Wine and Beverage Storage Dilemma

Most often for me a great glass of wine hits the spot.  However, after working in the yard on some especially hot days, a cold beer is my preferred choice.  My grand children, when they visit, are always clamoring for a cold soda, mostly orange and root beer.  The dilemma is how to keep these various beverages cool, handy to retrieve and secure from access by the youngsters.  I have selected for my July Manager’s Pick a combination wine and can cooler that solved all my problems.  The Vinotemp Combination Wine and Beverage Center (VT-36) is a great solution.  I have enclosed a complete product description of the VT-36 so you can peruse the specifications.

Special Pricing 

Ideal Wine Coolers suggested retail price for the Vinotemp Wine and Beverage Cooler is $895.  We have priced this well-built combination wine and beverage center at the reduced price of $799., a  discount of $96.  This wine cellar and beverage cooler has all the “bells and whistles” that will make ownership of this product a real pleasure and it is also ADA compliant.  It’s versatile French Door and dual zone design will make this a great addition to any home.

VT-36 Specific Specifications

Our Vinotemp Combination Dual Zone Locking Wine And Beverage Cooler can be used in built-in or free standing installations. This beverage and wine cooler has dual zones that are have separate controls for keeping all your beverages at just the right temperature. Each compartment contains individual touch screen controls and digital read outs. This beverage center is ADA compliant. Features that will make owning this beverage cooler a real pleasure are double-paned glass doors, interior lights, locking doors, and stainless steel french door design. This cooling appliance comes with six wine storage racks and four canned beverage shelves. This is a great product to consider in an under counter application, especially if you are remodeling your kitchen. Look no further for superior beverage centers.

FEATURES:
* Black Cabinet and Stainless Steel Door Trim
* French Door Design
* Double-paned Glass Doors
* Separate Dual Zone Adjustable Temperature Controls
* Two Thin Bar Handles
* Interior Lights
* Lock and Key
* 6 Wine Storage Racks
* 4 Canned Beverage Storage Shelves
* ADA Compliant
* Front-vented Unit for Built-in or Freestanding Applications

CAPACITY:
* 58 12 oz. Beverage Cans
* 19 Wine Bottles

DIMENSIONS:
* Width 23.5 Inches x Depth 24.25 Inches x Height 32.25 Inches

SHIPPING & HANDLING:
* $149.00

MANUFACTURER’S LIMITED WARRANTY:
* 12 Months Parts and Labor

EXTENDED WARRANTIES:
* Available For Purchase On This Product
* For More Information Go To the “Warranty” Page Tab

Check out our selection of free-standing and undercounter wine coolers

Author: Ronald Senn, Vice-president, Ideal Wine Coolers, July 2010

You work for days on end until the time arrives when you get a day off from work.  It only took seconds to kiss my wife, grab my gear, hook-up the boat and hang the “Gone Fishing” sign on my office door.  My wife yelled at me as I was going out the door: “Don’t catch anything if you don’t want to clean it”.  Ten relaxing hours later, I appeared at the kitchen door with a stringer of bass, crappie and catfish.  Before my wife could corner me, I started immediately to clean the fish at the kitchen sink.  Of course, my wife would have preferred that I clean them outside.  She did give me the go ahead as long as I took the fish remains to the out door garbage can, scoured the sink with Lysol, mopped the floor and sprayed some aerosol fragrance that I will call “Odor de Normal”.  Time spent traveling to fish, catching the fish, cleaning the fish and sanitizing the kitchen totaled 12 hours and 27 minutes.  This was still better than 8 hours behind my desk. 

Couple of weeks later, I declared, “Tonight we are having those fish I caught for dinner.”  My wife said, “You cook and I will go to the store for some wine”.  She then asked a series of perplexing questions, “Are you leaving the skin on or taking it off?”, “Is the meat from these fish white, pink or red?”, and “How are you going to cook the fish?”  In a somewhat sarcastic way, I responded, “Skin on, white meat, grilled.”  She left me with the passing comment, “That is all I needed to know” and off to the store she went.  I did not have to be told that she knew what she was doing, because the “smarty-pants” grin on her face told me.  The fish and wine combination that resulted from our joint efforts made the evening for us. 

