Do you like this design? I think it's simple, but functional.
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
My First Wineracks Revisited
I've been thinking a lot about wineracks lately and I thought it would be nice to share my very first design. I started making these last summer partly as a hobby, and partly to make money selling them at the local farmers' market. They weren't a big hit so I move onto another design, but I think I should give these another chance. What do you readers think?
Do you like this design? I think it's simple, but functional.
Do you like this design? I think it's simple, but functional.
New Winerack Design
I'm working on a new winerack design. I made a prototype of it tonight. It's crude, but I think you can see what I'm getting at.
I got the idea from my trip to the Saint Laurent Estate winery last weekend (see previous post). I saw a very similar design there. I also found similar ones online. I have a few ideas to tweak it a little and add a personal touch to the design. Anyway, here it is in the early stages:
Thoughts?
I got the idea from my trip to the Saint Laurent Estate winery last weekend (see previous post). I saw a very similar design there. I also found similar ones online. I have a few ideas to tweak it a little and add a personal touch to the design. Anyway, here it is in the early stages:
Thoughts?
Sunday, February 15, 2009
Back in Business
After a brief hiatus from the blog, I'm back. Don't worry, I only got tired of wine blogging, not wine in general. Trying to maintain two blogs, and deal with work / school was just too much for me. After last weekend, however, I feel ready to take on the Vino Newbie again.
I took a trip to Wenatchee to see my girlfriend last weekend. We went to a local winery, Saint Laurent Estate, and had a great time. Unfortunately, I didn't have my camera with me so I was unable to get any pictures, but it's a beautiful place. I'm sure you'll find plenty of pictures on their website.
After some complimentary wine tastings, we decided to sit down for lunch, which included two more samples, soup, bread, and chocolate. There is a welcoming feel to the tasting / dining room that reminded me of home. The wine was excellent and there's nothing better than sharing a nice meal with a couple of friends. My one regret is that it's the middle of winter right now. I'm sure the scenery would be spectacular in the summer. I'll definitely have to return soon.
I took a trip to Wenatchee to see my girlfriend last weekend. We went to a local winery, Saint Laurent Estate, and had a great time. Unfortunately, I didn't have my camera with me so I was unable to get any pictures, but it's a beautiful place. I'm sure you'll find plenty of pictures on their website.
After some complimentary wine tastings, we decided to sit down for lunch, which included two more samples, soup, bread, and chocolate. There is a welcoming feel to the tasting / dining room that reminded me of home. The wine was excellent and there's nothing better than sharing a nice meal with a couple of friends. My one regret is that it's the middle of winter right now. I'm sure the scenery would be spectacular in the summer. I'll definitely have to return soon.
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
My Latest Winerack
Over this last summer I started making wineracks in hopes of complementing my income. I have a fair bit of carpentry background, and I'm pretty handy (I run another blog called The Collegiate Handyman)
I started off with a very basic design and made about eight of them. They didn't sell to well (at all) at our local farmer's market. I did sell one on eBay though.
Even though I didn't sell many, I did get some offers to make custom wineracks. College started back up for me and I found myself with a lot less free time. Yesterday I completed the first half of an order from my coworker. Here it is:
If you would like more information about my wineracks, please don't hesitate to email me. I would like to continue making custom wood projects, but I always need customers :)
Thoughts on this design?
I started off with a very basic design and made about eight of them. They didn't sell to well (at all) at our local farmer's market. I did sell one on eBay though.
Even though I didn't sell many, I did get some offers to make custom wineracks. College started back up for me and I found myself with a lot less free time. Yesterday I completed the first half of an order from my coworker. Here it is:
If you would like more information about my wineracks, please don't hesitate to email me. I would like to continue making custom wood projects, but I always need customers :)
Thoughts on this design?
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
The Bad and the Good...
And then the bad again.
Tonight I had an encounter with boxed wine. It's been a while since I've tried that particular niche in the wine market. Back in my not so tame college days, I used to love the stuff. I'll spare the pictures, because I'm not holding back on this review. All I can say is that it came in a square box, maybe 12" x 12" and about 4" deep. There were three different brands fitting this description, and I have a feeling that it doesn't matter too much which one I picked.
(The Bad)
Sure, it tasted like old grape juice, but it did the trick. I mean, if you're going for boxed wine, you have a pretty specific plan in mind. Granted, you don't usually remember why you did it the next morning, but you have to assume that it worked. As I'm writing this, I cringe to imagine how I'm going to feel tomorrow at 7:30 after just having a few glasses of the stuff tonight.
