Modern Wine Cellar Coolers

By April Rounsville

It was only a few years ago that if you hear the word wine cooler the name Bartles and James came to mind. And if someone was telling you about their wine collection you pictured a massive underground vault. But the modern wine cellar coolers are nothing like those of the past.

Only a few years ago a cellar would consist of rows and rows of wine neatly organized and aged to maximum perfection. It was easy to enjoy a good glass of wine when out for an evening but virtually impossible to have that capacity within the home. But then the modern wine counter cooler came along. Today anyone can turn their kitchen into a wine cellar with little effort.

Fine wines cost a lot and they are only worth the cost if you have the proper place to store them. See wines are alive and they are continuously changing depending on the environment they are in. There are many things that affect how a wine changes. Those include humidity, temperature, ventilation, calm, and even the angle the bottle is stored at. A quality wine cooler considers all of these elements.

Your wine should be stored horizontal in a stable temperature at the lowest possible place that has no vibration. You also need to make sure its away from any strong odors.

The perfect temperature is between 50 and 55 degrees with a 70% humidity level. A wine fridge can accomplish this easily. A regular refrigerator isn't as effective because it is just a little too cool plus temperatures fluctuate.

A wine cooler's temperature never changes which maintains the wines flavor. These coolers are also designed so that you can lay the bottle down so the wine is always in contact with the cork.

An under the counter wine cooler can be built right into your kitchen. This also gives extra protection to the wine from natural lighting. There are a few common mistakes that are made when shopping for a wine cooler. Make sure you don't make these mistakes.

You need to stay away from the clear door coolers. There's no question these look great because you can see all your bottles of wine. But the light from the kitchen, especially fluorescent lighting will actually ruin your wine over time. There is actually a name for this "light struck." Buy a cooler with the darkest door you can find.

Another common mistake is installing it near a heat source. Your stove isn't your only heat source. Dishwasher and refrigerators both throw heat and dishwashers also vibrate which is bad for your wine. Try to install it where it is more isolated.

These coolers are commonly installed in the kitchen but of course they don't have to be. You can install them in any room that you wish as long as you stay away from any heat or vibration.

The modern wine cellar coolers will let you serve perfect wine to your guests anytime you feel like it. What a great addition to your room!

April used to be a bartender with over 7 years of experience. She later retired to become a freelance wine critic and a writer for a number of wine books. In these books, she specializes on finding the right glassware and utensils for your bar. Visit http://www.ebarware.com for a list of "must haves" such as plastic barware for your bar.