Wine Coolers
Wine coolers are the most important component of a wine cellar. Even though the room you're using as a wine cellar can be temperature controlled, your best wines (and those you will store for a long time) should be housed in wine coolers so that you can minimize any environmental fluctuations. There are a number of factors that can cause your wine to "go bad" or turn during the aging process. Since wine can be such an investment, it behooves you to learn how to properly store wines so that they avoid the following: •Light •Extreme temperature (heat or cold) •Vibration •Excess or not enough humidity •Dried corks, which allow oxygen to leak through into the bottle Many of these coolers work like refrigerators, but they don't use as much energy, and they are engineered to provide a consistent temperature (a steady 53 to 57 degrees Fahrenheit are ideal for most wines) and humidity - appropriate for wines. Vibration can also be an issue with a home refrigerator. Wine requires a vibration-free environment in which to develop, so any vibration will eventually diminish the quality of a fine wine. Additionally, wines fare best when stored on their side at a slight downward angle with the cork lower than the bottom of the bottle.
In the event that you are intending to use your wine cellar for entertaining, tasting, etc., and not just wine storage, you won't want the room to be 60 degrees when guests arrive. Wine coolers allow you to use the room for entertaining as well as storage. Wine cellar refrigeration for the whole room is more costly, requires more future maintanence, and is subject to changes in humidity. Not enough humidity can lead to corks drying out.
Similarly, home air conditioning provides a poor environment for aging your wines. Most air conditioning systems are only turned on at certain times during the day. This means that the wine will be subject to temperature fluctuations, which will inevitably cause damage to your wine. But don't worry: "The best use of bad wine is to drive away poor relations." (French proverb)
To properly cool and humidify a cellar you will need a cooling system designed specifically for a wine cellar. This type of wine cellar cooling unit is usually installed approximately 18 inches from the top of the room in order to achieve maximum cooling. The unit will also require an unobstructed airflow and adequate ventilation to dissipate the heat generated by the unit.
A split air system is installed outside the wine cellar and the supply and return air is ducted to and from the wine cellar. This wine cellar refrigeration system works like a central air-conditioning system and is similarly quiet. This system would usually include electronic controls and a digital display. There are many options available with split system cooling for wine cellars including humidifiers, dehumidifiers and alarm units. With the addition of the options, a split air system will provide you with total control of your wine cellar refrigeration, but at a large cost. The flavors of both red and white wines fall flat if they are too warm. It is best to chill your reds in coolers for about twenty minutes before serving them, and whites can usually be left in the cooler.
When in doubt, it's better to serve the wine colder and let it warm in the glass than to serve it too warm. There are an impressive amount of wine cooling units on the market that allow you to temperature control the environment your favorite wines. If you have room for it, pick one up! They can add a great deal of enjoyment to your wine drinking experience. There are wine cooling systems tailored for all types of budgets and personal needs.
Wine can be finicky and somewhat delicate. This is why coolers are so important. If you plan to keep a bottle of wine more than a week or two, then the wine needs ideal conditions so that it ages without oxidation. Countertop Wine Coolers The least expensive and simplest solution for storing wine is a countertop wine cooler. These can be found at many major box stores, including Home Depot, Costco and Walmart. These coolers work best for those people who just have a few bottles of wine that they would like to store for the long term. For about $100, you can store up to six bottles of wine in an environment that controls temperature and humidity and protects from the effects of vibration. Because bottles are stored on their sides, the cork is kept moist, as well.
Under Counter Wine Coolers These are becoming standard equipment in new construction and kitchen redesign. You can purchase under counter wine coolers that take up roughly the space of a dishwasher while still leaving you valuable counter space. Under counter coolers are ideal for people who have a few more bottles to store. They range in capacity and price – from $100 to store four bottles in a small cooler that mounts under cabinets to around $700 for an under counter cooler with about a 50 bottle capacity. Free Standing Wine Coolers Free standing wine coolers have more capacity and can fit anywhere that you have space for them. Capacity typically ranges from about 16 bottles to 200 bottles or more, and price runs from about $100 to thousands, depending on size, capacity, brand and features. These wine coolers are perfect for collectors who have from 25 to 200 bottles of wine to store. Wine Cellar Cooling Systems For the serious collector, having a wine cellar or closet may be your best bet as far as cost of storage per bottle. Once you have worked with someone who can help you appropriately design and locate your wine cellar, you can purchase a cooling unit that helps control temperature and humidity. These cooling units can run anywhere from about $750 to a few thousand dollars, depending on the size and capacity of your wine cellar or closet.
You can find wine coolers at most home stores and stores where small and large appliances are sold. Wine Enthusiast Catalog also offers a number of wine coolers, cooling systems, rack systems, cellar designs and more.
As you can see, there are a number of considerations when selecting wine coolers. Cost of storage per bottle, budget, aging potential of the wines you will be storing and space in your home will all factor into your decision. With a little research, however, it is easy to find the perfect wine cooling system for your unique situation. Feel free to contact me if you have questions about wine coolers by clicking here.
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