A wine room depends upon temperature and humidity control. Good insulation, a vapor barrier and climate control system are all key components, but a huge part of climate control comes in purchasing the right wine room door. The wrong decision can force your wine cellar cooler to work harder and allow undesirable warm air inside your wine room, defeating the rest of your careful wine room development and design.

The correct wine door has a seal on the entryway when the door is closed, permitting the wine cellar cooling unit to mix temperature and humidity-controlled air through the whole wine room without fighting with air entering into the room from outside the door. Whether you choose a pre-made standard door, or have one crafted to your exact specifications, all good wine cellar doors have specific classifications that make them perfect for the climate control demands of your wine cellar.

Wine Cellar Door Construction

Custom wine cellar contractors suggest using exterior grade wine cellar doors, which are sturdy enough to withstand temperature fluctuations and keep outside air from leaking in. A good exterior grade door should be weatherproofed and acclimatized to the level of temperature and humidity in the environment where it will be installed; the humidity factor should not be ignored when picking a door. The recommended humidity for a wine room falls generally between 50% and 80%, with 70% being the optimal level. If a wine door can’t survive 70% humidity without warping or added issues, it is not worth the money you paid for it.

Wooden wine doors should have rock-hard construction; by no means use a cavernous door as the entrance for your wine cellar. If you use a glass wine door, it should be double-paned to help keep exterior air out. The recommended thickness for wine room doors varies according to who you ask, but the minimum you should install for your wine cellar is one and three-quarter inches. If your wine cellar door is accessible to children or if you just want more security for your wines think about adding a lock to your door requirements.

Wine Room Door Materials

Wine room doors are available in a range of materials; wood, glass, and even wrought iron. Options consist of standard doors, carved wood doors or carved wood and glass. You can also get beveled glass doors or wine cellar iron doors.

When buying a wine cellar door, the condition of your wine cellar may guide your purchase to a certain degree. Is the wine room already built? Do you need to buy a door to fit your existing entryway? Or do you need a whole set with the door, doorjamb, weather stripping included in a package? Wine cellar doors may come in “door-only” versions or as pre-hung doors. A pre-hung wine room door comes to you installed into a frame which you install into the entryway. Pre-hung doors speed up the installation process if you are doing the work yourself, but you may desire an extra pair of hands to help get the door in position and correctly attached.

Some wine room doors contain optional wrought-iron attachments which are installed on top of your door after it has been installed in the opening, but these don’t have anything to do with climate control issues in your cellar; the wrought iron add-ons are always decorative. If you add these ornamental designs, it is essential to fasten them safely to the door to eliminate the potential for damage to the finish of the wood.

Wine Cellar Doors vs Entryways

Several wine cellar door makers offer custom-designed and built entryways. What’s the difference between an entryway and a wine room door? With a custom entryway you will have the entire section of door, doorjamb and related construction included in the package. This can create a more elegant look for your cellar and supply some additional custom choices for the space. If you order the door only, you can install it in your existing entryway, which is useful for situations where you are already pleased with the surrounding wine cellar build-out.

Miscellaneous Concerns

Wine cellar doors ought to come with a threshold, door sweep and perimeter seal. These seals permit the door to be weather-stripped on all three sides to keep out drafts when the door is shut. Weather stripping is a necessity for the entrance to your wine room, otherwise your wine cooling system works less efficiently and your climate controlled air will move into the area outside the wine cellar.

Are you purchasing a custom wine room door? You will need measurements of your door jamb or entryway and you must decide whether you need handles or locks. Some vendors will not install locks or pre-drilling. If you want to put in a lock in these cases you will need to do the job yourself based on the design specifications of a particular lock.

Sometimes the direction your doors open can be an issue. When thinking of which way your wine doors should hinge, consider the positioning of your wine storage racks or accessories close to the doors, and how wide you need to open the doors should you have to bring in a crate or case of wine bottles. If you need additional clearance than the interior of your wine room can offer, make sure your doors can swing open to the outside, and don’t forget a doorstop or additional add-on to prevent the doors from striking the wall.

Wine doors are an essential aspect of your wine room. Selected wisely the doors can help your wine cellar function properly and create a great first impression to your visitors.

Ben Adams is the marketing director for Vigilant, Inc. a luxury goods manufacturer in Dover, NH. Vigilant is a premier manufacturer of wine cellars, wine racks and wine cellar doors as well as cigar storage equipment. Vigilant partners with homeowners and businesses to create wine storage spaces to fulfill the need for complete and precise protection for collections of fine wine. Please visit them at vigilantinc.com for additional information or to learn about any of their wine storage or cigar storage products.

Article Source:

http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ben_S_Adams

The Best Places To Buy French Wine Online

Wine is one of the most loved beverages in the world, one that almost everyone enjoys here and there. It goes great with food, and is a fantastic way to treat guests when you have them over.

So you want to buy French wine, but you are not sure of where to go. Fortunately, with the technological advances of today, there are more wine stores than ever before, and using the Internet will really be your best bet if you want to get the highest quality wine for the least amount of money.

