M&M Cellar Systems Repairs a Leaking Wine Cooling Equipment

Written by CustomWineCellarsChicago

In a recent service all in Irvine, Orange County, California, M&M Cellars repairs a cooling unit that was leaking of Freon.

Irvine Wine Cellar Cooling System Repair by M&M Cellar Systems

So, this is the equipment for the wine cellar. This is set up as a HS 4600 system. This is the unit that I know there’s a leak in here. I was down here a week ago and I found the system low on Freon. And how I know is that I added a dye previously when I serviced the equipment. And that dye is in the system. So when I came here I noticed that we’ve got some dye leaking out from the condensing drain right here. And normally when I have that is because there’s a leak inside the unit. So what I’m going to do today is I will be opening the unit and looking inside and go from there and see where that leak is at. He’s got two units. His second unit an HS system that controls their media cabinet or entertainment cabinet.
Right. That’s what the other one is for.
Once he couldn’t find anything small enough to be able to duct into that small closet and what he ended up doing is going with a wine cellar equipment that could work for a media room.
Right.
So all it is basically is higher temperature.
So it’s not set to be so cold is what you need for the media equipment.
Correct.
So what would you normally set it for the media equipment?
Yeah. Media rooms are typically kept like 70 to like 72 degrees.
Oh right.
75 tops is the range. So 70 to 75 degrees.
And you’re going to set the wine cellar to?
The wine cellar is actually set for 57. And we got the control over here. And yes it is. Right now the temperature inside the wine cellar is 59 degrees. It just turned on. It was off and it’s set for 57 degrees.
Right.
So it’s working right now but I know there’s a problem. And that’s why I’m here to fix today.
Cool! Let’s take a quick look at the wine cellar. So this is the wine cellar superb door there. Glass and wrought iron wood.
Double-paned which is what we usually what we try to recommend to our customers when you’re building a cellar. The double-paned glass if that’s what they’re ready to go for.
Yeah. For the insulation.
Correct. For the insulation purposes. The double-paned glass contains like heated Argon or some type of gas inside between the dual panes.
Let’s take a quick look inside then.
It’s a real nice wine cellar. Got some really nice seaming there.
It’s actually quite small. It’s obviously bigger than a closet I suppose. But it’s that sort of style.
Yeah. This could be, you know, a walk-in closet-sized wine cellar.
But it’s still got quite a ton of capacity in there.
Right. Oh yes. It’s still got enough storage space in there.

Wine Cellar Refrigeration Irvine Orange County Service Call – Refrigerant Leak Intro – Part One

In this video, we cover a wine cellar service call in Irvine Orange County California. We take a look at a not-so-common problem, where we have a significant refrigerant leak. This is “part one an instruction to the wine cellar and refrigeration system“.

The ABC’s of Proper Wine Storage and Wine Evaluation

Written by CustomWineCellarsChicago

Wine collecting has become a hobby for some, just as others collect baseball cards, paintings, or drinking glasses and mugs. Among the most sought-after are rare and vintage wines.

With all the bottles and brands, wine varieties are generally separated into five categories. First are the red wines, which are made from purple or blue grapes like Cab Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Shiraz, Merlot, Pinot Noir, and Malbec. They can be of light or full body, sweet or dry palate, and fruity to spicy in flavor.

The second is the acidic wines; the white wines that include the famous Chardonnay, Pinot Grigio, Chenin Blanc, Sauvignon Blanc, and Riesling.

Rosé wines, thirdly, are refreshing and chilled alternatives, made from purple or blue grapes just like red wine, only with a shorter exposure of the grape’s skin to its pressed juice.

The fourth group is sparkling wine, which contains red, white, or rosé wine. It also includes champagne and is famous in celebrations because of its bubbly personality.

The last type is fortified wine, and the sweeter version is called dessert wine. Fortified wines are distinct because of their higher alcohol content (17-20% by volume). This variety includes Sherry, Madeira, Port, and Marsala.

