Protect Your Wines by Investing in a Wine Refrigerator
If you are like most wine enthusiasts – or even those who enjoy just a casual glass of wine with dinner – purchasing a wine refrigerator makes sense! Anyone who drinks wine knows that the best taste is achieved when the wine is chilled. But chilling and storing your fine wines and champagnes in your home refrigerator isn’t the answer because regular refrigerators simply will not control and temperature and humidity properly. Storing wine in a pantry or closet is not practical either because conditions can fluctuate causing deterioration in the quality of the wine and spoilage. Additionally, wine should be stored on its side so that the cork stays moist, and this type of storage can only be achieved with a specially made wine bottle refrigerator with individual compartments for each bottle.
If you are new to wines and seeking to purchase your first refrigerator, let’s talk a minute about ideal storage temperatures. The optimal temperature for storing wines is 55 to 58 degrees Fahrenheit. Serving temperatures do vary and as a rule-of-thumb: champagne and sparkling wines 53-57 degrees F; light red 54-57 degrees F; rich red and full-bodied wines 59-68 degrees F; light red 54-57 degrees F. When choosing your refrigerator, you will need to consider these optimal storage conditions and your wine preferences so that you can choose a model that best suits your needs.
Another important consideration when selecting a wine fridge is humidity. To maintain the best taste, wine must be stored at humidity levels of around 70% RH. This humidity level will assure that the cork will not dry out and that oxygen will not penetrate the wine bottle and cause the wine to spoil. Wine refrigerators keep humidity constant, providing optimal storage conditions for your fine wines.
Last but not least, another factor you must consider when choosing your wine refrigerator is your budget. If your budget is limited, consider purchasing a small wine cooler (such as a compact 12-bottle fridge) which is the ideal way to get started if you have only a few bottles you want to store. There are many models to choose from which will provide you years of enjoyment. Of course, if your wine investment/hobby is more serious and your budget is less restrained, you can select a refrigerator that will easily store 200 or more bottles.
Buying a wine refrigerator to preserve your fine wines and champagnes is a wise investment. Everyone from the beginner wine enthusiast to the seasoned wine taster will benefit from ideal wine storage.
Want to find out more about purchasing a wine refrigerator, then visit Beth Stoner’s site on how to choose the best wine cooler for your wine storage needs.
Tags: Alcohol, appliances, home, spirits, Wine