He writes: “The red wines from this Great Southern vineyard have an uncanny echo of St Emilion –– Bordeaux’s most Burgundy-like wines. Made by Rob Diletti at Castle Rock Estate, this merlot has a medium-red colour with a purple rim and a complex, mellowing bouquet of raspberry and tobacco leaf.

It is medium-bodied yet intense in the mouth, with freshness and lively but balanced acidity. The tannins are mild; the finish has balance, length and style. The 2009 is also good, in an even more pinot-like way. Drink now to five years. 13.5 percent alcohol. 90/100″

Food suggestions: duck, veal, strongly flavoured chicken dishes such as coq-au-vin and tasty cheeses such as comte and pont l’eveque.”

So, one to store in your wine cellar for up to five years.

If you do not have a space available for build a wine cellar the a refrigerated wine cabinet will preserve your wines in an ideal environment.  Wine cabinets are designed specifically to maintain the correct temperature and humidity for storing wine.

Shopping For A Wine Cabinet

There are many types and models of wine cabinets currently available. Depending on your budget and your use, you can get a good wine cabinet for just a couple of hundred dollars. Of course, this type of wine cabinet will be small and will accommodate only a few bottles.

The larger the wine cabinet, the more it will cost. However, if you have a large wine collection and you do not want your wine to deteriorate due to poor storage, buying a large capacity cabinet that can accommodate all your wine bottles can be considered a good investment. A big wine cabinet that allows to you to add, remove or adjust some racks will give you more flexibility. If you need more space, you can just add more racks and if your wine collection is depleted, you can just remove the extra racks.

CLICK HERE For Our Reviews Of Refrigerated Wine Cabinets

When selecting wine cabinets, you need to pay close attention to the special features of the wine cabinet. The design and color should match with the rest of your furniture and fixtures. Matching the designs of your furniture, fixtures and home appliances will give your home a more organized and harmonious atmosphere.

However, it is important to look beyond the design and color of the cabinet. Remember that beauty should go with functionality. You don’t really want to buy a wine cabinet solely for decorative purposes so make sure that you choose your cabinet well and that it is large enough for your wine collection.

Temperature will affect the quality of your bottled wines. Make sure that your cabinet is equipped with a temperature stabilizer. Note that rapid changes in temperature will quickly destroy your wine. To allow your wine to age slowly it should be stored between 10 and 15 degrees C (50-59 degrees F).

Humidity is equally important as temperature in storing wine successfully. Your wine cellar or wine cabinet should maintain humidity of around 70% to prevent the wine bottle corks from shrinking and allow wine to escape from the bottles and allow air into the bottles.

Regulating the amount of lighting, moisture, oscillations and changes in temperature in the area wherever the wine beverage are generally put into storage is most likely the definitive assured strategy for safely and securely stocking wines the best way in order that it ages in terms which the winemaker required.

Air entering into a wine bottle can easily destroy the standard of the drinks and so it ought to therefore be stashed in wherein air is unable to get into the wine. You see, the recommended approach for you to continue to keep air locked from a bottle of wine is usually making certain the state of a cork seal simply by stocking the wine bottles on their sides. These could help keep the cork humid and forestall it from shrinking.

In case the cork shrinks it may make it possible for wine to get out of the bottle of wine and, while doing so, make it possible for air to get into the bottle. As soon as air penetrates the bottle it can oxidize the wine and it could immediately taste like vinegar.

Along with storing your bottles of wine on the sides it is always crucial for you to make certain that the moisture within the room is suitable. This would also help in keeping the corks from being dry. The optimal humidity for holding wine is about 70%, though around 50% and 80% may be accepted. In the event the storage space or wine storage gets to be too damp the bottle of wine tags will produce mold. Even though this won’t cause harm to the drinks it is most likely not eye attractive.

Wine ought to be kept in a space whereby it will be afflicted by no oscillations or no adverse activity. The vibrations will typically age the wine too soon which enables it to have an impact on the standard of the wine. Bottles of wine stashed in cartons needs to be allowed to remain by itself to age, and only transported whether it is prepared to be used and savored.

Each time stocking wine, ambient temperature is one particular external variable which has to be considered. Essentially, storing wine environment could range between about 10 to 15 degrees C so that the cork is not going to get shrunk and therefore let in air, or does not cause the wine to age faster than it should. A well constructed wine cellar should maintain the required temperatures and that is the reason most wine lovers use a wine cellar for storage. If you do not have the space for a wine cellar a refrigerated wine cabinet can also be used to maintain a constant temperature.

