Wine Cooler Vs. Wine Cellar

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It's sad to see how many websites perpetuate myths about wine storage just to convince consumers that only the most expensive wine coolers/cellars/fridges can prevent fine wines from turning to vinegar overnight. Unfortunately, the truth is far less motivating. Below we discuss the basics of typical wine storage - i.e., wine held for personal consumption rather than speculation - and to help clear up some of the rampant confusion so new enthusiasts can make sensible, cost-effective buying decisions.

Terminology - Wine Coolers, Fridges, Cellars, Etc.

Wine Cooler vs. Wine Cellar - What's the Difference? We see lots of blogs and other websites that attempt to define and separately categorize wine coolers, wine cellars, and wine refrigerators …show more content…

And because corks are porous, this essentially causes the bottle to "exhale" through the cork when temperatures push upwards and "inhale" as they come back down. In other words, some gas from the ullage is pushed out and fresh air is pulled back into the bottle during significant temperature swings. This fresh air, unlike the original gas composition of the ullage, has a fresh supply of oxygen - and more oxygen means higher rates of oxidation. As a result, a continuous cycle of excessive "breathing" can quickly degrade wine by over-maturation just as surely as continuous storage in elevated temperatures can. Again, you don't need to panic over a swing of a few degrees; however, the more stable you can keep your wines around the set temperature, the better. Try keeping your wine cooler full - a larger volume of wine in the cabinet results in greater thermal inertia, which helps minimize temperature swings due to fluctuating external …show more content…

Tannins, which are present in virtually all wines, are a class of very powerful phenolic compounds, and these compounds help to reduce the effect of "light struck flavor" in UV-exposed wine. Tannins are present in the highest concentrations in dark-colored grape skins. White wine, made with light-skinned grapes, has much less tannin, and therefore has less much less protection from a similar period of UV exposure than a red wine. This is analogous to the greater risk of sunburn light-skinned people face due to their relative lack of UV-protecting melanin.

Now the good news is that wines stored in opaque or amber-colored bottles are very well-protected from UV light, as compared to green bottles, or the worst - clear bottles, which offer little to no UV protection. In addition, most wine coolers/cellars today use UV-free LED interior lighting and tinted door glass that further minimizes the risk of UV degradation. So, assuming you don't buy wine in green or clear bottles, and are storing your collection in a dim location or within a typical wine cooler, you have nothing to worry about.

Avoid Vibration, Within

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