What she knew about wine and fish, I obviously needed to learn without her knowing it.  I do not do well when “smarty-pants” is right.  Research with help from the search engines was undertaken immediately.  I found a posting by Kara Newman in what she calls a “Whimsical Guideline” for wine and fish/seafood combinations.  She said, “White wine with white seafood, pink wine with pink seafood, and red wine with red seafood”.  I thought that rule might be too easy to be true.  More research merely uncovered the wide range of opinion and advice on this topic. 

I discovered there are principles to follow to get the right combination of fish and wine.  The principles involved are the weight and texture of the food, the intensity of flavors, the need to balance tastes and the need to match flavors, unless a counterpoint flavor would be better.  This did not make sense to me until a read an article on DrinkWine.com called Basic Principles of Successful Food-Wine Pairing.  I even found out what “umami” was. 

The WineDoctor.com has a whole series of paring wine with everything from soup to nuts.  The most important pairing that they tout is the paring of wine with people.  I am a firm believer that you should drink the wine that you enjoy the most and worry less about what food you may have paired with.  They said pair red wine with fish, but they also added plenty of “ifs and buts” to their basic rule.  I also came across an article by Sheral Schowe called “Choosing the Best Wine for Fish”. Her article provides more specific input on the wine and fish combinations.  Another website, Ehow.com has a complete array of instructions, tips and warnings to help guide your fish and wine selections. 

My research was complete and I was ready for the next time we had fish for dinner.  It did not take long for my research to pay off.  My wife said, “I bought some fresh halibut at the store for dinner tonight”.  I replied, “That sounds great to me.  You cook and I will pick up the wine”.   She responded, “What wine were you going to get”.  Without hesitation and with a Cheshire cat grin of my own, I said, “Without a doubt a Chardonnay, Condrieu or Rousanne would be the perfect match with halibut”.  The dumbfound look on my wife’s face was worth the research.  Who says that you cannot teach an old dog a new trick? 

Remember what I always say store your wine properly, serve it at the right temperature and enjoy it completely. 

Author: Ronald Senn, Vice-president, Ideal Wine Coolers, June 2010

Most everyone is familar with the wine cooler, wine refrigerator and wine cellar construction materials of steel and glass.  There is no limit to the variety and design features that could compliment any home.  However, if you are looking for wine storage at its finest with the quality of fine furniture, there are several pleasing alternatives.

Ideal Wine Coolers is pleased to “bring on board” fine wine cooler technology housed in classic, wood finished cabinets.  We have accumulated a collection of credenza, up-right and bureau style fine wood cabinets that would make an elegant addition to any home.  A few of the wine furniture cabinets are showcased below.

Bleeker Bar Model with Extra Storage Compartment

This wine refrigerator furniture has the added feature of an upper storage area with a drop-down serving surface.  It will hold 21 bottles of wine.

Bordeaux Model Dual Zone Wine Cabinet

This classic wine refrigerator cabinet has dual zones to facilitate keeping both your red and wine wines.  It will hold 84 bottles.

Hamilton Model Two Door Wine Storage Cabinet

This wine refrigerator furniture cabinet has two doors and comes with a lustrous, black finish.  This model will hold 40 bottles of your best vintages.

Go check out our other exciting wine cellar furniture cabinet designs.

Many of our customers at Ideal Wine Coolers hail from the great state of Florida.  I was curious what Florida’s wine industry was all about.  Interestingly, Florida ranks third in wine consumption with New York and California holding the top two spots. However, the wine growing industry in Florida is not a significant state contributor to the local economy, but the wineries are gaining a growing reputation for their wine production.  Another fact that eluded me was that Florida is home to the Original American wine.  

 Wine was first made in Florida 300 hundred years before California became a state.  Early Spanish and French explorers discovered native grown Muscadine grapes growing in the wild.  Around 1565, colonists started producing the Original American Wine from the native grapes largely as sacramental wine for religious purposes.  The tropical climate in Florida and the presence of many grapevine diseases made wine growing problematic for many years.  In the 1930’s, hybrid grapes suited for the Florida climate were developed by University of Florida researchers.  It was not until the 1980’s that Florida could even claim a wine growing industry of any note. 

