Temperature control is everything with wines, especially with older wines - it doesn’t take much to ruin them - you have to care for them from the moment you get them to the moment you drink them.
Why choose a wine cabinet?
Wine cabinets are designed to recreate the perfect storage conditions found in the best natural underground cellars. In particular, they protect wines by:
- Eliminating temperature variations, which alter the natural qualities of wines.
- Maintaining humidity levels above 50 per cent, so corks don’t dry and crack.
- Keeping UV light out.
What’s the alternative?
If you don’t have a wine cabinet or an underground cellar (wouldn’t that be nice?) cost-effective alternatives for storing wine, for ideally no more than two to three months, include:
- Styrofoam boxes.
- An Esky in a cool and dark area, such as under the stairs or in the basement.
- A windowless room or cupboard with no exterior walls.
What not to do?
Heat will literally “cook” your wine, and sunlight is the enemy, making wine dull, flat and lifeless. Our big no-nos include:
- Placing wine next to major appliances that radiate heat (such as fridges, dishwashers, washing machines or driers).
- Storing wine where it gets direct sunlight, like near a window or garage door.
- The biggest mistake is putting a wine rack in a kitchen near the stove or worse, above the stove.
- A pantry isn’t advisable due to high daily use, which lets in too much light.
Whether you want to cellar a special vintage, store wine that’s ready to drink at the perfect temperature, or just put it on display, one of these products will do the job… and with loads of style.
Show off your wines in the Fleurieu wine rack in press-moulded sustainable beech ply by Australian designer, Mark O’Ryan. It holds up to 24 bottles when full, and when empty it doubles as a striking sculpture.