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Factors That Affect the Taste of the Wines in Your Wine Cellar in Los Angeles, CA

Wine is one of the most enjoyable drinks. There are different types of wines and people have varied preferences of wines. Wine collectors differ on the content of their residential custom wine cellar depending on what they like best. The question is, what all affects the taste of wine? In this article, learn a few of the various factors that can affect the taste of wine.

Basic Factors That Affect How Wine Tastes

For most people, wine has become a staple beverage for special occasions and gatherings. It is an enjoyable beverage and comes in several varieties to choose from. This is why a lot of people opt to have their own home custom wine cellar built in Los Angeles, CA; so that they can access their wine at any time.

A genuine wine lover should have an extensive knowledge  of wines, and should also continue learning more about the wines included in their wine collection. Regardless of the types of wine a wine collector prefers, it’s always helpful to gain a better understanding of which factors affect the flavor of wines.

These are the basic factors known to affect the flavor of the wines in a home custom wine cellar in Los Angeles, California:

1. Grape Variety

The single most influential factor that affects the flavor of wine is the type of grape from which it was made. In reality, it is impossible to count the actual number of grape varieties in the world. Italy alone boasts of more than a thousand types of grapes.

Each type of grape has its own distinct character. One of the interesting things that wine enthusiasts do is find words that can precisely describe the smell and taste of a particular grape. In this case, personal impressions of a single grape type can vary enormously, but a number of common responses are recorded by wine tasters.

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What affects the flavor of wines in a wine cellar?

2. Vineyard 

The climate, altitude and soil composition of the vineyard wherein the grapes were grown largely affects the ultimate flavor of a given wine. A few more extra degrees of warmth in a region can make a wine taste more exotic, and have tropical flavors. Altitude, on the other hand, makes a wine more acidic, which also affects the taste. Grape varieties that were grown in different parts of the same country can have significant flavor differences when a number of different latitudes are involved. Vineyards close to the sea tend to have grapes that ripen more slowly than grapes grown in hot, insulated, inland vineyards.

3. Oak

It is a traditional practice to ferment wine in oak barrels, and it is within these barrels that wines acquire their vanilla aromas and toasty flavors. There are many species of oak, which fall into two categories: European and American. The type of oak barrel used for aging wine affects how the final product will taste.

4. Tannin and Acidity

There is an advantage to being able to recognize the presence of tannin in wine. The presence of tannin can give you a clue of the wine’s potential longevity. It can also tell about the grape variety from which it was made.

The tannin in wine comes from the skins, stems and pips of the grapes used in the wine making process. Tannins can also come from the wooden barrels wherein the wine was fermented. Some grapes are low in tannin, while others are rich in it. Tannins in wine decrease over time, and therefore, if a certain wine has high tannin content, it most probably will be better tasting when allowed to age in a residential wine cellar before consumption.

Grapes also vary in their level of natural acidity, and the differences occur not only from one variety of grapes to another, but also from one region to another. It is the presence of acids that makes an alcoholic fruit juice into a refreshing glass of wine. But in order to achieve this, there needs to be a balance of acidity. Well balanced acidity helps inhibit the effects of harmful bacteria. and makes wine taste fresh.

5. Time

Generally, as wine gets older, its flavor and aroma will dramatically change. When wines are allowed to mature, harsh tannins soften, acids and alcohol interact and form esters, and primary fruit flavors evolve into complex bouquets. Wine is said to have reached a platform of drinkability when mature fruit and alcohol are in balance. This balance can take years to develop.

In order for wines to mature tastefully, they need to be kept in controlled climate conditions. The temperature, for example, should be kept within the ideal range of 50 to 55 degrees Fahrenheit, while the humidity should remain around 70%. There should be minimal fluctuations in these climate conditions.

The most ideal place to age wine is in a home custom wine cellar in Los Angeles, CA. A residential custom wine cellar, when properly built, with the right insulation and efficient wine cellar cooling system, can provide wines with the necessary conditions in order for them to develop their flavors and aromas.

There are many different kinds of wine cellars in Los Angeles, California. Regardless of the kind you prefer, make sure that it is constructed by a professional wine cellar builder. Coastal Custom Wine Cellars is one of the most competent wine cellar builders in California. Their wine cellars are not only durable and functional, but also come in various styles and designs to choose from. Coastal offers free 3D wine cellar design drawing to their clients at the initial consultation. Their team of wine cellar builders is trained to work alongside clients, from the planning phase of the wine cellar construction up to its completion.

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Keep Wines in a Proper Wine Storage Solution

Coastal Custom Wine Cellars is partners with the best companies in the wine storage industry, to make sure that the wine cellars they build in Los Angeles, CA meet their standard of quality. Coastal is known for consistently meeting their customers’ satisfaction.

For more information about Coastal Custom Wine Cellars, and their products and services, contact them today at +1 (888) 735-8889.