There are literally thousands of different online companies that you can go through to buy French wine, a few of the very best which will be discussed in more detail here.

Wine Drive

Whether you want to buy red wine or white, when you want to buy French wine, this is one of the first companies you want to visit. They feature fine French wine direct from the vineyard, routes to vineyards in France, and they even offer a wine club that you can sign up for.

They have carefully selected 115 of the top vineyards in France to bring you, the customer, more than 1,100 acclaimed and award-winning French wines for you to try. when you are a member, you will have access to their Premier Pages lists of award winning wines with a history and pedigree which will always set them apart on your table.

Cellar Aiders

Another company you can find online where you can buy French wine is Cellar Aiders. They feature not only French wines but as well wines from Italy, Spain, domestic USA, dessert and champagne.

They also have featured wines so you can keep checking back to see what new ones they are featuring. Whether you want to purchase wine or just find out more information on any wine, you can get everything that you need here.

French Wine Shop

Or perhaps to buy French wine you would like to check out the French Wine Shop. They offer tons of valuable information on wines, the different types that are out there and how to choose wine for a meal. They are always offering new wines so you always have the largest selection to choose from.

Their prices are also affordable, so even if you don’t have a ton of money to spend, they will still help you find the best quality wine for the amount of money that you are willing to spend.

By: f="http://www.articledashboard.com/profile/Abna-Kaushal/87467">Abna Kaushal

Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com

Author Promoted Sites: Cheap Cheap Ebooks , Free Articles and Free Health Articles

Technorati Tags: cellars wine club, signature wine cellars

If you are looking for fine German wine and food, you should consider the Rheingau region of central Germany. You may find a bargain, and I hope that you’ll have fun on this fact-filled wine education tour in which we review a local Riesling Spätlese, literally a late-harvest wine but in fact one made from ripe grapes.

The Rheingau region is the most central of Germany’s thirteen wine regions but comes in eighth both for vineyard area and the volume of wine produced. It has quite a special terrain. The majestic Rhine River runs mostly in the east-west direction and has excellent exposure to the summer sun. Furthermore the heavily wooded hillsides block cold air. The Rheingau is known for its Riesling which makes up over 80% of its total wine production. Pinot Noir (Spätburgunder) comes in second with a measly 10%. But this is Riesling country and has been since the Middle Ages. And since the late Eighteenth Century it has been making Spätlese and the sweeter Auslese wines.

If you are in this region you should visit Öestrich-Winkel about thirteen miles (twenty-one kilometers west of Wiesbaden, the main city in the Rheingau region. Öestrich is home to the largest vineyard in the Rheingau. The nearby Brentano Haus has a special room devoted to the writer Goethe, but you need an appointment to visit. North of the town you’ll find Schloss Vollrads, the oldest (we’re talking almost seven hundred years) private wine estate in Germany with a tower and moat that were inhabited for centuries. And don’t miss the nearby Schloss Johannisberg, described in a previous article in this series.

Before reviewing the Rheingau wine here are a few suggestions of what to eat with indigenous wines when touring this beautiful region.

Start with Riesling-Käse Suppe (Riesling and Cheese Soup).

Continue with Bauernente (Farmer’s Duck).

For dessert indulge yourself with Riesling-Torte (Riesling Torte).

OUR WINE REVIEW POLICY All wines that we taste and review are purchased at the full retail price.

Wine Reviewed

Letitz Rudesheimer Berg Roseneck Riesling Spätlese 2004 7.5% alcohol about $25

Let’s start by quoting the marketing materials. Tasting Note: Wild floral aromas combine with guava, cinnamon and nut oils. The luscious tropical fruit flavors along with a bacony tang come across as lively rather than sweet. Succulent and long on the finish. Score – 90 (Joel B Payne, International Wine Cellar, Jan./Feb. 2006) And now for my review.

The first sip was deliciously sweet with plenty of citrus. I really felt that I could finish the bottle; what a headache that would give me. My first meal consisted of packaged vegetarian lasagna covered with grated Parmesan cheese. The taste of tropical fruits remained in my mouth for a moderate period of time. The wine’s sweetness melded with the lasagna’s tomatoes. For dessert I had a French-style lemon pie with a very buttery crust. The two somewhat different citrus tastes meshed; I got some pear notes as well.

I next tried the wine with a mushroom, pepperoni, and Italian sausage pizza. The Spätlese was too sweet for the pizza. It actually went well with the toppings but there wasn’t a lot of tomato. As always, I don’t blame the wine for an unorthodox (read weird) food pairing.

The final food pairing was with a commercially barbecued lightly-herbed chicken breast accompanied by roasted potatoes cooked in chicken fat, and a fairly spicy tomato, garlic, green pepper, and lime juice salsa. This time the wine was lovely with sweet acidity and an excellent citrus taste. It did a fine job of cutting the potatoes’ grease, and believe me, they are greasy. This Riesling was a chameleon; it became spicy when faced with the salsa. In the presence of fruit juice candy the wine was quite round but somewhat short. It seems to go well with almost everything. I did something that I don’t usually do. I repeated this delicious meal with the same great results, leaving only a tiny bit of wine for the cheese tastings. No way that I was going to waste a quarter bottle of this wine on cheese pairings.

