Commercial Wine Racks Launched

It has been too long since our last post and for that we apologize. We have been extremely busy the last few months building and launching our newest product line, commercial wine rack kits. This new flexible and modular line allows customers to create displays that work within their space rather than having to purchase and expensive custom solution.





The commercial wine racks are built in both wood and laminates in multiple finishes and the laminates are available in custom finishes as well, certain restrictions do apply, so check with our sales staff for the latest information.



The durability of the shelving in these wine racks is second to none. Many of our competitors are creating a commercial presence by trying to re-invent their residential wine racks and show them in commercial settings, but we have gone way beyond and understand our customers needs. We designed these commercial wine racks to maximize storage capacities, facings, and space in your retail stores and restaurants.

Have a deeper look into the options available for our new commercial kits and let us know how we can be of service on your next project or check out our gallery of commercial projects and find some ideas that will help guide you.

Before you invest in a wine cellar...

Discover what you need to know about wine cellars before you make that investment. This is a great article to provide first timers with must have info.

read more | digg story

Red Wine Storage Tips: How To Store Red Wines

Information about wine storage and wine storage furniture and systems.

read more | digg story

Red Wine Storage Tips: How To Store Red Wines

Information about wine storage and wine storage furniture and systems.

read more | digg story

Wine — Ancient Art, Modern Science and Global Business

In one form or another wine production has been carried out for thousands of years. Pottery discovered in Persia (present-day Iran), dated at 5,500 BC show evidence of grape use for winemaking. Jars from Jiahu in China containing wine from wild grapes date to between 6000 and 7000 BC.

But whether ancient or modern, many of the same conditions are required and similar techniques used. The chemistry of grapes is eternal.

Wine grapes grow, with few exceptions, only in bands delineated by latitudes 30-50 degrees North and 30-45 degrees South of the equator. Unlike most crops, grapes don't require fertile soil. The thinness of the soil restricts the quantity of the crop, producing fewer grapes of higher quality.

Paradoxically, soils too rich in nitrogen and other nutrients —highly beneficial for most plants— can produce grapes unsuitable for winemaking. Fine for eating, but lacking desirable quantities of minerals, sugars and acids.

The best wines are produced from soil that would be considered poor quality for other agricultural purposes. The stellar wines from Bordeaux are made from grapes grown in gravelly soil, atop a base of clay or chalk. Fewer grapes are grown, but high in quality. The pebbly earth allows for good drainage — grapevines require access to adequate, but not excessive, water. As the roots reach down further, more complex minerals are absorbed.

Vineyards are most often founded in river valleys, with slopes that provide abundant sunshine. Vines there are most often of the European species vitis vinifera, from which many common wines are made, such as Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Merlot.

Viticulture, the practice of growing grapes for wine, is today one of the most complex agricultural undertakings. A master vintner (today, sometimes called an oenologist), must be an expert in soil chemistry and fermentation, climatology and several other ancient arts and modern sciences.

In addition to categorization by variety, the products of these vines are classified by vinification methods - sparkling, still, fortified, rosé, blush — or by region — Bordeaux, Burgundy and Alsace — and of course by vintage, as well as a dozen other methods.

After the farmer, chemist and manufacturer have had their say, the businessman must take over. In 2002, 595 million gallons of wine were sold in the U.S. alone, representing over $20 billion in consumer spending. France led the pack with 22% of export volume, with Italy a close 20% behind.

The bold artists of wine must possess a sensitive nose and palette and balance dozens of time-sensitive factors such as when to harvest, how long to ferment and age, when to bottle. And that's before considering modern manufacturing and marketing requirements, not to mention legal restrictions.

An art, a science and a business definitely not for the timid.

Vigilant's New Wine Cellar Doors & Wrought Iron

Hello,

It has been a while since our last post, but rest assured, we have been working hard on some exciting new products that are scheduled to launch in the first quarter of 2008. We spent a lot of time and energy perfecting several new products that are sure to excite everyone and allow our customers to accent their wine cellars.

One of the most exciting launches for 2008 will be our new selection of wine cellar doors and wrought iron. I don't have too many of the details at this point to share, but they are a perfect compliment to our existing doors and will be a great and welcome addition to any wine cellar.

The new Provincial line of wine cellar doors is similar to our Tuscan wine doors but more elegantly styled. Here is a sneak peak at one of the wine cellar doors. This Provincial comes with a speakeasy option and door knocker made from wrought iron. The finish options available match Vigilant's existing finish options for our existing line of wine cellar doors. Chestnut, shaker maple and natural, all with a protective lacquer finish.

Your door will certainly stand the test of time as it comes 1.75" thick and pre-hung with your choice of jambs. You can also choose casings, sifdelights, hardware and hinges, on certain door selections and customization is always available on our wine cellar doors.

You can change the width, height, wood species, finish color, sidelight options, crown moldings and keystones, etching and other finer points to suit your needs.

