Chill the Wine: Dedicated Wine Storage for Everyone
Having a wine cellar was once the true sign of affluence- descending into a hidden room with cooling stone floors and walls, lined with dusty bottles to select just the right vintage, was the true sign of an afficionado. And a fantasy out of reach of most of us. We usually had to settle for a countertop rack that held a few bottles in far from ideal conditions.
Today, with wine consumption and selection at an all time high, storing and serving wine in those ideal conditions has become an option available to anyone with a few hundred dollars in their budget and a few square feet of available floor space. If you’re planning a new kitchen or simply looking for a better way to store your growing wine collection, a wide range of wine cooler appliances increases your options. Ranging from a few hundred dollars to thousands, these appliances combine storage and temperature control in one unit dedicated to the needs of oft fragile vino.
For most of us an under-counter cooler is a good choice. These usually slide right under and don’t require any complex installation or hook-ups- a normal electrical outlet fits the bill. Holding 3-4 cases of wine behind a glass door, most under-counter models can also be used as freestanding storage in a non-kitchen environment like a bar area or family room.
Things to look for are multiple temperature zones with a cooling area for whites and a zone for reds that holds them at 55-60 degrees F. Higher-end models can accommodate chilling champagne, however champagne chilling is one wine storage function that traditional refrigeration handles well. Dedicated wine storage also keeps corks hydrated and protects bottles from the damaging effects of light, unlike that counter-top rack.
Even if you are not a wine snob, a dedicated storage place for your collection will really enhance the enjoyment of the wine you do drink. All too often we’re drinking wine that has been stored improperly and is at the wrong temperature. Great wine combines all the fragile organic variables of earth, sun, grape and maker in a package that is arguably one of mankind’s great achievements. Storing these jewels in the right environment ensures you’ll appreciate their full flavor. And you’ll save serious money with case discounts, knowing you can keep it on hand without spoilage. Salut!
For a good introduction to the ins and outs of wine storage visit this site.
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