I first tried this Riesling wine with a Havarti cheese. The wine enveloped the cheese and wasn’t overly sweet. But frankly, why bother? Marbled Cheddar cheese increased the wine’s acidity.

Final verdict. Yes, yes, and yes. Maybe I am tired of $10 wines, but frankly most $20-$30 wines don’t even come close to this delicious bottle. I not only would buy it again, but am actively looking for such a wine. I do have a Rheingau Auslese (a true late-harvest wine) that I will review shortly.

Levi Reiss has authored or co-authored ten books on computers and the Internet. He loves the occasional glass of wine as exemplified by his wine websites including http://www.theworldwidewine.com with his new weekly column reviewing $10 wines. He teaches Linux and Windows operating systems plus other computer courses at an Ontario French-language community college. Visit his new website http://www.linux4windows.com which teaches you how to download and run Damn Small Linux on Windows computers, even if they are “obsolete.”

Article Source:

http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Levi_Reiss

The story or page you were trying to access may have expired.

If you are having trouble locating a destination on Yahoo! News, try visiting the Yahoo! News home page
or you may find what you’re looking for if you try searching below.

Technorati Tags: home wine cellars, miles wine cellars

I hope you’ve been enjoying my posts lately. I thought I might do something different today and rustle up a few bits of info from around the WWW. These are some of the news items and blog posts that have been popular over the last few weeks. Leave me your thoughts.

'The Most Beautiful Wine Cellars in the World'

Mr. Van den Heuvel came up with the idea for the book in 2002, he said, when he wanted to build a 3000-bottle wine cellar at his home in Chaumont-Gistoux, …   Read More…

Arsenal Cider House and Wine Cellar: local 'rations' in Lawrenceville

… not until Bill and Michelle Larkin decided to gut the first floor of their Lawrenceville duplex and turn it into the Arsenal Cider House & Wine Cellar. …   Read More…

Made in America tours feature food, farms and machines

—Naylor Wine Cellars, 4069 Vineyard Road, Stewartstown: Tour of facilities and taste new wines directly from the barrels. —Painted Spring Farm Alpacas, …   Read More…
That’s all the news for today guys, so until next time, thanks for stopping by.

Wine asset management, as serious wine collecting and storage has come to be known, is available in a variety of configurations depending on what a wine lover’s needs are. Storage options include vault-like facilities where a customer’s wine has a room all to itself, facilities that catalog and store wines all together in a cave or warehouse, decorative custom racks and cellars for the home and even wine storage lockers at local restaurants.

When deciding on how to store your wine, consider the following:

How long will your wine need to be stored?

There are many reasons to store wine, and the longer you plan to store it, the more important environmental conditions are. Some wine lovers store wine with a long-term investment in mind while others, such as wineries, may just be looking for a temporary space while their own storage facilities are full.

The type of wine you are storing also plays a part in length of storage time since many wines change and become more complex over time. Modestly priced wines generally improve more in the short-term, while finer wines that have come from quality fruit, harvested at the peak of ripeness and sugar levels, and are processed appropriately, will develop more complex flavors, intense aromas and deeper colors over many years assuming they are stored under the proper conditions.

How important is consistent temperature, humidity and lighting?

At a lower temperature wine develops more slowly, which allows it to reach and maintain its peak drink ability. If wine becomes too warm, certain aspects may mature and decline before others have been optimized. A temperature-controlled facility is a must for collectors who will be storing their wine over a long period of time. The industry standard for wine cellaring is 55-57 degrees.

Humidity levels are important as well. High humidity will cause mold and mildew, which can damage a wine’s label and foil. But too little humidity can cause corks to dry out, shrink, break the seal and ultimately spoil the wine. Humidity of between 60-70% is optimal and is the industry standard for cellar storage.

How important is security, privacy and accessibility?

If you are storing valuable wine and want to rest easy, you may want to choose a facility that has individual lockers, state-of-the-art alarm systems at the facility, and on each individual locker, on-site surveillance cameras and even a 24-hour, on-site security guard or residing resident manager. Also, a fire sprinkler system in the building would be reassuring.

Secure wine storage facilities located in earthquake country should also include sturdy shelving that is bolted securely to floors and walls and specifically designed to protect the wine in the event of an earthquake. If a facility also has a back-up generator system, you will have extra assurance that even during a power outage; your wine will be maintained at the proper temperature.

Other Storage Options

For wine collectors who want to keep their collection close to home, the sky’s the limit when it comes to personal storage containers, racks, cooling systems and cellars. If cost is no object and sufficient space is available, there are companies that specialize in building home wine cellars. Of course, this is the most expensive option and should only be considered if one is certain they will not be moving anytime soon. If properly designed and constructed, the home wine cellar can be a source of great enjoyment, but like many home improvements, the cost of construction is unlikely to be recovered if the home needs to be sold and may limit its appeal to future buyers who are not wine collectors.

