Curious about the process of building a wine cellar start-to-finish? Today we're showcasing a new 800 bottle contemporary wine cellar we built in La Costa, California. The client, Don, presented us with a challenge: convert a study in his new home into a wine cellar with a unique design. Read on to find out how we did it. The Client...
The following is a delicious recipe courtesy of Christopher Noel, a Wine Cellar Specialist at Vintage Cellars. This family recipe is the perfect way to slow cook short ribs to tender perfection, and it features a whole bottle of Cabernet Sauvignon! As a side dish, Christopher has also shared his Creamy Gorgonzola Polenta recipe. Garlic mashed potatoes or any of...
When most people think of a wine cellar, they think of the aesthetic: a grand door, gorgeous wooden racking, perhaps a piece of wine-themed artwork. And of course, these aspects of your wine cellar are incredibly important; they're what make it fit seamlessly in the design of your home, work with your lifestyle, and put a stamp on your cellar...
Vintage Cellars' specialty is custom wine cellar designs. All wine cellars have to have functionality, of course. Racking and a cooling system are the bones any wine cellar must be built on. But when building a custom wine cellar, most clients have something more in mind than just mere functionality. Beyond storing their wine in perfect conditions for aging, a...
Cabernet Sauvignon is often referred to as the "King of Red Wine Grapes." Though it's grown in nearly ever major wine-producing country, it is most famously cultivated both in the soils of the Left Band of Bordeaux and California's Napa Valley, Cabernet is one of the world's most sought-after wine grapes. Part of what makes Cabernet so special is its...
You’re a wine lover who’s dying to start a collection. You drool over photos of others peoples’ expansive wine cellars, with their rows upon rows of bottles just waiting for the perfect day to be opened. But you don’t have a handy underground space, or an extra room that can be converted into the wine cellar you covet. You might...
Poppa’s Wine & Spirits in Oxford, Mississippi had a business plan: to become the most high-end wine shop in the state. Poppa’s owners set off on an extensive search to find the perfect company to bring their vision to life. Finally, Poppa’s owners found Vintage Cellars online, and saw that we offer commercial wine racking, and also free designs. They...
A cellar customized with Vintner wine racks Lately, your wine collection has grown too ambitious for your storage space. You have bottles in the refrigerator, in the panty, and grouped on every countertop. Clearly, you need a better system. Your ultimate dream is to own a state-of-the-art wine cellar. It will showcase an eclectic collection from all corners of...
For many years, experts thought that the only worthwhile wines in the world came from Bordeaux, France. All that changed in 1976, at a wine competition in Paris known as the "Judgement of Paris." There, French judges did a blind taste-test that pitted Bordeaux wines from France against Cabernet Sauvignons from California. Much to everyone's surprise, the California wines blew...
Photo credit: Fast Forward Event Productions Drinking good wine with good friends is one of life's greatest pleasures. If you love to entertain, but hesitate at the work and expense of hosting a dinner party, try a wine-tasting party for your next get-together. With just a few glasses, some bottles of wine, and perhaps a snack or two, you've...
Thinking of having custom wine storage built, but overwhelmed by design options? You're not alone. With dozens of materials and styles available for everything from flooring to wine racks, finding a place to start can be overwhelming. To get your creativity jump-started, here are five of our favorite custom wine storage design ideas: by Vintage Cellars We're crazy for this...
Traditional Wine Cellar by San Marcos Wine Cellars Vintage Cellars Thinking about building a wine cellar, but find yourself bogged down by questions? Never fear. Below, we've compiled the questions we are asked most frequently about building wine cellars. Find the answers you've been searching for below. Have a question that's not on this list? Contact us and we'll answer...
You're out to dinner at a restaurant and are served a bottle of wine you've never had before. The waiter arrives and pours you a taste. You take a sip. The flavor is...strange. Is the wine just new and unfamiliar, or is something wrong with it? Unsure of what to do, you tell the waiter it's fine, then spend the...
You'd love to build a wine cellar in your house to accommodate your growing collection in style. But the only place it could possibly go is a small closet. Can this tiny space be converted to a wine cellar? If done properly, many small spaces, even closets, can be converted into wine cellars. Check out this wine cellar for proof ...
Photo credit: riptheskull, Flickr There's no way around it: choosing wine to accompany the Thanksgiving meal is a tough task. First off, you have to choose a wine that goes with a wide variety of dishes: something that can stand up to Aunt Mabel's marshmallow-topped sweet potato casserole, but that also doesn't overwhelm the simple flavors of Grandma's cornbread...
Photo Credit: Jason Gibb Here's a delicious recipe perfect for your Thanksgiving meal that will feature your favorite cooking wine! This risotto is a simple but hearty dish that will go well with almost everything on your dinner menu. Wild Rice Mushroom Risotto Ingredients 5 1/2 cups chicken stock, preferably homemade 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil 1 small onion...
Cabernet Sauvignon grapes on the vine One Monday evening last month, six people sat down for a blind Cabernet (and Cab-based blends) tasting. There were no experts on the panel. There were two people that prefer whites to reds. There was one experienced craft beer person, and there was me, representing Vintage Cellars (and I hold an advanced certificate from...
Your search for the ultimate holiday party cocktail is over. Spiced wine is the perfect festive beverage to serve at your New Year’s Eve gathering, and to enjoy throughout the holiday season. This traditional drink will warm your guests through and through, and looks impressively festive. But they’ll never know that this beverage couldn’t be simpler to make. Spiced wine...
Even the most confident of wine lovers can get bogged down by a wine list that reads like a novel. Here’s how to safely navigate a restaurant wine-list and pick a bottle that’s sure to please everyone at the table. Step 1: Choose a Color Start by choosing between white or red by considering what you'll be eating. You’re out...
How is wine made? Whether you’re a newbie wine aficionado who wants to get the basics down, or a seasoned collector in need of a quick refresher course, read our step-by-step guide to find out how your favorite beverage goes from grape to bottle. The Harvest The last stage on the vine is the first step in the winemaking process...
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.