As we’ve discussed in a previous blog post, storing your wine at the proper temperature can be crucial. And, different types of wines have different requirements. Reds, like cabernet sauvignon, are ideally stored around 64°F, Riojas a bit cooler, whites such as Chardonnay a bit further down the thermometer, while Champagne and Cava thrive just above 40°F.

Storage Options are Unlimited With Today’s Wine Refrigerators

Fortunately, in order to keep your different wines stored at their optimum temperatures, the dual-zone refrigerator was invented. In these, you can store your collection at two different temperatures in the same unit.  Maybe set the bottom part cooler for the whites and so on…you get the idea. Of course, single zone units are a great option as well. Even if you combine reds and whites, they will be maintained at a stable temperature. Whites can be chilled further before serving. Then again, you could always buy two units and keep red in one and white in the other. Read more »

If you’ve ever visited a winery, chances are you saw rows of stacked oak barrels, each filled with fifty or so gallons of some unknown nectar being aged until just the right moment. Using an ages-old design, each of those barrels was constructed by artisans known as coopers. Though they come in several sizes, each barrel is made up of pieces of wood known as staves. These staves, which have been shaped into a bulging cylinder, are held in place by metal hoops. A flat, circular piece of wood caps each end.

By the way, here’s an interesting fact for you. Ever wonder why a barrel bulges in the middle? Its shape is designed so the barrel can easily be rolled when on its side. The curved design allows the barrel to be spun easily to control direction.

Though barrel building is an ancient art, an actual wine barrel has a relatively short lifespan. As a barrel is used, the main benefit–the oak flavor it imparts–decreases to the point where it is non-existent. (Think of a piece of chewing gum.) When that happens, the barrel essentially becomes a neutral storage vessel. The wine might as well be stored in flavor-free stainless steel, which lasts longer and costs less.

After being used for a few years (the number varies but the average is around five) barrels are disposed of by wineries. Unfortunately, many end up cut in half to serve as planters. Imagine a barrel that once stored a glorious cabernet now serving as home to a bunch of geraniums! That’s better than the barrel being merely thrown away but there is a better option: made to order wine barrel furniture.

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