Wine Storage - Wine Cellar VS Wine Cooler

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.

Wine

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.

Wine Storage - Wine Cellar VS Wine Cooler

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

We review the best wine coolers on the market today like the Whynter Wine Cooler. We offer the most detailed and un-biased reviews you're likely to find for wine coolers and wine chillers. Please visit to see our full selection of Wine Coolers

Wine Cellar Temperature and Humidity, What is Ideal?

The ideal temperature and humidity of any wine cellar would do well to mimic the natural conditions of France's legendary wine caves, which are acknowledged to be close to perfect.

Keeping the rest of the world's cellars at the same 55-57 degrees Fahrenheit (14 degrees C) and with an average of 60% relative humidity generally requires some form of dedicated wine cooling system. To properly control the cellar temperature and humidity, the system should take into account and manage not only the cellar's temperature but also the vagaries of the climate in which you live. It is hot/dry? Hot/humid? Cold/dry? Cold/humid? Will your system also be required to supply heating to maintain the correct winter temperature? These are all important considerations when building or retrofitting your wine cellar.

Wine

Understanding Temperature

Wine Cellar Temperature and Humidity, What is Ideal?

55- 57 degrees F (14 degrees C) is considered to be the ideal temperature for storing and properly aging wine. If the temperature consistently fluctuates up or down several degrees, your wines will be compromised and may age prematurely.

• Some cooling units are controlled using an in-bottle liquid temperature device, which signals the unit to adjust when it senses a change of 2 to 4 degrees of temperature in the liquid. Unfortunately, by the time the wine inside the insulated bottle reacts to the fluctuation, the air in the cellar has already shifted many more critical degrees.
• A wall-mounted thermostat with a range of + or - 1 degree F is ideal.
• Cellars subject to ambient temperatures below 55 degrees F should be protected by a heating coil. Without the ability to heat, a cooling unit can do nothing if the temperature in the cellar falls below the control set-point. The best system is one where the heating is integrated into the cooling unit and works on the same thermostat.

How to Resolve the Temperature Problem

• In all cases, quality should be a primary consideration. A cheap initial price will soon be forgotten if the wine cellar cooling unit fails and stresses your wine.
• Wine cellar units should be rated close to the intended operating temperatures and humidity. This means around 55 degrees F and 60% relative humidity. Be sure the unit you are buying is rated for wine cellar use, not household use.
• Because there are many variables other than the number of bottles or the cubic footage of the cellar to consider before selecting the type and size of a cooler, it is best if the calculation is done by a professional using a load calculation program. These variables might include frequency of door openings, lighting intensity, room insulation, doors and windows, frequency of case turnovers, etc.

Why is Humidity Important?

Humidity is a critical feature often overlooked in wine cellar design. 50% - 70% is recognized as adequate, with 60% the ideal.

• When the humidity is higher than 70%, it will likely cause mold and degradation of the labels and glue.
• When the humidity is below 50%, corks will begin to dry out resulting in loss of liquid in the bottles and possible degradation of the wine.

How to Resolve the Humidity

• First step should be the installation of a vapor barrier around the entire room. A minimum of 4 mil plastic is recommended with seams overlapped and taped. The vapor barrier is installed on the outside (or warm side) of the cellar insulation. This is to prevent condensation from forming on the vapor barrier, potentially causing mold.
• A cooling unit alone cannot add moisture or humidify cellar air. It needs a humidifier to do so. The best option is a humidifier integrated into a cooling unit so it operates and distributes the moisture evenly in the re-circulating air. However, a free-standing humidifier can also be installed in conjunction with a cooling unit as long as this is controlled by a high-quality wall-mounted thermostat.

Wine Cellar Temperature and Humidity, What is Ideal?

Wine Guardian® wine cellar cooling units are commercial grade equipment for upscale residential and professional wine cellars and storage facilities. Wine Guardian coolers are high-performance and installation-friendly, with many features and options not found in any other systems:

• Completely self-contained, requiring no external piping
• Can be installed through-wall, ducted remote, or any combination
• Built-in powerful, motorized impeller fans for external ducting
• Pre-wired, wall mount thermostat for flexibility of location and proper control of temperature and humidity
• Built-in, cleanable filters on both evaporator and condenser coils to keep free of dust and maintain optimum operating conditions
• Corrosion-resistant cabinets of powder-coated aluminum for lasting durability
• Options include: humidifier for dry locations; electric heating coil for cold climates; low ambient protection for mounting in cold areas such as a garage or outside shed

Wine Guardian wine cellar cooling equipment is distributed internationally. For more information: http://www.wineguardian.com