Everyday here at Wine Enthusiast, we have wine lovers from all around the world contacting us via telephone, email, live chat, etc. asking us this very question. For some people, wine is just something they like to enjoy with meals or on social occasions with friends and family. For others, wine is a true passion, a way of life and reaches into their soul in one form another each and everyday. For that reason, there are a variety of different wine storage options that are offered, from entry- level wine refrigerators to high-end custom wine cellars, for all to choose from.

Regardless if you are a novice just starting your collection, or an experienced wine connoisseur that has had thousands of bottles stored for decades, there are 4 basic reasons why anyone who enjoys having wine in their home should have some form of proper wine storage. We call them the 4 P’s:

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I was recently working on organizing a wine cellar with a large collection of exceptionally old bottles. As I worked I stumbled upon several tragic situations of 1983 half-bottle Hermitages gone wrong over the last 25 years. I was shocked at their condition until I considered they were the only lost soldiers I had found throughout the whole project.
The wine cellar I had been working on, though a little disorganized, was kept in perfect condition and allowed for a majority of older wines to age beautifully. This perfect condition successfully battled all four of the Enemies of Wine:

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Corkscrews come in all shapes and sizes, for various purposes. They can be antique and decorative, high-tech and quick, or simply classic. Over the years we’ve discovered that a person’s wine opener preference can be a sensitive subject. Some swear by their favorite old-fashioned crankers while others seek new upgrades. It’s clear that there is something to love about every kind of corkscrew, and we’re here to explain the benefits of each. Pick your preference!

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Shhh, we’re letting you in on a secret. As loyal blog readers who we truly consider our friends, we’re sharing our first Friends and Family Showroom Sale information with you. If you live in the New York Tri-State area, here’s what you need to know:

What: A large selection of Eurocaves, Portfolio Cellars, Silent Cellars and other Furniture pieces available for sale at near cost pricing.

Where: Our showroom at 103 Fairview Park Drive, Elmsford New York, just 45 minutes North of Manhattan. Directions can also be found here

When: Tomorrow, June 26th at 5:30PM and Saturday, June 28th 10:00AM-5:00PM

Bring family and friends and take advantage of this great opportunity to save big on some of our most popular wine cellars. If you’ve ever wanted a wine cellar in your home, now is the time.

Hope to see you all there! Leave a comment if you have any additional questions.

Please note: This sale is only taking place in our Elmsford, New York showroom and is not online or via phone.

As we move into the Summer months when outdoor entertaining is commonplace, stemless wine glasses are everywhere. These casual tumblers place the wine directly in your hand. Oddly enough, the popularity of stemless wine glasses is recent, with people adopting them wildly over the past few years.

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If you are planning to build a wine cellar, there are certain steps that need to be taken in order for the room to perform properly and maintain ideal wine storage conditions of both temperature (55 degrees) and humidity (60-65% relative humidity). To ensure that this happens, follow our basic steps which involve common building materials, all obtainable from any building or home supply store.

• Framing lumber
• Green board (moisture-resistant sheet rock)
• Rigid foam insulation
• Vapor barrier (rolled plastic sheeting)
• Floor tile (ceramic, porcelain or rubber)
• Exterior grade insulated door

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Currently, John and the Wine Enthusiast Wine Cellar RV are en route from Riverside, California, to San Francisco. He is making personal visits to various West Coast customers, defining full-service wine cellar consultation and design.

As wonderful as we think John is, it looks like he’s parked himself next to a real “Super Man” in this picture. Can you guess where in the country he was when he took this photo?

To book your own appointment with John, fill out our Design Consultation Form or call us today at 800.377.3330.

After Bordeaux, Port may be the most famous wine in the world. Everyone’s heard of it and millions have enjoyed it. But how much do you really know about Port?

Here’s a quick rundown of the ins and outs of this popular sweet sensation. Yes, Port is a sweet wine and the real thing comes from Portugal, although so-called “Port” is made in many regions around the world. Port is a fortified wine, because to make it, alcohol (brandy) is added to the fermenting vats. This interrupts the fermentation because the high alcohol level kills off the yeasts. Thus, a high quantity of grape sugar remains in the wine. There are several types of Port, each with its own distinct character and proper method of handling.

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Last Monday, May 19th, marked the final stop on our 4-city Toast of the Town 2008 tour. We began in San Francisco, then hit Atlanta, Chicago and ended at New York’s Lincoln Center. Everyone enjoyed truly memorable food and wine in the company of many spirited people. Not only were there hundreds of bottles being poured and unique tastes served like crispy sweet breads and lasagna with truffle oil, there were also some brand new potions like champagne beer and ginger liqueur, that Toast of the Town attendants were privy to.

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It’s 10:30 AM on a Tuesday and I have just finished my 4th consultation and explanation of the differences between storage and service temperature for wine. To be clear, the majority of wine collectors are looking for a wine cellar environment to store their wines to age gracefully and protect from volatile situations.

So along comes the question I often hear: “Do I need a two- temperature unit to store my reds and whites?” If your intentions are to store your wines for aging and protection, you need only a one- temperature unit. Ideally, all wines (reds, whites, champagne and ports) best store at temperatures between 50-60 degrees.

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