Posted on: October 1, 2007

Out of Hiding

Wine storage options are making their way upstairs and fast becoming fixtures in the kitchen, living room and even the bedroom. Choose a design that fits your taste and your needs

By Erik J. Martin
CTW Features

Contrary to the popular adage, a fine wine doesn’t always improve with age. Today’s bottle of uncorked liquid bliss may “die on the vine” after just a few short years of improper storage. These days, there’s no need to carve out an ultra-expensive wine cellar in the back of the basement to store your collection. New freestanding and under-counter wine storage appliances offer a more compact – and cost-effective – solution for wine lovers. Best of all, your wine collection is housed close at hand. The advantages of using wine storage systems include the four principles of successful wine aging: stillness, temperature control, humidity and darkness. “Save for a very costly, specially designed wine cellar, there's simply no wine storage system that succeeds on all four fronts,” says David Kargas, spokesman for Jenn-Air, a division of Maytag headquartered in Newton, Iowa.

“Wine improves with age only if it is stored correctly,” says Kargas. “That means keeping the wine very still and storing it in a dark place at the right temperature and humidity level. Standard refrigerators don't do this, but specially built wine chillers do.”

Most wines are chilled in a refrigerator at a setting of 40 degrees. This temperature is only beneficial for fine wines with searing acidity, “dessert” wines with plenty of residual sugar and poor quality wines, according to Edward M. Korry, department chair of Beverage & Dining Services and an associate professor at Johnson & Wales University’s College of Culinary Arts in Providence, R.I. Proper temperature control is essential, Kargas says. Red wines are best when served slightly chilled, around 64 degrees, while white wines are best served cold, around 45 degrees, according to Kargas. Meanwhile, all wines, including sparkling, are best stored at 57 degrees.

A quality wine storage unit that features a variable temperature control that can be set between 42 and 67 degrees can function as both a short-term storage solution and a long-term aging space, says Kargas.

Like temperature, humidity control is particularly important to preserving a wine’s shelf life, says Aimee J. Ricca, co-owner of Cork Restaurant in Camden, Maine.

“Too much humidity can cause a wine cork to grow mold and damage the wine. Not enough humidity can dry out the cork and cause it to break: This allows air into the wine and spoils it,” Ricca says. Perhaps the most important advantage a wine storage unit offers over a refrigerator is the reduction in vibration, says Paul Wagner, who teaches wine courses at Napa Valley College in Napa, Calif., and is an international wine judge. “Vibration is very bad for aging wine.”

Not just for connoisseurs

Kargas contends that a refrigerated unit devoted specifically to wine is suited for both serious wine connoisseurs and for those who enjoy a fine bottle of wine but don't consider it their passion. “For the wine aficionado who has 1,200 bottles in a temperature and humidity controlled wine cellar, the chiller is the ideal stopping ground between the cellar and the table,” Kargas says. “Using a chiller in this way, you can always know your white wines are properly chilled before serving,” he says. Meanwhile, for the more casual wine drinker, a storage unit that accommodates several dozen bottles provides ample room to keep a good-sized collection aging properly for any length of time, Kargas notes.

A wine storage unit “makes the most sense for those who collect wines that they expect to age for at least a few years,” says Wagner. “Fine wine will not really be damaged over a couple of months at room temperature. If it were, wine shops would be refrigerated. So if you are buying wines to drink in the next year, the storage unit is probably a waste of time and money. But if you also purchase a few rare wines that you are saving for a special occasion a few years from now, wine storage units are a good idea.”

With the boom in home renovation and improvement – especially in the kitchen – wine storage units are becoming increasingly popular. They’re also the ideal alternative for apartment dwellers and owners of ranch homes, where storing wines in the basement or building a wine cellar isn’t an option.

And wine storage units aren’t just for the kitchen. Depending on your home’s floor plan and entertaining style, they can also be ideal in a butler’s pantry, dining room, wet bar, master bedroom suite or pool room.

Chill factors

Before purchasing a wine storage unit, it’s important to consider several factors and must-have features. First, the unit should be large enough to accommodate the number of bottles you plan to buy and store. Most models can hold between 15 and 60 bottles; larger built-in appliances can house hundreds of bottles.

Next, evaluate the number of temperature zones and compartments you may need. Some units offer only one large area, while others feature separate compartments, each with its own temperature control, a feature for serious collectors who need to store different kinds of wine over the long haul.

Wagner also recommends thinking about the environment you live in. Those who reside in very warm climates, where the interior temperature can rise above 80 degrees, will want a stronger cooling unit. Those who live in cooler climates or who regularly keep their homes cool can probably get by with a less powerful appliance.

Design considerations

Whether you choose a freestanding model or a built-in appliance, the exterior of the storage unit should coordinate with the look of the surrounding cabinets or the room decor. Built-in units often may have overlay panels that allow you to customize the storage door to match adjacent cabinets. The cherry shelves in the GE Monogram Wine Reserve can be custom finished to blend with any décor. Bells and whistles, depending on the unit you purchase, may include electronic touchpad controls, a removable tray to make it easy to dispose of water that may condense during the refrigeration process, a reversible door and a door lock. Marty Troiani, GE Consumer & Industrial, advises that consumers carefully compare features. The appliance you purchase should include pull-out shelving, which allows the user to find and access a specific vintage very easily, and tinted glass to prevent harmful light from damaging the wine.

The unit also should be designed for proper bottle positioning, so that “the bottles lie flat to keep the cork moist,” Troiani added. You also may want to choose a wine chiller that offers some type of alarm that alerts you if there is a malfunction that can cause variations in temperature and humidity, says Ricca.

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