nearest wine store to test his knowledge of reading wine labels as this is crucial in obtaining quality wines for your Chicago custom wine cellar.

Chicago Wine Cellars – Guide to Hosting Wine Tasting Parties

Written by CustomWineCellarsChicago

Wine tasting parties are often engaged by enthusiasts and collectors to enhance and explore their experience and knowledge about wines and sometimes even to “show off” and display their collection in their wine cellars and wine storage cabinets.

Hosting a wine-tasting party need not be a chore or a burden. It could be (or should be) a fun and exciting activity. A wine-tasting party is similar to a book club where participants discuss the merits of a book and express their thoughts about what they read while also being open to other participants’ views and opinions. Below are some tips to guide you in hosting wine-tasting parties in your Chicago home wine cellar.

Wine tasting is best done with people who are not necessarily your good friends, but with people you are comfortable with and who share the same interest and appreciation of wines. When done at home, it is a good opportunity to display one’s collection in his or her Chicago custom wine cellar to fellow enthusiasts and share information.

Wine Tasting Parties in Chicago Home Wine Cellars – Tips to Follow

It is important for the host to determine what kind of wine tasting party he or she wants to give. Is it formal with rating and scorecards? Or is it informal where tasters can express their opinions and views freely?

Scorecards should indicate what tasters are focusing on, otherwise, guests can be given blank index cards to encourage them to take notes and thoughts to be shared with the group.

Is it a round table kind of wine tasting where guests are seated while discussing the merits of the wine? Or is it a free-flowing party where participants freely roam around and assess the wines and at the same time discuss the paintings on the walls and the wines in the host’s Chicago home wine cellar?

For the number of participants, 8-12 is a good number since the size is neither too small nor too big that one hesitates to share his views. It is also important to determine the number of wines to be tasted and whether it is a blind tasting or not.

Usually, 6 kinds of wine are used in wine tasting. Each person is served approximately 2 ounces of wine. Blind tasting occurs when the host decides to cover the label of the wine bottle with a brown bag and discuss its characteristics and merits.

It is not necessary for the host to prepare a full course meal to cap off the wine tasting. Finger foods can be served and shared after the wine tasting so as prolong the enjoyment of the party with fellow enthusiasts. During the tasting itself, bland or neutral tasting biscuits or bread can be served to cleanse the palette in between wines. Servings of light cheese will also do the trick.

The host must also prepare enough wine glasses for the guests. Each wine can be poured into one glass to be discarded right after, or a bucket with water for rinsing can be prepared for cleansing in between wines to avoid contamination of flavors. Guests are advised not to wear too much perfume which could distract wine tasters from smelling the real aroma of the liquid.

No matter how the host wants to stage his wine tasting party, what’s important is the sharing of ideas and thoughts with people with which one shares an interest and appreciation. Wine tasting parties are different and unique activities meant to be learned from, enjoyed, and enhance one’s experience.

Chicago Wine Cellars – Wine Barrel vs. Cork Cellar Flooring

Written by CustomWineCellarsChicago

Wine cellar flooring is an important aspect of a Chicago wine cellar design. It can greatly enhance the overall décor and ambiance of a wine storage room.

Wine cellar flooring comes from different materials such as wood, stone, tile, cork, and reclaimed wine barrels. The only flooring material that is not ideal for wine cellars is carpet. The cool environment of the storage space can promote mold growth in carpet fibers.

When deciding on the material for your wine cellar flooring, keep in mind that it should be strong enough to hold the total weight load of wine bottles and wine storage racks. Although there are many flooring options available for Chicago custom wine cellars, two stand out among the rest – wine barrel flooring and cork flooring. It is because these flooring options are not only attractive but also eco-friendly!

Two Types of Chicago Wine Cellar Flooring

Wine Barrel Flooring

Wine barrel flooring comes from reclaimed oak wine barrels. Oak wine barrels typically have a life span of about ten years. After these wooden containers have fulfilled their purpose, they are dumped in landfills, sold as firewood, or used as planters. However, a creative and environmentally friendly solution turned these seemingly useless old wine barrels into unique flooring materials.

