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  Dumb Wine Storage Question
General Posted by bkm on 04/27/2006 at 22:59 PST in General
Last Reader Comment on 06/05/2006 at 22:31 PST

Like many in the post below, I bought a too small wine fridge. I like it, but the collecting bug has hit, and I am expending well beyond it. Is storing red wine in a colder setting (i.e., the standard refrigerator) going to DAMAGE the wine, or just slow matruing of the better bottles? In other words, do I have to invest in another, bigger refrigerator. I live in Vacaville, CA, and my townhouse can get warm, so I am concerned about this summer.

( 4 Reader Comments 4 New Comments )


 
  jahlove 05/11/2006 at 13:46 PST [Reply]

BKM,

I found a similar question on the Wine Spectator website in a column called "Dear Vinny" where readers send there questions to the staff. Here's the question and response.

April 07, 2006:


Dear Dr. Vinny,

You say refrigerators are horrible for long-term storage of wine. It seems to me that most of the small wine storage units on the market today are simply small refrigerators with wine racks. Am I better off storing my wine in a dark closet than in my 54-bottle wine cooler?

�L.C., Charleston, S.C.

Dear L.C.,

I checked with David Russell, senior director of operations for International Wine Accessories (a catalog that sells a variety of wine coolers), to ask him to explain the difference between wine coolers and refrigerators.

David points out that refrigerators are designed to maintain an internal temperature of about 35 degrees F, as well as extract most moisture. That's why your food dries out so quickly in a refrigerator�and that's the potential danger to corks. On the other hand, a wine cooling unit is designed to maintain a constant temperature of 50 to 60 degrees and leave about 45 to 60 percent humidity.

Many (but not all) wine coolers use thermoelectric cooling systems. These units do not have compressors or any moving parts, and therefore have low or no vibration. Standard refrigerators, on the other hand, use a compressor, which has internal moving parts that will cause vibration.

If you have or can afford to get a wine cooler, I recommend it well above storing wine in a refrigerator, and I still believe it's better than your dark closet�although, for most people, the dark closet is a perfectly adequate way to store wine, at least for shorter periods of time.

�Dr. Vinny

Hope this helps you make a decision.


 
  bkm 05/15/2006 at 20:59 PST [Reply]

Thanks. I am keeping the long term wines in a small wine fridge, but I probably should buy another wine fridge. I have a dark closet, but my main worry is I live in the Central Valley of California, and it can get toasty here in the summer (98 yesterday!!) The dark closet is pretty cool, though.


 
  docjeff 05/30/2006 at 10:02 PST [Reply]

You are better off with a wine refrigerator. I have gone over 3 wine fridges already, now have a 100 plus bottle fridge as well as a built in cellar. You can get a wine fridge at a reasonable price at local electronic stores as well as online places such as IWA wines. They even have ones that look like armoir as well as built-you-self walk-in wine closet. If you are keeping for long term and possibly investment, you must store it properly. My friend's Dom Perignon that sat in the pantry became vinegar after 10 years of storing, ruining a nice bottle as well as the special occasion that prompted them to open it.


 
  bkm 06/05/2006 at 22:31 PST [Reply]

I don't want another appliance in my relatively small kitchen, so it's Napa Valley Wine Storage for a relatively modest monthly fee. They bhave a special this month on \12=case storage. double redundancy, secuirt cameras, 7 day a week access. Plus, it'll help me \hold off on drinking the barolos and cabs too early. :)

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