For those who love good drinking, choosing a wine cellar is an important question. Fine wines are delicate and require special care so that they do not lose their aromas. You cannot keep a Brunello di Montalcino Riserva DOCG in the living room furniture. Above 20 ° C the alcohol begins to evaporate and above 25 ° C it even begins to cook.
Depending on the space at your disposal, you can choose different types of wine cellar . The most basic is the typical wooden furniture, suitable for those who have at least one small room available. In recent years, wine cellars have also appearedto keep at home, ideal for those with limited space. Let’s see in more detail which are the main types and which is the best for you. Wooden wine cellar
A wooden wine cellar and an open or closed cabinet in which to store the bottles. There are several models, even if they are almost all designed to hold the wine horizontally or upside down . In this way, the contents of the bottle wets the cork and prevents it from drying out, breaking when it is opened. Wine cellars for display are an exception.
The most classic model of wooden wine cellarhas horizontal shaped shelves, which adapt to the neck and base of the bottles. You can find them in different sizes, from those of half a meter up to those that take up entire walls. Wine cellars with rhombus shelves are also available, which allow you to stack dozens of bottles in a small space. Otherwise, you can choose perforated supports designed for storing wines upside down. All these wooden wine cellar
models have one problem: they need a dedicated space. As mentioned above, you cannot store good wine in the living room. The ideal temperature for wine is between 12 ° C and 14 ° C with limited variations. Humidity should be around 80%and the bottles should stay away from light. Wine cooler
The wine cooler solves the typical problem of wooden bottle racks. In fact, it is an air- conditioned container that is used to keep bottles cool even at home. It was born for restaurants without a real cellar, but over time it has also established itself in the homes of enthusiasts.
There are different types of wine coolers, although they have the following points in common:
- optimal and constant internal temperature, between 5 ° C and 22 ° C;
- humidity rate between 60% and 80%;
- horizontal shelving;
- protection from UV rays, which damage the wine in the long run.
Depending on your needs, you can choose models of different shapes and capacities. It all depends on how much space you have available and how many bottles you have. In addition, you can choose between air-conditioned cellars and tempered cellars. Air-conditioned wine cellar Air
– conditioned wine cellars are the more sophisticated of the two types mentioned above. They are equipped with a compressor that regulates the internal temperature, avoids sudden changes and guarantees the ventilation of the bottles. Inside such a wine cellar a real microclimate is created, independent of what happens outside. In the more sophisticated models, you can even select a different temperature for each shelf.
Aair- conditioned wine cooler and the best choice for fine bottles. It is used to preserve the wine to be aged for the next ten years, not just what you will drink next week for dinner. However, its reliability has a price: a wine cellar with a compressor is on average noisier and more expensive in terms of consumption.
Are you looking for a wine cellar to use for everyday bottles
? Better to focus on a tempered model. Tempered wine cooler
A tempered wine coolerand without compressor. This particular makes it more silent and cheaper than the type seen above, but also less reliable. In fact, if the external temperature is too high, it is easy for the internal one to rise too. For this reason, tempered cellars are used for wines to be consumed in a relatively short time.
The main purpose of the air-conditioned cellars is to keep the wine at serving temperature . In this way you can enjoy it at the temperature that best enhances its organoleptic qualities. What to do if you love both red and white wines
In these two cases, the serving temperatures are different: approximately 16 ° C for red wines, 11 ° C for white wines, 8 ° C for sparkling wines.
Like theair- conditioned wine cellars , even tempered ones can have more separately adjustable shelves. So you can keep structured reds on one shelf, whites on another and sparkling wines on a third, each at their own temperature. Built-in or freestanding wine cellar
Just like a refrigerator, you can choose between a built-in or freestanding wine cellar . The first is integrated into the kitchen and has the same modularity as the other appliances. The second is independent and you can place it wherever you want, as long as there is a power outlet. There are no major technical differences between the two types, both available in both tempered and air-conditioned versions.
Abuilt-in wine cellar and on average a little smaller than a freestanding one. Being always at hand, it is ideal for the wines you consume more frequently. Given the position, however, it could give some problems with the most precious bottles. If you have children in the house, there is always the risk that they will open and close it, putting its delicate microclimate to the test.
A freestanding wine cellar can go into the kitchen or living room, if you want to keep the bottles “on display”. You can also use it to mature fine wines: just put it in a sheltered place, even in the cellar or in the attic. How to choose the right cellar
There are wine cellars for all tastes and needs.How to choose the right one for you Ask yourself
the following questions.
- I have a room only for wine
If you have a nice cellar where there are never more than 16 ° C and humidity is around 80%, you can opt for a wooden wine cellar . You will save in terms of consumption and you will have a beautiful piece of furniture. If you do not have such a room and the alternative is the living room furniture, it is better to choose a fridge model like the ones seen above. - I want to age or cool
If you want to always have fresh wine available, choose a tempered cellar . If, on the other hand, you have grabbed some beautiful young wines with great promise, opt for an air-conditioned model. - Where am I going to put it
If you want to keep your bottles handy in the kitchen, choose a built-in wine cellar . A freestanding cellar, on the other hand, can go to any room you want.
In case you have decided for a wine cellar , also make sure that it has the following characteristics:
- Anti-UV , double or triple tempered glass. It is used to prevent the bottles from being damaged in the sunlight.
- Insulation efficiency , so that it maintains the internal temperature for a few hours in the event of a blackout.
- Horizontal shelf with rubber pads, to absorb any external oscillations.
- Slow compressor , which limits vibrations to a minimum in order not to compromise the wine.
Now you have a little clearer ideas
Go and choose your cellar: “life is too short to drink mediocre wines”!
