Having a wine cellar at home is a good thing, especially for those who regularly enjoy wine with their meals. It helps the homeowner save time selecting and preparing the right beverage when needed, such as entertaining guests or celebrating important occasions at home. A bottle of delicious red or white wine can also be used as the basis for various dishes that would go well with it at your next dinner party.
Many wine enthusiasts are hesitant about having a wine cellar at home due to the lack of available space. However, it’s possible to have a small in-home wine cellar provided so that it’s not exposed to sunlight, and protected from movement and vibrations. Aside from this, the wine cellar should also have the right temperature and humidity levels to help the wines age well and maintain their flavor.
Many homeowners use a cooling unit to create the ideal environment in a wine cellar. This electric gadget regulates the temperature and humidity in the wine cellar to keep them at suitable levels and prevent any significant fluctuations that can be detrimental to the wine quality. If you’d like to know if your home wine cellar requires a cooling unit to store your wine safely, here are some points you can consider:
You Need A Cooling Unit For Temperature Control
If your home wine cellar is located in an area where the temperature is above 65° Fahrenheit (F), then you’ll need a cooling unit to lower and regulate the temperature from 45° F to 65° F. The ideal temperature is 50° F, though the wine will remain adequately protected as long as the room doesn’t get too warm or cold.
Preventing fluctuations plays a crucial role in protecting the wine’s quality. When the temperature changes, the wine contracts and expands, drawing air in and out of the bottle. This air movement triggers oxidation, a chemical reaction that damages the wine’s flavor. For instance, oxidized white wine can taste like sherry or cider, while red wines become flavorless.
The average room temperature is 70° F, too warm for wine storage. On the other hand, the typical temperature inside a kitchen refrigerator is 40° F, which is too cold. To achieve and maintain a suitable storage environment, having a wine room cooling unit is essential. The cooling mechanism will help keep the temperature at optimal levels and prevent fluctuations.
Best Wine Room Cooling Units
You should choose a wine room cooling unit that’s both the right size for your wine cellar, as well as the right installation type for your personal needs. For example, if you don’t mind spending some extra money on a quieter unit, then choose a fully ducted cooling system. If you want to install it yourself and save some money, then choose a self-contained through-the-wall cooling unit. A wine cellar cooling system is essential to your wine collection staying in good condition, so you want to make sure you get a unit that best suits your needs.
You Need A Wine Room Cooling Unit To Regulate Humidity
Controlling humidity in your wine cellar is also essential in protecting the wine’s quality and taste. Humidity refers to the moisture in the air circulating in your wine room, and keeping it at ideal levels helps appropriately seal the wine bottles. If the air is too dry, the wine corks will shrink, letting air enter the bottle and oxidize the wine. On the other hand, a wine room with high humidity tends to develop molds which can cause the wines to have an unpleasant smell and taste.
Usually, a room has a 20% to 30% humidity level, while the ideal humidity of a wine cellar ranges between 50% to 70%. To achieve the optimal levels, you’ll need to install a cooling unit in your wine room. The moisture in the air will condense inside the storage space as the cooling unit maintains a lowered temperature, thus increasing and then regulating humidity levels in the wine cellar.
You Need A Cooling Unit To Keep Unpleasant Odors Away
Mold exposure can leave an unpleasant smell and taste to the wine, as they quickly absorb odors of substances from where they’re stored. In this sense, having a cooling unit is essential to protect the wine’s aroma and flavors. Cooling units help prevent mold growth by keeping the humidity levels in a wine cellar regulated and preventing overabundance of moisture in the air.
Aside from mold, a cooling unit can also help eliminate musty odors and chemical smells. High temperatures and humidity cause unpleasant smells to linger longer and travel further, and this is why making the wine cellar colder is ideal for dissipating odors.
You Need A Cooling Unit To Make Your Wine Cellar Comfortable
Wine cellars should have proper insulation and coverage to protect the wines from drastic temperature changes and direct UV exposure. Having adequate insulation helps regulate the temperature, while the coverage prevents sunlight from entering the room. Light exposure is detrimental to wine quality, as it causes the beverage to age prematurely and damages its taste. Thus, wine cellars are usually dark and enclosed to prevent the wine from going bad.
In this sense, you’ll need a cooling unit for your wine cellar to help you feel more comfortable as you arrange items and add bottles to your collection. The cooler temperature will help improve the air quality inside the room, which is ideal when you need to spend some time in it.
Your Wine Cellar Needs A Cooling Unit If You Have A Busy Household
Lastly, wine room cooling units are essential for households with many occupants, as this could mean that the wine cellar will be frequently opened and visited. Frequent usage increases the likelihood of temperature fluctuation, which may not be ideal for maintaining wine quality and taste. Thus, if your household has high foot traffic, whether due to occupants or guests, it’s essential to put a cooling unit to help regulate the temperature in your wine room.
Conclusion
Having a reliable cooling system for your wine room is vital in creating an ideal environment for your collection. The best setting to store your wine bottles is a place far from direct sunlight, loud sounds and vibration, and high temperature and humidity levels. Also, you’ll need to keep your wine cellar comfortable when you need to spend time in it cleaning and stocking the shelves. To attain all of these, you’ll need a quality cooling unit that can regulate temperature and humidity, keep foul odors at bay, and allow the wine cellar to be comfortable for usage.
Creating a wine collection at home requires a substantial investment, and it also entails time and effort to maintain and protect. Thus, having a wine cellar with the ideal conditions for wine safekeeping is essential to protect your investment and help you enjoy your collection in the long term.