Our new wrought iron will be available in many styles and will fit perfectly onto our Classic line of wine doors. We have a few other new and exciting changes with our wine cellar door line so check our website soon as we start rolling out all our new door products and a new section on the wine cellar door section of our website.

Check out Vigilant's full-line of wine cellar doors or call a sales consultant today for more details at 888.812.4427.

Furniture Quality Cabinetry

Vigilant would like to announce the launch of our new, fully custom furniture quality cabinets for the home and/or business. This cabinetry combines the craftsmanship of our finest cabinet makers with state-of-the-art technology and flawless design. The finished product is a series of wine cabinets or media room cabinets that you will be proud to own.

The furniture quality cabinetry features built up crown and base moldings, rounded countertops, glass and wood cabinets doors with deeper profiles and lacquered interiors. The glass doors can have mullions, as well as beveled or frosted glass. The drawers and doors use a state-of-the-art hardware system for the hinges and slides. The dovetail joinery makes for a beautiful crafted look on all the components and the interior glass shelves help the lighting to travel further within the cabinets.

The cabinets can be customized in any number of ways. Start with one of our designs or from scratch and build your own. We can accommodate virtually any desire, including wood choices and finish options.

This new furniture quality cabinetry is designed with wine in mind, but it also makes a perfect addition to media rooms or movie rooms. As media storage cabinets, the furniture quality cabinetry takes on a new identity and can be designed for large screen TVs, audio/video components and media storage.

When used to store wine, consider the wine cabinets use inside your wine cellar as a focal point within the design. These cabinets are also perfect in a tasting room for storing equipment for your tasting parties. Wine tasting rooms are the newest design trend in the home for true wine connoisseurs. Tasting rooms offer a space for parties that is separate from the cold, moist climate of the wine cellar. Our wine cabinets are a perfect compliment to the functional aspects of your tasting room. Allow our team of designers to work with you to create the functional and decorative space that is to be your tasting room. We can offer you suggestions on the components to consider such as a wet bar, sinks, refrigerators, and lighting.

For more information on wine tasting rooms visit our website: winecellars.vigilantinc.com

For more information on our new Furniture Quality Cabinetry: winecabinets.vigilantinc.com

To learn more on hosting a wine tasting party: winecellars.vigilantinc.com

Mahogany Wine Racks - The Best Material?

So the debate continues as to what the best material is for your wine racks to be built from. Questions range from the differences in hardwood vs softwood and Redwood vs Mahogany vs Pine vs Cedar.

My vote is for mahogany and not just because Vigilant's preferred wood is mahogany, but for the reasons behind the company's choice.

Vigilant used to use redwood and mahogany, but found that redwood was not as solid a choice as mahogany for several reasons. Mahogany has been used throughout history when building products or projects that would be used in or around moist environments and water. Products such as boats and furniture have been the choice for these craftsmen for hundreds of years and so it is a logical choice for wine cellar racks as well.

Mahogany is one of the most user-friendly woods available and has extreme workability and reliability when making furniture or cabinetry. Mahogany also brings out the beauty in a wine rack or wine cabinet, a wine cellar door or wine furniture.

Wine cellars benefit from having wine cellar doors constructed of mahogany because the durability and protection offered by wine doors made of mahogany is unsurpassed and that is why most wine doors are constructed with the wood.

Other important characteristics to remember about mahogany over other woods is that mahogany holds fasteners better than any other wood. Mahogany ages well and the natural elements in the wood show through beautifully over time increasing the value, not diminishing it.

Redwood is a nice wood for many types of products, but it will not stand the test of time under the stresses of the environment like mahogany and it is more susceptible to rot over time. In addition, redwood is porous and will not take stain evenly cedar is too aromatic and will impart this into the wine, ruining the flavor of the bottle. Pine is not a rot resistant wood and should never be considered for a proper wine storage environment. Poplar, oakand cherry are not mold resitant and therefore not appropriate for wine racks in a moist climate controlled environment.

When choosing your next wine rack, seriously consider all the options before making a final decision. Making the wrong decision in your choice of wood could result in further money spent down the road or wine that has been compromised by the wine racks holding it.

Building A Wine Cellar - Hiring a Contractor

When you first start your wine cellar building project, you must ask yourself a very important question...Can I build this wine cellar myself or should I hire a contractor to help in the wine cellar construction process?

This is an important decision because building a wine cellar can be a difficult and extremely involved task. Great care must be taken during the construction process to ensure that your collection of wine will be safely protected and preserved after the wine cellar is complete. Having to re-build any part of a wine cellar due to poor construction will mean a significant increase in dollars spent.

If you decide to hire a professional, how do you know if the contractor is the right man or woman for the job? There are some important considerations that must be made, research performed and questions asked prior to hiring the person.

The DIY Network has a few thoughts that I am going to share here with you:

• Check (contractors-license.org) for your state's licensing rules. If the contractor does have a license, take down the number and call your state or local licensing board to verify.



• Liability insurance. This protects your house and property in case the contractor or his employees cause damage.



