Category Archives: wine storage

Worry-Free Wine Collecting with Blue Grouse Wine Cellars: Learn the Conditions Every Wine Collector Should Know When Storing Wine in Their Home.

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While most of the commodities are consumed within 24 hours from the time of purchase, wines are often saved by the purchaser for long-term storage and aged. Wine is one of the things that get better with time when stored and aged properly, but it can also spoil and deteriorate rapidly if kept in inappropriate conditions. Proper storage and aging will enhance wine’s flavor, color and quality in general.

As an expert in wine storage, Blue Grouse Wine Cellars always considers the following critical factors when designing and installing Vancouver wine cellars.

Proper Wine Storage – Factors to Consider

Light

wine storageWines, especially white wines should not be subjected to excessive amounts of light. They should not be stored under direct sunlight, and fluorescent lights with ultraviolet light in the wavelength of 325 to 450 nm.

Light may adversely react with the chemical compounds in wine and create potential wine faults or defects, which often leads to wine having a light-struck aroma (or gouts de lumiere – French for tastes of light).

Wine maintains its clarity and citrus aroma if stored in a dark room. This is why most wines are packed in colored glass and stored in wine cellars with a minimal amount of lighting.

Humidity

Humidity is another critical element of wine storage that must be considered, especially if wine cork closures are used. The efficacy of the wine cork depends upon the humidity level. While the optimal humidity range is not yet established and varies from one wine expert to the next, the often-cited ideal humidity level is between 60 and 70 percent.

The ideal humidity range will keep the cork expanded and in shape, providing a good seal to the wine bottle. When wine is stored lower than the ideal humidity level, cork will dry out, shrink or crack, allowing oxygen to enter the bottle and come in contact with the wine. Oxidation then occurs resulting in degradation of wine.

Additionally, when wine is subjected to a higher humidity level, mold may occur and while this will not affect the wine itself, the bottle and wine label will deteriorate.This provides yet another reason that storing your wines in a standard kitchen refrigerator is not advisable, since it is not designed to maintain the right humidity levels.

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Canada Wine Cellar Builder and Wine Cellar Cooling Units

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Wine must be stored in an environment where temperature and humidity are kept constant. The ideal wine storage temperature is between 50-55 degrees Fahrenheit and the ideal humidity levels range from 60-70 percent.

Without the right wine cooling system, your wine cellar won’t be able to perform its function, which is to provide wine the optimal storage conditions it needs for proper maturation. To ensure that your wine cooling unit is efficient and quiet, you must contact a Canada wine cellar specialist who can help you determine your wine cellar refrigeration requirements.

 

Blue Grouse Wine Cellars Offers Efficient Wine Cooling Units

Blue Grouse Wine Cellars, a wine cellar builder in Vancouver, Canada, has done excellent job in building custom wine cellars that are not only aesthetically appealing, but are able to store wine for both short term and long-term aging.

BGWC WC COOLING UNITSThey only use reliable wine cellar cooling systems to achieve the ideal wine cellar environment. As they see it, your wine deserves the best, so they offer quality wine cooling units for y

ur custom wine cellar.

Wine cooling units from WhisperKool are available in different models. Each model is designed and constructed to maintain optimal storage conditions in both residential and commercial wine cellars.

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Basic Construction Specifications when Building a Custom Wine Cellar in Canada

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Planning to have a custom wine cellar in Canada? Whether it’s a commercial or residential wine cellar, there are specifications you need to follow in order to make sure that your wine storage room will function properly. Here are a few construction specifications for wine cellars in Vancouver:

1. Cellar Wall & Ceiling Frame

When building a wine cellar, make sure that the wall framing is built using standard 2×4 or 2×6 construction methods. It’s also imperative that you know and follow the building codes in your area. If metal studs will be used, be sure to place at least 5 rows of nailers horizontally in between studs at the right heights, or attach firing strips on the left edge of the metal studs. These nailers or strips are where the wine racks will be attached, so these have to be very durable.

