Wine Insiders |

When it comes to storing wine at home or on a domestic level, then a proper wine cooling refrigerator makes a lot of sense.

But how do you know if it’s a good one?

Look out for the 5 following signs when you’re hunting for a wine cooler:

1. Make Sure It Meets Your Wine Needs

Have an idea of the capacity you’ll need. How many bottles will you have at any one time? Wine refrigerator coolers range in capacity by a lot. Some hold as little as four. And others, like the dtw100 from Arctic Air, carry one hundred bottles or more. It simply a case of figuring out your needs upfront.

2. Be Aware That Some Wines Like It Warmer

If you plan on keeping both red and white wines – it makes a lot of sense to store them at different temperature levels. For this reason, keep an eye out for what’s called “dual zone” wine coolers. In other words, you want 2 different compartments, so you can set different internal temperatures.

3. Easy To See

A steady and consistent temperature is critical for preserving the quality of wine. Consequently, opt for a wine cooler that gives a good view of all the bottles without needing the door to be opened. Thankfully, models like the dtw100 arctic air refrigerator come with full-length glass-panel doors. These provide a full view of the contents without needing the door open.

4. Easy Access

Once you’ve spotted the wine you want, it needs to be simple to get to. So you ideally want the shelving to slide out in a way that makes good sense. This is so you don’t have to bend into the fridge too much, which could be hazardous.

5. Acceptable Noise Levels

Also make sure the wine cooler refrigerator is relatively quiet. You certainly don’t want a lot of noise if people will be in the vicinity much of the time. Otherwise, they’re likely to be distracted.

Take these tips with you if you’re looking for a wine cooling refrigerator, and you’ll avoid the key challenges that many people face. Then you can just concentrate on enjoying the wine that’s inside.

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Wine is enjoyed in households across the world. And with the spread of internet access throughout so many homes, lots are choosing to order in volume.

But how is it being stored while it sits there, waiting to be opened?

A wine’s quality heavily depends on the way it is maintained over time. And the Vinotemp vt 12teds wine refrigerator is the perfect home solution.

As you can probably guess, the fridge is purely for preserving bottles of wine. And it has a total bottle capacity of twelve – which is ample for most households.

Since space can be issue, the Vinotemp vt 12teds is very compact too. In fact, it’s only 1.5 feet tall, 14-inches wide and 19-inches deep. That being the case, it should fit into most homes without an issue – such as in the corner of a garage, or above another refrigerator system.

Temperature plays a critical role with wine, and the vinotemp 12 bottle wine cooler copes with this very well. An in-built thermoelectric temperature control can be adjusted very easily with the push of a few buttons on a clear digital screen.

Naturally, it’s useful to be able to see all wines without opening the door and allowing the cool air to escape. For this reason, each Vinotemp VT 12teds is fitted with a glass door with stainless steel trim. As a result, the door is both sturdy and highly practical. Moreover, the unit is housed with blue interior lighting and slide-out shelves, further simplifying the process of finding the bottle you want.

Importantly, you need a name you can trust when investing in a high quality wine cooling unit. And since 1985 Vinotemp has made over 250,000 wine cellar sales both in the USA and internationally. So when you invest in a refrigerator like the vinotemp 12 bottle thermoelectric wine cooler, you know you’re with a company you can trust.

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In order to develop a taste for wine, keep tasting — and write down as many specifics as you can when you find a wine you like. Red wine or white wine? What grape? What region? And so on, so that over time you can see a profile of the particular qualities that please you.

Without trying to sound geeky or snooty, but it’s not very useful to try to describe the types of wines you like in such general terms as mild, nonsweet, dry, etc. It is often the case that people say they like dry wines, for example, when they really prefer off-dry. And then, they may find a wine too sweet but it may technically be a dry wine. So it is more helpful to isolate certain can’t-miss characteristics that speak to what you know you enjoy.

You can start with red wine or white wine. When starting out, inexperienced wine drinkers will normally prefer either red or white. Next, think about what type of meals you enjoy. The food matchup can sometimes be the deciding factor as to whether or not you like the wine. This need not be a chore, and it’s fine to experiment, but some things just don’t work. If you only like very sweet white wine and eating greasy chinese food, this may be somewhat challenging.

And then there is the question of price? It can be challenging to find wines that are more than just drinkable if you’re only spending $8 a bottle or less. If your interested in more rare wines and flavours, try wines from small wineries but note these are likely to be more costly than the mass-produced varieties.

Often, people simply note down the name and year of any wine that they truly enjoy drinking. Even If you have only one wine that takes your fancy, this could be a starting point for any wine adviser, such as a bottle shop owner, sommelier or reviewer.

And lastly but also importantly, ensure you maintain a sense of adventure. No matter how many wines you taste, or how much you know about wine, there will always be disappointments along the way. Focus on the successes, identify everything about them that you like, and you improve your percentage of winners immensely.

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Traditionally, Champagne has always been a way to celebrate milestones or toast the bride and groom on their marriage. Considered to be a flexible beverage, Champagne can be served with a meal or with dessert. For many years, this drink has been used as a way of celebrating and just enjoying the times that lie ahead.

Champagne comes from the vineyards of France. If you get a bottle which has Champagne imprinted on the label, you will know that it was produced in the vineyards of France. If you don’t get Champagne that was produced in France, you are pretty much just buying the standard sparkling wine. You should also make sure that the bottle is spelled “Champagne”, with a capital C.  French manufacturers are protective of this name, and are the only ones that are allowed to use it.

Champagne is made with three types of grape – Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier, and Chardonnay. Noir and Meunier are types of black grapes, while Chardonnay is a type of white grape. The label on the bottle will signify what type of Champagne you are buying, so you’ll know what flavor to expect. There are also types of this wine that are a blend of different grapes, providing quite an exquisite taste to say the least.

Just like sparkling wine, Champagne is very common with celebrations and such. Although it is actually considered to be a type of sparkling wine, Champagne is nicer. You have to be careful where you buy it, as many manufacturers prefer to use cheaper grapes, which don’t taste the same. If you have ever tasted this wine before – you will know first hand what quality tastes like.

A lot of people like to purchase Champagne because of the bubbles that are known to come out of the bottle once it has been uncorked. The bubbles that spew from this wine are the result of tiny drops of liquid that are disturbed by the carbonic acid gas. Once the liquid is disturbed, the bubbles form and shoot out of the bottle. This is a reaction of the double fermentation process that can only be found with a bottle of Champagne.

The next time you are having a celebration and need something to make it a bit more interesting, try a bottle of Champagne. Few things compliment a celebration like the bursting bubbles of a fine bottle. Even though Champagne is expensive – when you pop the top you’ll be glad you bought it.

The above article is just a brief introduction to Champagne. There are several blogs available online that may be able to provide further information, such as Food and Drink Information. Topics range from how to cook rice to how to read food labels.

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