There are fewer than 30 wineries and vineyards in the state.  These few industry leaders can be found scattered throughout the state from the Florida Panhandle to the Homestead area south of Miami.  Primarily because of the growing season differences, the grape harvests begin in May and end in September, which is much earlier than places like Pennsylvania.  Most of the wineries can be found in the “out-of-the-way” places of the state and are centered near small, delightful country communities.  Visiting these small, friendly towns could be a highlight of a wine tour trip in the state and certainly enhance the understanding of early American history. 

Muscadine wines cannot be found anywhere else in the world and are considered a Southern specialty.  The research and development of new hybrids will surely enhance the varieties of grapes grown in Florida.  Some of the key grapes grown are Stover, Blanc du Bois, Swanee, Noble, Muscadine, and Miss Blanc.  I have no doubts that development of more varieties and hybrids will ultimately serve to increase the future choices for Florida wine drinkers.  Florida is also a state that allows shipping of wines across its borders with minimal requirements.  It may be worth your time to check out the possibility if you cannot travel there. 

On June 24 and 25 this year, the Florida International Wine Challenge will hold its sixth annual competition at the Palms Hotel in Miami Beach.  The 2010 Wine Challenge is touted to be the biggest in history.  This event has given out awards to wineries and vineyards from all over the world.  This year event organizers will be offering an educational package that is sure to enhance everyone’s enjoyment of the event. 

Many people wonder why the Florida wine industry does not achieve more notoriety.  Many of the wines made there have won numerous national and international awards.  Perhaps, it is because many of us still look at Florida where the oranges are grown and where Lake Okeechobee, the Everglades and Disney World are located.  I recommend, when next in Florida, that you find one of the small town wineries or wine venders and try a bottle of homegrown wine.  Remember, as I always say find a wine you enjoy, store it properly until you use it, serve it at just the right temperature and enjoy it. 

Author: Ronald Senn, Vice-president, Ideal Wine Coolers, May 2010

My Manager’s Pick for the month of May is the Danby 35 Bottle Free Standing Locking Wine Cooler.  This wine cooler is also unique in the fact that the top is designed to add to your existing counter space.  Most wine coolers do not have the option of using the top, because they lack the needed design features.  We have priced this wine cooler at $219.00 more than 22 percent off our regular price of $284.00.   We have plenty instock and can ship the day after your order is submitted.

Our Danby Black 35 Bottle Stainless Trim Worktop Locking Slim Wine Cooler is for serious collectors in freestanding applications when a locking glass door is needed. The temperature cooling range is from 42.8 degrees F. to 57.2 degrees F. The cabinet has a sleek black finish and stainless steel metal door trim with a recessed handle. This wine cooler is less than 20 inches wide making it slim enough to fit anywhere in your home. The tempered glass locking door on this wine cooler promotes better insulation and UV protection for your finest wines and has reversible hinges. The black interior features sturdy wire metal shelving that will tenderly cradle your best vintages. This wine cooler features a scratch resistant work top, an excellent place to store wine accessories. The interior light and quiet, operations make owning this wine cooler a pleasure and a pointed addition to your home decor. Look no further for superior wine storage.

FEATURES:
* Free-standing Design
* Programmable Temperature Range of 42.4 to 57.2 degrees F.
* External Digital Thermostat
* 6 Full Width Wire Shelves
* Tempered Glass Door w/Stainless Steel Trim
* Scratch Resistant Work Top
* Reversible door hinges
* Integrated Lock with Key
* Recessed Side Mount Door Handle

CAPACITY:
* 35 Wine Bottles

DIMENSIONS:
* Width 17 11/16 Inches x Depth 19 6/16 Inches x Height 33 6/16 Inches

SHIPPING UPS:
* Calculated Based on Weight & Zip Code

MANUFACTURER’S WARRANTY:
* 24 months parts and labor

READY FOR IMMEDIATE SHIPMENT

EXTENDED WARRANTIES:
* Available For Purchase On This Product
* For More Information Go To the “Warranty” Page Tab

Check out our selection of free-standing and undercounter wine coolers

Author: Ronald Senn, VP Ideal Wine Coolers

Ideal Wine Coolers is pleased to provide two products with  customer appreciation, extra low pricing.  Both of these products are manufactured by one of our quality suppliers, the Danby Company.  You can also review our complete line of Danby Wine Coolers and Danby Kegerators and Beverage Coolers.

