subject: Two Types Of Wine Cellars: Active And Passive [print this page] Wine collection is a hobby that is attracting more and more people. Individuals are increasingly incorporating wines into their meals or at special occasions and celebrations. Therefore, having one's collection at home, whether for personal consumption or for business, has made having a cellar important also.
Usually, a wine cellar is a place that refers to a below-ground cellar. But a cellar can also be a cabinet or room in the house that is dedicated to storing wines. As they are very sensitive when it comes to dryness, sun exposure, and heat, a good wine cellar will prevent it from spoiling and help it to keep its taste.
For wine to be smooth and for it to maintain its taste, it is important to keep it in the ideal storage environment. Factors like temperature, humidity, bottle position, light, and vibration all contribute to the preservation and storage of wine.
Temperature
Wines should be stored in a cool place, preferably around 12 degrees Celsius. Depending on the type, it can also be anywhere from 5-22 degrees, however, it has to be kept constant so as not to pose any harm on the wines' aging and taste. The temperature should be kept constant at this range so as to not slow down its aging process.
Humidity
Traditionally, cellars were built into the rock underground to keep the corks moist. The problem when corks dry up is that it tends to lead to oxidation which can spoil the wine. Cellar humidity is recommended to be 60-70 percent as anything higher than that will pose problems on your label, making it fall off.
Bottle position
There are some people who position their wines lying on their sides to keep the corks in contact with and prevent them from drying up. Though it is also possible to store the bottles in slanting position, the point is that the cork should be kept moist in order to avoid it from cracking, letting air in and facilitating oxidation which can spoil the wine.
Light
Exposure to light is not a good thing for this liquid. First of all, wines are placed in dark bottles to protect them from exposure to light. Though it is fine to put your bottles under the light every now and then, exposure for longer periods may cause damage to your wine and changes in its taste.
Vibration/Movement
Ideally, wines should be kept still while they are stored. This is because if they feel any movement, sediments may move and mix with the wine making it difficult to serve them.
There are two types of wine cellars. There is the passive wine cellar and the active wine cellar.
The passive wine cellar can provide your wines the constant humidity and temperature all year round. If you have basement spaces, these can be ideal especially if these are below grade and are surrounded by 2-3 walls. If it has the right humidity but does not have a 6-degree temperature swing in a twelve month-period, then all you need now is racking and you will have your own instant wine cellar.
The active, on the other hand, is a wine cellar whose conditions need to be controlled. For this, you will need insulation, vapor barrier, and a cooling unit. This wine cellar needs to be constructed.
If you are a beginner wine collector or you don't have the budget or space for a wine cellar, then you can opt to use the more affordable wine refrigerators. A wine refrigerator or wine fridge can provide the necessary environment that aids your wine to age faster and more ideally.
Buy your wine refrigerator and wine fridge from Relax At Home, the leader in home equipment in Australia.
