Ideal conditions for storing wine are in the cellar, where there is no light and constant temperature and humidity. Since not everyone can afford to have its own cellar for wine storage in living conditions have been created special wine cabinets to preserve the original quality of the wine and bring it to the proper temperature consumption.
The first wine cabinets appeared in France in 1976 and soon gained great popularity throughout Europe. Today, wine cabinets are manufactured in many countries in Europe, America and Asia.
Opaqueness
Wine cabinets provide the ideal conditions for wine storage, allowing you to maintain proper each class original bouquet. The first and indispensable condition for proper storage of wine is a complete absence of light. The fact that ultraviolet rays make the color of wine less saturated and can accelerate the oxidation processes, thereby spoiling its taste. According to this parameter wine cabinets can be divided into deaf and sliding-glass cases. Models with remote door, usually designed to store a collection of wines. They are more modest and less decorated high price. Refrigerated cases are designed to demonstrate the wines and usually installed in the living rooms and dining rooms. They are equipped with double glass tinted or opaque glass, which not only prevents the ingress of ultraviolet rays, but also improve the insulation chamber and help to save power consumption.
Temperature
It is known that heat reduces the content of alcohol in wine, so for optimum wine storage is required to maintain a stable temperature between 100C and 140 ° C. At temperatures above 140 ° C accelerates the process of maturing wine, and at a temperature below 100C the contrary, it slows down. When choosing a wine cabinet should pay attention to the quality of insulation, which is responsible for maintaining a stable temperature inside the wine cabinet, regardless of outside temperature drops. The most efficient models of wine cabinets have a high quality thermal insulation thickness of 50 mm, which is equivalent to 2 m of ground insulation cellar. Standard wine cabinets have insulation thickness of 20 mm.
Different wines have their favorable conditions and recommended storage temperature of consumption. Wine cabinets come with one, two, three or more temperature zones Wine storage. Wine cabinets in which the wine is stored at a constant temperature, called one-temperature (mono). Two-temperature wine cabinets have 2 zones with different storage conditions for white and red wines. Three-temperature wine cabinets in addition to this offer separate temperature conditions for storage of sparkling wines. Multitemperature (multi), commonly referred to as wine cabinets with more than 3 temperature zones with different conditions of storage for different wines. It multitemperature cabinets provide the ideal conditions for wine storage.
The expensive models of wine cabinets for temperature control is used not only a function of cooling and heating function to ensure a stable temperature in a wine closet, regardless of changes in ambient temperature in the range from 00 C to 350 C.
Humidity
To the wine has not lost its original character, it must be stored in a 50% -80% humidity. In the wine racks for storing wines adjustable humidity is 65-75%. This prevents drying tube and prevent the oxidation of the wine. Maintain optimal humidity is ensured by the presence in the inner chamber of sheet aluminum. As a rule, it has a corrugated form to increase the area of cooling surface. Excess moisture condenses on the aluminum wall and then on the drainage system is derived from the chamber wine cabinet. The inner chamber in standard cabinets made of plastic and does not provide the opportunity to adjust the humidity level. More expensive and high-quality models are equipped with automatic control of humidity and temperature.
No vibration
For wine is very dangerous, any vibration, because they violate the biochemical processes in wine, and can lead to the formation of sediment. To absorb vibration trays wine cabinets are equipped with extra cushioning, and shelves are made of wood (ash, oak, cherry). In a compression wine cabinet source of vibration is a compressor, so to ensure the immobility of bottles he mounted on the special units in such a way that does not come into contact with the cabinet’s frame.
Clean and ventilation
Inside the wine cabinet is necessary to ensure continuous updating of air, which would avoid the formation of mildew and unpleasant odors. In the quality of wine cabinets inside the camera is connected to the surrounding space through the holes. The circulation of purified air is carried out by the pressure drop between the top hole, into which air enters through a carbon filter, and the bottom through which air is discharged from the chamber a wine cabinet. The standard wine racks ventilation air is not provided.
Wine has the property to absorb foreign odors, so most of the wine cabinet is equipped with carbon filters. These filters must be changed once a year, so when buying a wine cabinet should learn about the possibility of their individual purchase.
Placing bottles and ergonomics
An important criterion when buying a wine cabinet is its ergonomics, which depends on the following conditions: the possibility to store different size and shape of the bottle, the construction of shelves, capacity of the pallet to withstand heavy loads, as well as its roominess.
Capacity wine cabinet is measured by standard bottles, which can be placed in it. Some models can hold a few bottles of wine, and others – up to several hundred. Standard wine cabinets for home and office have the form of a small bedside table and calculated for 11 bottles. The smallest model that can accommodate from 2 to 6 bottles, specifically designed for cars and run on batteries. In restaurants and shopping centers using wine refrigerators cameras up to 350 bottles.
Typically, shelves for wine cabinets are made of plastic or various types of wood and have peshetchatuyu or continuous with dimples konctpuktsiyu. Bottles of wine cabinets should be kept in a horizontal position. This prevents drying tube, evaporation and oxidation of the wine. The design of the shelves should provide an easy and convenient access to bottles. When buying a wine rack need to clarify the maximum possible load on each shelf, especially if you are going to fill a wine rack completely.
Design
Wine cabinets can be either built, or independently. Built-in wine cabinets have standard sizes, allowing to place the cabinet inside a bar rack or other item of kitchen furniture. Wine cabinets solo most common. Typically, they are intended solely for storing wine, but some models include storage of cigars and glasses.
Wine cabinets can be performed in a standard, elite or exclusive option. Standard wine cabinets are the minimum necessary set of functions and accessories and strong design. Additional options, such as electronic controls, decorative finishes, lighting, locks, etc., can be purchased for a fee.
The most expensive models are made to individual orders. They can be of any shape, size and color and can be equipped with a wide range of additional functions. Exclusive wine cabinets are stylish and provide ideal conditions for storing wine.