St. Pete Life September/October 2020

Page 44

SPL LIVING

Time is Right for Cellaring at Home

BY WILL HOWARD

Cellaring wine goes back over 3,000 years. The ancient Egyptians built the first cellars that we know of today. They knew then, what is still true today: wine can be stored longer when the temperature is cool and stable. Today it’s rare to find a home that doesn’t have some type of wine storage, whether it is a large wine cellar or a small wooden wine rack. Since we have all been spending a lot more time at home this year, you may be interested in some insider wine storage tips. Here are a few basic principles to storing wine: • Wine hates heat. For ideal conditions, store wine at 55°F for longterm storage of all types of wine (still, sparkling, and fortified wines). Never store wine in an area without at least air conditioning. • Wine hates light. Store wine in an area protected from direct UV light. Never display your prized bottles in direct sunlight or directly under a bright light. • Wine hates movement. Don’t shake your bottles. Just leave them in the rack until you’re ready to open the bottle. Be careful to avoid vibrations in the wine’s permanent storage location if possible. In addition to these basic principles, wine should be stored laying on its side. This is done to keep moisture on the cork to prevent oxygen

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from reaching the wine. If the cork dries, it could allow air to flow into the wine and wine to drip out the top. This is especially important for sparkling wines because they can lose the pressure inside the bottle quickly if the cork dries. Long term wine storage should try to maintain about 60% humidity. This is humid enough to prevent the cork from drying out, but dry enough to prevent moisture damage to the labels. Think of a cellar or wine closet as a place to let wines hibernate for longterm storage, but a wine cooler keeps wine at the perfect serving temperature so they’re always ready to drink. If you are thinking about building a wine closet or cellar in your home for longterm storage, I recommend Breezaire cooling units. They are professional quality and built for this purpose. The rest of the cellar is only limited by your imagination and maybe your wallet. If you store wine at home, but are not concerned with longterm storage, then a wine cooler might be the right choice for you. The options seem endless when it comes to wine coolers, but I think we can narrow down a few choices depending on your needs. Will Howard is wine director at Rococo Steak in downtown St. Petersburg.

September/October 2020

Best Small Wine Cooler

Ivation 12-bottle wine cooler ($189.99 Amazon) This cooler offers a great setup for cooling up to 12 bottles of wine at temperatures from 41°F-64°F and comes in under $200. This is the best option if you have limited space to work with. This cooler could fit under a counter or on a bar. The glass door is designed to prevent damaging UV light from getting to the bottles.

Best Overall Wine Cooler

NewAir 46-bottle Dual Zone Wine Cooler ($1,121.29 Lowes)

This wine cooler offers plenty of storage with room for almost 4 cases of wine. There are also dual climate zones built in so that whites and reds will be at the perfect temperature in the same refrigerator. This wine fridge fits all the needs for most homes.

Most Beautiful Wine Cooler

Sub-Zero 30” Classic Wine Storage ($7,770 Sub-Zero) This built-in wine storage unit by Sub-Zero is one of the most beautiful wine coolers out there. This is nearly the price of building a proper wine cellar, but I’m going to say it’s worth it. It is gorgeous, holds 146 bottles, has dual climate zones, protects against UV light, maintains perfect humidity, connects to your home security system, and does everything you would expect an $8,000 wine cooler to do. If you like the Sub-Zero option, they also make these with built-in refrigerators, freezers, and even humidors. Wine, cheese, and cigars anyone?


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Articles inside

Stylish Acura MDX is High-Tech on Wheels

2min
page 66

Hurricane Prep Plan A Must for Your Pet

5min
pages 54-55

Make Your Style Your Own With Accessories

2min
pages 50-51

St. Pete Eats

1min
pages 46-47

Time is Right for Cellaring at Home

3min
page 44

Waterfront Home is Made In The Shade

2min
pages 40-42

Invest in High Quality Furnishings For Long Term Enjoyment

1min
pages 38-39

Let Your Windows Bring the Outside In

1min
page 36

Pianos Hold the Keys to Style and Fun

1min
page 34

Renovations Bring Modern Style to Older Homes

2min
pages 32-33

Make Art the Centerpiece of Your Home

1min
page 28

Customized Home Offices are the New Normal

2min
pages 26-27

Transitional Trends

2min
pages 24-25

Make a Wish List for Kitchens & Baths

2min
pages 22-23

Trending is all About Blending

4min
pages 20-21

New Exhibits Explore Cultural Diversity

3min
pages 18-19

SHINE Mural Festival

3min
pages 16-17

Andi Sullivan Miller

2min
page 14
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