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The Importance of Proper Wine Storage, Aeration & Decanting

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It is common knowledge that wines need to age well to be enjoyed by the drinker. Some wine lovers collect wine for easy access of their favorite vintage. Here’s a guide on how to enjoy wine to the fullest.

 

A Guide to Wine Enjoyment – Proper Wine Storage, Aeration & Decanting

 

Wine Storage

Proper wine storage affects how wine will taste after the bottle is opened. Wine storage solutions include wine cellars, wine racks, and wine cabinets.

Residential wine cellars are ideal for wine collectors who have the right space and budget. It is important that you choose a professional wine cellar builder who designs and installs the wine cellar with the equipment necessary for your wines to achieve peak quality. Wine cellars can be customized to provide uniqueness to your existing space.

You may opt for wine racks if you have only a few wine bottles and have a limited budget for building your own wine cellar. Wine racks can also be customized to complement the existing decor of your area.

Wine cabinets are built and designed to function like a wine cellar because they have refrigeration units which maintain the ideal wine storage temperature and humidity level.

In choosing a wine storage solution, it is best to consider factors such as location, budget, and the size of your collection to keep your wines safe from external factors such as direct light, heat, and vibration.

If you are looking for a reliable wine cellar refrigeration system for your wine cellar, contact US Cellar Systems at (562) 513-3017 or click here to learn more about products they offer.

 

Decanting and Aerating Wine

The two terms are usually used interchangeably, but they are very much different. Let us first define the two terms before discussing further. Decanting is transferring the contents of a wine bottle into another container called a decanter before the wine is served. On the other hand, aerating is to let the wine bottle breathe by exposing it to air.

These two methods are done to maximize enjoyment of wine. There are ways on how to properly aerate and decant wines.

Wine Aeration Softens Tannins in Wine

Aeration is usually needed by young wines. It is done to soften tannins in wine and to make it more balanced and smooth. It also lessens the carbon dioxide level of young wines.

One way to aerate a wine faster is through the use of an electronic aerator. This electronic aerator is a battery operated steel rod that is placed inside the wine bottle which will stir the wine in the bottle, making it mix with air. If you do not own any wine aerating device at home, you can simply maximize the wine pouring distance from the bottle to the glass and this will aid in aerating your wine.

What are the benefits of aerating wines? Aerating wines can get rid of “bottle stink”. Bottle stink is the odor that is evident when a bottle of wine is opened but evaporates easily once it has been aired.

The age of wine will determine how long it should be aerated. An old wine with the age of more than 15 years should not be aerated for more than a minute, while a full bodied and complex red wine should be aerated for about an hour. Young, tannic red wine should be aerated for about 2 hours.

Decanting Separates Wine from its Sediments

Decanting is done to separate wine from its sediments. By the act of transferring the liquid to a decanter, wine is agitated and mixes with oxygen, developing and bringing wine to life. This is why decanting is best for young wines.

Decanting an old wine and a young wine varies. In decanting older wines, a lot of care and flair is required. An old wine does not need any artificial boost thus you have to decant it before serving and before it changes.

Meanwhile, you can decant a young wine by pouring it in a decanter and letting it sit for about 20 minutes before serving it. You may observe that the wine tastes better after decanting. Both red and white wine can be placed in a decanter if you feel that it is necessary to do so.

Remember that wine damage is caused by unstable temperatures and humidity. These factors may cause your wines to lose their vibrant aroma. This is why maintaining proper wine storage conditions and decanting and aerating wine are essential in maximum enjoyment of wine. When you master these, you will surely impress guests during wine tasting parties in your wine cellar.

Functions and Features of Wine Cellar Refrigeration Units

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Investing in wines requires a proper storage room where temperature and humidity are regulated at constant levels, and light exposure is kept to a minimum.  A wine cellar creates the ideal environment for storing and aging wines for a long period of time.  Providing a dark and stable environment protects wines from the negative effects of external influences.

In order for a wine cellar to function properly, it needs insulation to prevent temperature swings and vapor barriers to keep moisture from building up and causing mold growth.  More importantly, a wine cellar should be supplied with a proper wine cellar refrigeration unit to achieve the desired climate conditions for wines to mature to their full potential.

