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.

Residential Wine Closets and Wine Cabinets – What Are They & How Easy Are They To Install

Written by CustomWineCellarsChicago

Residential Wine Closet Cabinets – What Are They & How Easy Are They To Install (A Processed Video Transcription)

Installing Wine Closets and Wine Cabinets – How Easy Is It? .

The question I’m asked quite often is how easy it is really to install the wine closets and wine cabinets. What I wanted to do today is walk you through a recent installation that we did in the Dallas area.

Wine Closets Dallas Texas – Before Photo

What you’re looking at are the wine closets Dallas Texas as it was before. This is where the homeowner wanted to install his new wine cabinets.

We removed the door, the jamb, the frame, and the trim inside and out. We installed a dedicated electrical outlet.

The wine cabinets Dallas Texas arrived and were uncrated by the moving company. Here is the side view of the wine cabinets before installation.

The trim pieces arrived with the cabinet. We installed the top trim piece with screws at the top of the cabinet. Here is another view of it from the front after installation.

The side flange or trim piece also arrives with the wine cabinet and is installed on the left and right sides of the cabinet again with screws. You can see it here on one side of the cabinet after installation.

The wine cabinet is plugged in and slid into place. The lighting is tested. The case moldings are prepared. Stained and lacquered, in this case.

The moldings are provided by the homeowner. The moldings are cut to fit and then attached around the cabinet.

Wine Cabinets Dallas Texas – After Installation Photo

This is the completed wine closet cabinet, and as you can see quite a difference between the completed cabinet and what we had before. The wine closet cabinet is very easy to install. For one of your own, visit Wine Cellar and Wine Cabinets Dallas Texas Specialists and give us a call.

You can also check out our wine cellars gallery here http://www.winecellarspec.com/wine-cellars/.

Chicago Wine Cellars – the Right Way to Fill the Wine Glass

Written by CustomWineCellarsChicago

When serving wine to your guests, it is essential that you know the right amount to pour into the wine glass. After picking a good quality wine from your wine cellar, wine rack, or wine cabinet and popping the wine bottle open, should you fill the wine glass up to the rim, halfway, or less than halfway? These are the questions you have to ask yourself when serving guests during a dinner party in your Chicago home wine cellar or serving wine in a restaurant.

Many articles that I have read regarding the proper pouring of wine in the wine glass discuss this differently. Many have a variety of opinions on how much should be poured into the wine glass. Nonetheless, I have here a summary of what these different articles have been saying for everyone’s reference.

Chicago Wine Cellars – the Right Amount of Wine in a Wine Glass

When buying your wine in a bar or a restaurant, you have three main goals. First, to get your money’s worth. Second, savor every sip you take of your wine. The third is to enjoy the aroma of the wine as you swirl it in your wine glass.
Many restaurants and bars that offer wines have various stands on how much wine should be poured into a glass. It is said that in most restaurants they usually pour about four to five ounces of wine into a wine glass.

You may also request for your wine to be placed in a carafe so that you can pour your preferred amount of wine. This is not only to get value for your money but also to limit your alcohol intake. Despite the fact that wines are said to be beneficial for one’s health, too much of anything is bad. Hence, one should drink in moderation.

I have read one article which states that for red wine glasses, the amount of red wine to be poured is at least 1/3 full. Moreover, sparkling wines should fill about ¾ of the glass, and white wines should be at least half of the glass. Others follow the rule that a wine glass should be filled to the widest part of the bowl.

In general, most bars or restaurants do not have a standard measurement for the amount of wine to be poured into a glass. The reason for this may have something to do with the culture and tradition in the area.

When serving your guests during an occasional dinner party in your Chicago residential wine cellar, you must ensure that their glass is filled less than halfway. This is to allow them to swirl the wine to release desirable aromas and to decrease the risk of spilling.

Wine Cabinets & Wine Racks – Excellent Alternative Wine Storage Solutions

Written by CustomWineCellarsChicago

There are a few different ways of storing wines. They can be kept in a wine cellar, in custom wine racks perched on a kitchen countertop, placed in a corner of a room, or stacked carefully in a wine cabinet. Of all the aforementioned wine storage solutions, wine cellars are deemed the best place to store and age wines because they are designed in a climate-controlled environment.

Wine Cabinets by Wine Cellar SPecialists

Wine Cabinets Chicago by Wine Cellar SPecialists

Since not all wine collectors have access to a private wine cellar, wine cabinets Chicago can serve as efficient and affordable wine storage solutions. A wine cabinet functions like a mini wine cellar because it can provide the best possible wine storage environment on a smaller scale. Hence, they can be used for either short-term or long-term storage.

There are two types of wine cabinets: passive and active or refrigerated. Passive wine cabinets are not affixed with temperature and humidity controls. Most of these cabinets are constructed from wood and have various total bottle capacities. These storage cabinets are ideal for holding consumable wines.

Climadiff Wine Cabinets Chicago

Like active wine cellars, refrigerated wine cabinets are equipped with cooling systems that help maintain the temperature between 50 and 59 degrees Fahrenheit, and regulate humidity levels within 60% to 75%. Fluctuating temperatures can cause premature aging in wines, while constant humidity changes can dry out the corks and cause molds to grow.

Some wine cabinets have dual zone features that provide independent temperature controls. This setup allows for two separate storage compartments for different types of wines. These wine storage solutions are also known for their vibration-free and whisper-quiet operation.

To protect wine bottles from incandescent light, wine cabinets are outfitted with LED-based lighting. LED bulbs generate less heat and don’t give off ultraviolet rays. Some of these cabinets have adjustable light features that can help minimize the exposure of wine bottles to light.

Le Cache Wine Cabinets Chicago

A wine cabinet comes with custom wine racks that allow for horizontal storage. Laying wine bottles on their side allows the cork to continuously come in contact with the wine. Keeping the cork moist is essential to preserving the taste and flavor of wines. A dried-out cork can promote oxidation that could potentially ruin the quality of wines.

Wine cabinets are built with proper ventilation to facilitate better air circulation. This will prevent unwanted smells and odors from penetrating the cork and spoiling the wine. Good ventilation will also restrict possible mold infestation.

They are also multifunctional because some of them are designed with stemware racks that allow wine glasses to be hung right in the cabinet. They may also come with drawers that can provide storage space for various wine accessories such as corkscrews, stoppers, decanters, and other wine-related items.

Vinotheque Wine Cabinets Chicago

A wine cabinet is available in different storage capacities. They can accommodate regular-sized bottles to magnums. They have sufficient space to store a few bottles to over a hundred wines. In terms of aesthetics, their sleek and stylish designs can match and complement any home décor.

Wine cabinets are convenient and economical wine storage options for wine enthusiasts who can’t afford their own wine cellars. They provide a climate-controlled environment wherein wines can mature nicely. These cabinets also protect wines from breakage by providing secured storage spaces.

Click on these links to learn more about wine storage:
http://www.winecellarspec.com/choose-wine-cabinets-for-cost-efficient-wine-storage-solutions/
http://www.winecellarspec.com/wine-cellar-specialists-dallas-is-awarded-best-of-houzz-2013/
http://www.winecellarspec.com/what-type-of-wine-rack-is-best-for-your-wine-collection/