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August - Wine Enthusiast

The Best Articles on Wine Enthusiast

Benefits of Using a Wine Rack

Temperature, humidity, lighting conditions and movement play important roles for wines to mature properly. Wines need to be kept in a safe place if they are to be stored for any amount of time. And there is no other way of storing wines safely other than investing in a wine rack.

While choosing a wine rack it is to be remembered that the rack should store the wine the right way. Another important decision to make is the size of the rack - whether you want to store a few bottles or hundreds. There are lots of varieties and designs to choose from.

Horizontal wine racks are the best among all the choices available. Vertical wine racks are not a good option for storing wine. In vertical racks the cork will dry out and eventually shrink, causing air to come in contact with the wine and your wine will be ruined. Vertical racks are useful for short term storage for wines that are intended to be consumed young. Tilted racks will either leave the cork dry or deposit sediments near the cork. Horizontal racks are the best, as the cork remains moist and swelled preventing your wine from unwanted air contact. Sediment falls on the side of the bottle, far away from the cork to prevent spoilage when pouring. It is also cost effective, the design is simple and more racks can be added with ease.

Wine racks can be of metal or wood, placed on the floor or hang from ceilings. If metal is your choice then you can opt for Wine Tower, Lily Wall, Echelon, Wine Lounge or choose from Calistoga Wine Hanger or Climbing Tendril. Wooden wine racks have the advantage of adding extra storage space as and when you add to your wine collection. Wooden racks are usually constructed of maple, cedar and mahogany that have strength, hardness and visual appeal. Choose from Rectangular Bin, Diamond Bin, Waterfall Individual Rack or the Curved Corner Rack. For the more creative ones you can order your own wooden kit. The kit includes bolts, wrench and wooden racks machined with pre-drilled holes that can be installed in no time at all.

Wine racks come in various sizes. From small wine racks that can hold one or two bottles to those that can hold thousands. Small or medium sized racks work fine for your home collection while for commercial purposes large sized racks are required. Depending on your choice, wine racks can cost anything between $20 and $1000.

About the Author

Rory H. Hawkins writes about wnie racks and other interesting topics. For more information on wine storage racks visit us today.

Another short Wine Enthusiast review

Benefits of Using a Wine Rack

Temperature, humidity, lighting conditions and movement play important roles for wines to mature properly. Wines need to be kept in a safe place if th...

Click Here to Read More About Wine ...

Featured Wine Enthusiast Items

The FTD Bereavement Basket - Deluxe

A striking mix of roses, snapdragons, and carnations lets them know you are thinking of them. S40-3125D

Price: 95.99 USD

Headlines on Wine Enthusiast

Here It is…Daring Bakers Challenge..and WHAT a Challenge!

Tue, 29 Jul 2008 23:07:16 PDT
This one was a challenge! First, I have to say how much I appreciate being part of the Daring Bakers. I definitely get out of my comfort zone a lot and bake things I would not normally bake. The ingredients can sometimes be pricey (this challenge cost me over $20.00) but I can usually plan ahead to pull a few dollars here and there from other places. Do I stress? Yes! I told you I had been busy? Well I grocery shopped July 29 until 5 p.m…came home and started the challenge…to be rev

Dive in! (San Francisco Bay Guardian)

Tue, 29 Jul 2008 20:11:54 PDT
Best of the Bay 2008: All of our delicious Food and Drink winners

When making pie crust: Try a little tenderness (Pittsburgh Tribune-Review)

Sat, 26 Jul 2008 21:23:07 PDT
"Everything I've done my entire life with pies is wrong!" Sarah Fairbrother declared in my Washington, D.C., kitchen a few weeks ago.

Angel food cakes prize qualities tried and true (The Appleton Post-Crescent)

Fri, 25 Jul 2008 02:28:02 PDT
SEYMOUR Two days before its judged at the Outagamie County Fair, entry No. 501-800-70143 is in a tube pan turned upside down with a Worcestershire sauce bottle pushed through its center.

Amy Loveless: At the Dream Away or catering, food is her calling (Berkshire Eagle)

Wed, 23 Jul 2008 13:15:36 PDT
Amy Loveless, consulting chef at the Dream Away Lodge here, can look back on a career that encapsulates Berkshire culinary history. Mention a storied chef or restaurant, and she has been there.