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Wine Cellar Refrigeration Units by US Cellar Systems

Wine cellar refrigeration systems are specifically engineered to maintain the correct temperature and humidity in the wine cellar environment.  These cooling units come in multiple sizes and shapes that can fit various needs and requirements.  The three primary types of wine cellar refrigeration units are split system cooling units, through the wall self-contained cooling systems, and ducted air-handler cooling systems.

Split system cooling units consist of two separate components: the condensing unit and evaporator unit.  The latter is installed inside the wine storage room while the former is placed outside the room or outdoors.  This system is ideal for wine cellars with several limitations and constraints, such as the absence of a ventilation room.

Through the wall self-contained cooling systems are the easiest to install and the least expensive of all refrigeration systems.  Both the condensing and evaporator units are housed in one compartment.  Through the wall systems are normally mounted on an interior wall of a wine cellar, but there are some models that can be installed on an exterior wall instead.

Ducted air-handler cooling systems make use of air ducts to supply cool air into, and exhaust warm air away from, the wine cellar.  This type of setup removes the actual physical presence of the cooling system inside the wine storage room.

Building wine cellars is an expensive home improvement project, and not all wine enthusiasts are financially capable of adding this feature to their home.  However, there are alternative wine storage solutions available to the budget-minded wine geek.

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Wine Cabinets and Closet Cooling Units

Wine closets or wine cabinets function like mini wine cellars because they are also equipped with climate control systems.  Wine cabinets are affordable storage options and they come in various designs and storage capacities.  These cabinets are designed to control temperature and humidity, and they can match any room interior.

To ensure performance efficiency, wine cabinet manufacturers only use cooling units of the highest quality, such as the Cabinet Cooler (CC) Series by US Cellar Systems.  The CC Series is the unit of choice for wine closets or wine cabinets.  They are engineered to facilitate proper air flow in confined and restricted spaces.

Cooling systems for wine cellars and wine cabinets are essential to preserving the taste and flavor of wines.  These refrigeration units ensure that temperature conditions remain within 50 to 55 degrees Fahrenheit, and that the humidity level is kept within 60% – 75%.

To choose the right wine cellar refrigeration unit for you, click here.

The Benefits of US Cellar’s Wine Cabinet Cooler Units

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Innovation – this is what puts US Cellar Systems ahead of other wine cellar cooling systems manufacturers. We create innovative wine cellar cooling units for all types of wine cooling and wine storage needs.

We customize wine cooling for any situation including residential custom wine cellars, wine closets, wine cabinets, commercial wine cellars, wine bars in restaurants, wine stores, hotels, wine displays and wine tasting rooms.

Since every wine storage room has unique design specifications and cooling needs, we make sure that our wine cellar cooling systems will fulfill them all due to our many cooling system designs, which include:

  • wine cabinet coolers and closet series
  • wine cellar cooler series
  • vertical mount wine rack cooler series
  • versatile wine rack mount cooler series
  • wall stud mount wine room cooling series
  • wine cellar cooling outdoor enclosures

 

Our CC & DQ wine cabinet refrigeration units are evaporators that provide refrigerated air to medium temperature areas. They circulate air in a very quiet manner, reaching up to 10 feet on both sides of the coil and back to the front. All of our systems provide a temperature recovery time that is superb, which makes our wine cabinet coolers a perfect choice for high-traffic areas.

These wine cabinets cooling units are aluminum based with hard tempered fins for maximum durability, as well as entirely seamless copper tubing, these units are ideal for those that want a unit with less maintenance. The thermal expansion valve and pump-down solenoid valve that protects the compressor are all factory installed. The thermostat does not require additional control wiring.

 

Wine Closet Cooling & Wine Cabinet Cooling Series

Wine Closet Cooling &  Wine Cabinet Cooling Series

 

Our wine cabinet coolers offer the most effective cabinet cooling vs. space requirement ratio. This means that they are ideal for very low set point, which is usually needed when keeping Champagnes and white wines at their serving temperature.

To know more about our wine cabinet coolers, go here. Or call us today at +1 (562) 513 3017 so we can help you with your wine cabinet or wine closet design challenge.

