Archive for February, 2010

Bottle shock is a phrase used to describe what happens when wine goes through tough conditions (travel, heat, cold, vibration) and changes for the worse. Symptoms such as muted flavors or a general disjointedness can be found in a wine that has experienced bottle shock. But don’t fret! Usually it resettles and fixes itself once stable for a period of time.

When we design custom wine cellars we build them to avoid anything that might cause botttle shock. Learn more about the enemies of wine, here

Bottle shock was also mentioned in the March issue of Wine Enthusiast Magazine. Find more wine articles at Winemag.com.

Most Champagne is from large Champagne houses which blend together wine from multiple vintages to create a distinct blend. These houses buy grapes from growers. Grower Champagne is an emerging trend in France that involves smaller, artisanal producers who craft Champagne from their own grapes. Grower Champagne is also referred to as “Artisanal” or “Estate-Bottled” Champagne.

As lovely as a great bottle of luxury Champagne is, it often commands a hefty price tag, while the lesser-known grower Champagnes can offer great value. Like any wine, Champagne is only as good as the fruit that goes into it, so the attention-to-detail that goes into Grower Champagne can pay off, both in the bottle and in your pocket!