There are many home refrigeration units on the market for storage of wine, but most of these are of rather limited capacity and unlikely to meet the needs of a serious collector. However, these units can be a good part of a storage solution – allowing a small sampling of the collection to be kept at the home while the bulk of the wine is stored off-site in a secure facility.

A final option is the installation of built-in or free standing wine rack in a room of the home. The problem here is that the wine will not be stored at optimum conditions since most people do not want to maintain their home at 55 degrees. Thus, for valuable wines, this should only be a short term solution for wine ready to be consumed in the near future.

For collectors of valuable wines with long term potential, the best solution is probably a combination of off-site storage in a secure facility with ideal temperature and humidity conditions, with some small amount of temperature-controlled storage in the home for those wines which are ready to be enjoyed at the peak of perfection.

By having a proper wine storage facility at your disposal, it is possible to buy cases of wine when they are first released and store them until they reach their peak. This can save significant cost compared to buying such wines aged to perfection (if they can even be found), and some collectors can sell the wines they have aged under perfect conditions and make a profit to fund further acquisitions of fine wines. Enjoy!

About The Author

James Ledwith is a real estate developer specializing in self storage. His interest in collecting fine wines led him to recognize a shortage of secure, climate controlled wine storage facilities. So, he decided to research and build a state of the art facility called Marin Wine Vaults in San Rafael, CA which is located close the Napa and Sonoma wine country. This article reflects his research into the art and science of wine storage for serious collectors. James can be reached via his web site at http://www.MarinWineVaults.com.

Technorati Tags: home wine cellars

If you’ve been keeping up with my blog posts lately you’ll know I’ve come to adding a few news posts from around the web on this subject. I’ve got a couple more today that are new and updated, so let me know what you think of em…

Home of the Week: Rancho Mirage villa with its own golf course

Each includes two bedrooms, two bathrooms, a living room with fireplace, a wine closet and a kitchen. To submit a candidate for Home of the Week, …   Read More…

The Fabulou$ Life Of Madonna

… master bath, and a hair salon! She also plans to add a wine cellar and a playroom, which will bring the total cost of renovations to $1.7 million.   Read More…

Luxury homes on auction block to help pay FTC penalty

It has six bedrooms, a climate-controlled wine cellar and two gourmet kitchens. "These homes are in pristine condition and we believe there will be spirited …   Read More…
That’s all the news for today guys, so until next time, thanks for stopping by.

Constructing A Home Wine Cellar

If you have a growing assortment of wine, it may be time to think about constructing a wine cellar. Some time ago the custom wine cellar was scarce; today more and more wine lovers are learning about wine cellar construction or contracting the work out to those who know how to do the job precisely.

Wine rooms are more than a dark, cool place to hold an assortment of wine bottles. Today’s custom wine cellar is a controlled environment where humidity and temperature are regulated to allow wine to properly age without harm to corks, labels or the wine itself.

There are two types of wine cellars. One is a room that has been mainly made to stock wine in the right environment and the other is a stand-alone unit that mirrors those conditions. A stand-alone wine cellar is not as effective as a custom-built version, but some people like the aesthetics of a small cooled refrigerator over a custom wine cellar. Those who do choose a custom cellar have three simple considerations for proper creation.

Temperature Control and Venting

A wine cellar room is used to hold and age the wine in the bottle rather than preserving it at a serving temperature. (A stand-alone wine refrigerator is best for transporting wine out of the cellar to maintain at serving temperatures.) Aging wine is a balance of time, temperature and the chemical reactions that happen as a result of the two.

Wine should be aged in conditions ranging between 55 and 65 percent humidity and a steady 55 degrees Fahrenheit, give or take one degree. Wine held at higher temperatures will mature quicker and wine experiences chemical reactions at higher temperatures that destroy the notes of the wine over time.

In some locations of the country, property holders with basements often find that the environment is right for basic wine storage, but seasonal temperature and humidity variations should be avoided. The perfect storage solution is a custom-built or DIY-construction wine cellar with climate and humidity control using a wine cooling unit to keep the temperature at a steady 55 degrees.

These units are available in a range of sizes and the dimensions of your wine cellar room will control what size you need to purchase. By no m
1000
eans buy a wine cellar cooling system too small for your room; you most likely will never get a steady, optimal storage temperature and the cooling unit will become overtaxed trying to keep up.

Wine cooling units require proper venting, and your wine cellar construction plan demands either a hole in the wall to allow venting outdoors or enough vent space to move warm air out of the room. Check the specs of your wine cooling system; most require a venting space at least two times as large as the wine cellar space itself.

Electrical power is also an issue. Custom wine cellar builders suggest a dedicated power source to run a wine cooling system. Those who choose to use a common power source frequently find the system overloading with blown fuses and other electrical problems.

Insulation and Vapor Barriers

The wine cooling unit is only part of your climate control plan for a custom wine cellar; you also need a vapor barrier made of plastic sheeting used on the “hot” side of the wall. Some people wrap the interior of the wine cellar previous to inserting the insulation, keeping the plastic loose so that insulation can be positioned between the studs in the wall. Wrap the ceiling and the walls, or your vapor barrier will be imperfect. After the barrier is installed, the insulation comes next.

