Tag Archives: wine storage

Construction of a Unique Residential Custom Wine Cellar in Vancouver, Canada

Written by Holly Peters - Custom Wine Cellars Vancouver Comments Off on Construction of a Unique Residential Custom Wine Cellar in Vancouver, Canada

Coastal Custom Wine Cellars, a trusted wine storage contractor, recently completed a construction project in Vancouver, Canada. The client wanted a wine room built in his home. He wanted to store wines and other types of liquor in the structure. The builders used Redwood in creating the wooden racks and shelves. The cooling unit was installed by HVAC professionals from Arctic Metalworks Inc.

Beautiful Lacquer Finished Redwood for the Wine Racks and Wooden Storage Cases

Coastal Custom Wine Cellars built this one-of-a-kind residential storage room for a client in Vancouver, Canada.

The type of wood used in the construction of any wine storage space determines the structure’s durability and aesthetic value. There are various kinds of wood species on the market. Among the most popular materials are Walnut, Pine, Redwood, Sapele, and Mahogany. Coastal Custom Wine Cellars offers wine rooms made from all of these wood types.

Learn more about the different kinds of materials used for building wooden wine storage structures. Click here!

The team of expert builders from Coastal, together with the client, decided to use Redwood for the construction of the cellar racks and shelves. Redwood is a good choice because it is one of the most durable wood species used in wine cellar construction. The material is known for having natural oils that help protect it from moisture and mildew. Redwood is a popular choice also because of its aesthetic qualities. The wood has distinct earth tone colors that develop beautifully over time.

Lacquer finished Redwood used for the wine racks and shelves.

Cellar owners can choose to keep their Redwood unstained or unfinished, because the material looks gorgeous even without any stain or finish. But the client in the Vancouver wine room construction project wanted his wooden racks and shelves to be lacquer finished. He consulted the experts from Coastal, and they agreed to apply lacquer on the wood.

It is very important to consult a wine storage specialist regarding the application of stains and finishes on any wood type. Although there are various kinds of finishes on the market, like shellac, polyurethane, lacquer, and varnish, not all of these options are compatible with all wood species.

Lacquer is a popular choice not only because it is durable, but also because it provides an elegant gloss to the wood that it is applied to. The team of builders from Coastal applied a lacquer finish on the cellar’s wooden racks and shelves as per the request of the client. The lacquer made the Redwood’s colors bolder and more enhanced. The client was very pleased with the result.

Trust only a professional for the application of a stain or finish on your wooden racks and shelves. Find a wine storage specialist by clicking here!

Coastal Designs Custom Wooden Shelves and Single Bottle Wine Racking

The success of the Vancouver residential cellar construction project was mainly because the client and the builder openly contributed ideas for the design of the structure. It was the client who suggested the installation of the wooden storage cases on commercial rollers. The setup helped the boxes become more accessible to the client. Every time he wanted to get a bottle from the cases, he simply pulled the shelves out by sliding them across the rollers.

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The 5 Benefits of Wine Fridges and the 5 Best Brands to Choose From

Written by Holly Peters - Custom Wine Cellars Vancouver Comments Off on The 5 Benefits of Wine Fridges and the 5 Best Brands to Choose From

Wine fridges are a wine collector’s best friend when it comes to an affordable and efficient wine storage solution. It’s easier to organize wine bottles using wine fridges. With the many styles and sizes to choose from, wine fridges can offer the wine storage abilities you are looking for.

Wine fridges are also known as wine cabinets. Unlike regular refrigerators, wine fridges are equipped with the right equipment and climate conditions for proper wine aging.

So, why choose a wine fridge?

Here are the 5 benefits of wine fridges:

Wine Fridges are Functional

Wine fridges operate in a practical way, thanks to the simplicity of their construction; every part of the equipment serves its purpose.

Wine fridges can be space savers. They are available in various sizes and bottle capacities, to suit your storage needs.

Wine Fridge Selection

Storage capacity is maximized with wine fridges. Most models can store different sizes of wine bottles, so you will not be limited to just one bottle size in your collection.

Wine fridges can also be incorporated into the cabinetry design of your home. They are easy to mix and match, and blend well with various cabinetry materials.

Wine Fridges are Efficient

Efficiency is one of the assets of wine fridges. Compared to regular refrigerators, wine fridges are specifically designed to ensure the optimum aging of wines.