The final tip is to store your wine away from ultra violet light. Exposure to UV light will have a negative effect on your wine and quickly alter the taste. Keep your wine in a darkened room and if stored in a wine cellar any windows should be covered. And take extra care with sparkling wines which are more sensitive to light than other wines.

Click here to discover how to build a basement wine cellar.

While most people consider the difference between red and white wines being definitive, it is worthwhile understanding that red wines gain their color by leaving the grape skins in contact with the grape juice during the fermentation process. To produce rosé styles of wine the skins are left in contact with the juice for a limited time and white wines are fermented without contact between the grape skins and the juice at all. In addition to color, different aging processes help to determine the different styles of wine available.

Red wines are usually aged in wooden barrels usually produced from French or American oak which impart a deeper, richer flavor to the wine. New oak barrels will impart different characteristics to old oak and sometimes wine will spend some time in each type of barrel. The toast character of the barrel – light, medium or dark – will also affect the flavor of the wine.

Some styles of white wines are are aged in oak. Chardonnay is frequently given oak treatment and some semillon also receives oak treatment. Many white wines are fermented in stainless steel to maintain their usually cleaner, fresher taste.

Wine and Food Pairing

There are many suggestions about the types of wine to drink with particular types of food, but it should be remembered that these suggestions are guidelines only and personal preference is important.

Guidelines Are Not Rules

As a general rule, it is suggested that red wine should accompany red meats and white wines matched with white meats and fish. However, with the different flavors of the different types of wine, people are finding that some lighter styles of red wine – pinot noir is a prime example – go superbly well with some fish dishes and some full bodied white wines are good accompaniments for red meat dishes. Essentially, it is a matter of individual taste that determines the suitability of a wine to match a meal.

Not all wine is produced from grapes. Wines can be made from a variety of fruits and these styles of wine should have the fruit they have been produced from stated on the label.

There are also several wines that are made from grains such as rice, but they tend to used in cooking, in Asian recipes in particular, and are not produced as table wines.

There is even a wine made from grapes that have been frozen – either naturally on the vine, or commercially in a freezer – known as ice wine that offers a delightful accompaniment to many desserts.

A majority of wine drinkers will only give a cursory glance to a wine label and the wealth of information that it contains about the origin of the wine, the alcohol content, the winemaker’s comments and guidelines and potential for aging the wine.

When choosing a bottle of wine for a special occasion it is worthwhile doing a little research into the reputation of the winery and the winemaker and have an understanding of the wine you are about to purchase.

If you’re choosing a bottle of wine for a gift, consider instead giving wine and chocolate hampers delivered to that special someone and show them how much you care.

Many wines may actually improve with age but once the bottles are open they will begin to oxidize.

Typically wine is stored in glass bottles with a natural cork seal to maintain freshness. As long as the integrity of the bottle and the cork are maintained the wine will be preserved. However, red, white and even fortified wine will begin to spoil if the wine storage method is not appropriate.

Heat, light, humidity and temperature variances can all have a negative effect on wines as well as vibrations of the wine storage container.

Wine cellars are designed to protect the bottles of wine from direct sunlight as well as to maintain a constant temperature and humidity level. In some instances storing wine the right way is more important to a wine lover than the comfort of their guests and dining facilities with an extensive wine list spend more money on wine storage than is spent on customer amenities.

Wine Racks Designed With Bottles In Mind

When someone decides to build a wine cellar in a basement they will take into account any windows through which light can penetrate. Any windows will be covered to prevent light from entering. Additionally, sunlight streaming in through windows can cause unwanted temperature fluctuations.

The type of floor in the wine cellar can also play a role in the preservation effort as some older buildings with wood or dirt floors make it difficult to control humidity levels.

There are also units for storing wine at home that can stand independently and while some may have a glass front allowing the owner to verify the supply, other will have a solid front to keep out the light. Most home storage units will also require a vibration roof interior for the protection of the contents.

Placing bottles of wine in an uninsulated closet does not provide an ideal method of storing wine, especially if the wine is to be kept for several years.

