The birth of wine refrigerators has been a welcome addition. Most of us simply don’t have space, nor can we afford a walk in, built in cellar. Happily, we can now access these handy storage systems at virtually any size or price. If you have made the move to join a wine club, then one of these appliances will be needed to properly store your monthly deliveries.
It’s no secret that we’ve all grown in our appreciation of wines these days. No matter if you’re a dedicated Red Wine enthusiast, or simply enjoy a chilled White Wine on a hot day, the days of Baby Duck & other utterly gross boxed wines are long gone.
Nowadays just about everyone has a supply of their favorites on hand in their homes, but therein lies a problem, just where do you store that precious liquid.
Many people that enjoy both Red & Whites will look for a “dual zone” wine refrigerator, where each zone can be individually temperature controlled, or on occasion it makes sense to simply purchase two units.
Like all things you get what you pay for. The more expensive units will be better insulated, have special treated glass panels which help maintain a constant temperature, as well as better control humidity levels. These can be particularly important if your appliance is stored in an area with fluctuating temperatures, maybe an outside garage for example.
If you’re planning on having your unit within the home, the décor of the wine refrigerator will be something you’ll need to consider. Many models are actually like fine pieces of furniture, with embossed glass panels, decorative woods, & subdued backlighting.
Wine enjoyment is a social experience, and it’s especially nice to have your collection appropriately displayed, and thus a center of conversation with your friends.
Size matters! If you’re just starting to be purchasing & storing wines good advice would be to buy a wine refrigerator larger than you had initially thought necessary. However if you dwell in an apartment where there is not an abundance of space, there are may “apartment sized” units available, from “Counter Top”, to “Under the Counter” models.
Do you imbibe in a wine from a variety of countries? Enjoy some really good champagne? Then you’ll appreciate getting a unit that boasts adjustable shelving, as a lot of these come in non standard sized bottles.
Much more for less? If the words “some assembly required” doesn’t scare you, then consider purchasing a unit that requires a little assembly. Often the savings you’ll reap by doing this will enable you to afford a much larger unit than you would have otherwise. Often you can store up to 400 bottles in perfect conditions and in a fairly inexpensive way.
Are you a proud collector? Need optimum storage & temperature control for anywhere from 1000 – 2500 bottles?Then a modular wine room may be what you should consider. These rooms are, prepackaged, relatively simple to assemble, and best of all, due to them arriving in pieces, can be assembled in a room, (such as basement), that you would never be able to fit a ready assembled unit into.
Now that you’ve an idea of what your needs are we highly recommend you visit the Wine Enthusiast, our choice for a huge variety of wine refrigerators , with every conceivable make, model and price range.
Cheers!
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We don’t often think of Michigan as a wine producing State do we, but look at the facts:
- Michigan has 13,500 acres of vineyards making Michigan the fourth largest grape-growing state.
- Most of this acreage is devoted to juice grapes such as Concord and Niagara.
- About 1,500 acres are planted to wine grapes, making Michigan the eighth in wine grape production.
- Vineyard area has increased 24% since 1997.
- Michigan’s 45 commercial wineries produce more than 200,000 cases of wine annually, making the state 13th in wine production. Just about all of the production is from Michigan-grown grapes.
- Wineries are popular tourist destinations, attracting more than 600,000 visitors annually. Some of these wineries also have retail stores where it’s possible to purchase anything from a wine cellar kit to a wine cooler refrigerator.
- Wine production and winery tourism annually contribute $75 million to the state’s economy.
- Three types of grapes are used for wine in Michigan:
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- Vinifera varieties — these are the classic European varieties such as Chardonnay, Riesling (the most widely planted white), Pinot Noir (the most widely planted red), Pinot Grigio/Gris and Cabernet Franc; 58% of Michigan’s wine grapes are vinifera. Since 1998, 71% of the new plantings in Michigan have been vinifera varieties.
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- Hybrid varieties (sometimes called French/American hybrids) — these are botanical crosses between vinifera varieties and grapes native to North America. Common names are Vidal, Chambourcin, Marechal Foch and Vignoles; 39% of Michigan’s wine grapes are hybrids.
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- Native varieties — actually close relatives of true native varieties. Usual names are Concord and Niagara. Less than 3% of Michigan’s wine is made from these varieties.
- Most of Michigan’s quality wine grapes grow within 40 kms of Lake Michigan. Here, the “lake effect” protects the vines with snow in winter, retards bud break in spring helping avoid frost damage, and extends the growing season by up to four weeks.
- Michigan has four federally approved viticultural areas (AVAs). In the northwest part of the state, near Traverse City, lie the Leelanau Peninsula and the Old Mission Peninsula. This area has a growing season averaging 145 days and an average heat accumulation of 2,350 growing degree days; 51% of Michigan’s wine grapes grow here. In the southwest part of the state lie the Lake Michigan Shore and Fennville appellations, where 45% of Michigan’s wine grapes are grown. This area has a growing season averaging 160 days and an average heat accumulation of 2,750 growing degree days. Both are Region 6 on the USDA plant hardiness zone map.
- Harvest begins for early hybrid varieties at the end of August in the southwest and may extend into November for late-ripening vinifera varieties in the northwest.
- Michigan wines consistently oust California Wines in the Medal Competitions. More than 16% of the wines entered in the Michigan Wine & Spirits Competition had already won Gold Medals in regional, national and international competitions. A list of winners is available upon request.
- Michigan wineries make many styles of wine, from dry to sweet including Ice Wine, sparkling, fortified, fruit wines and eau-de-vie (fruit brandy).
- Michigan wines are usually “cool climate” – clean, crisp, balanced wines that exhibit real varietal charact.
- Michigan Wines are very popular choices in the offerings of Wine Clubs
where you set up a monthly subscription to order wine online
Next time you’re savoring your favorite Chardonnay, check the label. It just may not have originated in California!
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If you’re serious about your wines you have probably joined a wine club. If you are a wine club member you can be assured you will have frequent wine spills, and the following information will be valuable for you
Nothing strikes fear and dread into the heart of any spot-fearing individual than a red wine stain. This classic spot has ruined more than one garment. It has been the cause of dread for homeowners who own light-colored carpeting and it has left many smiles dingy-purple.
Not every wine stain is red. You may find yourself wondering how to get rid of a white wine stain as well. The initial step is to pour cold water on the affected area. This needs to be completed as quickly as possible. These types of spills usually occur during a special occasion like a party and you may feel a bit rude, but it is crucial to get that cold water to the wine spot as soon as you possibly can in order to assure that it will be removed promptly.
If the white stain is on clothing or other material that can be turned inside out, pour the water from the back of the area instead of the front. Of course, this method can’t be used on most rugs so pouring from the top is the only option for these materials. However, a shirt should be turned inside out when addressing the area.
Step two in the white wine stain removal process is to rub the fabric with liquid laundry detergent. After utilizing the laundry detergent, let the fabric stand for about five to fifteen minutes. Dish detergent will work very well with this, too. If you are looking at a white wine stain on a rug, it is definately best to use a carpet spot cleaner. These can be found at your local grocery store in quite easily but it is always a good idea to keep some on hand for just such an emergency.
If the wine stain is still visible then let the fabric soak in cold water for at least thirty minutes. This can be quite inconvenient but it is a must if you want to save the garment. Wash the fabric as you normally would after the soak but be sure to look for the wine stain before putting the garment into the dryer. If the spot is still visible, try a commercial laundry stain remover and rewash the item.
Your rug may need to be professionally cleaned if the white wine stain is still prevalent after a few hours. This professional cleaning should be booked as soon as possible to assure that the white wine stain will be removed completely.
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