Things to Consider When You’re Building a Wine Cellar
Building a new wine cellar is an exhilarating process. A passion for wine is a fulfilling hobby and building your own wine cellar allows for even greater enjoyment. From the planning stage to opening the first bottle of wine, there is nothing quite like the joy that...
Wine Concepts….making sense out of wine!
Wine Concepts is dedicated to making sense out of wine It's all about enjoyment -- a nice bottle shared with friends or colleagues or a perfect bottle for a special occasion. It shouldn’t be about mastering wine geek terminology or the minutia of various wine...
Wine Guardian Pro – Specialty Commercial & Residential HVAC
The Wine Guardian Pro systems are the most versatile specialty cooling systems on the market and make installation, customization, and maintenance seamless. These systems are intended for low temperature air conditioning from 52-70°F (11-21°C). They are perfect for...
5 Wines to Expand Your Palate in 2021
As a wine drinker, it’s easy to get stuck in a rut -- you know you love Pinot Noir, so you always reach for the same bottle at the store, always order the mid-priced glass of it at the restaurant. Same old, same old. Whether it’s Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir, or...
CHRISTMAS COCKTAILS TO DRINK THIS HOLIDAY SEASON!
Tis’ the season to be jolly! This year’s Christmas celebration may look a bit different than in the past, but that does not mean you cannot celebrate the ‘spirit’ of the holidays. Billie Keithley has crafted up some delicious Christmas cocktails to spruce up your...
The Complete Guide to Sparkling Wine
Sparkling wine is a staple during the holidays… and for good reason! There’s something exciting and uplifting about popping open a bottle of bubbly and raising a glass. Whether you’re cheersing with friends, or sipping solo, here’s what you need to know about the most...
5 Simple Wine Cocktails for the Holidays!
Readers, wine lovers, friends: we’ve been living in the “new normal” for over eight months now. And I don’t know about you… but it still doesn’t feel quite “normal” to me. As we enter the holiday season in 2020, it’s bound to look a little different. Traditions will...
Thanksgiving in San Antonio & Austin, TX
With Thanksgiving upon us and COVID-19 changing the way we will gather, especially in 2020. Certified Wine Cellars put together a few ideas to take stress out of your day. This year should be filled with gratitude and calm. The Grand Hyatt and Hyatt Regency San...
Wickedly Delicious Wine & Halloween Candy Pairings
I don’t know about you, but I get so excited each and every year as the weather gets crisper, leaves begin to fall, and we start pulling out our autumn sweaters. To me, that means only one thing: Halloween is on the way! Things start to get spooky as the days get...
Ina Garten’s Creamy Tomato Bisque
There are plenty of ways to keep warm as autumn approaches — wool sweaters, warm knitted blankets, and sitting around bonfires, to name a few. But one of the most delicious ways to stay cozy is to turn on the stove and make something that will warm you up — and more...
Amazing Dog-Friendly Napa Tasting Rooms
Wine & Puppies -- the greatest wine pairing in the world. Did you know that there are some amazing dog friendly wineries and tasting rooms in Napa? Whether you’re a dog owner or just want to “coincidentally” end up where the puppers are, you’ll feel just as...
Napa Valley Wineries Reopen for Visitors
As Wine Country reopens during the Covid-19 era, you may be wondering if it’s safe to visit Napa Valley. While the decision to venture out is entirely up to you — everyone is responsible for his/her own safety — we can assure you that businesses throughout Napa Valley...
Cameron Diaz Explains Why She Got Into The Wine Business
This week, actress and wellness author Cameron Diaz announced the release of Avaline. Labeled as a ‘clean wine,’ the new brand consists of white and rosé offerings crushed from organic grapes, free of any undesirable ingredients such as sugars, colors, or...
The Future of Restaurants
Restaurants are much more than places where we feed ourselves, soothe our souls, and mark life’s big moments. They are the backbones of our communities. And they are worth fighting for. We hope we can all eat in their dining rooms, together, one day soon. What do you...
How To Celebrate Mother’s Day and Support Austin’s Local Businesses
Mother's Day is May 10th and just around the corner! I have rounded up the BEST recommendations on how to celebrate Mother's Day by supporting our local Austin Businesses....We love you Austin! Mother Day Wordsmith The Papercraft Pantry is the place to get a locally...
Roederer Champagne Owners Buy Napa’s Diamond Creek
Champagne house Maison Louis Roederer has purchased Diamond Creek, one of Napa's Valley's legendary boutique Cabernet Sauvignon pioneers. It's the second recent high-profile California acquisition for Roederer, which purchased Sonoma Pinot Noir and Sauvignon Blanc...
