Places Where You Can Store A Wine Cabinet
Wine is best stored in certain conditions, and wine cabinets could be the perfect place as they take into account sunlight, temperature, and even humidity.
Whether you’re storing your wine collection in the short term or in the long term, or you have a large or small wine collection, a wine cabinet may be the perfect storage solution.
However, you may be wondering where you should put your wine cabinet. The kitchen may be the obvious choice, but what about the garage or the pantry?
Keep reading to learn more about wine cabinets, and for some of the best places that you can store your wine cabinet.
What Is A Wine Cabinet?
A wine cabinet is an appliance that provides optimal storage conditions for your wine. There are certain factors that you should consider when storing your wine, regardless of whether it’s in the long term or short term.
Wine cabinets can provide the right conditions - taking temperature, UV light, and humidity into account. Wine cabinets can regulate the temperature, ensuring that your wines remain in a certain temperature zone.
Your wine collection should be stored within the temperature range of 11°C to 14°C, and wine cabinets can ensure this. Wine stored in conditions that are too cold may freeze and lose its natural flavours.
It’s also important to ensure your wine doesn’t freeze as the cork could slip out of place, exposing your wine to oxygen (aka oxidation) - which can quickly ruin your wine’s flavours and aromas.
However, you should also ensure your wine doesn’t overheat, as it could cook and develop unwanted and unpleasant aromas, and speed up the ageing process.
Wine cabinets can also protect your wine from sunlight, which contains harmful UV rays. UV rays aren’t just bad for your skin - they can cause irreversible damage to your wine. Wine cabinets often feature UV-treated glass doors that allow you to view your wine collection.
Wine cabinets can also regulate the humidity levels. Wine is best stored in the humidity range of 55% and 75%. Your wine needs a little humidity to prevent the cork from drying out and slipping out of place, as this can expose your wine to oxygen - which can leave it tasting bad in a matter of hours.
However, too much humidity can cause water droplets to form around the bottle, ultimately destroying the label. Moisture can be a breeding ground for bacteria, so wine cabinets are one of the best options for wine storage.
You can also find wine cabinets that have a vibration-free system that keeps movement within the bottles to a minimum. This allows any sediment to settle at the bottom of the bottle.
Where Can I Store My Wine Cabinet?
Now you know exactly what a wine cabinet is and how it may be the perfect way to store your wine collection, it’s time to find out the best place to store your wine cabinet.
Garage
If you’re struggling for space, you could always place your wine cooler in your garage. Garages typically have plenty of floor space, especially if you don’t keep your car in there. A freestanding wine cabinet is sure to fit perfectly in your garage, as freestanding units give you plenty of freedom.
However, you may want to consider a wine cabinet with a winter system. Simply storing your wine alone in a garage could lead to it freezing in the colder months - and a wine cabinet may get too cold as the ambient temperature drops. Winter systems ensure that your wine remains at the desired temperature regardless of how cold it is outside.
Many people store an extra fridge or freezer in their garage, so why not store your wine cabinet in there? It’s accessible, convenient, and a safe space to store your collection. If you have children, it’s best to keep your collection out of the way - and most garages have lockable doors for ultimate protection.
Kitchen
The majority of people will keep their wine cabinets in the kitchen, whether it be pride of place standing alone, or integrated into kitchen cabinets.
As with wine coolers, wine cabinets can come in three main designs - freestanding, built-in, and fully integrated.
Built-in wine cabinets are designed to be installed into kitchen space. Integrated cabinets are very similar, except they’re designed to be completely enclosed in cabinet space, including the cabinet door.
The kitchen is probably the most convenient place to store your wine cabinet - it’s where your regular fridge, freezer, and other appliances are kept, so why not your wine cabinet?
Tall wine cabinets can store over a hundred bottles, which means that you can keep your entire collection there - and have it at and whenever you like.
You can also choose from a variety of styles and designs, and you can choose a colour to match the design of your kitchen.
However, if you opt for an integrated wine cabinet, then you don’t need to worry too much about the exterior design, as it will match your kitchen cabinets regardless.
You can integrate your wine cabinet into your kitchen island, breakfast bar, or work surfaces for a sleek and seamless look.
However, avoid placing your wine cabinet too close to your oven or other appliances that generate heat - as this can cause your wine cabinet to overheat.
Utility Room
If you have a utility room, it could be the perfect home for your wine cabinet. Many people will store their fridges, freezers, and other appliances in there, so a wine cabinet would accompany them perfectly.
If you have dinner parties or guests over regularly, then your wine cabinet will be accessible in your utility room.
It also allows you to keep your kitchen space free - especially if you have a snug kitchen. Freestanding wine coolers are best stored in utility rooms, but other designs can be stored there effectively too.