Wine Cellar Cooling | About Lighting, Temperature & Humidity

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“Wine makes every meal an occasion, every table more elegant, every day more civilized.” – Andre Simon, “Commonsense of Wine”

 

“A meal without wine is like a day without sunshine.” – Anthelme Brillat Savarin

 

How important or special to you is wine? How do you value wines? What do you do to protect your own collection of wines?

Wine is treated by many not just as a beverage but something that has been part of their lives, may it be in times of happiness or in times of sorrow. That is how important wine is for us here at US Cellars Systems – we treat them as precious possessions that can make a significant impact in a person’s life.

Preserving your wines, protecting them from the harmful effects of certain environmental factors and providing them the best storage conditions possible are some of the ways of pampering them, just like pampering your favorite pet.

So what can you do to provide nothing but the best for your wines?

There are actually different requirements for you to be able to preserve your wines and let them age to perfection. There’s lighting, temperature, humidity, insulation and a lot more.

 

The Right Lighting 

Direct exposure to sunlight, UV light or incandescent light can lead to possible wine faults.  In order to protect the wine from harmful rays, they are bottled in darkly tinted wine bottles.  Another way of protecting your wine collection is by storing them in dark environments which can be provided by wine coolers, wine cabinets, and wine cellars.  Wines are also stored in boxes or crates to shield them from direct light.

 

The Right Humidity 

Humidity is responsible for keeping the cork from drying out.  When the cork starts to dry out, it causes oxygen to seep through into the bottle which eventually leads to wine spoilage.  Wine bottles should be stored in an environment that maintains a 70% humidity level which is considered to be ideal.

Excessive wine cellar humidity can contribute to mold growth. Although mildew will not affect the contents of the wine bottle, it can do considerable damage to the label.  This should not be much of an issue unless you intend to resell your bottle of wine.   Conversely, if the wine cellar humidity level is too low, it runs the risk of the cork drying out.

There are useful instruments that can help determine the level of humidity.  A hygrometer or humidity sensor can provide an accurate reading of humidity in your storage environment.

One of the surest ways to maintain the ideal wine cellar humidity is with the use of a wine cellar cooling system, particularly the type which has a humidity control system.

 

The Right Temperature 

The most important of all external factors in wine storage is temperature.  Wine is easily influenced by fluctuations in temperature.   Wine bottles should be stored in an environment that maintains a temperature within the 55 – 60°F range which is considered to be the ideal temperature for storing and aging.

If exposed to too high a temperature, it can hasten the aging process of the wine and even give your wine a ‘cooked’ flavor.  If exposed to a wine cellar temperature that is too low, it can lead to a variety of wine faults one of which is stopping the aging process altogether.

Our wine cellar cooling systems come in different styles and specifications that can meet your wine storage requirements and most importantly, maintain the ideal wine cellar temperature.

 

Take a look at these products:

Rack Mounted Wine Cellar Refrigeration Units

Rack Mounted Wine Cellar Refrigeration Unit

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Vertical Rack Mounted Wine Cellar Refrigeration Units

Vertical Rack Mount Wine Cellar Cooling Units

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other External Factors

 

Aside from the three aforementioned external influences, vibration and odor can also affect the overall condition of your wine.

Vibration is said to expedite the aging process along with stirring up the sediments at the bottom of the bottle  creating the most adverse effects to your wine collection. Therefore it is highly recommended that you store your wines in areas free of vibratory motion.

Here at US Cellar Systems, we know that noise can produce vibration, and this inspired us to create virtually quiet wine cellar cooling units such as our Low Profile Quiet Wine Cellar Cooling Units.

Due to the porous nature of the cork, wine is susceptible to natural agents, particularly air, which is why making sure your storage area is free from strong smells is so important. Odor can also have damaging effects on those wine bottles that you have opened and resealed especially when placed in confined spaces with little ventilation.  With this in mind, it is imperative that you store your wine collection in areas that is clear of food, chemical, and household odors.

The orientation of the bottle must also be taken into consideration when you talk about proper wine storage.  Although there are certain wines that age better when kept upright, Champagnes and sparkling wines for instance, most wine bottles are stored on  their side allowing the cork to stay moist as it maintains contact with the wine.

 

Take a look at our wine cellar cooling systems and tell us which one interests you the most and why.

 

Contact us here.