Wine Refrigerators

For many people, storing wine in a cellar is not an option, either because they have no space to dedicate to a cellar, or because the environmental conditions in their space is not correct. Those who live in apartments, or in very wet conditions, or even those without a cellar must find another option if they intend to store wines for later consumption. We addressed in our storing wines article the conditions necessary to ensure wines are not damaged during longer periods of storage, but how can you achieve this in a warm apartment in the middle of summer?

One of the best answers for the true wine enthusiast is to purchase a wine refrigerator with adjustable temperature and humidity controls. But how should you go about selecting the right one? The first consideration you should make is how much space can you dedicate to your wine. Most apartment dwellers will be looking for something that can fit underneath their counter spaces. As such storage will be limited to under 30 bottles, which is likely plenty. If you have more space and intend to store larger quantities then there are many models that can store 50 or more bottles. For restaurant or tavern owners who are concerned with storing and serving wine at optimal condition, a refrigerated wine cellar is a requirement.

How many bottles should you plan on storing?

The temptation to purchase wine when discounted, or when a special vintage is available that you love is available. is great. But it is especially important to remember that even with a dedicated refrigerator to store your wine, many times long term storage is not in the best interest of the wine. The majority of wines are meant to be consumed close to when they were released on the market and will not benefit from prolonged storage. Only those wines with very aggressive tanins and other very strong flavors should be aged. So when selecting a refrigerator to store your wine, remember you will only need enough space to store what will be consumed in 6-12 months

So remember, while a wine fridge will help guarantee you are storing and serving your wine properly, unless you plan on investing in some wines that will truly be aged, like a Bordeaux or Barbaresco, save your self some money by purchasing a smaller model that holds around 30 bottles.