Good wine cellar building requires the right kind of insulation for your walls and ceiling. For instance, if you are building a 2×6 wall, R19 insulation is recommended, but if you have a smaller wall of 2×4, R13 may be your best bet. (The “R” designation represents the heat resistance of the insulation.) Ceilings need R30. Custom wine cellar builders should never put in the insulation loose without filling the material into the sections, as this decreases the insulation’s effectiveness.

The next step is to install a type of drywall called green board, which is moisture-resistant, making it a bit more expensive than regular drywall. Install an exterior-grade door to the wine cellar and your climate control plan is complete.

Lighting and UV Exposure Control

Wine is damaged by UV exposure, which is why the bottles are normally constructed out of dark glass. Avoid installing fluorescent bulbs in the wine cellar room, as they give off UV radiation. Control the intensity by using recessed lighting on a dimmer and avoid shining light directly on your wine bottles for long periods of time. Some wine racks are created with compartments that hide bottles from the light which can help lessen the exposure, but if your bottles are kept in plain view, try to avoid the “spotlight” effect on your bottles.

Other Concerns

Almost any kind of flooring can be used in your custom wine cellar. If your home is large enough for a tasting room to complement your cellar, you may wish to give them both a matching look, but never use carpet and rugs in the cellar area. They simply can’t hold up to the required humidity levels without surrendering to mold. Mold growth will ruin your wine, as can any strong odor from chemicals or cheeses. A wine cellar should be used only to hold wine; store food in a separate space.

Constantly watch the temperature and humidity in your wine cellar with an external sensor or gauge. Never assume that the wine cooling system will always function accurately. A quick glimpse at the external gauge can offer you early notice if the wine cooling unit is having difficulties, or if the unit is showing a faulty readout because of a bad sensor or other technical troubles.

Building a custom wine cellar may require some attention to the design demands of proper wine cellar storage, however once correctly built, you may realize that your collection grows quickly; it’s simple to invest more money in wine when you realize it will be stored securely for maximum pleasure.

By: BAdams< 1000
/a>

Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com

Ben Adams is the marketing director for Vigilant, Inc. a luxury goods manufacturer in Dover, NH. Vigilant is a premier manufacturer of wine cellars, wine racks and wine cellar doors as well as cigar storage equipment.

Technorati Tags: home wine cellars, restaurant wine cellars

What a reasonably priced excellent place to at at in New York NewYork?

i'll be here on march8

Technorati Tags: home wine cellars, village wine cellar

Anyone know how to make a fallout shelter into a wine cellar?

My wife and I just purchased a home built in 1953. It has a fallout shelter with concrete ceilings and walls and it cool inside and a bit damp. We were thinking this would be a good wine cellar but haven't been able to find anyone specific plans on what we would need to convert the shelter. I think the temp has to be between 55-60 and humidity between 60-70% but beyond that I'm clueless.

REIMS, France – After a Paris breakfast of cafe and croissant, how about lunch and a glass of bubbly in France’s Champagne region?

Thanks to a new high-speed train line, Reims, the ancient heart of Champagne country, is now just 45 minutes from Paris — less time than it takes to cross the French capital during rush hour.

Running at up to 199 mph, France’s network of bullet trains — known as the TGV, or Train a Grande Vitesse (high-speed train) — is shrinking the country. Its newest line, the TGV Est, puts eastern France on the daytrippers’ map, slashing travel times to the line’s 30-plus destinations in eastern France and Germany.

The previous 90-minute trip to Reims has been cut by half. Colmar, a picture postcard town in another famed French wine region — Alsace, on the German border — is now three hours from Paris, down from nearly five hours before.

Shiny and sleek with their pointed, aerodynamic noses, the TGV lives up to its name. As it leaves Paris, the train picks up speed and landscapes dissolve into blurry, impressionistic patches of color. Gliding silently along, you almost feel like you’re flying, soaring low over the plains that give way, eastward, to gently rolling hills.

Though you can’t see the Champagne region’s famous vineyards from the train as you arrive in Reims, the drink’s enormous influence on the city is immediately palpable: More than an occasional, celebratory beverage, here bubbly is a way of life.

Decorative bunches of stone grapes adorn the stately bourgeois mansions in the historic center, and architectural details on City Hall and even the famous cathedral of Reims — where generations of French monarchs were anointed — pay homage to the sparkling wine.

Reims is the headquarters for many of France’s main Champagne houses, including luxury labels Veuve Clicquot, Ruinart and Pommery. Most labels offer tours of their cellars with English-speaking guides several times a day.

Clustered in the residential neighborhoods south of the city center — a good 45-minute walk from the train station — the best way to get to the cellars is by taxi.

