Beethoven was quite fond of his Wine Aside from Beethoven’s well-known drinking habits, and Mozart’s love affair with wine bottles as “romanticized” in Peter Shaffer’s Amadeus (1984), few people realize how great a role wine has played in the history of Western classical music. During the late 16th to early 18th century, over 250 books containing “Serious” and “Drinking...
Eurocave Elite Though you may have a “good” bottle of wine on your hands, serving it at an inappropriate temperature can completely ruin it. As a rule, a wine should be served at a temperature where its flavors and aromas are most exposed. This “ideal” temperature, of course, varies based on the wine. Here are a few ballpark numbers: Warm...
During this year’s Passover, some of you will probably have a glass of Manischewitz, a peculiarly sweet kosher wine often associated with Passover. There are, however, kosher alternatives to Manischewitz many people are unaware of (Unless you've read our previous post on kosher wine!). The idea that all kosher wines are eminently sweet is simply untrue. When kosher wines (like...
The Atalaya Almansa 2007 will surprise you not only with its ridiculously low price tag, but also with its richness in flavor. The Atalaya Almansa is a distinguished blend of Monastrell, Garnacha Tintorera, and other grapes. Brought to you from Spain, and aged eight months in French and American oak, its impressive nose consists of violet, blueberry, black cherry...
Wine and cheese platters are customarily a part of many people’s celebrations. But choosing the right cheese to accompany your wine of choice, or vice versa, is not always easy. And just as serving wine at an improper temperature can bring out its worst, serving a badly-paired cheese will also impair the taste of a wine. That said, here are...
The 2007 Pinot Noir from Fotinos Brothers proudly hails from Napa Valley. (The 2007 is the second offering from the inaugural release in 2006.) For a second vintage, this wine is impressive, and Jake Austad from Vintage Cellars had the opportunity to taste and review it. “The upfront is pure cherry,” he recalls, “and a smooth mouth feel is followed...
After moving from Midtown Manhattan to a home in upstate New York, Rick Fraser finally had the necessary space to create his own wine cellar capable of housing 2,000 bottles. He consulted Vintage Cellars, and decided to use approximately 61 Vintner wine racking kits to construct the cellar he envisioned. When complete, he wrote us with photographs of his elegant...
Featured on Apple’s own website (apple.com) in May of 2010, Wine Cellar Pro by Velvet Vine, created by Tap Leap Software, LLC, quickly became one of the top five recommended iPhone applications. Allowing users to manage wine inventories, track purchases, and take personal tasting notes, Velvet Vine also allows users to share their wine journals, tasting notes, and reviews with...
Perhaps you’ve read our previous post, Fooled by Numbers: Wine and You? If so, this short comparison between two very different wines compliments it nicely! I recently purchased, for the same price, a bottle of El Salegar Tinto Fino 2007 and a bottle of the Maison Elise Richard 2008 Corbieres Red Blend, without knowing at their ratings. Made from a...
Nat Decants, an iPhone app, is designed to make your mouth water! This free app--yes, I do mean free--is a conglomeration of ten wine programs interfaced into one easy-to-use application. Therefore, it is extremely convenient, not to mention affordable! Not only does Nat Decants provide thousands of wine reviews, articles, and winery listings, its really tantalizing features are its ability...
We’re often told what wines go well with certain food items, but we rarely discuss which wines and foods don’t mix well. Here's a few "don'ts" Though a Chardonnay pairs well with chicken, salmon, and creamy sauces, it fails to delight when sipped with hot, spicy foods! Even a good bottle of Pinot Noir can become offensive when served...
Vintage Cellars’ very own custom cellar designer Jake Austad is currently touring the wine country in Paso Robles, California. Some of the wineries is visiting include “local favorites” like Justin, Denner Vinyards, Turley, and Tablas Creek. Jake checked in on Monday with an exciting discovery claiming, “I think we may have found the greatest $10 wine ever made!” Apparently...
Vintage Cellars’ own Jake Austad checks in with us again from his California wine tour, telling us all about his latest find. “I stumbled upon Dubost on the west side of Paso Robles,” says Jake. “Sure, the sign said tasting room open, but after a half mile trek down a one lane dirt road, I was unsure. Once in the gravel...
A white wine with a light golden color (and subtle hints of blue), this inexpensive summertime sipper hails from the banks of Germany’s Mosel river in Trier. Though the nose is on the weaker side, this light, crisp wine is well-balanced. Its body is delicately creamy, consisting of a subtle buttery texture slightly reminiscent of a Chardonnay. Interestingly, the Piesporter...
In a rush to get the info for a few new bottles you're looking at? Having dinner in a place where it is improper to spend time entering wine information on your phone? Have no fear; Wine by the Bar is here! Wine by the Bar, a nifty app for the iPhone, makes use of your phone’s camera to...
Unlike sweet Hungarian wines made from Tocai Friulano grapes, this Italian Pinot Blanc blend utilizes this curious grape to create an elegant and interesting combination of flavors and scents consisting of 60% Tocai Friulano, 25% Pinot Bianco, and 15% Pinot Grigio. Fermented in stainless steel, the Pino & Toi is very fresh, aging little before bottling. It is often recommended...
This hearty, Argentinean Malbec is quite robust! Its delightful nose contains pleasing plum and vanilla scents. The wine itself has prominent spicy flavors--very characteristic of Argentinean Malbecs--as well as those of dark plums, blackberries, and traces of vanilla. The finish is quite good, lasting well over 40 seconds, and includes satisfying blackberry notes. This is a wine sure to...
Want to learn the basics about decanters and decanting? Check out our Decanting article in the Wine Storage Education Center! There’s something refreshing about properly-decanted wine, especially when served with the main course! Some savvy restaurants practice the art of decanting so that your wine will open to its fullest by the time your meal arrives. The arts of cooking...
This delightful rosé blend from Château Montaud makes a perfect picnic wine, or one to enjoy on a nice, hot summer eve. With a very clear raspberry appearance, this evanescent wine has stunning visual presence. The nose, very clean but low-keyed, presents pronounced berry and peach aromas, with hints of honeysuckle, strawberry, and even a wisp of pear! Pleasant-tasting, this crisp wine has...
With so many quality wine racking options, the ability to build your own wine cellar using custom racking kits has never been easier. From unfinished, Rustic Pine Wine Racks and Traditional Redwood Wine Racks, to stylish and contemporary VintageView Wine Racks that allow you to see your bottles’ labels clearly when stored, you’re bound to find a wine racking kit perfect...
Vintage Cellars started building custom wine cellars in 1990. Based in San Macros, California, we have built custom wine cellars throughout the United States.
Our wine cellar design experts are waiting to turn your custom wine cellar dream into a reality. Tell us the style, size, budget, and other details and we will design a custom wine cellar for you.