Posted By Vigilant on February 3, 2020

Valentine’s Day is the perfect time to express love and affection to your sweetheart. But what will really dazzle them this year?

Dinner and a movie? Maybe.

Chocolate-covered strawberries? Flowers? Perhaps.

But sometimes you have to go big. Here are some more unique ideas that we think have the potential to make this Valentine’s Day an unforgettable one.

A Honeymoon Re-imagined

Maybe you had an over-the-top honeymoon. Or maybe you didn’t have one at all. Or maybe a honeymoon hasn’t happened yet. Whatever your situation, a special getaway can be just what the doctor ordered.

If you’re in a colder climate, tropical vacations are perfect, especially smack-dab in the middle of February. Even an overnight couple’s spa or yoga retreat can be relaxing and help you both not only reconnect, but decompress. Get started at VRBO or with your local travel agency (is that even a thing anymore?).

On the other hand, if your sweetheart is the sporty, adventure-seeker type, they may love that you signed you both up for a winter 5K run, a skydiving session (indoor or outdoor), or a hiking or ski weekend. The “sky’s” the limit!

A Wine (or Scotch or Bourbon) Lover’s Dream

Why just do a high-end bottle of wine or spirits, when you can spring for the ultimate gift? A beautiful space for your Valentine’s wine collection is an unforgettable gift.

From complete customized wine cellars, small wine rooms, closet or pantry conversions, to under-stair spaces, a place to store, showcase and even enjoy your wine, is something every wine lover dreams of.

Vigilant, a premium designer and manufacturer of handcrafted wine storage solutions has a gallery of both decadent and smaller wine spaces for you to get inspired by.

A Tour of or Date at a Favorite Place

If you’re lucky enough to live in an urban area full of museums, cultural centers, or historic buildings, this can be easy. Make it really special by trying to get a private, after-hours tour. Reach out to an docent or operations director and make the ask.

If you’re in a rural area, this may be a little trickier. But “to the victor go the spoils!” Lots of towns have resident historians (or folks who thinks they are ;-). Hire a local librarian, trail guide, or lifelong town resident to talk about an interesting event or development in your cozy hamlet. Check out Airbnb Experiences or this list of local tour guide websites for more ideas.

Alternatively, an intimate picnic at a beach, park, or scenic spot can be made even more special with his or her favorite beverage, some fancy snacks, and a romantic playlist and portable speaker. Get creative here and you’ll be a star!

The Best Cigar Gift You Can Buy

The United States has long been the biggest importer of cigars, with 362 million handmade cigars imported in 2018.

You may or may not love your sweetheart’s love of cigars. But regardless of whether you embrace it – maybe you’re a cigar aficionado too – or you ‘tolerate’ it, a custom humidor is the gift that keeps on giving.

Today’s humidors are works of art in some cases. From wall-mounted to in-wall to humidor tables, you can customize a humidor to fit your home’s style and decor.

Get the Ball Rolling!

Whether you’re planning a trip or a local tour, shoot off a quick email or text to get the ball rolling. If you want to get inspired with some of Vigilant’s customized, handcrafted wine and cigar storage solutions, download our wine cellar, wine cabinet or cigar humidor catologs. If you’re really serious

If you’d like to consider a more “whimsical” gift, you can also check out this list of fun ideas from Buzzfeed.

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Category: Cigar, Cigar Storage, General, New Wine Cellar Project, Residential Wine Storage, Wine, Wine Cellars, Wine Racks, Wine Tasting | No Comments »
Tags: holiday wines, wine cellar, wine selection, wine suggestions

Posted By Vigilant on January 30, 2019

For two lucky teams, it’s Super Bowl time! For all the rest of us, it’s time to get psyched for some cool commercials and start looking ahead to next season.

Now’s a great time for us to showcase one of our favorite stadium projects: the custom wine cabinets at Lodge Kohler, the luxury hotel at Green Bay Packer’s Titletown. Lodge Kohler is just steps from Lambeau Field stadium, making it the ideal game day pit stop for a glass of wine.

Vigilant took on this project when the Purchasing Manager for Kohler Hospitality requested a bank of five refrigerated wine cabinets to match the Lodge Kohler’s pre-existing millwork. They chose mahogany stained with Vigilant’s Espresso finish. Our experts then honed in on a perfect design that combined beauty and functionality. Once the plan was approved, the wine cabinets were handcrafted at our New Hampshire facility and shipped out to Green Bay.

The wine cabinets were installed at the entrance of the “Taverne in the Sky” restaurant with a perfect view of the stadium. The framed glass doors showcase the hotel’s wine offering to guests as they enter the restaurant. Using well-organized label forward metal racking and LED lighting, allows guests to easily make their wine selection.

For the ultimate storage conditions, the cabinets include dual cooling systems that provide a white zone and a red zone and no, we’re not talking about the football term. This allows patrons to enjoy the hotel’s rare selections like the ’92 Opus one, ’13 Joseph Phelps Vineyard’s Insignia or a ’94 Taittinger Comtes de Champagne at the perfect drinking temperature.