I visited Taittinger, founded in 1930 by entrepreneur Pierre-Charles Taittinger. Among the youngest of the major labels, the Taittinger cellar is built on the meandering corridors of a Roman chalk mine and dates from the 4th century. Vestiges of the mine — and an abbey built in the 13th century by Champagne-making monks — can be seen in Taittinger’s 66-foot-deep cellar, which holds some 3 million bottles of bubbly.

While in the cellar-filled southern part of town, be sure to swing by Saint Remi Basilica, an 11th century church that holds the remains of the city’s most celebrated native son, Remi of Reims, a 5th century archbishop credited with converting France to Catholicism.

It was Remi who baptized the barbarian Clovis, the Franks’ first king, around A.D. 498 in Notre Dame de Reims cathedral. For a millennium, nearly all French monarchs followed in Clovis’ footsteps, holding their coronation ceremonies in the cathedral.

Rebuilt in the 12th century after a devastating fire, the cathedral represents French Gothic architecture at its riotous, exuberant best, with intricately carved sculptures that cover the inside and out, bursting from the limestone surfaces.

The Germans heavily bombed the cathedral during World War I, knocking hundreds of sculptures off the walls and destroying many of the arched stained-glass windows.

Russian-born French artist Marc Chagall designed replacement panels, depicting Old Testament scenes and the coronation of several French kings in light, bright stained glass. Installed in 1971, Chagall’s hallmark dreamy, curling figures never looked so ethereal as in this holy site.

Another panel pays homage to Champagne, depicting workers making the drink, step by laborious step.

Many of the sculptures damaged during WWI found their way to the Palais du Tau, a former archbishop’s residence next door that has been converted into a museum. As well as giving a unique, close-up view of the sculptures, it also houses a rich collection of paraphernalia used in regal coronations.

A host of restaurants around the cathedral serve up delectable local dishes like “pied de porc,” or pig’s foot, a traditional specialty that washes down well with — surprise, surprise — a glass of Champagne.

France’s TGV network dates back more than 20 years. The first line, connecting Paris with Lyon, was inaugurated in 1981. The addition of each of the network’s now six main lines has shrunk France, putting destinations like the Mediterranean port city of Marseille and Bordeaux, on the Atlantic coast, nearly in Paris’ backyard.

And they keep getting faster. A special train with a 25,000-horsepower engine and special wheels broke the world speed record for conventional rail trains, reaching 357.2 mph on a stretch of the TGV Est’s track.

Stay on the TVG Est beyond Reims and you leave Champagne country and head into sweet white wine territory — Alsace.

Just 12 miles from the German border, the town of Colmar is a picture-perfect hybrid of French and German culture, with typical German half-timbered houses and broad French promenades and parks.

It’s about a 20-minute walk from the station into the historic city center. A small tourist bus that stops in front of the station will get you there as well — with running commentary in English, French and German detailing the history of local landmarks.

Better yet, rent a bike at a stand in the Champ de Mars park, a 10-minute walk from the station. The bikes — which come with baskets perfect for stashing bread, cheese, sausage and other picnic essentials — cost $7 for half a day and $8.50 for the entire day.

With its light traffic, Colmar is ideal for cyclists, though the old town’s cobbled streets make riding here a bumpy affair. Navigation is a cinch: Just head for the towering spires of the Collegiale Saint Martin. The luminous 13th century monument marks the heart of the old city.

Moderately priced cafes radiating out from the cathedral are great stops for invigorating midmorning shots of espresso.

Hop back on your bike for a quick visit to the Unterlinden Museum, housed in a 13th century Dominican monastery. The jewel of the museum’s collection is the Issenheim Altarpiece, a triptych with layers of panels depicting the lives of Christ and several saints that unfold like a massive book. The paintings, by 15th century German artist Matthias Grunewald, look like Technicolor dreamscapes: haunting, expressive, disturbing.

Another nearby museum, the Musee Bartholdi, pays homage to sculptor Frederic Auguste Bartholdi — a Colmar native and the designer of the Statue of Liberty. Sketches and clay mock-ups of Lady Liberty make up the core of the collection.

If you’re museumed out, head for the Petite Venise, or Little Venice neighborhood — a canal flanked by charming German-style buildings with exposed crossbeams and flower baskets overflowing with geraniums. You can even take a ride in little wooden boats that look like truncated gondolas.

But don’t expect to be serenaded.

“We don’t do that kind of thing,” one boatman told me.

Restaurants serving local specialties like a beef, potato and white wine stew called baeckeofe and saumagen, or stuffed pork stomach, line the canal.

Colmar’s twice-weekly farmers’ market is also a showcase for the region’s culinary traditions.

Local vintners hawking crisp local white wines rub shoulders with organic farmers offering homemade sausages, hand-picked berries, yogurts and cheeses. Bakers, drawing from the best of the French and German traditions, sell both crusty baguettes and oversized, doughy pretzels.

Most of the region’s vintners are based outside Colmar, amid the endless rows of vineyards that surround the city, but a handful of wine makers do their production in Colmar.

Domaine Karcher is one of them. In a small compound tucked into a side street in old Colmar, Georges Karcher and his family turn chardonnay and pinot noir grapes into seven varieties of wine.