Porter Bundt Cake with Whiskey-Caramel Sauce
This richly flavored cake features quintessential Irish ingredients such as dark porter beer, dark brown sugar and whiskey Make the Cake Step 1 Preheat the oven to 350°. In a large saucepan, whisk 1 cup of the porter with the molasses and bring just to a boil....
Wine Guardian Ceiling Mount Split System
Split systems are ideal for small- to mid-size wine rooms with no room to install a traditional unit. These units were designed specifically for ceiling mounting and fit comfortably between standard joist construction— making them ideal for applications such as a wine...
There is Still Enough Room For The Best Vegan Food in Austin
Why is it that when you put forth the effort to make life interesting, it’s assumed that your creature comforts have to fall by the wayside? We’ve already had to deal with the fact that any paleo restaurant in Austin, TX plays host to get dismissed as a gym-hipster...
10 Savory Gifts for Valentine’s Day
Valentine’s Day is a famously candy-forward holiday, bolstered by boxes of chocolate and conversation hearts with cheeky messages like “kiss me.” However, if your significant other doesn’t have a sweet tooth or you’re sick of hearts-shaped everything, know that there...
Building a Dream Wine Cellar?
Regardless of whether you are a collector, connoisseur or just an avid fan of wine, having a wine cellar is a considerable investment to your home. It will add value to the resale price as well as having a place to store and enjoy your wine. When considering adding a...
Ladders for Wine Cellars
When planning a wine cellar of your dreams – a place you can be proud of and enjoy sharing with friends and family and, of course, your favorite wines. When you want the best quality rolling ladder for a wine cellar, you can depend on Alaco Ladders. Since wine racking...
Building an Exceptional Wine Cellar
Combining your love for design and wine can be both a hard and demanding task that puts a strain on the available space and budget. For most homeowners, a dedicated wine cellar seems like a distant dream because they simply cannot afford to give up that kind of space...
2020 at Hotel ZaZa Austin Downtown
Z Resorts’ highly anticipated Hotel ZaZa Austin is now open in downtown Austin’s Warehouse District, marrying big city sophistication with authentic Texas style creating a luxurious hotel experience. The hotel features a restaurant, craft cocktail bar,...
10 Best Spots to Celebrate New Year’s Eve 2020 in Austin, TX
The year 2019 is nearly over and it’s time to send it off with tasteful food, drink and celebrations specials throughout Austin. Ring in the new year with a selection of pre-fixe menus and parties, ending the night with a glass of bubbly to celebrate the beginning of...
Gift Guide for Wine Lovers
1) Vinely Wine Club - A monthly subscription that delivers local, family-owned California wineries direct to your door each month! It's a great way to support local winemakers and discover new wineries in your area. For California residents only at this time. Use code...
HOW TO MULL WINE: WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
Mulled wine is a seasonal staple but although it's easy to make it's also easy to spoil. Here are my top tips for getting it right What type of wine? You can mull white wine (though I’d rather mull cider) but most people prefer a red. It needs to be inexpensive,...
Holiday “Roll and Cut” Sugar Cookies
"Roll-and-cut" sugar cookies are made by flattening dough with a rolling pin, then cutting out shapes. The dough recipe here is ideal: durable enough to withstand rolling and re-rolling, yet soft enough to cut neatly. The cookies themselves are extremely versatile....
Elevate Series By Kessick
Custom cabinetry tailored to your specific wine storage preference, combined with LED lighting to complement each design for a unique one of a kind presentation. Acrylic wine cradles display options include: Label forward, neck out, display rows, large format bottle...
A Simple Roasted Thanksgiving Turkey
First, remove the thawed turkey from its packaging. Remove the neck (usually found in the large cavity of the bird) and the bag of giblets (sometimes found in the smaller neck cavity of the bird). Discard them or save them for gravy. Pat the turkey dry with paper...
Wine Guardian Ceiling Mount Split System
Split systems that are ideal for small- to mid-size wine rooms with no room to install a traditional unit. These units were designed specifically for ceiling mounting and fit comfortably between standard joist construction— making them ideal for applications such as a...
Wine & Glassware: Does it really matter what you drink from?
Some people out there claim that different glass shapes impact the wine you drink. Does it really matter? Can the wine glass really impact the quality of what’s in your glass? Back in 1958, the Austrian Glassmaker Claus Joseph Riedel added a new “Burgundy Grand Cru”...