Lodge Kohler is another happy customer with its hotel guests and football fans alike enjoying perfectly stored wine now and for years to come.

If you’re a hospitality manager and want to learn how our wine cabinet offerings can increase client (or fan!) engagement and revenue, download our wine cabinet catalog or give us a call today!

Category: Commercial Wine Storage, General, Refrigerated Wine Cabinets, wine cabinet | No Comments »
Tags: Commercial Wine Storage, custom wine cabinets, hospitality wine storage, refrigerated wine cabinets, restaurant wine cabinets

Posted By Vigilant on July 18, 2019

The question of “what type of cooling system should I use?” when choosing a wine cabinet can be intimidating.  We are here to put your mind at ease and provide you with an informative breakdown of our different applications. Our experts will talk you through the pros and cons of each unit until you land on the perfect solution for your wine storage project and your available space.  We offer three types of cooling Systems to choose from including Top Mounted, Remoted Ducted and Ducted-Split.

Top Mounted Cooling Systems

The top-mounted system option is the simplest to install and is the most affordable. This type of system is self-contained and sits directly on top of the cabinet. When using this type of system, the cabinet will have visible grills for the system to vent hot air exhaust. 

• 

Pros

• Cooling unit(s) mounted on top of cabinet(s)
• Front or top vent
• Most economical and easiest to install
• No ducting or HVAC technician needed
• Red and white wine temps

Cons

• Venting required at cabinet(s) which may require grilles
• System requires 20” of space above the cabinet lowering cabinet height and bottle capacity
• Noise at cabinet(s) and into room is 40-55DB
• Heat exhausts into room

Remote Ducted Cooling System

The remote ducted cooling system is a more aesthetically appealing option with no visible grilles on the wine cabinet. Since the system is located away from the cabinet, it allows for more vertical wine storage space. This option creates the perfect wine storage conditions with minimal noise and no heat exhaust at the cabinet.

• 

Pros

• Cooling unit(s) mounted within 20 feet of cabinet(s)
• No visible grilles
• No venting at cabinet
• No noise or heat at cabinet(s)
• Flexible installation options
• No HVAC technician needed
• Efficient and reliable climate control
• Red and white wine temps

Cons

• Must have area to run duct work
• Duct work cannot exceed 25 feet of flex Duct or 50 feet of hard duct
• More expensive option than top mount

Ducted-Split Cooling System

The ducted-split cooling systems are another appealing option that require no visible grilles.  This type of unit is highly adaptable, consisting of an evaporator unit that is separate from the condensing system. The evaporator is located on top or within 20’ of the cabinet and the condenser that exhausts the hot air is located up to 80’ away from the evaporator.  These systems are one of the quietest options with virtually no audible noise at the cabinet location.

• 

Pros

• Cooling unit(s) mounted on top or within 20 feet of cabinet(s)
• Heat venting at remote condenser location
• No grilles at cabinet location
• Compressor mounted remotely
• Minimal ducting and fan coil noise
• Multi-panel easy access to electronics and controls
• Red and white wine temps

Cons

• May need area to run duct work
• Duct work cannot exceed 25 feet of flex duct or 50 feet of hard duct
• Most expensive option
• Requires HVAC technician

Every wine cabinet project is different, and we understand the importance of finding the perfect cooling system solution for your needs. To learn more about all our available wine cabinet cooling systems visit us at vigilantinc.com or speak to one of our experts today at 1-888-812-4427.

Category: Commercial Cigar Display and Storage, General, Refrigerated Wine Cabinets, Residential Wine Storage, Retail Wine Displays, wine cabinet | No Comments »
Tags: cooling systems, refrigerated wine cabinet, refrigerated wine cabinets, wine cabinets, wine cooling systems

Posted By Vigilant on April 24, 2019

Vigilant was offered the opportunity to design and construct wine cabinets for a high-end restaurant in Portsmouth, NH. Working with the project architects, we identified the client’s needs based upon the available space, storage capacity, cooling application and material requirements. After several design revisions, we created the perfect solution for their needs.

Upon client approval of the design, the Vigilant build team constructed the cabinets in eight sections and prepared them for shipment to the project site where the installation team took over. The team followed a step-by-step installation protocol to ensure that the cabinets perform properly for years to come.

Step One:  We reviewed the Vigilant-supplied shop drawings and mechanicals with the dimensions and electrical connections of the actual space to make sure that everything corresponded accurately.

Step Two: We marked all the stud locations, verified the locations of all the electrical outlets and ducting locations for the cooling system to avoid any mechanical problems after the cabinets were set in place. For this project, the client opted for a through-wall ducted system at one end of the installation, so we confirmed that the appropriate venting holes in the wall were there and located accurately. Some trimming of the drywall was required to get the ducting to fit.

Step Three:  Using a laser and level we checked for any height discrepancies on the floor. We then marked the high spots on the floor and w a line across the wall to mark where all the cabinets would line up evenly and be free of any flooring irregularities. Since the flooring was a little uneven we used the adjustable leveling feet that Vigilant places on the bottom of all our wine cabinets to bring each cabinet to the level line.