Various wines taste best at various temperatures, which depend on how they are stored. No matter what type or variety you love, proper wine storage is significant in allowing your collection to last the longest possible time. Ideally, wine storage before opening is different from after you have opened (and tasted) the wine. Here are the basics to properly storing your wines, before and after opening:

Storing Wines Before Opening

A. The Cork-Wine Contact

A corked bottle of wine should be stored on its side, to avoid drying out the cork. Storing it upright will not only dry out the cork but will also, in effect, let air get in and spoil the wine.

B. Avoiding Movement

Also, avoid moving it once you have already stored it in its position, as frequent movement will only affect your drink negatively.

C. Away from Odor

Isolate your wine from anything strong-smelling, to prevent the odor from penetrating the cork and tainting your wine.

D. Away from Light

Keep your wines away from direct sunlight and fluorescent fixtures. Ultraviolet light can cause your wine to become “light struck,” which makes it smell unpleasant.

E. Constant Temperature

As much as possible, keep your wine storage area’s temperature constant for extended aging. Any change should be gradual, to prevent the premature aging of wine.

F. Favorable Humidity Level

Keep humidity high, at about 70%, to keep the corks from drying out and to minimize evaporation. However, make sure that it doesn’t exceed 70%, to avoid mold growth and the loosening of labels.

Not all types of wine get better with time. Depending on their type, red wines can be stored from 2 to 10 years to the age, while white wine should be used for no more than 3 years of storage (except for Chardonnay, which can last for up to 20 years).

Storing Wines After Opening

Red wine can stay outside of the wine storage room as long as you put the cork back in place and leave the bottle in a dark area. It won’t go bad for a few days.

White wines should be stored in a wine cellar or in a closet, or, if you don’t have one, the fridge will do. This will keep your wine good for a maximum of 5 days after you have opened it.

How do you know if wine is good or not?

Wine evaluation and wine tasting are basically similar processes on both sides of the experience scale. This should make you confident that your opinion of a specific wine is as valid as the expert’s opinion of it.

A. Color and Appearance

When evaluating wine, you first look at its color and appearance. For example, dry white wine is yellowish in color and changes into a deeper gold hue as it ages – echoing richer and more complex wine compared to the younger version. On the other hand, young red wine is rich in color – from berry red to purple. As it matures, it gets lighter, going far from the bright red, to a brownish tinge.

B. Smell

In wine evaluation, your sense of smell is just as vital as your sense of taste. For a full appreciation of your wine’s aroma and bouquet, fill your glass to about a third of its capacity. Ideally, the top of your glass is curved inwards to guide the wine’s scent toward a concentrated area. A gentle swirl will mix air with the wine, which encourages your wine’s aroma to materialize. When describing the aroma, there are only two things to remember: the intensity of your wine’s aroma and what it reminded you of.

C. Taste

After looking and sniffing, at last, it’s time to savor wine tasting. Take a small sip and try sucking on the wine as if you are pulling it out of a straw. This will aerate the liquid and mix it throughout your mouth. You will generally experience a wide array of flavors from fruit, herb, flower, and mineral to barrel, among others. Your taste buds will also help you discover whether the wine is balanced (the flavors are in good proportions), harmonious (the flavors are seamlessly combined), complex, evolved, and complete (balanced, harmonious, complex, evolved, and with a lasting and pleasing finish). Some people even look at their watches to know how long the taste lasts in their palates after swallowing the wine, which is actually an indicator of the wine’s quality.

After wine tasting, ask yourself a few questions to complete the wine evaluation:

1. Does the wine have a pleasing color? Was it clear? Does it show brilliance? Did you like it?

2. How was the aroma? Was it light, nice, strong, or somewhere in between? Can you say it’s exceptional? Did you like it?

3. How intense was the taste? Was the fruit detectable or not? Once again, did you like it?

4. Was your wine balanced? Was the fruit, acid, sugar, and dryness in harmony, or did one overpower the other aspects? Again, did you like it?

5. Did the finish fall off quickly, in less than 10 seconds, or did it seem endless (more than a minute)? Finally, did you like it?

Wine evaluation is highly affected by your personal taste and preference. The main question is simply, “Did you like it?” Taste is highly subjective and no two individuals have exactly the same measure of perception which makes your opinion as valid as everybody else’s. The shortest way to gain more confidence in your tasting and evaluating abilities is to taste and evaluate again and again and share and compare them with others. There are no wrong answers or descriptions in this matter. All you need is to prepare a bottle of wine, a clean glass, your senses, and an open mind.