Wine purchased for immediate will not require any special storage steps and some of today’s wine that are stored in a plastic bag inside a cardboard box can last several months without degradation of the wine.

Making wine at home can be an exciting and rewarding hobby. Yes, the process of making wine at home can be quite involved but if you are a wine lover and enjoy trying different wines, you may enjoy the wine making process at home? You don’t need to be an expert in wine making to produce some good quality wine. With the help of some home wine making equipment, you will soon be producing your own wine.

Getting Started With Homemade Wine

There is really no point in buying home wine making equipment if you are not seriously committed to producing your own wine. Home wine making equipment can be quite expensive so you should not just buy these items out on a whim. Instead of buying home wine making equipment right away, the best place to start is with a guide for making wine at home. Study the book well.

Best Guide To Home Wine Making

If you know someone who is already into wine making, talk to that person and watch them while he or she is making wine at home and you will learn so much about how things should be done. Having hands-on experience in home wine making will help you understand the process better. Once you are confident that you can produce your own wine from your own home, you may start shopping around for home wine making equipment.

Shopping For Wine Making Equipment

Make a list of all the wine making equipment that you need before you go shopping for equipment. You should also set a budget that you can afford to spend on your home wine making equipment and stick to it. Stay within your budget so that you do not end up spending more money than you can afford. Remember that at this point, wine making at home is just a hobby and you need not buy state-of-the-art equipment to get you started.

If you are on a tight budget, you may find that you use some of the kitchen equipment that you already own as part of your home wine making equipment. You do not really have to buy every item on your wine making wish list. Just buy the things that you do not have available in your kitchen. Another way to save money on your equipment is to do some online shopping first and compare prices of the equipment and check out some of the home wine making kits that may have all the equipment that you need. Some of the beginners’ kits can be an inexpensive way to start your wine making hobby.

Enjoying Wine While You Eat

A good wine will aid digestion, enhance the flavors of the food and, if it is a red wine, may even be beneficial to your health. There are many schools of thought as to which wines to combine with particular foods. However, the modern rule is that if it tastes right, it is right although there are indeed some gourmands who argue with this. In any case, there would seem to be truly very little downside in combining wine and food in this manner.

Cooking With Wine

The art of cooking with wine is perhaps best displayed in the French and Italian styles of cooking. In both of these modes of cooking, combinations of food and wine include using red wines in meat sources and marinades, and the use of sweeter white whites in the preparation of desserts and vegetables. Of course, this is a vast oversimplification, but in general adding wine will increase the depth to flavor and can also help in tenderizing certain meats while enhancing the flavor of vegetables. In most cases the combination of food and wine in this manner does not result in any alcohol flavor in the food as the cooking of the food typically boils away the alcohol and changes the way the alcohol itself is constituted. Any age group from children to the elderly may eat and enjoy this wonderful combination of wine and food.

Cooking With And Drinking Wine

This is by far the most fun of all the combinations. Though of course with this degree of fun there is always a risk and a downside. One must be careful when combining wine and food with wine drinking to take care to not drink too much and forget how to cook. Perhaps even worse would be to drink too much and actually combine the wrong food and wine. This has been the undoing of many great chefs and home cooks. Too much imbibing and not enough sense can lead to real drama in the kitchen.

Are you interested in starting your own wine cellar? Click Here.

Here we’d like to present our “featured five” … five of the best wine cellar cooling units that are worthy of consideration …

Wine Guardian 7800 Wine Cellar Cooling Unit

The Wine Guardian from the Wine Enthusiast is one of the most versatile cooling systems you can buy. It installs anywhere that you have space: adjacent to your wine cellar above your wine cellar or up to 25 feet away from you wine cellar. It provides complete and effective forced-air cooling that’s fully thermostatically controlled. Optional humidification is available for dry climates. Best of all you can install it yourself. Most versatile cooling system • Can be ducted or go through-the-wall • Reliable forced-air cooling • Wall-mounted thermostat • Ideal when outside venting is necessary • Only system that can install in an attic • Optional humidification and heating available • Optional duct work and collars available • 4 sizes from 3000 up to 15200 BTUs • Choice of colors • Cools wine cellars from 1,500 to 5,500 cubic feet 3000/1 ton 7800 • Size: 14″ x 22″ x 39″

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Breezaire WKE-6000 Wine Cellar Cooling Unit

