Find the Right Wine Storage for Your Lifestyle

    Wine storage comes in many different sizes. From ginormous wine cellars to modest wine racks, there's a type of wine storage fit for each lifestyle. And whether you're a wine connoisseur or a casual drinker, the key to finding the right wine storage is knowing what you need. To give you a starting point, Tony Wilke, the VP of Operations at Wine Cellar Innovations, suggested to think first about size.
    "First of all, they have to decide how far along they are in the wine collecting phase," Wilke said. "If you're a novice collector and you're just getting into it, you probably don't want to invest too much. So start with a rack that is twice your collection and add to it as it grows."
    Simple enough. Make sure the type of wine storage you choose is big enough to accommodate the amount of wine you own. But after that, choosing the right wine storage gets a bit tricky. So to make it easy, I've created a check list for each type of wine storage - wine racks, wine refrigerators, wine cabinets and wine cellars - to help you find the right one for you.



Wine Racks

A wine rack is the best wine storage for you if you ...

• Don't want to spend too much money.
• Don't have much space.
• Have a small to medium size wine collection.
• Might move in the next few years.
• Plan on drinking your wine within 3 to 5 years.
• Don't mind if your wine is not refrigerated at the proper temperature.

    Unlike the other types of wine storage, wine racks do not come with a refrigeration system. Those refrigeration systems are fairly important because they keep wine at its tasting peak. But if wine storage units with refrigeration are beyond your budget, don't worry.
    "For all practical purposes, if you're going to consume [wine] in three to five years, not many wines are going to go bad in ones home, unless it's kept in your trunk or above a refrigerator," Sales Director at Wine Cellar Innovations, Jack Diener said.
While wine racks may lack slightly in practicality, they gain points in appearance.
"You can combine [wine racks] to get the appearance of a custom wine cellar without going through the expense of that," Diener said.
To discover more about wine racks, check out the Wine Racks post and watch the Wine Racks video.

Wine Refrigerators

A wine refrigerator is the right type of wine storage for you if you ...

• Want to spend a moderate amount of money.
• Have a small to medium size wine collection.
• Have space for a refrigerator in your kitchen or bar.
• Want your wine to stay at the perfect temperature.

    Wine refrigerators are ideal if you plan to remodel or build a new kitchen or home bar. Otherwise, it might be a bit difficult finding one that perfectly fits the space where you'd like to put it. But if you do find a space, wine refrigerators are wonderful for entertaining. They keep your wine perfectly chilled, and if you put one in your kitchen, the wine will be easy to access for all of those dinner parties.

Wine Cabinets

A wine cabinet is the right type of wine storage for you if you ...

• Want to spend a moderate amount of money.
• Have limited space.
• Have a small to medium size wine collection.
• Want your wine displayed in your kitchen, basement or an entertaining area of your home.
• Might move in the next few years.

    If you think wine refrigerators are smart, then you'll be floored by wine cabinets. Cleverly hidden within a fine piece of furniture, wine cabinets are simply a wine refrigerator in disguise. Both beautiful and practical, wine cabinets can be placed anywhere in your home. And best of all, if you plan to move, you can take it with you.
    "In the event that you do move or need to move, most of our clientele seem to move every three to four or five or six years, as they go up the professional ladder, this is something they can take with them," Diener said. "Whereas, a custom wine room is confined to that space and not meant to be taken out."

Wine Cellars

A wine cellar is the right type of wine storage for you if you ...

• Don't mind making a large investment when it comes to wine storage.
• Have a big wine collection.
• Have the space to dedicate a room to your wine.
• Want to keep your wine in the optimum conditions.  
• Don't plan on moving or you think a wine cellar will add to the value of your home.
• Want to add a wow factor to your home.  

    The ultimate luxury in the wine world, wine cellars bring class, style and sophistication to your home. Typically only ordered by those with a substantial wine collection, wine cellars house large amounts of wine while looking far from your typical storage room.
    "A large wine cellar really adds to the ambience of any home," Wilke said.