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.

Peg Wine Rack System for Modern Chicago Wine Cellars

Written by CustomWineCellarsChicago

While most of us just enjoy wine with our meals, there are those who have elevated their love of wine to the level of an art form. From the moment it is made, packaged, and even to the time when it is displayed and stored, wine lovers invest meticulous care when handling their wines.

If you are one of those who have collected wine bottles for quite a bit of time, you have to ask yourself this important question: “What is the best option to store and showcase my growing collection?

There are many ways to store and display your wine collection. Some wine racks can are easily installed, while custom wine displays require some expert help.

Whatever amount of space you have, the finished look and ambiance of your Chicago custom wine room depends on the wine racks installed in it. For modern wine cellars, the peg wine rack system works best because of its cutting-edge design and technology. It offers design flexibility and a lot of potentials.

The Peg Wine Rack System

Peg system wine racks are made from rigid stainless steel and have undergone testing in actual wine cellars, and results have shown that they are very sturdy and durable. They allow for an increased number of bottle storage compared to traditional wooden wine racks.

The PEG Wine Rack System is an Ultra-modern Storage Option

What’s more, they offer precise spacing between bottles so that larger bottles that are popular today can be accommodated. The smooth pegs of this wine rack are able to protect your labels, and bottles fit securely in their cradles. The peg wine racking system boasts an ultra-modern design that makes the bottles seem as if they are floating.

State-Of-The-Art
The peg wine racking system offers precision engineering. This was developed and perfected over the course of years. State-of-the-art computerized woodworking has created precise spacing between the bottles. This technology actually works with tolerances less than one-tenth of a millimeter.

Design Potential
Peg system wine racks are an exciting product in terms of design potential, especially when it comes to backsplash options. You can choose from a variety of backsplash designs. You can also add wood backing, stainless steel, or even LED backing. Adding special features or special touches is all up to you as long as the proper wine storage conditions are maintained in your wine cellar.

Design Flexibility
The peg System can be installed in a variety of spaces where traditional wine racking systems can’t. It can be installed under the stairs, in tight corners, at strange angles, or in any irregularly-shaped space.

Do you want to give your Chicago wine cellar modern appeal using the PEG system? Dial 866-646-7089 now to contact Wine Cellar Specialists – a professional Chicago wine cellar builder! Visit their website at http://www.winecellarspec.com.

Organic Wines – Why Have them in Your Chicago Wine Cellar

Written by CustomWineCellarsChicago

Perhaps the first questions that you will ask about organic wine are: what it is, in what ways is it different from regular wine, and why should you include it in your Chicago custom wine room? Well, organic wine is created from grapes that have been planted and farmed following the rules of organic farming. This would mean that the grapes have not been sprayed with fertilizers, pesticides, or any other chemicals.

More and more people have been patronizing organic wine, especially in the past couple of years, as people have become more conscious about how the things they consume are made.
Because of this popularity, there have been many wines in the market that claim to be “organic.” But, the truth is only a few of these wines that have been labeled organic are authentic.
In fact, there are four types of labels that you can expect to find on these commercial wine bottles. “100% Organic” means that it is made from ingredients that are organic. The word “organic” means that 95% of the wine’s ingredients are organically grown.
On the other hand, “Made With Organic Grapes” or “Made With Organic Ingredients” indicates that the wine has at the very least 70% organic ingredients.

The Benefits of Having Organic Wine in Your Wine Cellar

What are the benefits of having organic wines among the bottles in your wine racks? One reason is that organic wines have brighter flavors. They have been found to contain more vitamin C, magnesium, iron, and phosphorus, and fewer nitrates than wines made from conventionally grown grapes.

They also contain fewer sulfites than the regular wines that are out there. Sulfites are sulfurous acids that are a naturally-occurring element in plenty of wines as a product of fermentation and are known to cause breathing problems in some individuals. The fewer sulfites there are in things you consume, the better it is for you.
Organic wines are high in resveratrol, which are antioxidants that can fight cancer. Organic wines are said to have 30% higher levels of resveratrol.

