With an ever growing interest in all things wine, wine lovers have a wide array of accessories and storage options to enhance their wine experience. New stylish wine accesssories are continually introduced as wine affecionados seek out the best ways to share and enjoy serving wine. Let's take a look at wine storage, a very important aspect of wine enjoyment.
Wine refrigerators are quickly becoming the preferred storage method for wine collectors. There are multiple styles and sizes available, and at price points from less than $100 to several thousand dollars. Let's look at a few key questions to ask before you make your purchase.
How Large?
One thing to consider is how quickly you'll outgrow the storage capacity of a small unit. Our first wine refrigerator was a six bottle unit, which we still own. But, we quickly outgrew its storage capacity when we discovered a few great wine finds on our U.S. wine trail excursions. So our advice is, when in doubt, buy a unit that's a little bigger.
What About Storing Reds And Whites Together?
Feel free to store both your red and white wines, but be aware there are storage temperature differences between the two. In essence, reds are normally stored at higher temperature than whites. If you enjoy and store both red and white wine, consider buying a wine refrigerator with dual zone temperature controls. This will ensure your wine is stored at the proper temperature.
What About Storage Features?
One feature we really enjoy in our wine refrigerator are the slide out shelves. Slide out shelving makes access and viewing much easier for us and our guests. Another factor are the size of wine bottles you'll store. Some wineries are bottling their wine in magnum style bottles, which are slightly larger than standard wine bottles. You'll want to make sure your refrigerator can handle both.
What About Temperature And Humidity?
Keeping your wine in proper temperature and humidity conditions is the primary reason to own a wine refrigerator. Ideal temperature for wine storage is 55 degrees, and humidity levels should range between 50 and 70 percent to prevent dried out corks. If you're planning to put your refrigerator in the garage, for example, be sure to choose a unit that's well insulated and won't be affected by fluctuating temperatures.
What Else Do I Need To Know?
Expect to pay about $100 for a small six bottle model, and well over $1000 for a unit holding 50+ bottles. If you're storing your refrigerator in a secluded place in your home, choose function over style. Conversely, if your wine refrigerator will occupy a more prominent place, make sure the unit is quiet enough to live with. Finally, remember that proper wine storage is crucial to enjoying your wine to its fullest potential. Storage at proper temperature keeps a wine fresh, and allows you to enjoy the full bouquet of flavor.
Article Source: http://www.orbitaloc.com/
Jim Hofman is an author specializing in wine and beer, and has developed several websites devoted to wine travel and enjoyment of wine. Be sure to visit Jim's wine resource site for more tips and recommendations about wine accessories, wine storage, and wine refrigerators.
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