2. Wine Cellar Vapor Barrier & Insulation

You need to install a vapor barrier and insulation to your custom wine cellar in Vancouver if it is to be chilled. Vapor barriers and insulation make sure that the cold inside the wine storage room is kept inside and remains constant.

In creating vapor barriers, you first need to apply 6-mill plastic sheeting to the warm side of the wine cellar walls. You must apply a vapor barrier on the outside walls and ceiling of your custom wine cellar. Make sure that the seams are taped and sealed before the walls are closed.

In cases wherein it’s not possible to apply a vapor barrier on the outside of the studs or joists, you must apply plastic inside the wine cellar to the outside walls. What most people commonly do is wrap the entire interior of their residential wine cellar in Canada leaving the plastic loose inside the stud cavity. In between the studs, you can apply insulation. It is imperative that all of the cellar’s walls and ceiling are completely wrapped in plastic so that vapor barrier is effective. Insulation for the walls should be R13, or greater while R19 to R30 is best for the ceiling.

3. Custom Wine Cellar Doors

If your custom wine cellar is to be chilled, the exterior grade of your wine cellar door should be solid core 1.75”. You may also choose to have glass on the cellar door; if so, you must use sealed insulated glass. To prevent warm air from penetrating the door, exterior grade weather stripping is also required.

4. Residential Wine Cellar Lighting

The best type of lights are LED lights, but if you want to use recessed cans and halogen lighting accents, you must have a good wine cellar cooling unit to remove the heat generated by these lights out from the cellar. It is important to consider also that lighting that emits more heat also consumes more power.

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Popular Wines Found in Canada Wine Cellars

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Canadians love wine. Wine growing and production in the country picked up, especially during the 60’s, when better technology allowed people to have cool-climate grapes. There is a fast-rising market of both wine drinkers and wine collectors in that part of the world, and their tastes tends towards the all-time favorites red such as Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot which are richer and full-bodied and exciting bottles that originate from Canada itself.

Well-Known Wines Stored in Canada Wine Cellars

Pinot Noir

PINOT NOIR CANADA1Pinot Noir has steadily gained a loyal following, and people have started stocking their wine racks with this wine variety, especially after the movie Sideways came out, and Canadians are no exception.

This wine came from the Burgundy region of France and is a wine variety that goes through a challenging winemaking process making it slightly more pricy when compared to other red wines. But this hasn’t stopped it from being featured in wine cellars all throughout Canada. Pinot Noir is cherished for its delicious hints of cinnamon, and nuances of raspberry, cherry, and strawberry. This wine is best paired with dark meat dishes, as well as chocolate and cheese.

MERLOT CANADA

Merlot

Merlot, which is from the Bordeaux region of France, thrives in cool temperatures. Wine storage for this variety is not a problem in Canada where some regions enjoy cooler climates.

In fact, top wineries in Canada love this wine variety. The fruity flavors and dark blue hue has hints of blueberry, blackberry, and even touches of cocoa. For beginners, it is recommended that they start by storing Merlot in their Canada wine cellars because its subtleness is a great initiation into the world of wine. This red wine is best consumed with shellfish, prawns, and red meat dishes.

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Canada Wine Cellars – Balance in Temperature and Humidity

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Wine storage and aging is one of the most meticulous interests that you can pursue. This is because wine requires a delicate balance of environmental factors so that it can age properly. This is why it is important to learn how to properly store and cool wine.

You should know the ideal conditions that should be present in your Canada wine cellar to make sure that your precious vintages age to their best possible potential with the passage of time.

Temperature

Wine storage temperature is a major factor a wine collector must take into account to keep his wine safe. It must be kept constant in your wine cellar. The ideal temperature for storing wine is different for reds and whites. For red wine, the best temperature is anywhere between 50-55ºF. For white wine, the optimal temperature is 45ºF.

Constant fluctuations in temperature will cause wine to age prematurely, resulting in “flat” flavour and wine faults and preventing the drinker from savoring the desirable flavors and aromas of the vintage. Remember to keep your wine away from direct sunlight too, as this adds unnecessary heat and light which can interfere with wine’s aging process.

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