Wine has become more than just an enjoyable drink shared by the fireplace. Today it is treated by many as an investment. It is very important to familiarize yourself with the three biggest enemies of wine in a bottle. They consist of heat, dryness and light. The perfect storage area will keep wine at a fairly low temperature with a good amount of humidity and very little light. Any drastic changes in temperature or humidity are sure to damage your drink.
Wine cellars are normally some type of room or cabinet in the home used to store as well as to protect the liquid but in most cases this term is referring to someplace underground. Those that are located above the ground is generally referred to as a wine room. The smaller wine refrigerators located in the home are typically referred to as a closet or cooler.
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Now that we have gone over the different descriptions between the two, we will go over the actual benefits. Some cellars come with three different temperature zones: The first zone is typically used for storage (also good for light reds). The second is typically used for chilling whites. The final zone is typically used for chilling sparkling wines. What this is essentially doing is combining a wine cellar with a wine refrigerator. Of course this makes the wine cellar ideal but also impractical. An average cellar will cost around ,000.00. Whether you enjoy a simple dinner wine or a fine cabernet, the wine cooler is the perfect answer to protecting your investment. It will serve its purpose protecting from the enemies of wine and will cost somewhere around 0.00.
So now we know some of the differences lets go over some of the temperatures that will be used more frequently and with which type of wines they will be used. Rich, red, and full-bodied wines are best served between 59-66 degrees Fahrenheit (15-19 degrees C). When using wine coolers to store your wine, always go with the lower range as this will produce the best results. 55 degrees Fahrenheit or (13 degrees C) is the perfect temperature for storing light red wines. Blush, rose and dry white wines are normally served between 46-57F (8-14C). If using wine coolers, pick a temperature that you prefer. Sparkling wines and champagnes will generally taste best at 43-47F (6-8C). If using wine coolers, set the temperature somewhere right in that range.
The decision you will have to make will be based on preference at this point. The differences between the two are so very minuscule that it becomes a money and size factor. You have to ask yourself how much wine will I really be storing at any given time and how much am I willing to invest into protecting my wine? This really makes the decision a simple one. Just know that no matter which decision you come to, your investment will be protected and you will be ultimately enjoying this investment for years to come.
Wine Storage - Wine Cellar VS Wine Cooler
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