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Wine Types Guides & Advice

What each grape tastes like, what to serve it at, and how long it wants in the cellar.

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A central aisle leads through gray cellar racks past a wooden ladder and display counters.

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Everything filed under Wine Types

  • Close-up of bottle necks in a VintageView metal wall rack showing the logo

    Wine Types

    Storing Sparkling Wine Safely

    August 5, 2025 · 3 min read

    Sparkling wine storage needs room for the bottle shapes you actually buy. Check support, clearance and retrieval against the selected rack or…

  • A hand holding a glass of red wine above a wooden tasting table

    Wine Types

    Merlot Wine: Flavors, Styles & Pairings

    December 30, 2023 · 9 min read

    Merlot is worth approaching through the bottle’s own balance, not a reputation for being simply soft. Notice fruit, texture and structure, then…

  • Three opened wine bottles, corks and corkscrews sit on a counter.

    Wine Types

    Riesling Wine: Styles, Flavors & Pairings

    December 26, 2023 · 10 min read

    Riesling can offer very different drinking experiences, so begin with the style of the bottle in front of you. Look for information about sweetness…

  • Rooftop wine cellar with a glass door opening onto a city terrace

    Wine Types

    Sauvignon Blanc: Flavors, Styles & Pairings

    December 19, 2023 · 12 min read

    Sauvignon Blanc invites a useful comparison of freshness, aroma and texture. Start with the producer and region on the label, notice which…

  • Two red wineglasses and an unprinted wine bottle arranged on a wood tasting table in a warmly lit cellar.

    Wine Types

    Pinot Noir: Flavors, Styles & Pairings

    December 12, 2023 · 15 min read

    Pinot Noir is easier to choose when you describe the style you enjoy. Note the fruit, body and savory qualities in a favorite bottle, then compare…

  • Wooden bottle slots and diamond bins follow the angle of a staircase behind glass.

    Wine Types

    Syrah & Shiraz: Styles, Flavors & Pairings

    December 5, 2023 · 11 min read

    Syrah and Shiraz labels offer a starting point for exploring a grape through different styles. Pay attention to fruit, spice, body and texture in the…

  • Wooden crates of tomatoes, greens, pears and broccoli on a stone-backed display shelf

    Wine Types

    Zinfandel Wine: Flavors, Styles & Pairings

    November 28, 2023 · 10 min read

    Zinfandel can be a useful dinner choice when its style matches the meal and your preferences. Notice the balance of fruit, spice and weight in a…

  • Backlit dark grape clusters on the vine in a golden-hour vineyard row

    Wine Types

    Cabernet Sauvignon: Flavors & Pairings

    November 21, 2023 · 9 min read

    Cabernet Sauvignon rewards a more specific preference than simply asking for a bold red. Describe the fruit, structure and texture you enjoy, keep…

  • Two glasses of red wine and a bottle with a blank label on a wood table, with metal wine racks against stone behind.

    Wine Types

    Chardonnay: Oaked & Unoaked Wine Styles

    November 14, 2023 · 9 min read

    Chardonnay offers a useful way to compare how winemaking choices shape a familiar grape. Begin with whether you enjoy a fresher or richer impression…

  • Single wine bottle with plain label lit on a wood counter against blurred dark cellar racking

    Wine Types

    Malbec Wine: Flavors, Styles & Pairings

    November 7, 2023 · 8 min read

    Malbec is a starting point for exploring dark-fruited red wines, but the bottle’s own balance matters. Notice body, texture and freshness alongside…

  • Restaurant table set with wine glasses beside a lit candle, purple string lights blurred behind

    Wine Types

    Rosé Wine: Styles, Flavors & Pairings

    October 31, 2023 · 10 min read

    Rosé is a broad category, so choose by the bottle’s style and the occasion rather than color alone. Notice freshness, fruit and sweetness, then…

What we do about it

Bring the questions to the showroom

Wine Hardware sells the equipment in these articles and designs the rooms it goes into.

  • A wide glass-front wine wall displays bottles on horizontal metal racks.

    Design the room

    Bottle count, layout, racking and finish for a closet, an under-stair space or a whole basement.

  • Glass staircase beside a wood-framed wine cellar and dining table

    Cool it properly

    Heat load worked out for your room, then a WhisperKOOL, Wine Guardian, CellarPro or CellarCool unit sized to it.

  • A tasting table sits inside a cellar lined with gray racks and illuminated bottle displays.

    See it in person

    Racking, cabinets and glassware at 1617 Locust St, Walnut Creek. Weekdays, or Saturday by appointment.

Restaurant hallway lined with a glass-front wine display cabinet

Tipsy Tuesday

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Bring Mike the article and the detail you want to understand. Call (925) 944-1084 to talk through your wine or cellar question. The newsletter form below is a beta preview.

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While you are here

Can Wine Hardware quote the project in these articles?
Mike can help you work through a project estimate. Email him dimensions, a floor plan or photos to compare the layout, cooling and materials, then agree on the scope and details needed for a quote.
Do you sell the equipment you write about?
We stock and sell WhisperKOOL, Wine Guardian, CellarPro, CellarCool, VintageView, Modularack, Transtherm, Le Cache and Marvel, plus glassware and accessories, from the Walnut Creek showroom.
Where do you work?
Design and installation across the Bay Area, from Walnut Creek and Danville to Berkeley, San Francisco, Palo Alto, Napa and Sonoma. Equipment can ship beyond the Bay Area; ask for a freight quote on large items.

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    Basics

    Start here if the wine is new. Tasting, serving, storing and buying, without a single word you have to look up.

Start here

A photo is a good place to start.

Wondering what the room could hold? Call Mike at (925) 944-1084 with a rough bottle count and dimensions. He can help you compare layouts and cooling options before you decide what to buy.

Plan my cellarCall Mike at (925) 944-1084