Karcher offers daily tours of his wine cellar, with new stainless steel vats and century-old oak barrels. No visit would be complete, of course, without a tasting. Karcher’s fruity Riesling and his sweet Gewurtztraminer — which both run for about $10 a bottle — are not to be missed.

And after sampling half a dozen varieties of Karcher’s wines, the high-speed train ride back to Paris ought to go even faster.

___

If You Go…

REIMS: http://www.reims-tourisme.com/

COLMAR: http://www.ot-colmar.fr/index.php?langen.

GETTING THERE: From Paris’ Gare de l’Est station, there are eight round-trip high-speed trains to Reims daily and three to Colmar. Ticket prices vary by season and time; round-trip to Reims currently runs about $63, to Colmar about $183. Buy tickets in person at one of the SNCF railway company’s Paris boutiques, not online. You need a European credit card in order to pick up tickets purchased on the Web site.

IN REIMS: Reserve visits to Champagne cellars at least 24 hours in advance. Most cellars offer at least three English tours daily. Tickets cost about $14 per person and generally include a glass of Champagne.

WHAT TO EAT: Try a “biscuit rose de Reims,” a light, crunchy delicately rose-flavored cookie that puts the perfect finishing touch on a hearty Champagne-country lunch.

IN COLMAR: The farmer’s market is held Thursday morning around the Koifhus and on Saturday mornings at the Place St. Joseph. Domaine Karcher wine cellar: 11, rue de l’Ours in Colmar; http://www.vins-karcher.com. Open Monday-Saturday on demand during business hours and Sunday morning.

Technorati Tags: fines wine cellar, home wine cellars

Hey Readers! I’ve been comin across some crazy stuff the past few days from a few different blogs around the web which I just had to share with you. Check em out below…

Luxury Home Available with Builder Financing (Birdville ISD …

Welcome Home. Front. Kitchen Island. Breakfast. Formal Dining. Great Room. Wine Cellar. Game Room. Media. Master. Master Bath. Master Bath. Maser Closet. Top of Stairs. To Back Patio. 3 Car Garage. Back Yard …

Eat My Words: Texas Wine of the Month: Alamosa Wine Cellars …

Located in the northern part of the Texas Hill Country, it's considered part of the Way Out Wineries Wine Trail and is certainly around a bend or two of ranch and county roads. Bend is where you'll find Alamosa Wine Cellars, home to a …

grotto custom wine cellars | Home Wine Cellars

Grotto Cellars Wooden Stackable Three Column Wine Rack – Unfinished Premium Redwood $130.00. The versatile Grotto Stackable series wine rack kits allows you to reach new lows and new highs. Individually, the stackable units are less …

Hope you enjoy the read as much as I did and please if you have something to say, use the comments form below to let everyone know your thoughts.

Have a great day!

Award-Winning Chefs and Cookbook Authors Sign On for 3-Day Fine Cooking …

… kitchen with a collection that includes everything from countertop appliances to cookware, ranges to refrigerators, and whisks to wine cellars. …   Read More…

Roddick Feeling Calm, Confident

She's had the chance to drink more wine — Mauresmo boasts an impressive wine cellar — and spend time with family and friends. Having no schedule suited …   Read More…

Rooms to View preview party a scenic event

Inside, the couple hosted a wine tasting featuring several selections from their wine cellar. Guests gathered around the English oak pedestal table in the …   Read More…
That’s all the news for today guys, so until next time, thanks for stopping by.

Technorati Tags: home wine cellars

If you’ve been keeping up with my blog posts lately you’ll know I’ve come to adding a few news posts from around the web on this subject. I’ve got a couple more today that are new and updated, so let me know what you think of em…

Madonna's Home Improvement Project

… for a total of 13847 square feet. In addition to the gym area, Madonna is also putting in a playroom and a wine cellar, all to the tune of $1.7 million.   Read More…

Ahwatukee retailers share stories of losing their businesses

21, 2010 09:42 AM MudPie Home Boutique's Mike D'Amato, My Wine Cellar and Lucy's Place's Kathleen Fordyce and That Italian Place's Larry Hughes created …   Read More…

SassyTips: Throw Away Your Kid's Artwork!

Really, forget wine cellars, artwork cellars are on the horizon. NOT!! If we kept it all, our houses would be jam-packed with mildew and book-lice infested …   Read More…
That’s all the news for today guys, so until next time, thanks for stopping by.

Wine Cellar Innovations 3 Column Individual Wine Rack – Fast Free …

Wine Cellar Innovations Country Pine 6 Column. Search and Compare prices at and get the best prices on wine rack and find a deal! Low prices and free shipping on a wide selection of Wine Racks from The Home Bar Superstore. …

Tyler Perry puts LA home up for sale | Entertainment Today

He first put the 9000sq ft home on the market for $15million before switching brokers and dropping the price. The house has four bedrooms and six bathrooms, as well as a three-car garage, screening room, wine cellar and disco room. …

corner wine rack | Home Wine Cellars

Use these stunning wine storage racks with curved corners when you want to achieve a unique look and a smooth 90-degree transition between walls. Made of beautiful premium redwood, your easy-to-build wine cellar rack holds 84 bottles in …

Hope you enjoy the read as much as I did and please if you have something to say, use the comments form below to let everyone know your thoughts.

