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.

Chicago Custom Wine Cellars – Wine & Food Pairing Tips

Written by CustomWineCellarsChicago

Pairing wine with food is as exciting as finding the right pair of shoes to match your new dress or suit. You need to find the right match in order to look good.

Pairing wine and food doesn’t need to be expensive as long as it tickles your taste bud. The best thing to do when you pair wine with a certain food is an experiment.

Don’t be afraid to explore the world of food and wine. With so many types of wine stored in your Chicago custom wine cellar, it may take a while for you to find the perfect combination, but once you have found it things will become more fun and interesting. There are no rules in food and wine pairing, only recommendations or suggestions.

Wine and Cheese

In pairing wine and cheese, it is recommended that you start from the same region where they came from. For example, Parmesan cheese and Italian Chianti go well together. For convenience in looking for a certain type of wine in your wine cellar, you can organize them by region. Click here to learn more ways to organize your custom wine room.

Another trick is to pair a harder type of cheese with wine that contains more tannin, while the creamy cheeses can be paired with a wine that has more acidity, like Chardonnay.
You might want to ask which wine is best paired with cheese- white wine or red wine? White wine is best paired with soft cheeses and stronger flavors, while red wine is best paired with harder cheeses and milder flavors.
Some soft and creamy cheeses leave a layer of fat on the palate which interferes with the flavors in reds, making it monotonous and bland. Though both wines work with cheeses, many wine enthusiasts believe that whites tend to pair better with cheese.

Wine and Chocolate

Choosing the right wine in your Chicago custom wine cellar to complement the right chocolate is the key to having a successful wine and chocolate pairing. Below are some tips to achieve this.

– The wine should be sweeter than the chocolate.
– Pair red wine with darker chocolates.
– Complement lighter-bodied wines with lighter and elegant-flavored chocolate, or intensely flavored wine with bittersweet chocolate.
– Chocolate desserts must be paired with sweet dessert wine.

For beginners in the world of wine and food pairing, try to use the mix-and-match approach. Make sure that your wine collection in your Chicago residential wine cellar is organized properly for pairing to be more fun and less hassle.

If you want to start your own wine cellar project, choose an expert wine cellar builder with excellent customer service. Contact Wine Cellar Specialists at 866-646-7089 or simply click here for a FREE 3D wine cellar design package!

Showcase Your Wines w/ Chicago Commercial Wine Storage Racks

Written by CustomWineCellarsChicago

Wine storage racks are excellent management tools for organizing and displaying a large number of wine collectibles. They are built to facilitate the proper positioning of wine bottles during storage.

Most racking systems allow bottles to be stored on their side to maintain wine contact with the cork which prevents it from becoming brittle. A dried-out cork can cause oxidation and irreversibly damage the wine.

A myriad of styles and sizes are available on the market that can accommodate a variety of storage needs and requirements. Wine cellar racks are manufactured using various wood species and metal pieces. Each material has its own advantages and disadvantages, but can nevertheless produce wine storage racks that are both functional and visually appealing.

There are two kinds of wine racks: those which are designed for residential homes or private wine cellars and those which are for commercial display and storage. Chicago commercial wine racks are commonly used by wine merchants and restaurateurs to display and showcase a wide selection of wines to their customers.

Although they are mostly used in the wine retail and hospitality industries, there are some private wine collectors who invest in commercial racking because of its strength and enduring quality.

Commercial custom wine racks are similar to residential wine racking systems in terms of functionality and appearance. However, commercial wine racks are built to be more durable and sturdy. They are made this way in order to withstand damage and deterioration due to regular use.

The commercial wine display furniture is designed to hold a vast selection of wine bottles in varying sizes. Commercial wine racks provide various racking designs and storage options for collectors who are in the wine retail or restaurant business. Racking systems for commercial use allow wine bottles to be displayed label forward to make it easier for customers to locate their favorite brands of wine.