Wine fridges are equipped with cooling systems that maintain the ideal wine storage environment. Temperature and humidity are the two critical factors that most affect wine aging. With the help of cooling systems, temperature and humidity levels are constantly maintained.

Single or Dual Temperature Option – Vinopro Wine Fridges

Wine fridges with dual temperature zones allow efficient wine cooling specifically for red wines and white wines. Red wines are stored within the temperature range of 16 to 20 degrees Celsius, while white wines are stored within the temperature range of 6 to 12 degrees Celsius.

Some wine fridges have alarm systems, which send signals when there is a significant deviation in the temperature or humidity levels. This gives you an assurance that your wines will always be in good condition.

Wine fridges are energy savers as well. Trusted brands of wine fridges are designed with an energy-saving mechanism that can help lessen the cost of electricity usage.

Wine Fridges are Stylish

Wine fridges come in various styles, sizes, and colors. There are wooden wine fridges, aluminum walled wine fridges, all glass door wine fridges, and different finishes to choose from (see examples below).

There are half size and full size options. Some brands of wine fridges are available in different depths, like the Wine KoolR’s single deep and double deep-format wine fridges.

Stylish Le Cache Wine Fridges

For some brands, you can choose different shelving configurations and wine fridge frame and panel colors, like that of EuroCave wine fridges (see examples below).

Wine Fridges are Affordable

For wine collectors on a budget, buying a wine fridge is a great alternative for building your own custom wine cellar.

Spend as little as $749 (see Vinopro BI-56 Wine Fridge) to $5,000 for a wine fridge, depending on your wine storage capacity needs and design preferences.

Wine Fridges are Durable

Wine fridges are ideal for long-term wine storage, as long as you choose a high quality brand. Top-of-the-line materials and technology are now being used to produce impressively functional and sturdy wine fridges.

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Space Constraints Should not Stop You From Building an Eye-Catching Vancouver Commercial Wine Cellar

Written by Holly Peters - Custom Wine Cellars Vancouver Comments Off on Space Constraints Should not Stop You From Building an Eye-Catching Vancouver Commercial Wine Cellar

Salam Bombay Restaurant

The limited space did not stop Blue Grouse Wine Cellars from building a more functional and attractive commercial wine cellar. Custom wine displays like this can be a surefire method for increasing restaurant profits.

Good Presentation of Bottles Can Help Generate Sales

Keeping wines in boxes or displaying them in ordinary shelves will not encourage people to purchase a bottle or two. This is why the demand for wine cellars is increasing in many restaurants all over the world, including Canada.

For restaurants that offer wine, bottle presentation should not be ignored. Owners must keep in mind that having an attractive display in their restaurant will draw people’s attention and help generate sales. The way you display your wines reflects your personality, and contributes to how consumers will perceive the quality of your products.

When designed by a professional, your commercial wine storage space will create a relaxing ambiance for the diners. It will also ensure that your wines are stored in the right conditions, keeping them from being damaged by temperature fluctuations and improper humidity levels. Selling bad wine will ruin your business’ reputation, and customers may not go back to your restaurant again. Fewer customers will result in less profit.

A Simple Wine Room Transformed into an Appealing Vancouver Commercial Wine Cellar

On Burrard Street in Vancouver, British Columbia, Salam Bombay is the ideal place for wine drinkers who love contemporary Indian cuisine. Diners can choose their favorite vintage from a wide range of red and white wines. There’s also a great selection for Champagne lovers.

Modular Wine Racks, the Restaurant’s Old Wine Storage System

The old storage system was very simple, creating no visual impact at all. The wines were displayed in modular wine racks in a small area adjacent to the restaurant’s bar.

The bottles were stored horizontally and vertically in square bins. The labels of most bottles were hidden, making it hard to find a specific type of wine. Making guests wait for their wine will affect the perception your guests have of the quality of your service.

With an aim to generate more sales, the owner, Jose Madappilly, decided to change his small and plain storage area into a more functional and appealing wine room. He talked to one of the leading wine storage experts in Canada, Blue Grouse Wine Cellars.

Having a small space does not mean you can’t have a lovely commercial wine display. Blue Grouse has successfully converted small wine rooms into one-of-a-kind wine cellars.

For this project, they created a contemporary design suitable for the limited space. The room intended for the wine display measures 6 ft. wide, 5 ft. deep, and 9 ft. high.

Wine Rack Features

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Worry-Free Wine Collecting with Blue Grouse Wine Cellars: Learn the Conditions Every Wine Collector Should Know When Storing Wine in Their Home.

