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Wine is one of the few commodities that can be acquired with the intent to store for later consumption. Whether you are a superlative sommelier or if you don’t know a Bordeaux from a Claret; properly storing your wine does not have to be a complicated affair. In most cases, the best and most efficient way to keep your wine safe and allow it to age gracefully, is to choose the best wine rack, wine cooler or wine fridge; for the types of wine you’ll be storing.

Here you’ll find all the information you need in regards to storage devices, wine cooler temperature and the many factors that play a part in properly ageing or storing your wines.

Question 1: At what temperature should I store my wine?

Fine wines are often stored so that they can improve not only in value, but in flavour as well. But, the proper aging of wine requires careful preparation for storage. One of the most important elements is temperature. Wine stored at the correct temperature will age gracefully. Wine stored at an incorrect temperature will age disgracefully.                        

There are four important factors that one must consider when storing their wine: temperature, humidity, light and vibrations. Temperatures over 21 degrees Celsius (70 degrees Fahrenheit) can speed up the ageing process of your wine; spoiling the wine and causing it to “cook,” which will then dull the flavours and aromas. Alternatively, if the wine is kept in too cold of a temperature (about  -5 degrees Celsius/20 degrees Fahrenheit), the wine will begin to freeze and expand. This will push the cork out or possibly crack the bottle. In either case the wine will be spoiled and you will be deprived of its enjoyment.

The best temperature to store each wine depends upon the amount of fruit, tannin and alcohol it contains. The temperatures at which each wine will freeze, depend upon its alcohol content and the amount of salts and sugars present. Though each wine has its own ideal temperature for storage, the general rule is to keep your wine rack, wine cooler, or wine fridge at about 13 degrees Celsius (55 degrees Fahrenheit).

These are the ideal temperatures for storing wines:

  • Light White Wines (Moscato, Riesling, Pinot Grigio): 9-11 degrees Celsius (48-52 degrees Fahrenheit)
  • Rich White Wines (i.e. Chardonnay): 14-17 degrees Celsius (58-62 degrees Fahrenheit)
  • Light Red Wines (i.e. Chianti, young Pinot Noir, Lambrusco): 15-18 degrees Celsius (60-65 degrees Fahrenheit)
  • Heavy Red Wines (Merlot, Zinfandel, Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir): 17-20 degrees Celsius (63-68 degrees Fahrenheit)
  • Sparkling Wines: 10-13 degrees Celsius (50-55 degrees Fahrenheit)

[https://www.today.com/food/perfect-temperature-wine-2D80555109]

It is important to note that though each wine type has an acceptable temperature range ; it is imperative that once a temperature is chosen it remains stable and consistent.  A stable temperature is as important if not more important than a correct temperature.

Question 2: How does humidity affect wine?

The second important factor that you should consider when storing wine is humidity. It is important to note that some humidity is necessary for storing wine, whether on a wine rack, in a wine fridge, or in a wine cooler cabinet. The humidity is needed for one thing to keep the cork from drying out. Once your wine cork dries out, oxygen can enter the bottle, thus filling the ullage space, Ullage is a term used by winemakers and connoisseurs to describe the space between the wine itself and the top of its enclosure. Too much oxygen can spoil the wine, speed up its ageing process, or oxidize it. Too much humidity can also cause the cork to soften or crumble. This will not only make opening the bottles very difficult but it can also lead to the cork shedding pieces into the wine, to the regret of you and your guests. Specialists have determined that 50% humidity as well as the correct temperature are needed for proper storage of your wines.

Maintaining a higher level of humidity in your wine cooler cabinet, etc. does not have to be a difficult task. This can be done with a few simple steps. such as placing a pan of water on the floor, misting the cellar walls and wine rack (if they’re wood) every so often, or placing a humidifier in the room where your wine cooler is.

The need for carefully controlled humidity is one factor which helps to explain why it is better to invest in a properly designed wine cooler, wine fridge, or wine cooler cabinet, rather than your everyday refrigerator. Wines stored at lower temperatures will age much slower and will be subject to the damaging effects (outlined above) caused by low humidity levels found in colder environments (such as your refrigerator).

It is only under carefully controlled conditions that your high-quality wine will develop complex aromas and full flavours. This is why many appliance companies, such as Liebherr, have crafted and perfected innovative climate technology for their refrigerators for wine,  to ensure that customers can choose the temperature best for their wine and have that temperature stay consistent.

The final two factors you should take into consideration when determining how to store your wine are light and vibrations. Keeping your wine/wine cooler/wine rack/wine fridge in line of direct sunlight or under strong lighting can cause a chemical reaction with the phenolic content naturally found in wines, resulting in damaged or spoiled wine. Monitoring your light exposure is most important when storing light bodied, white wines. This is why these types of wines are often packaged in darker bottles.

Though they have a much smaller effect on wine, vibrations of different frequencies can alter or change the chemistry of the wine; they can accelerate the ageing of the wine or they can negatively affect the wine’s quality. Whereas light is important to white wines, vibrations often have a stronger impact on reds, therefore, when using one wine cooler or wine fridge to store both wines, it is important that your product protect against light and vibrations with equal consideration. 