Step Four: We then applied caulking around the openings on the side of the first cabinet and carefully placed the second cabinet next to it. Before connecting the cabinets, we used the leveling feet to make sure the second cabinet was perfectly level and parallel to the first cabinet – checking that they aligned side to side and front to back. With the use of some clamps, we made some adjustments to the leveling feet on both cabinets and once we found the perfect fit, we used the supplied connector bolts to secure the cabinets to one another using the pre-drilled connector holes in the cabinets.

Step Five: We continued the installation by carefully adding the remaining cabinets in a similar fashion until they were all connected and secured to one another. The last cabinet was difficult to get into place due to the tight corner but with careful use of leverage and force we got it into place. We double checked to ensure all the cabinets were plumb and level, adjusting the leveling legs where necessary.  We snug-fit all four legs of each cabinet to the floor to ensure stability once loaded with hundreds of pounds of wine.

Step Six: We used the supplied large “L” brackets at the top of the cabinets to attach them to the wall at the marked stud locations.

Step Seven: We wired the lighting and fished the ducting from the end of the cabinet though the wall to the system. The cooling system in this application was placed in an adjacent room making it easy for the air to flow to and from the cabinet with the hot air exhausting away from the space.

Step Eight: We installed the slotted wine bottle shelves using the supplied shelf pins and installed the diamonds bins and cubbies.  In doing so, we consulted with the bar manager to make sure all the shelves were located where she wanted them. This allowed the restaurant to organize the wine bottles in a functional way for their staff. The shelving for these cabinets accommodated 2,000 bottles of wine allowing the restaurant to offer one of the largest wine selections in the area.

After several hours of work the installation was complete. The restaurant was very pleased with the end result and they have been running smoothly for several years now. To learn more about Vigilant refrigerated wine cabinets or installation procedures, visit us online.

 

Category: Commercial Wine Display Racks, Commercial Wine Storage, General, Refrigerated Wine Cabinets, wine cabinet, Wine Cellar Cooling Systems, Wine Storage Educational Tips | 2 Comments »
Tags: custom wine cabinet, hospitality wine storage, how to, refrigerated wine cabinets, restaurant wine cabinets, wine cabinet, wine storage

Posted By Vigilant on January 7, 2019

These clients had been dreaming of creating a wine cellar but didn’t have a lot of extra space in their home. After doing a little research and assessing the spaces available, they chose to use the closet under their stairs. With a good amount of planning they decided to take on the build-out and installation process themselves.

They started by determining what type of cooling system would work for their under stairs wine closet. After talking to Vigilant about multiple options they decided on a remote ducted cooling system that could be housed in their basement. This type of system pumps cool air through ducts into the cellar and returns the warm air away from the wine room with minimal noise.

Next, they removed the old drywall, so they could insulate the walls and include a vapor barrier to keep moisture out of the room. Using a polyurethane vapor barrier, they covered the walls, ceiling and floor to protect the room. Next, they inserted a high R value insulation to help with temperature control. Once the walls were insulated a plywood base was placed on the walls to securely apply their decorative wood paneling to.

Making the task a little more difficult was staining all the Vigilant wine racks. The homeowners wanted to match the wood paneling walls, so they opted to purchase the racking unfinished and stain and lacquer all the components themselves. Afterwards, the homeowners commented that they should have had Vigilant match their custom stain, it would have saved them a lot painstaking time.

Once all the wine racking pieces were finished and dried, the homeowners assembled the racks. The racks were securely attached to studs to keep them from tipping over. For the focal point of the room the homeowners chose a 5 column bead board arch top above a table top that provides a surface for decanting and serving wine.

Next, they added the LED display lighting. Each ladder rack comes with a high reveal row and a light valance piece to conceal the wiring for the lights. Once all the lights were installed it was time to stock the cellar. Each wine bottle was strategically placed to correspond to the bottle in the display row to make it easier for the homeowners to sort and organize their collection. The final capacity for the room is 581 wine bottles.

The last piece was installing the pre-hung Vigilant Full Glass Square Door and sidelights. The wine inside the room is beautifully displayed and visible from the entertainment room through the full glass paneled door and sidelights. The door and sidelights not only look stylish but feature fully insulated, argon filled, glass panels and exterior grade weather stripping to protect the wine from opposing elements.

Now that the room is complete the homeowners are really enjoying the wine cellar. They mentioned that all their friends and family are very impressed with the final result and their handiwork.

To learn more about Vigilant wine closets visit us online or call us at 1-888-812-4427 and let one of our design experts help you take the first step in making your wine cellar a reality! Also, check out our NEW 3D DIY Wine Cellar Planner tool to help you design your wine cellar. It’s easy, free and fun to use!

Category: Building a Wine Cellar, General, New Wine Cellar Project, Small Wine Rooms, Wine Cellars, Wine Closets, Wine Racks | 1 Comment »
Tags: building a home wine cellar, design a wine closet, DIY wine cellar, how to build a wine closet, wine cellar door, Wine Cellars, wine closet, wine closet conversion