Anyone who knows me well knows that I love my wine. I tend to lean towards full-bodied reds like a nice Malbec or Cabernet, but would never say no to a crisp Pinot Gris or Sauvignon Blanc. Thinking back to my university days when my friends and I thought we were super cool because we would share a bottle of Pink Zinfandel after a night of waiting tables, and it’s safe to say that not only has my palette evolved, but so too has my understanding and appreciation of wine itself. And now that I am amassing quite the collection, I think it’s time to step up my wine game with a wine cooler.
Think of wine as a living thing
Before I dive into the benefits of wine coolers, I thought I’d mention a line from one of my favourite movies, Sideways, which centres around a road trip two friends make through California’s wine country. The line is from the character Maya who is training to be a sommelier, and when questioned about why she likes wine, she says: “I like how wine continues to evolve, like if I opened a bottle of wine today it would taste different than if I’d opened it on any other day, because a bottle of wine is actually alive. And it’s constantly evolving and gaining complexity.” And that, my friends, is why it is important to keep your wine stored in the best of conditions. The more you learn about wine and how it is produced, the more you realize the importance of proper storage.
Why a wine cooler is ideal for wine storage
There are a number of reasons why premium wine coolers, like this stainless steel beverage centre from Cavavin, will step up your wine game. First, they are specifically designed to cool, preserve and age your wine–and proper storage and aging brings out the flavour potential and true characteristics of any wine.
Second, wine coolers are designed to create a stable temperature zone, which will increase wine’s short and long-term storage, regardless of whether you prefer reds or whites. That’s right, red wines are also intended to be stored in wine coolers. In fact, regardless of the grape, when kept at temperatures between 55° and 57°, your wine will always be at the perfect drinking temperature. Most wine drinkers keep their whites in the fridge and their reds in a room temperature environment, however that leaves your whites far too cold at around 35° and their reds far too warm at around 70°.
Interestingly, the cool temperatures in a standard refrigerator actually prevent wine from developing to its full flavour. Third, and perhaps most importantly, a wine cooler is a dedicated wine environment, which means your wines won’t be disturbed as they might be in a refrigerator when you open the door to grab eggs, a carton of milk, or yesterday’s leftover Chinese food.
Wine coolers are also just plain convenient. For example, this 5.3 cubic foot one from Silhouette can store 112 beverage cans and 11 bottles of wine, so whether you’re at home watching a movie, or hosting a party, a wine cooler will have you covered.
Regardless of your level of wine sophistication, a wine cooler is a great addition to any wine drinker’s home. They ensure your wines are being store appropriately and at the right temperature, which goes a long way to enhancing their flavour potential. And you don’t necessarily need to go premium if it’s not in the budget. Wine coolers like this one from Danby holds six bottles of wine making it ideal for people like me who live in small spaces and don’t have the room to amass a large collection.
Check out the full range of wine coolers available at Best Buy here. And now, time for a glass of Malbec.
