How do you store your wine [+ Fridge/Cabinet recommendations]

I have one wine storage method I would NOT recommend.

Muddy water, four metres deep, for four days:

The one with the burgundy door is the Libeherr:

View attachment 272711

View attachment 272713

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OMG! Did they survive otherwise? ie no breakage of bottles?

Looks like the labels are still attached - that would be an extra kick in the nuts if they didn’t break but you didn’t know what was what…

I’m sooo glad my cellar is 80m above sea level!
 
OMG! Did they survive otherwise? ie no breakage of bottles?

Looks like the labels are still attached - that would be an extra kick in the nuts if they didn’t break but you didn’t know what was what…

I’m sooo glad my cellar is 80m above sea level!
No breaks. 100% save rate.

Eight under cork, but all eight also had wax seals.
 
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Thanks VPS.

Finally, I got Euro Appliances 165 Bottle Dual Zone Wine Cooler from Costco, Now They are doing special, with $200 discount, Total is $1499.

Does a compressor man tall wine fridge have a life span? I google it said generally can last 10-15 years. Is this true? Mine last 13 years. I expected it should last forever.
Might I ask how the costco fridge is going for you? I hear many complaints of slightly below advertised capacity but some of my other friends seem fine with it
 
Might I ask how the costco fridge is going for you? I hear many complaints of slightly below advertised capacity but some of my other friends seem fine with it
@BDorrington You may interest the fridge issues.

Issues:
1. in the upper chamber, The air vent locates in the bottom of back panel. The wine temp near the air vent can be as low as 1 degree. I put baking aluminum foil in front of the vent, so that the air won't blow directly to the wine. The temp near the vent is 5 degree. The temp in upper rack of the upper chamber is close to what I set -- 12 degree. I am still thinking how to make the air spread more evenly.

2. Only 3 racks accepts large bottles, the top rack of upper chamber, the top rack of lower chamber, the bottom rack of lower chamber. The other racks you can't put champagne, Some of them you can put Burgundy/Pinot/Chardonnay bottle, some don't. Some of Burgundy bottle is slightly bigger, and it can't fit.

3. Minor issue, there is a plastic ball to stop the door. It is hard to close just by hand. Usually, I kick the bottom corner of the door and make it close completely.

4. Lower chamber racks are not perfectly horizontally installed. Minor issue.

Pro:
It's reasonably quiet. It transfers the heat from both side panels. I can feel it is hot on both side panels, so I assume it has a higher capacity to generate cold air.
 
@BDorrington You may interest the fridge issues.

Issues:
1. in the upper chamber, The air vent locates in the bottom of back panel. The wine temp near the air vent can be as low as 1 degree. I put baking aluminum foil in front of the vent, so that the air won't blow directly to the wine. The temp near the vent is 5 degree. The temp in upper rack of the upper chamber is close to what I set -- 12 degree. I am still thinking how to make the air spread more evenly.

2. Only 3 racks accepts large bottles, the top rack of upper chamber, the top rack of lower chamber, the bottom rack of lower chamber. The other racks you can't put champagne, Some of them you can put Burgundy/Pinot/Chardonnay bottle, some don't. Some of Burgundy bottle is slightly bigger, and it can't fit.

3. Minor issue, there is a plastic ball to stop the door. It is hard to close just by hand. Usually, I kick the bottom corner of the door and make it close completely.

4. Lower chamber racks are not perfectly horizontally installed. Minor issue.

Pro:
It's reasonably quiet. It transfers the heat from both side panels. I can feel it is hot on both side panels, so I assume it has a higher capacity to generate cold air.

So not in fact a magical, cheap solution to the wine fridge issue...
 
How wide do you think a wine room needs to be?
At the moment I have 2.7m long by 1.4
I can probably increase this by another .5

I'd be shortening another bedroom tho.

I'm thinking wine racks along one side can hold 800-1000. The racking I bought is basically 990mmx990mm and holds 110 bottles.
I can then have cases on the floor, instead of racking on the other side.

I still have access to a cellar, but I realised the temperature can get up to 30 inside on peak periods. I mean even tho there's 40 year old bottles which haven't leaked, plenty have. No dramatic changes in temperature obviously, and I'm sure for 3/4 of the year it's under 15 degrees.

I'm currently looking for a thermostat that is Wi-Fi compatible and can send me daily reading so I can monitor the temperature, make a final decision.
 