Proper Wine Storage for Organic Wine

Do note though, that as with all wines, proper wine storage of organic wine is important. If you store them in wine racks, make sure that they are not exposed to too much light. For wine cellars or wine cabinets, the temperature must be maintained constantly. The ideal temperature ranges from 55-60 degrees Fahrenheit. Small fluctuations in the temperature are okay as long as the changes do not exceed 2 degrees Fahrenheit.

Humidity must also be kept at a constant range. The recommended level of humidity for wine storage is 75%. This ensures that the corks do not dry out, because dry corks can lead to oxygen infiltrating your wine, causing it to spoil.
Chicago wine cellars or wine refrigerated cabinets can function efficiently only with the right wine cooling system. This helps control temperature and humidity, and can even alert you when the levels are not optimal.

Proper wine storage is especially important for organic wine because as mentioned, they have lower levels of sulfites. These sulfites actually act as preservatives for the wine, which lengthen the wine’s life. But, even if organic wines don’t have the same levels of sulfites as regular wines, you can age them well by following these proper storage procedures.

Do you love collecting wines but don’t have a functional Chicago wine cellar yet? Why not start your own wine cellar project? Wine Cellar Spec will design and build the wine cellar of your dreams according to your style, budget, and wine storage needs. In the end, you and your precious wines will experience the benefits! You’ll add beauty and value to your home too!

Contact Wine Cellar Specialists now at 866-646-7089 or visit their website at http://www.winecellarspec.com/.

Metal Wine Racks – Widely-Used in Chicago Wine Cellars

Written by CustomWineCellarsChicago

A wine rack is a device that stores and organizes wine bottles and can be built out of a number of different materials. You have wood (being a very common material as it is easily obtainable and workable), metal (which tends to be more unique and is widely used), stainless steel (which we normally see in the kitchen), or wrought iron (which has become famous as a material for ornamental pieces, comes in fluid shapes, and creates real pieces of art).

Now the question is, “Which among of these materials are highly used and appreciated by wine enthusiasts and businessmen alike?” Nowadays, many buyers use metal wine racks as pieces of ornaments at home or in commercial establishments and not only as wine storage.

Let’s focus on the fact of why metal wine racks are widely used in Chicago custom wine cellar construction and why they are better than any other type of wine rack material.

Why Choose Metal Wine Racks

Metal Wine Racks Give Off a Modern-Day Feel

Both wooden and metal wine racks are excellent choices for wine storage and interior décor. However, metal wine racks have a definite advantage over wooden ones because they are designed and built to fit in almost any corner or nook of the house without much effort. Thus, it is an ideal wine storage solution for collectors with limited space. Also, with the metal wine rack designs, you can access and read the label of the wine easily.

Prices of metal wine cellar racks may be considerably higher than wooden wine storage racks, but they tend to have durability that maintains quality and appearance for a longer period of time. Metal wine racks are also resistant to corrosion and staining. Moreover, there are more metal wine rack styles to choose from compared to ones made from wood.

When you buy something out of metal, you know that it is going to be around for a while. Wine connoisseurs can choose various designs and shapes to match the general appearance of any room. Hence, metal wine racks are a better option for your wine cellar racking.

With customization options, you can opt for an exquisite finish and color to match the palette of your wine storage space. It creates a very classic look while maintaining elegance. Metal wine racks are also easier to clean and give off a distinctly cutting-edge, modern-day feel.

There are various types of metal wine racks, and finding the right one will only cost you a trip to the store or a few minutes of browsing online. Take a visit to the Wine Cellar Specialists homepage and learn about the wide selection of metal wine racks they offer. They offer high-density metal wine rack designs convenient for any residential or business projects where space and budget are factors to consider.

Wine Cellar Specialists – a Trusted Name in the Wine Cellar Industry

Whether you have a small project in mind or a more adventurous one, Wine Cellar Specialists is always willing to lend a hand. They design and install custom wine cellars in all of North America and Canada. You can reach them at 866-646-7089 or visit their website at http://winecellarspec.com/. Click here to request a free 3D wine cellar design.