Creamy Rosé Pasta
Creamy Rosé Pasta is a simple pasta dish that is great and an easy weeknight meal at home or for celebrating a special occasion. The pasta sauce is so simple to make. It starts off by soaking some raw cashews. The cashews create a creamy pasta sauce without adding any...
Wine Rack Trends
Whether it’s cabinet colors, wall colors, counter-top materials, or floors, there are always new trends that sweep the world of design. But there is one trend that is sometimes overlooked –hardware trends. Cabinet handles, faucets, knobs, and pulls all play an...
Classic Brown Sugar Roasted Acorn Squash
Fall is all about orange foods…pumpkin, butternut squash, carrots and acorn squash happen to be one of the favorites. Creamy and slightly sweet, it’s incredibly versatile, equally delicious in a black-eyed pea coconut curry as it is simply roasted with sage and brown...
Wine Collectors are Embracing Modern Design Trends
Long ago, homeowners who were also wine enthusiasts had to simply make do with their basic home environment when it came to storing their cherished collections. They didn’t have that perfect climate set at a consistent 55 degrees and 55 to 70 percent humidity to allow...
Pumpkin and Spinach Lasagna Rolls
These Pumpkin and Spinach Lasagna Rolls are a quick and easy way to enjoy the comfort of lasagna. Packed with veggies, they are a great fall meal! Which means we’ve officially have made the crossover from summer to fall. So, let's start breaking out some serious...
Off the Beaten Track in California’s Wine Country
Did you know… beyond Napa and Sonoma, there are over 107 total AVAs in California alone. That’s a lot of wine country left waiting to be explored! Below are three amazing options you need to know about, all located in the Central Coast AVA near San Francisco and with...
How to Build a Wine Cellar
If you’re a wine connoisseur, a wine cellar can make a perfect addition to your home. The simplest way to build your own wine cellar is to renovate an existing room in your house. First, make sure the space you’ve chosen is properly framed and insulated. Then,...
In Home Wine Cellars
Today’s homeowners want to receive the best value out of their homes. This is true in various ways they have chosen to invest and how the choose to decorate them. It’s no longer good enough for builders to offer one size fits all model of anything. It’s no surprise...
Modern Wine Cellars
A wine cellar isn’t what it used to be, because no one keeps their wine in the basement anymore. Homeowners today prefer to display their collections in a stylish and tasteful way in a glass enclosure or sleek wine wall. Modern technologies allow proper wine storage...
Handcrafted Genuine Solid Bronze Doors
Where Artistry Meets Elegance Handcrafted Genuine Solid Bronze Doors Low Profile Lines – High Strength -Low Maintenance That’s the beauty of bronze! Bronze wine cellar doors create a gorgeous entrance to your wine cellar. It will ensure your wine collection is...
PAPA POMODORO
This traditional Tuscan soup can be enjoyed any time of year but is best with ultra-fresh tomatoes. Play off the ripe tomato acidity with Louis M. Martini’s lush and vibrant Sonoma County Cabernet Sauvignon. Soup 3 pounds very ripe red tomatoes (cored and cut into...
French Red Wine Stew
Active Time 1 hour 45 Minutes Total Time 4 hour Yield Serves: 8 Learn how to make this classic French red wine stew by chef Ludo Lefebvre. Ingredients 1/2 cup plus 3 tablespoons grape seed oil or another neutral oil, divided 2 pounds 3 ounces beef for stew, cut into 1...
LED Lighting
A wine cellar is more than just a place to stack and store your bottles. It's about drama, hospitality, and convenience. The lights you choose to use in your wine cellar play a huge role in creating the right ambiance. Here are a few ways you can use lighting to...
When it comes to wine storage temperatures, no one has a better sense than Wine Guardian
Heat rises. That’s why it’s warmer upstairs than downstairs in many homes. The same thing can happen in your wine cellar, with the top of the wine cellar several degrees warmer than the floor. With Wine Guardian, several temperature/humidity sensors can be connected...
Copperage Wine Barrel Flooring – Worth Talking About
Handcrafted from reclaimed wine barrels, Cooperage reclaimed wine barrel flooring is made from the outside of retired wine barrels – showcasing all the patina. Cooper’s stamps, and winery markings of the original estates. The sumptuous history and authenticity of this...
Glass Enclosures
Today’s wine cellar consumers are gravitating toward glass enclosures. Some cellars may have a traditional overall design with lots of wood but a glass door to showcase the wine to give it a “storefront look” with a modern appeal. About 80 percent of the wine cellars...