Our Danby Black 35 Bottle Stainless Trim Worktop Locking Slim Wine Cooler is for serious collectors in freestanding applications when a locking glass door is needed. The temperature cooling range is from 42.8 degrees F. to 57.2 degrees F. The cabinet has a sleek black finish and stainless steel metal door trim with a recessed handle. This wine cooler is less than 20 inches wide making it slim enough to fit anywhere in your home. The tempered glass locking door on this wine cooler promotes better insulation and UV protection for your finest wines and has reversible hinges. The black interior features sturdy wire metal shelving that will tenderly cradle your best vintages. This wine cooler features a scratch resistant work top, an excellent place to store wine accessories. The interior light and quiet, operations make owning this wine cooler a pleasure and a pointed addition to your home decor. Look no further for superior wine storage.

FEATURES:
* Free-standing Design
* Programmable Temperature Range of 42.4 to 57.2 degrees F.
* External Digital Thermostat
* 6 Full Width Wire Shelves
* Tempered Glass Door w/Stainless Steel Trim
* Scratch Resistant Work Top
* Reversible door hinges
* Integrated Lock with Key
* Recessed Side Mount Door Handle

CAPACITY:
* 35 Wine Bottles

DIMENSIONS:
* Width 17 11/16 Inches x Depth 19 6/16 Inches x Height 33 6/16 Inches

REGULAR PRICE:  $284.00       CUSTOMER APPRECIATION PRICE $219.00      SAVINGS OVER 22%

SKU # DWC3509BLS

Our Danby Black 4.4 Cu. Ft. Stainless Door Pony Keg Beer Cooler will cool your 1/4 beer keg with ease. The kegerator comes with a black cabinet with a stainless steel door. The molded worktop, black beer tower dispenser with chrome trim and the chrome guard rail give this keg cooler a professional look. Features that will add to the enjoyment of this beer keg cooler are 2 cantilever wire shelves, auto cycle defrost, reversible door hinges and included drip tray. This Danby Keg Cooler comes with a Co2 tank and all the necessary fittings to start serving cold draft beer immediately. The Co2 tank is shipped empty for safety reasons. You can fill your tanks locally at places like welding shops, fire extinguisher service centers, hospital gas suppliers and party stores. A full Co2 Tank will provide enough gas for about 5 to 7 kegs. You will be the envy of all your friends the first time they enjoy an ice cold draft beer at your home. Look no further for superior kegerators.

FEATURES:

* Pony Sized Kegs
* Black Cabinet with Stainless Steel Door
* Auto Cycle Defrost
* 5 Pound Co2 Tank with Hardware Included (tank needs charging)
* Scratch Resistant Top
* Reversible Door Hinge
* Chrome guard rail included
* Black/chrome Beer Tower Dispenser
* 2 Cantilever Wire Shelves
* Drip Tray included

CAPACITY:
* Pony Sized Kegs
* Co2 Tank: 5 Pounds under 1800 PSI

DIMENSIONS:
* Kegerator: Width 20 3/4 Inches x Depth 21 8/16 Inches x Height 33 Inches
* Co2 Tank: 5.5 Inches Diameter x 18.25 Inches Tall

REGULAR PRICE:  $637.00       CUSTOMER APPRECIATION PRICE $430.00      SAVINGS OVER 32%

SKU # DKC445BLS

We also have several Vinotemp Sale Items and are proud of the new products we have added.

Author: Ronald Senn, Vice-president, Ideal Wine Coolers, May 2010

I have enjoyed a good glass of table wine many times with my meals.  Wine tasting parties have always been a favorite pastime, especially when combined with cheese.  No, I am not from Wisconsin so I do not rate a “cheese head hat”.  Recently, after a pleasant dinner party with good friends, I was introduced to a new class of wines that I had never tried before.  The dessert wine I was served turned out to be the fitting end to a fabulous evening. 

 Grapes used for dessert wines are not harvested in the same fashion and timing as your typical table wine grapes.  The goal is to increase the sugar content of the grape by mainly harvesting them later in the season.  Often in dessert wines a noble rot forms on the grapes before harvest.  In another dessert wine type named ice wine, grape harvest is delayed until the first freeze.  Some times these wines are developed by pausing the fermentation process. 