All of Liebherr’s wine fridges are designed to protect against excess light. vibrations and UV light, which is another form of harmful lighting that can spoil wine. Their wine cooler cabinets have insulated glass doors which prevent UV rays from entering the appliance. Inside the cooler they have installed LED lights to coat the bottles with gentle rays; illuminating an elegant interior while keeping your wines safe.

Question 3: How should I clean my wine cooler?

Typically, wine cooler cabinets and wine fridges are low maintenance appliances. That being said, we know that all appliances, whether brand new or ten years old do require some basic care and to help them last longer. Cleaning your wine rack or wine cooler regularly is a smart way of ensuring that no buildups of frost or moisture are happening in places you may not often look. To begin, you should always disconnect your wine fridge, making sure that your bottles are stored in a dark and cool place as you work.

Next, remove all of the shelves or wine racks from the wine cooler so that you have a better view of what’s going on inside. This will also provide a better opportunity for cleaning the racks individually. When cleaning your wine cooler cabinet, the best practice is to gently wipe down the surfaces so that any stains or spots can be cleared. Using harmful cleaning products such as bleach or those with a high chemical content is not necessary when cleaning your wine fridge. The chemicals in bleach and other cleaning products can linger in the wine cooler posing the threat of contaminating your wines or making them weaker.

The best way to clean your refrigerator for wines is to make a simple solution of ½ water and ½ vinegar. Mix the two together and keep your solution in a spray bottle for easy-use each time you go to clean your wine cooler. This solution is ideal because it contains no harmful chemicals, and vinegar is known to have antibacterial properties that are safe to use, but will also get the job done. The water acts to dilute the vinegar, thus keeping the vinegar from affecting the flavour of the wine later.                                              

Now that you have your solution ready, you can go ahead and spray the entirety of your wine cooler cabinet, including the shelves and wine racks that you have removed. Make sure that every surface has been evenly coated and every corner has been reached. To wipe off your vinegar-water solution, take a soft cloth or a rag—ideally, one that will not leave fibres behind—and gently scrub the entire surface of your wine fridge. One you are done, leave all of the wine racks out in the open so that they can completely dry. It is also important to keep the door of your wine cooler open as well, to eliminate any residual odours, and to allow the inner surface to completely dry before placing your wines back in. This usually does not take too long and within about 5-10 minutes, your wine fridge should be completely dry and ready for you to place the wine back in. The final step you must complete before replacing the wine, is to plug the wine cooler back in and set it to the proper wine cooler temperature. Next you may add the wine racks and shelves back in, and by the time you have finished placing your bottles in their rightful spots, the wine cooler should have reached its ideal temperature.

http://winecoolers.reviews/cleaning-the-wine-cooler-is-easy-to-handle

Typically, wine cooler cabinets and wine fridges are low maintenance appliances. That being said, we know that all appliances, whether brand new or ten years old do require some basic care and to help them last longer. Cleaning your wine rack or wine cooler regularly is a smart way of ensuring that no buildups of frost or moisture are happening in places you may not often look. To begin, you should always disconnect your wine fridge, making sure that your bottles are stored in a dark and cool place as you work.

Next, remove all of the shelves or wine racks from the wine cooler so that you have a better view of what’s going on inside. This will also provide a better opportunity for cleaning the racks individually. When cleaning your wine cooler cabinet, the best practice is to gently wipe down the surfaces so that any stains or spots can be cleared. Using harmful cleaning products such as bleach or those with a high chemical content is not necessary when cleaning your wine fridge. The chemicals in bleach and other cleaning products can linger in the wine cooler posing the threat of contaminating your wines or making them weaker.

The best way to clean your refrigerator for wines is to make a simple solution of ½ water and ½ vinegar. Mix the two together and keep your solution in a spray bottle for easy-use each time you go to clean your wine cooler. This solution is ideal because it contains no harmful chemicals, and vinegar is known to have antibacterial properties that are safe to use, but will also get the job done. The water acts to dilute the vinegar, thus preventing the vinegar from affecting the flavour of the wine later. Now that you have your solution ready, you can go ahead and spray the entirety of your wine cooler cabinet, including the shelves and wine racks that you have removed. Make sure that every surface has been evenly coated and every corner has been reached. To wipe off your vinegar-water solution, take a soft cloth or a rag—ideally, one that will not leave fibres behind—and gently scrub the entire surface of your wine fridge. One you are done, leave all of the wine racks out in the open so that they can completely dry. It is also important to keep the door of your wine cooler open as well, to eliminate any residual odours, and to allow the inner surface to completely dry before placing your wines back in. This usually does not take too long and within about 5-10 minutes, your wine fridge should be completely dry and ready for you to place the wine back in. The final step you must complete before replacing the wine, is to plug the wine cooler back in and set it to the proper wine cooler temperature. Next you may add the wine racks and shelves back in, and by the time you have finished placing your bottles in their rightful spots, the wine cooler should have reached its ideal temperature.

http://winecoolers.reviews/cleaning-the-wine-cooler-is-easy-to-handle

Question 4: Should I use a Single Zone or Dual Zone wine cooler?

