Small-scale or on a big scale, a wine cellar should incorporate the following elements:

• proper insulation
• racks to protect and display the bottles
• good temperature controls
• proper lighting levels

Your wine cellar can be an expression of your taste - perhaps you have a preference for practicality, and as much storage in a small space as possible. Alternately, you may want a show piece where you can entertain friends and sample wines in luxurious comfort. Have your needs in mind when you design your cellar.

Also be aware that a wine cellar doesn't have to be reserved for a country estate, as people from all walks of life who enjoy a fine bottle of wine build or have wine cellars installed.

Embark on the design process with an understanding of how you view your wine collection. Some bottles resemble art pieces, so you may want to display them prominently. Sometimes you may desire to showcase a rare vintage, or perhaps decorate your space with wine-related arts or crafts that bring ambience to the area.

A variety of storage designs sympathetically combined will give your wine cellar the most versatility. You can buy modular storage systems that assemble in a customized fashion, or you can have a carpenter create the storage (this can be the more expensive option).

Simple storage racks (in wood or metal) will make sure that the wine remains efficiently ventilated and separated. You may also want an area reserved for wine accessories, like glasses, corkscrews, bottle openers and wine chillers or buckets.  Your wine cellar can also have purely decorative elements such as handcrafted doors or mood lighting.

Red wines benefit most from being stored in a cellar, particularly varieties that acquire their best quality from long-term storage. A lot of people imagine that cellars need to be located in the basement or else beneath the house, but they can actually be set up in any part of the house as long as the temperature and humidity levels can be properly controlled. Make your wine cellar a genuine tribute to your passion for wine.

If you want to discover more about wine cellars, head over to http://www.infoaboutwine.com

Post from: Sterling Silver Goblet

Setting Up A Wine Cellar – What You Need To Know

A simple method of wine storage is to keep your bottles sideways in a dark place away from heat or light. If you do this, youll be able to keep your wine for longer because the flavors won't be damaged. Still, learning a bit more about wine storage can help you maximize your wines quality.

When it comes to preserving wine, temperature is the thing that makes the most difference. Keeping your wines between 50 to 60 degrees Fahrenheit is ideal; though a range of 45 to 65 degrees is considered acceptable. If your temperature is too low, your wine will not age properly. Whereas, warmer temperatures can cause wine to age prematurely (not in a good way).

Fluctuating temperatures hurt wines the most. It's much better to keep your wine at a constant temperature, even if it is too high or too low, than to subject it to large fluctuations every day. The temperature should never fluctuate more than 5 degrees a day, especially with red wines, which suffer more temperature-related problems than white wines.

Keeping track of humidity is also important in wine storage; if the air in the storage area is too dry, the corks of your bottles will dry out, and the air will come in contact with the wine and damage it. You want to aim for a humidity level of around 70 - 80% and can purchase a hygrometer to track this.

A wine cellar is the ideal place for storing wine because it maintains the optimal humidity and temperature; however, they aren't practical for most people because of their size and cost. A basement or garage can be used to get similar results though. Making some space in either and purchasing a wine rack and temperature / humidity gauge are highly recommended if you intend on storing more than a few bottles of wine at a time.

As for how long to store it for, this depends on the type of wine, the region the wine was made in, the technique used to make it, and the particular year the grapes were harvested in. In general though, you should drink whites quickly and age reds for five to 10 years. If you're starting out, consult a free online aging chart to to assist you with this aspect of wine storage.

Post from: Sterling Silver Goblet

How To Store Wine

Enjoying Wine With Dinner

Good wine will improve digestion, contribute to the flavor of the food and, in the case of red wine, assist in good health. There are several schools of thought as to which wines to combine with particular foods. However, I'd like to suggest that if it tastes right, it is right. While some gourmets may argue with this, there seems to be little downside in pairing food and wine in this manner.

Cooking With Wine

The French and Italians are masters of combining wine and food. Both these cuisines make extensive use of red and white wines in preparing meals from appetizers to sauces to desserts.

Pairing food and wine in this way avoids any alcoholic taste in the food as heating the wine or other typically boils away the alcohol portion.

The other rule to consider when cooking with wine is to never cook with a wine that you wouldn't want to drink. This will often mean opening a bottle of wine just for cooking but the flavor boost to your dinner is worth it. Do not be tempted to cook with that wine that has been sitting open in the fridge for the last week. If it isn't a wine you would drink, don't try to cook with it. Get some more tips about cooking with wine, storing wine and tasting wine at Wine Cellar Secrets.

Post from: Sterling Silver Goblet

Three Tips For Pairing Food And Wine