There are several types of grapes primarily used in the making of dessert wines.  Semillon grapes are commonly used in Sauternes that often smell like the wildflowers where it is grown.  Muscat grapes may remind you of orange and honey.  Fendant and Chasselas are typically found primarily in Switzerland.  Spicy Gewurztraminer wines are good tasting and seem to age well.  Fortified wines like sherry, port and Madeira are made differently than your typical dessert wine, but are also a great choice and considered in many circles to be “honorary dessert wines”.  Be aware that some wineries are making great dessert wines by “late-harvesting” table wine grapes used for Cabernet Sauvignon and Viognier. 

 When serving dessert wines, a general rule is the wine should be sweeter than the food it is served with.  Good matches include fresh sweet fruits, bakery goods and chocolate and toffee based dishes.  White dessert wines should be served chilled but not to cold, while red dessert wines are mainly served at room temperature.  Because of their sweetness, dessert wines come in smaller bottles and often are more expensive than table wines.  It is best to serve these wines in a small glass with a pour of only 2 ounces.  Dessert wine can be served without dessert, but in any case with or without, ready your body for the sugar high that will result. 

 Selecting the right dessert wine for your next entertainment event could be a little challenging.  A great suggestion is to try a “test-run” before you plan your gathering.  Get your chosen dessert prepared ahead of time.  Taste the wine you think will compliment your dessert choice and note your impressions.  Lastly, taste your wine along with your dessert.  If you find the combination pleasant to your palate, you are home free.  If the combination dulls the flavor of the wine, consider going with a less-sweet dessert or a sweeter wine. 

What I learned about dessert wines has been known for a long time by cultured Europeans.  On this continent, we have always appreciated having dessert after our meals, but have not extensively appreciated what a good accompanying wine could do to our “taste-buds”.   I have decided that having a dessert wine in my cellar to enjoy occasionally is a personal requirement.  As I always say, select your wine to fit your individual taste, store and serve it properly, and enjoy. 

Author: Ronald Senn, Vice-president, Ideal Wine Coolers, April 2010

Ideal Wine Coolers endeavors to find new and exciting products that we can present to our customers.  These new products have some unique characteristics that may be just what you need.   We have developed a new web page that will feature these new products so it will be easy for everyone to find them.  Four of the new products are described below.

Our Haier 12 Bottle Mirror Glass Door Dual Zone Thermoelectric Wine Cellar will keep your red and white wine collection at the perfect temperature. This dual zone wine cooler has dual touch screen controls with 2 LED displays that allow independent control between 45 to 54 degrees F. in the upper zone and between 52 to 64 degrees in the lower zone. Features that will improve your enjoyment of this thermoelectric wine refrigerator are 4 full-width chrome storage racks, soft interior light, vibration free operation, recessed door handle and double-pane insulated glass door with black cabinet and trim. This wine cellar is small enough to place on your kitchen counter top. Our wine cooler is a great addition to any household, apartment or condominium where space saving is an absolute essential. Look no further for superior wine storage.

FEATURES:
* Black Cabinet with Black Trim
* Ultra-Quiet Thermoelectric Cooling
* Double-Pane Insulated Glass Door
* Recessed Handle
* Adjustable Dual Zone Thermostat Controls
* 4 Chrome Wire Storage Racks
* Black Interior

CAPACTIY:
* 12 Wine Bottles

DIMENSIONS:
* Width 10 Inches x Depth 20 Inches x Height 24 Inches

Our Haier 18 Bottle Silver Steel Trim Dual Zone Thermoelectric Wine Cellar will keep your red and white wine collection at the perfect temperature. This dual zone wine cooler has dual touch screen controls with 2 LED displays that allow independent control between 45 to 54 degress F. in the upper zone and between 52 to 64 degrees in the lower zone. Features that will improve your enjoyment of this thermoelectric wine refrigerator are 5 full-width chrome storage racks, soft interior light, vibration free operation, recessed door handle, leveling legs and double-pane insulated glass door with black cabinet and virtual steel trim. This wine cellar is small enough to place on your kitchen counter top. Our wine cooler is a great addition to any household, apartment or condominium where space saving is an absolute essential. Look no further for superior wine storage.