(The Good)
I'll give it this, if you are trying to "drink a little too much", this stuff is great. It's cheap. I did the math, and one box is 6.5 bottles worth. I payed $12 for the box, so that's a mere $2 or so per bottle. Try to remember, have you ever seen a $2 bottle of wine in the store? I very much doubt it. This is probably explained by the rationale that "bums" would buy $2 bottles, but not be able to "invest" in a $12 box, aka, six bottles of $2 cheap drunkenness.
(The Bad again)
This wine is horrible. Prison wine probably rivals it in quality. Think about it, this is the equivalent of a $2 bottle of wine. What would you expect? Give me a gallon of grape juice, a bag of sugar, an old trashcan, and a cool, dark place, and I could probably stumble upon their recipe after a few weeks.
Now there are some legitimate wines out there that have boxed varieties, but you won't find them for much less than $20, and they won't be in 5-liter bladders. The boxed wine concept is pretty smart. I mean, the wine is never exposed to oxygen like the case with conventional bottles. Therefore, you can "open" the wine and it would remain fresh for a long time.
My one suggestion is to know what you are getting into. If you pay $20 for 3 liters or so, you might be onto something. But if you pay $12 for 5 liters, you are probably just setting yourself up for a hangover.
Tonight I had an encounter with boxed wine. It's been a while since I've tried that particular niche in the wine market. Back in my not so tame college days, I used to love the stuff. I'll spare the pictures, because I'm not holding back on this review. All I can say is that it came in a square box, maybe 12" x 12" and about 4" deep. There were three different brands fitting this description, and I have a feeling that it doesn't matter too much which one I picked.
(The Bad)
Sure, it tasted like old grape juice, but it did the trick. I mean, if you're going for boxed wine, you have a pretty specific plan in mind. Granted, you don't usually remember why you did it the next morning, but you have to assume that it worked. As I'm writing this, I cringe to imagine how I'm going to feel tomorrow at 7:30 after just having a few glasses of the stuff tonight.
(The Good)
I'll give it this, if you are trying to "drink a little too much", this stuff is great. It's cheap. I did the math, and one box is 6.5 bottles worth. I payed $12 for the box, so that's a mere $2 or so per bottle. Try to remember, have you ever seen a $2 bottle of wine in the store? I very much doubt it. This is probably explained by the rationale that "bums" would buy $2 bottles, but not be able to "invest" in a $12 box, aka, six bottles of $2 cheap drunkenness.
(The Bad again)
This wine is horrible. Prison wine probably rivals it in quality. Think about it, this is the equivalent of a $2 bottle of wine. What would you expect? Give me a gallon of grape juice, a bag of sugar, an old trashcan, and a cool, dark place, and I could probably stumble upon their recipe after a few weeks.
Now there are some legitimate wines out there that have boxed varieties, but you won't find them for much less than $20, and they won't be in 5-liter bladders. The boxed wine concept is pretty smart. I mean, the wine is never exposed to oxygen like the case with conventional bottles. Therefore, you can "open" the wine and it would remain fresh for a long time.
My one suggestion is to know what you are getting into. If you pay $20 for 3 liters or so, you might be onto something. But if you pay $12 for 5 liters, you are probably just setting yourself up for a hangover.
Monday, October 27, 2008
Wine Lovers Unite
Last week I stumbled upon this site:
Must Love Wine
That link will take you to my profile. Must Love Wine is a social networking site (similar to Facebook and Myspace) that is specifically tailored to wine enthusiasts. You can create and customize a profile, chat, and post in forums.
From what I've seen so far, it's a great way to meet other wine enthusiasts online. I've only made a few forum posts, but I'm already learning a lot.
This site is just one of many similar sites. I know there are quite a few others, but so far, this is the only one I've joined. Have any of you seen any others?
Must Love Wine
That link will take you to my profile. Must Love Wine is a social networking site (similar to Facebook and Myspace) that is specifically tailored to wine enthusiasts. You can create and customize a profile, chat, and post in forums.
From what I've seen so far, it's a great way to meet other wine enthusiasts online. I've only made a few forum posts, but I'm already learning a lot.
This site is just one of many similar sites. I know there are quite a few others, but so far, this is the only one I've joined. Have any of you seen any others?
Sunday, October 26, 2008
The Start of My Wine Cellar
I don't know why I never did this sooner, but I've officially started collecting wine. Well, I probably didn't do it sooner because it's an expensive habit! I don't have much disposable (or drinkable) income as a poor college student.A couple weeks ago, I got a great deal on two bottles of Chateau St. Michelle Syrah. These were a regular $12 on sale for $4 at the grocery store. I couldn't pass it up.
They are actually pretty tasty too. I love a good Washington wine. The only problem is that these bottles don't fit in the winerack that I made for myself.
Let's see how long I can go without drinking these, and more importantly, if I'm able to add to my collection anytime soon.
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