Commercial diamond cube bins are also available for bulk storage and case lots. A wine cube bin has twice the storage capacity of a single bottle wine rack and takes up less floor space.

How wine bottles are displayed inside a retail store can greatly influence the buying decision of customers. Hence, commercial wine racks are not only designed to hold wine bottles properly but also enhance the visual appeal of the wine selection.

These Chicago wine storage racks come in a variety of styles that can address display requirements and space constraints. Some commercial racking systems are made to fit against a wall or allow for aisle displays.

There are commercial wine racks that are specifically made for chic restaurants. Most of these display devices have a contemporary look that can provide elegance and striking appeal to any establishment. A growing trend in the restaurant business is the installation of active Chicago commercial wine cellars, which are equipped with wine cooling units to ensure optimum conditions.

Since these commercial wine enclaves are visible throughout the dining area, it is important to pick out the right kind of commercial wine display furniture to install as this can lend character and improve the aesthetic quality of the entire space.

Importance of Proper Insulation and Lighting in Wine Cellars

Written by CustomWineCellarsChicago

A properly functioning wine cellar needs more than just a cooling system to help achieve the necessary conditions for storing and aging wines. Efficient insulation is an essential aspect of proper wine storage. A highly insulated wine storage room ensures that the storage environment is stable enough for wines to mature to their full potential.

Check out more custom wine cellars here!

Custom Wine Cellars Chicago Illinois

There are three primary reasons for insulating custom wine cellars in Chicago Illinois: it lowers energy costs, prevents temperature swings, and maintains the humidity at ideal levels. Poor wine cellar insulation causes the cooling unit to work doubly hard to meet the required climate conditions, which can lead to the system breaking down more often and thereby contribute to higher energy bills.

In order to keep temperature levels within 55 to 59 degrees Fahrenheit and humidity at 60% to 75%, all components of a wine cellar that can potentially bring outside air into the storage space should be thoroughly insulated. This means that insulation should not only be limited to cellar walls, but also extend to the cellar entry door, the floor, the windows, and the ceiling.

Common materials used for insulating custom wine cellars are fiberglass, foam board, and drywall. Fiberglass insulation materials are water resistant and offer versatility in installation because they can be used for various structural applications. Foam board provides ease of installation and requires no maintenance because it is not prone to decay. Drywall has mold and moisture-resistant features that help prevent mold and mildew growth.

Custom Wine Cellar Lighting

Another important aspect that can impact the overall condition of wine cellars is the lighting system. Using proper lighting will keep wines safe from the effects of harmful light sources. A minimal amount of light not only accentuates the various wine bottles on display but also creates the perfect mood for the wine cellar.

The right kind of wine cellar lighting should provide enough illumination to view wine labels properly, find your way around the room, and conduct wine soirees without generating too much heat that can cause irreversible damage to your wine collection.

Keep in mind that not all light bulbs are suitable for wine cellars. Regular light bulbs should be avoided because they have higher heat emissions that can drive up energy costs and increase room temperature. On the other hand, LED-based lighting is ideal for wine cellars because of its energy efficiency and low heat generation.

Wine cellar lighting options come in various designs and configurations, such as recessed can light, track lighting, wall sconces, and recessed halogen lighting systems. Recessed can lights are installed on ceilings that allow you to accentuate specific areas of the wine room. The track lighting system is mostly used for highlighting wine labels stored in wine racks with a high reveal display row.

Wall sconces provide better light distribution. They are usually mounted at eye level to create the desired lighting effect. Recessed halogen lighting systems can add a dramatic flair to any wine cellar interior. This lighting system is equipped with baffles to reduce brightness. Remember to only use halogen bulbs with UV protective coating to protect wines from UV damage.

Installing dimmer switches and light timers in your wine room can provide additional protection to your investment. Dimmer switches allow you to adjust the brightness inside the wine cellar. Light timers help save energy, lower energy bills and minimize exposure of wine bottles to light.