Time is Right for Cellaring at Home

BY WILL HOWARD

Cellaring wine goes back over 3,000 years. The ancient Egyptians built the fi rst 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 fi nd 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 fortifi ed 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 from reaching the wine. If the cork dries, it could allow air to fl ow 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.

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 fi t 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 fi ts 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?

Will Howard is wine director at Rococo Steak in downtown St. Petersburg.