6,000 BTU Size: 22′H x 16-1/4′W x 22-5/8′D Maximum Room Size in Cubic Feet: 1 500 Your valuable wine collection deserves a dependable efficient state-of-the-art cooling system. Your budget deserves something affordable. Breezaire takes care of both. The E model includes LCD temperature display and graduated fan speed for better cooling efficiency. Your cellar must be properly insulated • Shipped directly from the manufacturer • Made in the U.S.A. •  Installation Notes: Mounts easily through your wine cellar wall and vents to an adjacent room • Note: Venting space must be as big or larger than you wine cellar • Your cellar must be properly insulated and vapor sealed for the unit to cool properly.
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WhisperKOOL XLT 6000 Wine Cellar Cooling Unit

The XLT series is an economical cooling solution designed for cellar enthusiasts who are on a budget but require quality and performance. Designed for simple through-the-wall installation the unit fits between standard wall studs and the rear flange eliminates the need for a support shelf. All XLT models include a condensate evaporator as standard; this dissipates excess moisture that collects during normal operation. As with all WhipserKOOL systems the XLT is equipped with a liquid measuring thermostat to accurately maintain wine temperature. The XLT has a 30F temperature differential. In order to keep your cellar at 55F the area the unit exhausts into should not exceed 85F. This makes interior installation ideal for XLT units. • Made in the USA. • Economical wine cooling solution •  Simple installation between wall studs • Condensate evaporator • Liquid measuring thermostat • Exhaust side ductable • Two year parts and labor warranty • Optional Digital PDT Thermostat • Mounts easily through your wine cellar wall and vents to an adjacent room. Note: Venting space must be as large or larger than you wine cellar. Your cellar must be properly insulated and vapor sealed for the unit to cool properly.
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EuroCave INOA 600 Wine Cellar Cooling Unit

Cutting edge, eco-friendly cooling from the company that builds the world’s finest wine cellars comes a wine cellar cooling unit built for superior performance. The EuroCave INOA Wine Cellar Conditioner! The versatile modular design allows for easy installation inside or outside your wine cellar: ducted free-standing or wall-mounted. Includes a wireless remote to monitor your wine cellar conditions from up to 100 feet away. The EuroCave INOA automatically cools and heats to maintain optimum cellar conditions plus it maintains ideal humidity levels for your wine. Its sound-proof body and automatic fan speed control assure ultra-quiet energy-efficient performance while its CFC-free refrigerant system makes it the perfect eco-friendly choice. Plugs directly into a standard household outlet. 600 BTU Maximum Room Size in Cubic Feet: 850 • Size: 50″H x 15-1/2″W x 12-3/4″D • 1 year limited warranty • Installation Notes: Mounts easily through the wine cellar wall and vents to an adjacent room or can use air ducts. Note: If not using air ducts venting space must be twice as big your wine cellar. Your cellar must be properly insulated and vapor sealed for the unit to cool properly.
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Grand Cru 1600 Wine Cellar Cooling Unit

The new and improved Grand Cru Cooling Units are quieter and more efficient. After extensive research Wine Enthusiast experts have developed the Grand Cru Cooling System. Breakthrough technology monitors natural air currents in your wine cellar automatically adjusting to fluctuations and maintaining correct temperature and humidity levels. Creating optimal storage conditions these state-of-the-art systems do exactly what you want them to do: ensure your wines taste their absolute best. Cools wine cellars up to 250 cubic feet maximum. Electronic Controls • Vibration-Free System • High Density Thermal Insulation • Ease of Installation • Built-In Defrost Recycler • Low Maintenance and Anti-Corrosion • Condensation Management • UL listed • 1 Year Limited Warranty • Size: 15-3/4″H x 14-1/4′W x 17″D •  Installation Notes: Mounts easily through your wine cellar wall and vents to an adjacent room. Note: Venting space must be as large or larger than your wine cellar. Your cellar must be properly insulated and vapor sealed for the unit to cool properly.
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The purpose of building a wine cellar is to create the ideal environment to store your wine collection. Temperature is always a major consideration in wine storage and the ideal wine storage temperature is between 55ºF and 58ºF (13ºC-15ºC), although any temperature between 40º-65ºF (5º-18ºC) will suffice as long as it doesn’t fluctuate too much. Ideally, the humidity should be around 70%. If you can’t achieve these temperatures and this humidity in your passive wine cellar then you may need to install a wine cellar cooling unit.

