| Cabinets, racks and coolers: Wine collecting 101
We’ve seen them on television and in magazines, from mansions in Tuscan Italy to cellars in the Bordeaux region of France: wine collections wrapping around walls, and coolers filled with chilled bottles. The fact of the matter is that everyone starts somewhere, and many people are making this admirable dream a reality.
Storage is perhaps the most precarious aspect to wine collecting. Wine coolers and refrigeration are becoming more and more popular in today’s market, noted Robert Daisey, partner of Delaware Appliance Distributors in Frankford. Under-counter refrigeration products, typically 15, 24 and sometimes 30 inches in width, are offered through almost every appliance company. Popular names like Marvel, General Electric, Sub Zero, Maytag and Viking all offer some sort of wine cooler system. Delaware Appliance also specializes in built-in products, which are customized to accommodate a homeowner’s preferences, sometimes stretching as wide as 80 inches. Different models and styles offer a wide range of temperature settings. “These are becoming normal features in homes today,” said Daisey, “especially in custom spec homes. It’s only a matter of time before they pop up regularly.” Some homes even include a wine refrigeration unit in their package.
New homes aren’t the only ones seeing this upgrade, though. “It’s easy to knock out a cabinet for an under-counter installation,” said Daisey. “Everyone has space somewhere for that.”
Aside from the many features, under-counter and built-in wine coolers offer an aesthetic appeal that compliments a kitchen, barroom or study. Coolers can be purchased in different styles to match the room, from wood or stainless to a variety of colors. Many include refrigeration drawers and beverage units for additional storage and versatility. “When you get something like this for your home,” said Daisey, “you’re getting the best of both worlds, and the selection that’s out there guarantees that people are getting what they want.” Some newer designs even include ice machines.
“When you walk into a home and see a cooler like this, it creates a ‘wow’ factor,” Daisey added. “People recognize that integrity was built into the product.”
Cabinetry is also a popular avenue to take for the up-and-coming wine connoisseur. Whether installing wine racks or assembling a cabinet, additional storage may be just what someone was looking for to give their home that added touch. Under a staircase, in beside a mantle, along a cellar wall, cabinet and racks can add charm to anywhere in the house.
Once all the initial preparation is taken care of, there’s still a lot to learn when starting with a wine collection.
Aging wine at the right conditions will ensure a truer, bolder taste, though some methods and preferences may vary. Here are a few guidelines to store and care for wine.
Keep at a cool temperature. This is one of the most common ways that wine can lose its flavor. An ideal temperature setting is right around 55 degrees, with variances from 45 to 60. “Fifty-five degrees is a perfect temperature for your reds,” said Ted Banks, owner of Banks Liquors in Millville. “Your whites, you can chill them down a little more.” Higher temperatures increase the aging process and steal the freshness of the taste. At Beach Liquors in Bethany, wine specialist Brian Kervick has his wine room regulated around 53 degrees.
Avoid direct sunlight. The UV rays of the sun can break down certain components of wine and leave an unpleasant taste. White wines are affected the most by this.
Store wines at an angle or horizontally. This keeps the cork wet and tight, which prevents it from drying out and shrinking. If shrunk, air could leak inside the bottle and spoil the wine. Banks keeps many of his wines at least at a 45 degree angle.
Bottles should be exposed to a light dampness or dry climate. This goes along with keeping the cork from drying out, but preferences of the appropriate humidity are sensitive from one person to the next.
Keep bottles in a calm, quiet place, away from strong odors. Vibrations and noises can disrupt the aging process and strong odors have been known to contaminate the wine.
The length of time to age each wine depends on the type of wine and personal preferance. “For most white wines,” noted Banks, “five years is usually about how much you want to give them, depending on the year they come out with a bottle. Some wines are longer. Cabernets can go longer than 20 and 25 years, and there are some Bordeaux’s from ’62 that would still drink very well.”
The best way approach for getting started with a collection is to jump right in, noted Kervick. “Start drinking,” he said. “I tell my customers, wines are like ice cream. Some like chocolate, some like vanilla, and some like them all. You won’t know what you like until you see what’s out there.”
“For starters,” said Banks, “you should just go with what you think you like. A lot of people start out with $10 to $20 white wines and move their way up. Most people don’t like a dry wine. They start off with something a little sweeter.”
A common misconception for many people starting their wine collection is the price, but Kervick noted that this should not be an intimidation. “There are $10 bottles of wine I like and there are $80 bottles of wine I like,” he said. “The price tag doesn’t make it good or bad. It all comes down to your tastes.”
The time of year has a strong impact on the popularity of different wines. If starting in the spring, Banks advised, white wines are a prevalent choice. “Sauvignon blancs and Rieslings are good to start off with in the springtime,” he said. “For the summertime, if you like reds, something light and fruity, are the Pinot Noirs. In the fall, you’ll get more into the Merlots and Cabernets.”
One of the best things about wine, Banks mentioned, is that no matter how much time you spend with it, there’s always more to discover.
“I still learn something new every day,” he said. “There’s so much to learn about wine, and it all depends on who you talk to. Everyone is going to have their own views. You just have to be open-minded and try new things. You never know when you’re going to find a new one that you really love.”
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