Wine is often reserved for celebrations and special events. Nevertheless, some people now enjoy a glass of wine regularly in the comfort of their own homes. A reflection of the general shift toward more moderate drinking. Some people even take it to the next level and begin a wine collection.
The first thing you should remember if you want to start your own is that wine is a delicate beverage. You must follow particular storage rules to ensure that your wine lasts for years while maintaining its quality.
It's also worth noting that the best wines have a steep price tag. You may as well get a wine refrigerator if you're going to buy one of them. It's an excellent option for individuals who are just getting started with wine collecting or aren't ready to go for a full-fledged cellar.
However, deciding which option best fits your opulent lifestyle might be challenging due to the abundance of choices on the market. As such, consider this your wine refrigerator buying guide:
There’s a wide range of acceptable storage temperatures for wine. This means you must consider the wine varieties you plan to store before making a purchase. This is because heat is one of wine's most dangerous enemies. Under the wrong conditions, wine can lose its acidity and some of its aroma, leading to a strange flavour.
Dual-zone wine fridges let you store both red and white wine in the same fridge, as they have two different temperature zones, keeping each type of wine at the right temperature. Some fridges, like this range on Expert Wine Storage, can have sliding rails, which let you pull each shelf out easily to view or pack your wine, saving a lot of headaches when trying to organise your wine collection.
The ideal serving temperature for white and sparkling wines is between six to eight degrees Celsius. Conversely, red wines should be served at a temperature of 14-16 degrees Celsius. If you have a dual-zone refrigerator, you may arrange the shelves so that the wine in each bottle stays at just the proper temperature.
Which wine refrigerator is ideal for you depends on how much room you have and the style you're aiming for. Pick a spot with no direct sunlight or near vibration or excessive heat sources. Likewise, the ground at your location should be firm. Finally, make sure there's adequate ventilation.
No matter where it's placed, the wine refrigerator must be able to draw in cool air via the front base and release warm air through the top and rear. This will guarantee the best possible performance from your fridge.
A freestanding wine fridge is your best choice if you're looking for a simple setup. You can put this kind of wine cooler in almost any place in your house. It won't even require any structural changes. All you need is access to an electrical socket. However, ensure to provide a few centimetres of clearance behind and on both sides to allow heat dissipation.
For the sake of appearances, go for a built-in wine fridge. It makes your kitchen look coordinated and polished. You may also coordinate it with your cabinets.
It's not enough to choose a fridge whose proportions work in your kitchen; you also need to ensure it can accommodate your wine collection. Wine freezers on the market can store anything from a dozen to more than three hundred bottles. A good rule of thumb is to estimate the number of bottles of wine you intend to keep and then double that amount. Doing so will guarantee that your future wine purchases will have appropriate storage.
The type of wine cooler you need also depends on how long you store the wine. You'll need a wine fridge with more storage space if you want to store many bottles at once or keep wine for a long time.
Your wine cooler should match the room's design and how well it shields your wine from the detrimental effects of ultraviolet radiation, which can hasten the ageing process. To avoid heat loss, use double-paned, insulated glass that blocks ultraviolet light.
You should pick a wine fridge with reversible doors if you want to move it about a lot. This will allow you to easily switch the direction where the door opens.
A wine refrigerator that can help preserve your wine and maintain it at its peak condition is essential if you want to always enjoy it at its finest. And remember, the information above is meant to help you choose the best wine refrigerator. Take this information with you when you shop for the best wine refrigerator for your home.