Wine Refrigerators - Five Tips To Help You Choose
Interest in wine is at an all time high, as more and more people discover the joy of sharing and enjoying wine. New wine accessories are being introduced continually, taking wine collecting to an art form. Let's examine some wine storage options, including wine refrigerators and coolers, which are designed to help wine lovers store their bottles in optimal conditions for peak flavor.
If you're a wine lover and don't own a wine refrigerator, chances are you will as your wine collections grows. Wine refrigerators are available for any level of collector and at several price points. Before you buy a wine refrigerator, here are five questions you should ask, along with a few pointers to help you choose.
Big, Small, Or In Between?
Chances are, if you're buying a wine refrigerator, you're pretty much into wine. There are some obvious considerations relating to the best size for you, the first of which is space consideration. Have a clear plan where you'll place the unit within your home and where it best fits within your decor. When in doubt, lean toward a larger unit, as most first time buyers tend to see their wine collection quickly outgrow their storage capacities.
Should I Store Reds Or Whites?
If your storage needs include both red and white wines, look for a wine refrigerator that features dual or multiple zone temperature controls. This is important, as reds generally should be stored at higher temperatures than whites. If you're going through the trouble of properly storing your wines, be sure to store them at the proper temperature vs. a one size fits all approach.
What About Storage Features?
While we hadn't considered it before our purchase, we really appreciate our wine refrigerator's slide out shelving. Also, we've noticed that wineries are bottling in slightly different sized bottles more frequently in the past. A good question to ask is whether the unit you're considering can store magnum style (slightly larger) bottles.
What Should I Do About Temperature And Humidity?
Proper temperature and humidity levels are crucial in proper wine storage. The best universal temperature for wine storage is 55 degrees. Humidity levels are also important to prevent dried out corks. Remember, cooler temperatures reduce humidity, so keep your wine stored at humidity levels between 50 and 70 percent. Also, consider where you'll keep your wine refrigerator. If it's in an area with frequent temperature fluctuations, like a garage, make sure the unit you buy is well insulated to withstand these fluctuations.
Any Other Tips?
Of course, the price of your wine refrigerator will depend upon your storage needs and desired features. Small countertop units cost as little as $75, while large units run well into the thousands. We also recommend choosing a unit that's well rated for minimal noise and vibration. The most important factor to remember is that proper wine storage is crucial to optimal enjoyment of your wine. Make sure your wine refrigerator suits your needs in terms of features and space requirements, and allows for the ongoing growth of your wine collection. Cheers!
Article Source: http://www.search-raven.com
About the Author
Jim Hofman is an author specializing in wine and beer, and is the owner of several websites devoted to wine travel and enjoyment of wine. Be sure to visit Jim's wine resource site for more insight and recommendations about wine accessories, wine storage, and wine refrigerators.
This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution - No Derivative Works 3.0 Unported License, which means you may freely reprint it, in its entirety, provided you include the author's resource box along with LIVE links (without "nofollow" tags).
by: JimHofman
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