Wine Selection
Chianti Region | Chianti Wine

Labels: Strawberry Wine

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12:14 PM

We have not left any stone unturned in compiling this article on Tasting Notes . If you do find any unturned stones, do contact us!

Another Great Tasting Notes Article

Wine Openers- 6 Styles Reviewed

Waiter Corkscrew

This is probably the most ubiquitous wine opener in the world, and the ultimate in simplicity. This tool features a design that allows the entire tool to fit in your pocket, and as such has become the overwhelming favorite of wait staff and picnic goers. There are three essential parts that all fold out from the body of the tool: the corkscrew itself, a lever that acts as a fulcrum on the top of the bottle, and a small foilcutter to cut the foil from the top of the bottle. No wine cellar would be equipped without one at a minimum for backup. To use the opener simply remove the foil from the neck with the knife, twist the corkscrew fully into the cork, and then place the lever on the top of the bottle and pull the cork up and out. Some devices feature two shoulders on the lever in order to maximize leverage, in this case use the one halfway down the lever first, finally use the top shoulder to get the cork the rest of the way out.

Wing style

Here is another very popular type of wine opener. Using the mechanical advantage of a lever and gear, this device makes uncorking a bottle easier than a typical cork puller. While the price is a little higher than the waiter style, it is a great choice for the home user or anyone that does not wish to wrestle with a wine bottle. Simply rest the bottom of the opener on the top of the bottle, screw the corkscrew into the cork, and then push the levers down and they will lift the cork out. This could be the second most important accessory for the wine lover, second only to the wine glasses. These models come in a wide selection of metals including nickel-plated steel, or plastic. It is highly recommended to buy only heavy-duty metal types as they are more solid and will last for years.

Lever Pull

This type was made famous by the brand named "The Rabbit", and it does make very quick work of opening wine bottles. Featuring a clamp you hold around the neck of the bottle with one hand, and a lever that plunges then pulls the corkscrew with the other. This gizmo efficiently removes a cork in just seconds. If you have a lot of wine to open, you will certainly find this toll useful. But be aware that this premium product comes at a premium price. A quality lever pull wine opener will cost up to $100 or above.

Twist Corkscrews

A two piece corkscrew with no levers, clamps, or hinges makes this one of the easiest and our favorite corkscrew for every day use. Use the device by first placing the bottom "seat" on top of the wine bottle. The corkscrew piece then slides into a guide hole in the top and is automatically centered on the cork. Begin twisting and the screw first drives into the cork, than it stops against the shoulder of the seat and as you continue twisting it lifts the cork clear. Broken corks are pratically impossible when using this style, as are cork pieces floating in the wine when completed. And at prices less than $50.00, this is in the top 10 accessories for any wine buff.

Uncorking Machines

If you have an entire room reserved just for your wine collection, than you are likely ready for an uncorking machine. With the simple pull of a lever in one direction, you will be able to twist the corkscrew in, and then pull it out of the bottle. Reverse direction and the cork will spit out and you are ready to do it again. The entire process takes less than 10 seconds. The design of these machines makes opening wine not only efficient, but also impressive. But be sure these machines are not cheap in the least; expect to pay over $100 for the most basic model that clamps to a tabletop. And for advanced models you would expect to see on an Italian estate the price tag will exceed $500.00.

Pump Style

The last style opener we will mention is the pump style. These insert a long needle through the cork into the air space above the wine. Then using either a pump or a cylinder of compressed air, the cork is removed by building up pressure under the cork so it pops out, just like champagne. These tools are a little bit more gizmo than workhorse, but for the enthusiast who has it all, this might make a good gift just for the amazement factor when it is time to open the bottle.

About the Author

Michael Briggs is a wine enthusiast and a frequent contributor to Winery-Mall where you can learn all about wine enjoyment

Another short Tasting Notes review

Wine travel

Wine has been an integral part of many civilizations since a long time. Wine formed an important part of the culture in many countries ever since the ...

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Featured Tasting Notes Items

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This patriotic arrangement is a beautiful tribute to anyone who's served. A bold combination of red & white is accented with assorted greenery and a complementary bow. S30-3177D

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