• Workers' compensation insurance. Without it you can be held responsible if someone is injured while doing work on your property.



• Insured subcontractors. The same liability and workers' compensation insurance that your contractor has should be carried by all the specialists (plumbers, electricians and others) hired.



• Check with the Better Business Bureau. How many complaints have been filed, if any? Remember misunderstandings do occur, so if there was a complaint, see if it was resolved satisfactorily.

Not following a strict set of hiring guidelines can mean the difference between a safe long-term wine storage environment and having to re-do the entire wine cellar. it is also recommended that the contractor has previously installed a wine cellar or has resources at his disposal to rely on for expertise when installing the cellar.

If you are a contractor and are looking to get into the wine cellar installation business. Contact Vigilant. We can help educate you and your team and prepare you for the questions that consumers will ask to qualify you. Rely on our experts and our complete line of wine storage products to help you with your next wine cellar construction project.

Here are a few more thoughts from the DIY network on hiring contractors:

• Get at least three estimates, but try for five — and then ditch the lowest bid.



• Finalize a contract.There should be a clause allowing you to back out of the contract within three days of signing it.



• Don't make a large down payment. Try to keep it to 10 percent or $1,000 down, whichever is less.



• Don't pay final installment until after inspections are complete and you are satisfied.

Wine Cellar Climates

Wine cellars have never been more popular in the home than right now. People are remodeling their homes to include a wine cellar or wine room. Others have included a wine cellar in their wish lists for new home purchases. All over the country, wine cellars are being built, but are they being built with the wine cellar climate in mind?

Depending on where you live in the country or the world, the climate in your area plays a huge role in determining what type of wine cellar structure you should build and how you plan on controlling the wine cellar environment within.

Wine cellar climates found within the United States can be categorized into distinct regions. The climates are cool in the northern areas, temperate across the middle of the United States, hot and humid in the Southeast and hot and arid across the Southwest.

The environment you live in will aid in determining the wine cellar system that is to be installed and the considerations that must be made to ensure that your wine cooling system operates effectively in your wine cellar climate. Your wine cellar door will also offer added protection to your wine cellar and must have proper weatherstripping and sealing capabilities.

Cellar climate control is not something to be overlooked during the wine cellar construction phase of the project. Proper wine cellar construction methods must be followed as these will be determining factors to ensure proper wine preservation.

Things To Remember:

• Always check the building codes in your area for guidelines you must follow.
• Do your research to find the wine cellar system that is right for your area and your build-out.
• Make sure you purchase a properly conditioned wine cellar door that offers extra protection for your wine cellar.
• Check the R-values of all materials being used to construct the wine cellar to make sure they follow both code and the minimums for proper wine cellar construction.
• Use wine cellar lighting that will not introduce too much heat or ultraviolet light into the environment.
• Choose wine racks made from wood that will stand up to the wine cellar climate in your area. Vigilant recommends mahogany wine racks as they have shown to be the most resistant to rot and warping in moist/humid climates.
• Buy a hygrometer and place it in the wine cellar to measure the environment for a period of no less than 10 days and record your values each day and night as the environment can change during daylight hours and nightime hours.

Is your wine safe? - The Importance of Humidity

Today we are going to discuss the importance of proper humidification in your wine cellar. Often overlooked, maintaining proper humidity in your wine cellar environment is paramount to preserving your wine collection.

Many people do not understand that when a wine cellar is cooled to a temperature of 55-60 degrees F, a conventional wine cellar system will take moisture from the air to achieve this range. That moisture is what helps keep the cork in the bottle moist, which protects your wine from oxidation.

Oxidation is defined as the combination of a substance with oxygen, which always is accompanied by a reduction in the substance being oxidized. This translates into a loss of wine from your bottle and a resulting flavor change.

Humidity prevents oxidation by keeping the cork moistened, which will protect the wine from escaping from the bottle. A passive humidification system will not do the work. Passive humidification systems do not create moisture, they only introduce water into the wine cellar environment. This will not result in achieving the necessary 60% humidity level that must be in place to protect the wine bottle cork.

Vigilant's Climatech wine cellar system is one of the only systems on the market today that integrates humidity in with temperature control and monitors them both digitally to ensure that your wine cellar achieves the recommended temperature and humidity control.

But, don't worry, because Vigilant also carries the Humiditech. The Humiditech is a state-of-the-art active humidification system that will integrate with any wine cooling system to keep your wine cellar levels at the constant safe values.

If you are concerned that your wine cellar may not have proper humidity levels, Vigilant offers a digital temperature and humidity guage that can be purchased through the website: shop.vigilantinc.com. Use this guage to monitor and record your wine cellar environment for 10 days. If your temperature or humidity levels are outside of the optimal range, your wine is at risk and you should contact a Vigilant expert immediately. We will work with you to assess your environment and needs and help you choose a course of action to get your wine cellar envrironment on track.

Learn more about Vigilant and our wine storage products at http://wineracks.vigilantinc.com