Identifying Wines That Can Be Stored in a Custom Wine Cellar in Los Angeles, California

A lot of people think that all wines taste better when allowed to age. The fact is, some wines can be enjoyed immediately after purchase, while others should be allowed to mature for some time first. Wines that need to be allowed to age should be kept in a home wine cellar in Los Angeles, California. Learn how to determine whether a certain wine should be cellared or not.

The Purpose of Storing Wines in a Residential Custom Wine Cellar in CA

Wines in a Custom Wine Cellar

Various Wines in a Wine Cellar in California

When people think of wine, they often think of a wine cellar or some storage room to keep them in. Why should wines be stored in a home wine cellar in Los Angeles, California? If you ask around, the common reasons wine enthusiasts cellar wine include:

  1. Starting a wine collection to earn money,since the value of wine increases over time.
  2. Having a keen interest in a particular wine region or vintage and wanting to stock up.
  3. A personal preference for old wine, and wanting to have some to enjoy from time to time.

If you look at these three reasons, there is a common denominator for cellaring wine. The primary purpose of a wine cellar is to provide a safe place for wines to be stored and aged. But not all wines need to be cellared; some wines can be enjoyed immediately after purchase.

4 Characteristics of Wines That Taste Better When Allowed to Age

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Which Wines Should be Kept in a Wine Cellar for Long Term Wine Storage?

If you intend to have a residential custom wine cellar, you must know which wines should be allowed to age before drinking, and which wines should not be cellared. Determining whether a wine will age well or not is not an exact science. But generally, wines that age well have 4 characteristics in common. Learn these characteristics, to judge which wines you should keep in your residential custom wine cellar in Los Angeles, CA.

  1. Check for Acidity.

Wines that taste better when allowed to age are usually more acidic. As wine is allowed to mature, it slowly loses its acid and flattens out. Wines that are not very acidic will not taste good if allowed to age. Check the label of a wine that you intend to buy, to find out whether it is good to keep in a home custom wine cellar in Los Angeles, California or not.

  1. Check for Tannin Content. 

Tannins come from the pips and skins of grapes that were used during wine making. They can also come from oak aging. Many wine experts have observed that wines with higher levels of tannins tend to mature better than wines with lesser tannin content. Tannins break down over time, and therefore wines with higher tannin content taste better when allowed to age. If a certain wine does not have enough tannin to begin with, its flavor will not improve over time.

  1. Check for Alcohol Level.

Alcohol is volatile in non-fortified wines. High levels of alcohol in wine cause it to turn to vinegar more quickly. Generally, the lower the level of alcohol in a certain type of wine, the longer the wine will last, and the better it will taste as it ages.

  1. Check for Residual Sugar.

A lot of people overlook the sugar content of wines, because these days, aging dry wines is becoming more popular. But according to many wine experts, wines that are sweet, like Port, Sherry, Sauternes and Riesling, are better tasting when allowed to age.

Other Issues That Affect the Aging of Wine

Yes, it is important to determine which wines taste better when allowed to age in a residential custom wine cellar in Los Angeles, California. But besides the wine itself being the right wine to age, there are other things that affect how long a wine should age for (if at all). One of those things is the wine cork.

Wine Corks Affect How Wines Age

The quality of wine corks used in a wine bottle can affect how a wine ages. Even if a wine has all of the characteristics that can make it mature tastefully, if the cork used in its bottling is of poor quality, the wine will still not taste good when allowed to age in a wine cellar. Here are a few things about wine corks that you should know:

  1. Where Wine Corks Come From.

Wine corks are made from the bark of the cork tree. The tree is not cut down. Also, only up to half of the tree’s bark is removed at any one time. After highly skilled people remove the bark, it is allowed to grow back. Corks, therefore, are a more eco-friendly option to sealing wine bottles compared to plastic bottle stoppers.

  1. The Sustainability of Corks.

Aside from cork, there are different kinds of materials used for wine bottle stoppers, like plastic and aluminum. Plastic is not biodegradable, while aluminum takes a lot of energy to manufacture. Although cork is not a perfect product, it has been proven to stand very well against synthetic closures, in terms of sustainability and environmental impact.

Top Wine Cellar Designer and Builder in Los Angeles, California

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Wine Cellars Built in California

If you plan to start your own wine collection of wines that will taste better when allowed to age, you must have a residential custom wine cellar built in your own home. There are many wine cellar construction companies in California. Coastal Custom Wine Cellars is one of the most reliable wine cellar designers and builders in Los Angeles, California.

Coastal Custom Wine Cellars designs and builds wine storage solutions in Los Angeles, CA, both for residential and commercial purposes. They have also partnered with the best in the industry, like US Cellar Systems, to create effective wine storage solutions. Their services include free initial design consultation, with free 3D drawings of your dream residential custom wine cellar. Their wine cellar experts are always willing to work with their clients, from the planning stage of the wine cellar construction, up to its completion. For more information about Coastal Custom Wine Cellars, and their products and services, contact them today at +1 (888) 735-8889!