A wine cellar cooling unit can be set at any temperature within the optimum range for successfully storing and aging wines and these systems are built to cool the air slowly and gently. They are designed to maintain humidity rather than dehydrating the cellar, although sometimes additional humidification may be required in extremely dry climates. These cooling units are usually installed approximately eighteen inches from the top of the room in order to achieve maximum cooling. The unit will also require an unobstructed airflow and adequate ventilation to dissipate the heat generated by the unit. These units are frequently vented into an adjacent room and the venting space needs to be as large or larger than the wine cellar.

It is also possible to install a split air system into a wine cellar although this type of wine cellar cooling system can be rather expensive with prices running into many thousands of dollars. A split system has a separate evaporator and condenser module with the condenser module mounted outside the wine cellar. A split air system offers added flexibility when doing custom installations or dealing with unusual site problems. Your cellar must be properly insulated and vapor sealed for the unit to cool effectively. This type of cooling system usually includes electronic controls and a digital display.

There are many options available with split system cooling including humidifiers, dehumidifiers and alarm units. With the addition of these options, a split air system will provide you with total control of your wine cellar refrigeration, albeit at a substantial cost. Professional installation is required.

If you find that your wine is aging too rapidly and feel that your cellar requires a cooling unit it is worthwhile shopping around and comparing brands. There are few bargains, however, you should be able to save money with a little research and there is a substantial difference if price between the major brands.

Making Wine For A Living

Millions of people are today employed by the wine industries across the world. Although it is not essential for the majority of these people to know how to make wine, many learn over time or gain an understanding of the fundamentals during their careers. For the rest of the universe learning how to make wine at home can be a wonderful hobby to be enjoyed in spare time.

Many wine makers today learn their skills in college. It is indeed such a large scale industry that it is part of many agricultural programs. The student not only learns how to make wine but also how to sustain the required agronomy and support their industry. With these broad-based skills the future of the industry is in the sound hands of people who recognize that care needs to be taken of the land if it is to continue to provide them a livelihood. Potential growers understand the uses of fertilizers, insecticides and other artificial products that may in fact harm us and their crop if used inappropriately.

How To Make Wine At Home

Making wine at home can be an expensive proposition. You will require the right materials and infrastructure such as brewing jars and fermentation traps, bottling apparatus and cleaners, and the time to do it right. And finally as you will learn, discovering how to make good wine can take a lot of time and effort over a long period of time.

Homemade wine will only be as good as the underlying quality of the grapes or fruits you are using. Make sure you are using the best quality and freshest fruit. Over time you will learn how to make homemade wine that you will be proud to share with family and friends but as a beginner, your first attempts may result in jug wine at best.

Here’s the link again to “Secrets To Making Great Wine”.

After all, although you may find hundreds of different wine gifts that you would enjoy receiving yourself, you want to keep the person you are buying for in mind when making your decision.

Wine Gifts

Among the better ideas is to buy a wine cooling unit as a gift. After all, the cooling system is really the essence of your wine cellar, as proper cooling is crucial in terms of protecting your wine, allowing it mature gracefully and improve in quality and value. You can find several models of wine cooling units available depending on what you are looking for, your budget and the size of the wine cellar you are purchasing it for.

Another great idea is to buy a wine rack as a gift. Although a lot of wine racks are very cheap and rather ordinary, there are some truly gorgeous, extravagant wine racks available for you to choose from. These make great gifts for wine lovers, especially for those wine enthusiasts in your life because you know that they will make use of them.

Whether you are constructing a home wine cellar or searching for different and creative ways to display your wine, wine racks can be extremely useful. You should be able to find stylish and versatile wine racks that will be the perfect gift for your family member or friend.

Things to Keep in Mind

While you’re out searching for that perfect wine gift, there are a few things that you’ll want to bear in mind. For instance, you should set your budget before you begin searching for the gift so that you do not wind up going overboard and spending more money than you intended.

Wine and wine accessories can be quite high-priced items after all, and so although you want to make a good impression with your present, at the same time you can still achieve value but with a reasonable price if you take the time to budget and to browse through catalogues and online stores as well as at retail outlets.

The wine lover you are buying for is sure to enjoy your wine gift, especially since if is a fun and creative idea or something that the recipient might not purchase for themselves.