The easiest way to determine whether or not you should purchase a Single or Dual Zone wine cooler cabinet, is to first decide if your collection will be all whites or reds; or a mix of both.

If you only have a taste for one or the other and have decided that your collection will be made up of one, then it is not necessary to purchase a Dual Zone wine fridge. Although there are different wine cooler temperatures ideal for each type of wine, it is generally safe to say that most of your whites and most of your reds can be stored at the same temperature without any harmful results.

Single Zone wine coolers are recommended for the beginner collector. If you are just getting started and you have yet to master the complexities of storing wine and playing around with wine cooler temperature, then a Single Zone wine fridge is your best option—it is also often your less expensive option.

Once you’re ready to remove your training wheels, or if your plan is to store both reds and whites in the same wine cooler cabinet to begin with, then you may want to opt for a Dual Zone wine cooler. Dual Zone simply means that the wine fridge is separated into two areas (or zones), and that the temperature for each zone can be set differently. This is ideal for those who are collecting and storing expensive bottles of wine that require very specific temperatures and will spoil easily if not stored in the correct wine cooler temperature. 

Question 5: What other features should I look for in a wine cooler?

Whether or not you are a wine connoisseur, you are probably aware that picking up on all of the complex aromas and scents of each wine is a large part of the wine tasting experience. When outdoor odors penetrate the bottle, they are easily absorbed into the wine, which can alter both its flavour and its scent. Therefore, it is important to look for a wine cooler cabinet that has the technology to filter outdoor odors.

Liebherr’s wine fridges are equipped with specially designed activated charcoal filters which ensure that your bottles of wine are stored safely in air that is untainted by foreign odors.

Another thing you may want to take a closer look at when purchasing a wine fridge, are the types of shelves or wine racks it has. Wooden shelves not only add to the aesthetics of the appliance, but they are also good for maintaining humidity. If they are untreated, they pose no harmful threats to the ageing of your wine. You may also want to opt for shelves that pull out, to make storing and showing your wine an easy task.. Wine racks that you can pull towards you are easier for quickly grabbing that perfect wine so that you won’t keep your guests waiting when they call out for another bottle!

By adding an innovative wine cooler/wine fridge or wine cooler cabinet to your home, you are removing the difficulty of properly storing your wines. The proper wine cooler temperature is the first and most important factor you should consider before storing your wines, but there are many other areas at play that can alter or change the flavours and aromas of your wine. By researching different wine coolers and getting as much information you can about the types of wine you’ll be storing, you can guarantee that each glass of wine you pour will have the perfect note of satisfaction.

For more information on wine storage, maturation, consumption and wine cooler cabinets, visit Liebherr’s website here: https://home.liebherr.com/en/can/ncsa/why-liebherr/special-wine-ncsa/special-wine-ncsa.html#!/content=wine

Time to Shop – When to ditch your old refrigerator

Shopping for a new refrigerator may seem like a labourious task but the Euro-line website has plenty of helpful information to assist you. When your old refrigerator is still chugging along and seems to be working OK, replacing it can seem wasteful or even unnecessary but when you consider the new energy saving features and healthy food storage options Liebherr offers, it simply makes sense. Typically, a refrigerator has a life span of approximately 15 years but with technology changing so rapidly it is not a surprise that you and your family and your food will enjoy big benefits from a newer model.

A refrigerator is often the most expensive appliance you will purchase for your kitchen. So, be sure to do your research before making a purchase. Choose a model that not only fits into your kitchen layout and your life. Make sure you get one that meets your practical needs.

When purchasing a new refrigerator try not to underestimate the bells and whistles. Some features may seem costly and extra while shopping around, some may appear to be strictly for convenience—a convenience you can certainly live without—but it is important to look at the big picture: A refrigerator is both and aesthetic and practical object. It is an investment in beauty and utility. A top quality refrigerator beautifies your home and gives you the functionality to support your life and your family.  Therefore, it is important to look for unique Liebherr features such as BioFresh, NoFrost, SuperFrost and Vario Boxes. These all distinguish Liebherr’s premier European brand as the best option for energy efficient storage of the healthy food a family needs.

If you’re looking for a European made, state of the art, and affordable refrigerator for your home, Liebherr delivers outstanding quality, design and innovation. For more information on why to choose Liebherr, check out this wonderful article in the FreshMAG blog: https://blog.liebherr.com/appliances/us/liebherr-reasons/

  1. When buying a new refrigerator, always recycle the old one.
  2. Position your fridge away from heat sources (ovens, dishwashers, heating vents, direct sunlight).
  3. Clean your condenser coils regularly! Accumulated dust can restrict airflow and cause the refrigerator’s motor to work harder, using more energy.
  4. Don’t over fill the fridge. Allow for airflow inside the fridge.
  5. Keep the door and seals clean and tight.