In the mood for some warm, winter bread? Who isn’t? With a little wine and garlic, your winter snack will be even more delightful! First, pick up a freshly-baked baguette from your local grocery store or bakery. (You may also opt to bake yourself a homemade loaf of French bread.) In addition to a loaf of bread, you’ll need: 1/4...
Prosecco is an Italian sparkling wine that is often made Dry or Extra Dry. Unlike sweeter sparkling wines, today's Prosecco is intended to be on the drier side. Though Prosecco is often used as a Champagne (or other sparkling wine) substitute, it has its own distinctive taste. While Champagne and other sparklers are sought after for their complexity, Prosecco is...
This week, we're prepping you for a wine lover's Valentine's Day with some yummy ideas you can share with your sweetie! So, your Sweetie Pie wants some ice cream to accompany a romantic bottle of wine during an intimate evening in? Unheard of? Think again! There are, in fact, some decent wine and ice cream pairings you can try! Is...
So, you want to get your sweetheart a special wine to accompany the heart-shaped box of chocolates you’re giving him or her this Valentine’s Day? What wine do you select? Unlike “standard” wine and food pairings, pairing wine with chocolate can be a bit more tricky. However, if you pair them well, the result is truly divine! No matter if...
Happy Valentine's Day, everyone! Giving your Sweetie Pie a bottle of wine on Valentine’s Day? In addition to presenting it with a fancy bow or ribbon attached, there are lots of fun, inexpensive decorations the two of you can make from it the same evening (once you both finish it!) A bottle works great as a vase, so if...
Technology has certainly been keeping the wine world on its toes! With the latest wine app releases, to devices with unparalleled scanning, pairing, and locating capabilities, what new wine gadgets will they think of, next? Here is one that we find quite a catch! It’s called the eSommelier, and it’s a complete wine collection management system. Perfect for people...
Ever drink a glass of really good wine and find little crystals at the bottom? These are “wine diamonds,” not sediment, and they have been helping to preserve your wine! Wine diamonds are, in actuality, potassium bitartrate crystals that sometimes form on a wine bottle’s cork, most often when chilled. During the winemaking process, itself, they naturally form on the...
Let’s face it, people make mistakes. And when it comes to wine storage, a lot of people make innocent mistakes that end up costing them a few (or more!) good bottles of wine. Here's how to avoid some common wine storage blunders. The Top Five Wine Storage Mistakes 1. Storing wine upright. If you store wine with your bottles standing...
Have a wine cellar, but not enough room to install a proper cellar cooling unit? That’s what some people believe. Avoid a big wine storage mistake in your small cellar by investing in the WhisperKOOL Slimline cooling system; it’s designed to fit in that frequently-unused space above your cellar door! Even if your cellar is small, the WhisperKOOL Slimline’s over-the-door...
It’s still winter, but that doesn’t mean it’s not the season for spicy food. In fact, a good meal filled with spicy delights might be just the thing to warm you up! Are you eyeing that jalapeño? Are red, hot chili peppers calling your name? Here are some wines that are sure to complement your spicy food's zestiness! If your...
There have been a lot of benefits associated with drinking red wine. Now, a study at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center at Los Angeles has demonstrated that a glass of red wine a day may help reduce the risk of breast cancer. What did the researchers find? Chemicals just under the skins of red grapes (and in their seeds) lowered women’s estrogen...
Looking for an alternative to an actual wine cellar in your basement? Ever consider a freestanding, walk-in wine cellar? That’s right! Vintage Series wine rooms are easy-to-assemble, walk-in wine rooms that are all-in-one wine cooling and storage facilities. Made from reinforced panels to prevent warping, and featuring a built-in Breezaire cooling unit to ensure precise wine storage temperature control...
Frederick the Great, who brewed his coffee with Champagne instead of water Here are four interesting people who really enjoyed their wine! (Whoever said history had to be dry?) Frederick the Great (1712-1786), King of Prussia, brewed his own coffee with Champagne instead of water, adding a little bit of powdered mustard to make the flavor stronger. (Note: for...
Ever have a really good glass of wine you’d like to savor forever? If not forever, how about one you’d want to keep around to sip on over the next few weeks? We’ve all had those magic bottles of wine we wanted to keep around for little tastes, but couldn’t preserve adequately for more than a few days. With...
There’s been a lot of discussion about the benefits of wine consumption, lately, but a new trend has appeared that takes wine enrichment to the next level: bathing in it! That’s right, it’s called “vinotherapy,” and it purportedly reduces wrinkles, repositions unsightly cellulite, and even helps lift the face. Begun in the world’s first “wine spa” in France (appropriately...
Of all the varieties of port, ruby port is arguably the smoothest. Many wine drinkers unfamiliar with the world of port can easily enjoy glasses of this sweet, deep red wine. Sampling ruby port is a fantastic way for wine drinkers to become familiar with port wine, and though often less complex than their tawny cousins, good ruby wines can...
Unlike its ruby cousin, tawny port’s signature color is a bit lighter, as is its body. Simply put, it’s a more delicate wine that exhibits some of the softer traits of vintage port. Unlike expensive vintage port, however, tawny port is available at a fraction of the cost. Tawny port is produced by blending older port wines. Similar to ruby...
American studies have shown that drinking wine helps to prevent type-2 diabetes, and a recent study conducted in Europe concurs. The results, soon to be published in the Journal of International Medicine, were derived by examining numerous variables among thousands of participants. These included detailed lifestyle and eating habits of individuals living in Italy, Spain, the UK, and other European...
Easter is a time to celebrate with family and friends. When meals are involved, the focus is often on a roasted ham or a nice leg of lamb. But what wines go best with these dishes? After all, hams are often prepared with a variety of glazes, aren't they? Read on! No matter how sweet your ham’s glaze may be...
If you’ve read our recent post, If You’re Going to Drink, Choose Red!, you may be wondering how to effectively increase your red wine consumption by substituting it for white. The good news is that there’s a red wine alternative to just about every “traditional" white-wine dish! Though it may take you (and some of your guests) a little time...
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.