By: Perry Sims
Self-contained or component wine storage, either as a unit built into furniture or cabinet, or as a stand-alone chiller, is a popular alternative to building a custom wine cellar or converting space. They typically provide conditions suitable for up to two years' wine storage. Many are small to midsized, plug-in appliances suited to kitchens, bars, dining rooms, bedroom suites, or butler's pantries.
Installing and using a chiller is simple. Like most appliances, chillers are delivered complete and ready to use. Remove the chiller from its packing, plug it in, set the temperature, and stock the racks with wine.
Unconditioned self-contained wine storage units, on the other hand, often look like furniture. They conceal the wine in a handsome cabinet that may also double as a bar for tastings and other refreshments, and they frequently offer a place to store glassware, flatware, and wine utensils.
At the other extreme, self-contained wine storage solutions include modular, large-capacity cellars-complete with climate control systems, insulated structures, weather-stripped doors, and racks. They are delivered complete, or they may require some assembly, similar to that of a spa. They require an electrical source to run their refrigeration systems.
Built-In Units
Built-in wine storage units look as though they were custom-made, whether you install them under a counter with cabinets and other appliances or set them in a closet or a corner.
Wine appliances are also available in refrigerator-sized units, with the capacity for hundreds of bottles or even cases of wine. They often compare in volume, capacity, and expense to a custom-built cellar. Convenience of installation is their primary appeal, and you'll often find them in a kitchen beside a standard refrigerator or freezer.
Large-capacity, modular wine cellars are the next step up in size from refrigerated appliances. They come in a variety of sizes, and some can be customized to fit an available space. These units generally require a dedicated power supply, a stable base sized to the unit's specifications, and wall, ceiling, door, and rack component assembly. They economically deliver large-capacity, climate-controlled wine storage with a fraction of the effort and time required for a custom-built cellar or conversion project.
While built-in wine storage units may appear permanent, they have the added benefit of disassembly for moving-a distinct advantage over a built-in wine cellar. You can take them with you if you relocate.
Wine Furniture
Stand-alone units that resemble buffet cabinets, media centers, wardrobes, or bookcases offer even more mobile short-term storage options.
Most stand-alone units are delivered ready to stock with wine. They can provide either climate-controlled or ambient-temperature storage. Wine furniture is a good choice for small-capacity, everyday wine storage and display.
With wine's increasing popularity, the options for wine storage furniture from which you can choose is likely to grow, matching just about any cabinet style, furniture form, or decorating scheme.
Like their built-in counterparts, stand-alone wine units are ready-to-use appliances. Their mobility allows use in many situations, indoors or out, bringing wine storage where you need it; some are mounted on casters for portability. Many chillers have veneer, stainless steel, or enameled finishes and tinted glass doors.
Wine Appliance Pros and Cons
Self-contained wine storage has advantages and disadvantages. Few other options can match its convenience or economy. Wine appliances can be stepping stones to larger, custom-designed cellars or can house selections from your larger collection. They are convenient for holding white and sparkling wines at slightly colder temperatures than your fine red wines.
Self-contained wine storage also has compromises. Its storage capacity is limited beyond the number of bottles a unit holds. Few self-contained appliances have racks that can accommodate odd bottle sizes [see Custom Racking, page 52]. Many Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Champagne, and other, larger-diameter bottles simply will not fit. Self-contained units are also subject to vibration, too-dry conditions, ambient light, and swings in temperature.
Refrigeration vs. Temperature Control
If you store wine in a standard refrigerator-even some economy wine chillers-be aware that you're placing your investment in less-than-ideal conditions. Refrigerators and many chillers draw in outside air and cool it; air within the unit exhausts to the outside. This continuous cycle of replacing warm, moist, stale air with cool, dry air dehydrates everything inside the unit-including your wine. As a result, the corks dry out, wine evaporates through the closures, and oxygen enters the bottle, accelerating aging.
Refrigeration systems specifically designed for wine cellars and quality chillers, by contrast, recirculate the air and condense moisture within the units, recovering it to maintain constant humidity. As a result, the wine ages and is preserved in a climate of appropriate humidity and temperature.
From the book The Home Wine Cellarby Perry Sims et al. Copyright © 2004. Reprinted by arrangement with Running Press, a member of the Perseus Books Group,www.perseusbooks.com. All rights reserved.