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Wine Refrigerators - Five Key Factors To Consider
from: Jim HofmanWith an ever growing interest in all things wine, wine lovers have a wide array of accessories and storage options to enhance their wine experience. New stylish wine accesssories are continually introduced as wine affecionados seek out the best ways to share and enjoy serving wine. Let's take a look at wine storage, a very important aspect of wine enjoyment.
Wine refrigerators are quickly becoming a must have accessory for those who enjoy wine as a part of their lives. These units are available in a wide variety of price ranges, from bargain priced models to others running well into the thousands of dollars. If you're considering a wine refrigerator, here's five questions to ask before making a purchase.
How Large?
One thing to consider is how quickly you'll outgrow the storage capacity of a small unit. Our first wine refrigerator was a six bottle unit, which we still own. But, we quickly outgrew its storage capacity when we discovered a few great wine finds on our U.S. wine trail excursions. So our advice is, when in doubt, buy a unit that's a little bigger.
Are There Differences In Storing Red vs. White Wine?
Feel free to store both your red and white wines, but be aware there are storage temperature differences between the two. In essence, reds are normally stored at higher temperature than whites. If you enjoy and store both red and white wine, consider buying a wine refrigerator with dual zone temperature controls. This will ensure your wine is stored at the proper temperature.
What Storage Features Should I Look For?
One feature we really enjoy in our wine refrigerator are the slide out shelves. Slide out shelving makes access and viewing much easier for us and our guests. Another factor are the size of wine bottles you'll store. Some wineries are bottling their wine in magnum style bottles, which are slightly larger than standard wine bottles. You'll want to make sure your refrigerator can handle both.
What Should I Do About Temperature And Humidity?
The most important aspect of wine storage is temperature and humidity. Ideal wine storage temperature is 55 degrees, and ideal humidity percentage is between 50 and 70. You'll also need to consider where you're going to place your wine refrigerator. For example, if you'll place your unit in the garage, make sure the wine refrigerator is well insulated so that fluctuating temperatures don't adversely affect wine storage conditions.
What Else Do I Need To Know?
Of course, the price of your wine refrigerator will depend upon your storage needs and desired features. Small countertop units cost as little as $75, while large units run well into the thousands. We also recommend choosing a unit that's well rated for minimal noise and vibration. The most important factor to remember is that proper wine storage is crucial to optimal enjoyment of your wine. Make sure your wine refrigerator suits your needs in terms of features and space requirements, and allows for the ongoing growth of your wine collection. Cheers!
Jim Hofman is an author specializing in wine and beer, and has developed several websites devoted to wine travel and enjoyment of wine. Be sure to visit Jim's wine resource site for more tips and recommendations about wine accessories, wine storage, and (http://www.wine101.info) wine refrigerators. This and other (http://www.uberarticles.com/?id=29100&b=771) unique content 'wine' articles are available with free reprint rights
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