FEATURES:
* Black Cabinet with Virtual Steel Trim
* Ultra-Quiet Thermoelectric Cooling
* Double-Pane Insulated Glass Door
* Recessed Handle
* Adjustable Dual Zone Thermostat Controls
* 5 Chrome Wire Storage Racks
* Leveling Legs
* Black Interior

CAPACTIY:
* 18 Wine Bottles

DIMENSIONS:
* Width 13 3/5 Inches x Depth 19 3/10 Inches x Height 26 Inches

Our Haier 20 Bottle 4 Wine Glass Display Window Thermoelectric Wine Cooler is a new and unique wine cellar that can store wine bottles and glasses. The door allows for hanging storage of 4 wine glass and display of 3 bottles of wine. (see HVDW32ABB for a look at a similar interior). This wine refrigerator has a classic black cabinet with stainless steel trim around the door. This thermoelectric wine cooler is energy efficient and is perfect for both red and white wines. Features that you will enjoy include soft interior light, recessed handle design, leveling legs, 3 full-width chrome shelves, LED displays and touch screen controls. Light up your wine collection today with this space-saving wine cooler. Look no further for superior wine storage.

FEATURES:
* Black Cabinet with Silver Trim
* Ultra-Quiet Thermoelectric Cooling
* Double-Pane Insulated Glass Door
* Recessed Handle
* Adjustable Touch Screen Thermostat Controls
* 3 Chrome Wire Storage Racks
* Black Interior

CAPACTIY:
* 20 Wine Bottles
* 4 Wine Glasses

DIMENSIONS:
* Width 17 Inches x Depth 23 3/13 Inches x Height 20 1/10 Inches

Our Vinotemp 4 Bottle Draw Wine Dispenser and Cooler is a unique wine storage appliance that can dispense up to 4 different wine varieties. There are two different color options: black or brown (installed brown color wine dispenser is shown). Either color option comes with stainless steel trimmed front. This wine dispenser is extremely quiet and maintains wine at proper storage and serving temperature (40 to 60 degrees F.). This wine dispenser has blue LED dispensing buttons, miniature stainless steel electronic valves, dispensing spouts and blue LED display temperature controller. The glass-door cabinet displays wines and dispenses from up to 4 opened bottles while chilling 4 additional bottles. The Wine Draw Dispenser uses a noble gas (such as nitrogen or argon) to keep open bottles fresh from oxidation for weeks. If you are an avid wine lover or own a business that serves wine, this unique wine dispenser could be just what you need. Look no further for superior wine storage.

FEATURES:
* Extremely Quiet Running
* High-output Compressor System
* Maintains Wine at Proper Storing and Serving Temperature
* Temperature Range 40 to 65 Degrees F.
* Blue LED Dispensing Buttons
* Blue LED Temperature Controller
* NSF-Approved Plastic and Sanitary Stainless Steel Spouts
* Miniature No-drip Stainless Steel Electronic Dispensing Valves
* Brown or Black Exterior Color Choices

DIMENSIONS:
* Width 19.25 Inches x Depth 19 Inches x Height 25 Inches

CAPACITY:
* 4 Wine Bottles in Dispenser
* 4 Wine Bottles in Additional Storage Space

Author: Ronald Senn, Vice-president, Ideal Wine Coolers, April 2010

Based on customer input, Ideal Wine Coolers is pleased to offer our customers the option of purchasing Extended Warranties on the products they purchased.  The warranty is an “in home” service plan that starts coverage when the manufacturer’s warranty expires.  A complete discussion of the Terms and Conditions can be found on our website.  These programs are administered by Repair Master, a notable repair service plan manager.

Author: Ronald Senn, Vice-president, Ideal Wine Coolers

Ideal Wine Coolers has decided to continue the Danby Super Sale, because customer response has been so positive.   We have selected

additional Danby wine cooler and beverage center products to add to the sale with prices slashed on these products by over 20 percent.  The sale has been extended to the last day of March 2010.   Take advantage of these one time savings on quality Danby wine cellars and cooler products.

We also carry other top brands of wine coolers like Haier, EdgeStar and Vinotemp that are priced competitively.

Thank you all so much for investigating what Ideal Wine Coolers has to offer.

Ronald Senn, Vice-president, Ideal Wine Coolers