I'm looking at getting a small-ish (40-50 bottles) dual zone wine fridge

Just saw this post and following up :
A quite successful mate with a large commercial frig business recommended Bar fridges au as an example of genuine quality build.
They are not cheap but I have ordered one for my new build.
Thanks for the heads up, I hadn't heard of them. I'm thinking about this unit, as it should cover my needs
I can put extra shelving/support on the beer-side, to hold the sparkling and other whites, while keeping my 'good' reds in the left hand side.
All of my other quaffers can live in my current cellar, at the bottom of the wardrobe, as they won't be there that long.
 
How wide do you think a wine room needs to be?
At the moment I have 2.7m long by 1.4
I can probably increase this by another .5

I'd be shortening another bedroom tho.

I'm thinking wine racks along one side can hold 800-1000. The racking I bought is basically 990mmx990mm and holds 110 bottles.
I can then have cases on the floor, instead of racking on the other side.

I still have access to a cellar, but I realised the temperature can get up to 30 inside on peak periods. I mean even tho there's 40 year old bottles which haven't leaked, plenty have. No dramatic changes in temperature obviously, and I'm sure for 3/4 of the year it's under 15 degrees.

I'm currently looking for a thermostat that is Wi-Fi compatible and can send me daily reading so I can monitor the temperature, make a final decision.
You might find it more economical to just get a logger, which are often used for food transport readings. I use this - Elitech RC-5 Mini USB LCD Display Screen Temperature Data Logger Recorder

My opinion is that people's belief on the need for consistent cool temperatures to age wine is overblown. My understanding of the research consensus is that extended periods over 25 degrees is when things start to go awry quickly - every 5 degree increase approximately doubles chemical reactions, and in addition some of the more undesirable reactions start to occur around that temp.

I personally wouldn't obsess about making sure your cellar is 14 degrees, on the other hand 30 degrees, even if only for a week or two a year, is probably going to cause you some issues if you want to cellar wines for 10+ years.

Fascinating to hear that there are 40 year old wines that have been cellared in those conditions, and presumable taste fine. Definitely flies in the face of conventional wisdom.
 
You might find it more economical to just get a logger, which are often used for food transport readings. I use this - Elitech RC-5 Mini USB LCD Display Screen Temperature Data Logger Recorder

My opinion is that people's belief on the need for consistent cool temperatures to age wine is overblown. My understanding of the research consensus is that extended periods over 25 degrees is when things start to go awry quickly - every 5 degree increase approximately doubles chemical reactions, and in addition some of the more undesirable reactions start to occur around that temp.

I personally wouldn't obsess about making sure your cellar is 14 degrees, on the other hand 30 degrees, even if only for a week or two a year, is probably going to cause you some issues if you want to cellar wines for 10+ years.

Fascinating to hear that there are 40 year old wines that have been cellared in those conditions, and presumable taste fine. Definitely flies in the face of conventional wisdom.
I use a Sensorpush which logs temps and humidity and I can access remotely. Works well and I can set an alert if it goes over a certain temp. I had that setup and monitoring prior to getting the aircon just to see if it was needed.

Agree with you on temps, especially with so many now screw capped.
 

It seems pretty cheap to me? I need extra racking for the cellar.
Hello all,

Back after an enforced absence and seeking some advice, please.

I bought the 110 bottle rack unit and gifted to family members at Christmas. They have just now moved into a new home and attempted to install the rack but it is wider than the spaces available.

I suggested splitting it into two narrower units - which would work, in principle, but I have not seen the actual unit. I am told that it cannot be done and that they would like to exchange it for a 42 bottle unit plus a 20.

Any hints from those who have used the system? I cannot imagine that a "return" would be possible after such a long time.

As a last resort, I will simply buy two new units in the appropriate size but then need to find a home for the 110 bottle rack. :)
 
Hello all,

Back after an enforced absence and seeking some advice, please.

I bought the 110 bottle rack unit and gifted to family members at Christmas. They have just now moved into a new home and attempted to install the rack but it is wider than the spaces available.

I suggested splitting it into two narrower units - which would work, in principle, but I have not seen the actual unit. I am told that it cannot be done and that they would like to exchange it for a 42 bottle unit plus a 20.

Any hints from those who have used the system? I cannot imagine that a "return" would be possible after such a long time.

As a last resort, I will simply buy two new units in the appropriate size but then need to find a home for the 110 bottle rack. :)
Build the unit, if it's finished just list on Marketplace and you easily sell it.

I got these for around $120 on special, so you easily get your money back for a built rack because I would rather buy one built then have to kill my back building when I get on the ground lol
 

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