Reclaimed wine barrel flooring has exceptional features and characteristics that create a one-of-a-kind appearance in any wine storage room. Each component is unique and incomparable to anything else in the world.

Wine barrel flooring brings in an old-world vibe and provides an elegant touch to your wine cellar. There are three kinds of wine barrel flooring: stave, wine infusion, and cooperage.
Stave flooring is manufactured from the outer part of the wine barrel. It has beautiful distinctive markings that come from removed metal hoops.

Infusion wine cellar flooring is produced from the inner part of the barrel. This wood retains the natural color of the wine which provides it with various shades of red burgundy to white.

Cooperage wood flooring is the top and bottom part of the barrel. It prominently displays winery brandings and markings.

Cork Flooring

Aside from sealing wine bottles, cork can also be used as a flooring material for residential custom wine cellars. This material is produced from the bark of cork oak. Like reclaimed wine barrels, cork flooring is regarded as an eco-friendly product because of its recycling and sustainability features.

There are benefits to using cork flooring for your Chicago wine storage room. For starters, cork has natural properties that make it highly resistant to mold infestation and less prone to decay. Cork has an excellent cell structure that makes it act like a natural shock absorber. Another benefit to cork flooring is that it has natural insulation, as well as sound-absorbing properties.

Cork flooring is a lightweight material that is durable and affordable. It is available in different colors and patterns that can match any décor. Cork wine cellar flooring provides ease of installation and maintenance.

Wine barrels and cork are the material of choice for eco-minded wine collectors. These flooring products have a lot to offer in terms of beauty and functionality, not to mention contributing to the betterment of the environment.

Wine Storage – Home Wine Cellars and Commercial Wine Cellars

Written by CustomWineCellarsChicago

There are different ways of storing your wine collection, but if you are a serious wine collector, a wine cellar is an ideal place to keep your vintages. A wine cellar is equipped with a wine cooling system that controls the climate of your storage room. Wine cellars can provide the most conducive environment, where the taste and flavor of your wines are preserved and enhanced over time.

There are advantages to building a wine cellar in your own home. To start with, it offers convenience. Having a well-stocked wine cellar at your disposal means being able to pair your meals with one of your fine wines at any given time, and no more last-minute stops to the liquor store when you have guests to entertain.

Storing your wines in a home wine cellar can also increase their value, should you decide to sell your collection down the line. The climate-controlled environment of a wine cellar helps keep the quality of your wines intact, and the wine labels in pristine condition.

Custom Wine Cellars Chicago – Under-the-Stairs

The interest in incorporating home wine cellars into the architectural design of a home is gradually increasing as more and more people engage in wine collecting. Home wine cellars add value to the home – in the monetary and aesthetic sense. They are also a great place to entertain guests and show off your wine collection. A home wine cellar is not only a safe haven for your wine collection, it is also a reflection of yourself.

Basement wine cellars and spiral wine cellars are two common types of home wine cellars. Basement wine cellars, as the name implies, are located in the basement of your home. Installing a cooling unit and keeping the walls, doors, and ceilings well-insulated should help maintain the ideal environment for storing and aging your wines.

If space is limited and you are on a tight budget, a spiral wine cellar is an answer to your storage woes. Spiral wine cellars are cylindrical structures that are installed into an opening. This type of home wine cellar can be submerged in any part of your household – the kitchen, dining area, or even the garage.

Home wine cellars are usually built by private individuals who embark on collecting wines for personal enjoyment and as a form of investment. A private wine cellar is the best location to keep your investment from harm’s way.

On the other hand, commercial wine cellars are mostly used by restaurants and bars. These wine cellars have larger storage capacities compared to home wine cellars. Commercial wine cellars can hold anywhere from around 300 to an unlimited amount of wine bottles for commercial wine displays and storage.

Commercial Custom Wine Cellar at the Loft 610

Like home wine cellars, most commercial wine cellars are incorporated into the design of the store or restaurant, which enhances and elevates the appearance of the establishment. It is an elegant way for restaurants to display their collection of fine wines to their regular diners.

These wine cellars also have built-in cooling units to help stabilize temperature and humidity in order to ensure that wines are stored in optimal conditions. Commercial wine cellars are a lot more expensive to install than private wine cellars and they require larger space.