Written by Holly Peters - Custom Wine Cellars Vancouver Comments Off on Worry-Free Wine Collecting with Blue Grouse Wine Cellars: Learn the Conditions Every Wine Collector Should Know When Storing Wine in Their Home.

While most of the commodities are consumed within 24 hours from the time of purchase, wines are often saved by the purchaser for long-term storage and aged. Wine is one of the things that get better with time when stored and aged properly, but it can also spoil and deteriorate rapidly if kept in inappropriate conditions. Proper storage and aging will enhance wine’s flavor, color and quality in general.

As an expert in wine storage, Blue Grouse Wine Cellars always considers the following critical factors when designing and installing Vancouver wine cellars.

Proper Wine Storage – Factors to Consider

Light

Wines, especially white wines should not be subjected to excessive amounts of light. They should not be stored under direct sunlight, and fluorescent lights with ultraviolet light in the wavelength of 325 to 450 nm.

Light may adversely react with the chemical compounds in wine and create potential wine faults or defects, which often leads to wine having a light-struck aroma (or gouts de lumiere – French for tastes of light).

Wine maintains its clarity and citrus aroma if stored in a dark room. This is why most wines are packed in colored glass and stored in wine cellars with a minimal amount of lighting.

Humidity

Humidity is another critical element of wine storage that must be considered, especially if wine cork closures are used. The efficacy of the wine cork depends upon the humidity level. While the optimal humidity range is not yet established and varies from one wine expert to the next, the often-cited ideal humidity level is between 60 and 70 percent.

The ideal humidity range will keep the cork expanded and in shape, providing a good seal to the wine bottle. When wine is stored lower than the ideal humidity level, cork will dry out, shrink or crack, allowing oxygen to enter the bottle and come in contact with the wine. Oxidation then occurs resulting in degradation of wine.

Additionally, when wine is subjected to a higher humidity level, mold may occur and while this will not affect the wine itself, the bottle and wine label will deteriorate.This provides yet another reason that storing your wines in a standard kitchen refrigerator is not advisable, since it is not designed to maintain the right humidity levels.

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Two Canada Wine Varietals and Wine Storage Tips

Written by Holly Peters - Custom Wine Cellars Vancouver Comments Off on Two Canada Wine Varietals and Wine Storage Tips

Collecting wine provides wine lovers irreplaceable enjoyment. Because of their passion for wine, they invest time, money, and effort to collect even the most expensive vintages.

They also take time to acquire as much knowledge as possible about wine, such as understanding not only the difference between whites and reds, but also the different grape varieties. Knowing the ideal storage conditions for wines to mature is also important.

By knowing the varietals of the wines stored in your wine cellar, you will develop a deeper appreciation for the grapes used in making your favorite vintages. This will also help you choose the right type of wines to store and display in your wine cellar and to pick the right bottle to go with the food on your table.

Two Famous Wine Varietals in Canada

There are many different grape varieties around the world, however, not all of these can be used to produce quality wines. Let’s talk about two of the popular varietals in Canada and how to store them properly.

Cabernet Franc

Cabernet Franc is one of the major black grape varieties worldwide. It is considered one of the parents of Cabernet Sauvignon. It prefers cool, inland climates such as France, California, Australia, Chile, South Africa, and Canada.

Cabernet Franc is believed to be Canada’s signature red. In Canada, Cabernet Franc is produced as an ice wine in Ontario (they produce 99% of the world’s ice wine).

Because of its finesse, Cabernet Franc grapes are usually used in Bordeaux style blends (with Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot), lending to a peppery perfume. Blending Cabernet Franc with other varietals is necessary because it cannot achieve longevity on its own and is not suitable for long-term aging. However, there are still some producers who prefer to sell it as a single varietal.

Cabernet Franc

As a wine, it exhibits hints of pepper, tobacco, black cherry, raspberry, mint, black currant, spicy and slightly floral aromas, and nuances of violet. The green leafy notes are minimized by delaying the harvest of the grapes.

Cabernet Franc is light to medium bodied and has lighter color than Cabernet Sauvignon, but its aromas are more intense. The overall profile of Cabernet Franc greatly depends on the origin of the grapes and the vineyard of origin’s practices.

It is best paired with Greek cuisines, braised meat, poultry, veggie pizza, lasagna, and other vegetarian and tomato dishes.

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