Have a great day!

Technorati Tags: home wine cellars

Can anyone recommend a nice wine shop in the city of New Orleans?

Specifically in the Quarter, Marigny, Uptown/Garden

Technorati Tags: city wine cellar, largest wine cellar

So you’ve decided to take a large step, and move from wine lover to wine connoisseur. You are going to buy a wine cellar. This guide will give you all the information you need to make this purchase.

Wine Bottle Storage

The ideal location for storing wine is a dark, draftless area that stays at a constant 50-60 degrees, with 60-70 percent humidity. The bottles should be kept on their sides to keep the corks moist, and should be exposed to limited vibrations. This will ensure that you will be able to keep bottles at their best for years to come.

One thing to consider if you decide to purchase a large wine cellar: make sure the unit will fit! This sounds obvious, but many times stand-alone wine cellars are much wider than a standard door. Another thing to think about is weight. Consider not only the weight of the storage unit, but be sure to calculate 3 pounds each for a standard bottle of wine. You might not want to store your wine upstairs. This is another reason that wine is typically stored in a cellar.

Types of Wine Cellars

If you are lucky enough to live in a house, maybe you can use the existing cellar or a spare room, or have one built. Just be sure not to skimp on building materials – it would be silly to have 400 bottles of wine crashing to the floor because you wanted to save a few bucks on thinner wood. Also, be sure the condensation will be able to evaporate; otherwise, the humidity will increase beyond ideal levels. Consider the cellar as an investment.

If you don’t have a large amount of space, you can buy a freestanding wine cellar. While not actually a cellar in the traditional sense, these are large units that can be stored in a house or apartment. They are available commercially for a wide variety of prices. Always consider where you are going to be storing the wine. If it will be kept in your home, you will not need to have as much insulation or as strong of a cooling unit, but a unit kept in the garage will have to be much higher quality.

Building Your Own Wine Cellar

The best location for the cellar is below the level of the house. If your basement has outside walls, keep in mind that north-facing walls will get the least amount of light. Some smaller crawl spaces may not work very well if they experience extreme changes in temperature. The same goes for a garage. The first floor of the house can also be used, and as long as the house stays at a fairly constant room temperature, the cooling unit will not have to work too hard.

Framing

The first step in building a wine cellar is the framing. The outer walls of the basement or room should be framed with 2″ by 6″ wood studs. If the floors are cold, use 2″ by 4″ studs.

Insulation

The next step in the creation of a wine cellar is insulation. The room needs to be kept at the most constant temperature possible. The best type to use is sprayed 2 pound polyurethane, although less expensive methods can used, especially if the cellar is on the first floor of the house. Once again, consider the cellar to be an investment.

Doors

Don’t forget about the door! It needs to have weather stripping and also be insulated. Otherwise all the work done to insulate the walls will be wasted.

Drywall

To finish the walls, use a drywall that is resistant to moisture. Other wall material can be used, but make sure that it will not soak up moisture and that it will not impart an odor on the wine.

Racks

Don’t leave the design of the racks until the end. Start first with this design to make sure that you have enough space for the number of bottles you’d like to store. A good place to start would be to look at the smaller racks available at your local wine store. These will give you ideas on the design you would like. Once again, make sure the construction is sturdy enough for the weight of the wine.

Temperature and Humidity and Wine

As mentioned before, the ideal temperature for wine is between 50 and 60 degrees. If the temperature is too high, it will spoil quickly. If it is too low, it will not age properly. If the temperature changes often, the cork will expand and contract. This may lead to air getting into the wine. Keeping this in mind, never buy wine chilled at a store, as you have no idea how long it has been that way. Also, don’t keep wine in your own refrigerator for more than 1 or 2 days.

Humidity can also damage wine. If the humidity is too low, the cork can dry out. While a tipped bottle will keep one side moist, the rest of the cork can become cracked and brittle.

Also, ensure the wine will be kept in a dark place, away from vibrations. Colored bottles help keep the light out to some extent, but don’t rely on the bottle to keep the light out. Movement may cause the bottles to shift. Wine needs to stay in contact with the cork so it will not dry out and crack, so limit the movement the bottles are exposed to.

Wine Cellar Cooling Units

After you cellar is complete, you can purchase a commercial wine cooling unit. Many of these work similarly to a window AC unit. They vent through a wall rather than being installed in the ceiling. However, if you are below ground or for some other reason cannot use a window unit, there are commercial units that can be installed. These are slightly more costly, but work well in those situations.

Every wine has an ideal aging time. If your wine cellar is built properly, it will keep your wine for years to come.

About The Author

Jason Connors is a successful writer and wine connoisseur providing valuable tips and advice on wine cellar design, wine making, and wine basics. http://www.about-wine.net.

Technorati Tags: home wine cellars, wine cellar club