There’s a science to selecting the right wine cellar cooling unit, even if you’re refrigerating a smaller space that doesn’t require much cooling. Part of maintaining a healthy home is to design energy efficient living areas, and if your wine cellar cooler is too big or too small then it’s probably inefficient or in-optimal for the task of keeping your wine stored at the perfect temperature. Also small storage spaces can have annoying cooling units that are too loud, or too inaccessible, or they vent in such a way as to make standing in the cellar uncomfortable.
Select the Best Small Wine Cellar Cooler Unit for your Space
Small cellar managers don’t need to worry so much about calculating the heat load of their wine storage space, or charting the changes over the course of a hot summer days and cold winter nights. With a small space the load is pretty constant and manageable. That being said however, cellar owners should decide on the best type of unit for the intended application. They should know the various styles, sizes, capacities and venting options of all suitable solutions, and then decide on the proper make and model. Wine cellar cooling units come in four different styles, and each type employs a different refrigeration methodology or ducting pattern:
Self-contained (the evaporator and condensing unit share the same housing)
Fully ducted self-contained (the unit is fully ducted – instead of being mounted in the cellar, it is installed elsewhere and the air is “conducted” in and out of the cellar)
Split system (the evaporator is in the cellar, and the condensing unit is outside or in an attic or adjacent utility room; a line set connects the two halves of the system)
Fully ducted split system (the evaporator unit and condensing unit are both separate and ducted – instead of being mounted in the cellar, they are both installed elsewhere, and the air is “conducted” in and out of the cellar)
The cooling fans inside self-contained units and non-ducted split systems will generate noise. If you prefer a quiet cellar environment, you should select a fully ducted system. And fully ducted cooling units allow more versatile installation options as well, but they can be more complicated to access for routine maintenance.
Cellar Pro 1800 Series Wine Cooling Unit
CellarPro 1800 small wine cellar cooling unit
The CellarPro 1800 wine cooling unit series was designed for cabinets and small spaces. This popular model is 18″w x 16.5″d x 10.5″h and is a good fit for both residential and small commercial cellars or dining establishments where there’s a lot of foot traffic at mealtimes. This unit offers a choice of top or rear hot exhaust. If the unit’s location does not provide sufficient room for airflow, you may need to purchase a rear duct kit. These cooling units can be installed above the wine cellar when used with our front intake hood. They can also be installed completely inside the wine cellar when used with our rear duct kit, which allows supply and return air flows from the rear of the cooling unit to be ducted up to 100 equivalent feet (50 feet per duct). Energy-saver mode, quick-chill mode, and auto-defrost cycle provide convenient solutions to common cellar needs.
CellarPro cooling units are designed to operate in environments ranging from 40 to 95 degrees. For installations in environments down to 20°F, we recommend adding our compressor heater modification to the cooling unit. Below 20°F, the cooling unit’s performance will begin to degrade.
This unit has cooling capacity for cellars that are 200-400 Cu. Ft.
CellarPro 1880H Houdini was introduced in 2018
The new CellarPro 1800H (the Houdini) is shorter, narrower and longer than the other 1800 series cooling units. It was introduced in 2018 and marketed by the company as “the first cooling unit specifically designed for glass-enclosed wine cellars“. This factoid is on their website. It is designed for wine cabinets or cellars of up to 200 cubic feet.
The highly versatile Houdini can be installed inside the cellar, above the cellar, in the ceiling or in the next room. It may also be partially or fully ducted. Ambient temperature range is 40F to 95F. By adding low ambient accessories, the unit will then tolerate cold as low as -20F. The removable power cord can be plugged in from the rear or the side of the cooling unit. The unit includes a three amp receptacle for power (eg to a light) inside the cellar, and it includes a fresh-air filter for easy maintenance and upkeep.
Breezaire Compact Series
Breezaire’s most popular wine cellar cooling systems are completely self-contained modules that are simply mounted in a wall.
Breezaire WKCE Compact Series Cooler Units are smaller-sized cellar cooling units that blow the cold air out the bottom. The air flow direction makes them ideal to be installed in cabinets or narrow width spaces. Compact units can be configured with hot air blowing out the top of the unit as opposed to at the back which is standard. The fresh air intake is still needed at back of unit so plenty of room is needed for air circulation or perhaps a wall-cut to access adjacent space.
Breezaire is sometimes selected by cellar owners because of its attractive metal cabinet that blends in with the decor of their cellar area and can be flush mounted to any wall. Another popular selling feature is their easy installation. Breezaire’s most popular wine cellar cooling systems are completely self-contained modules that are simply mounted in a wall and connected to a standard 115AC source (230V/50Hz also available as special order). No plumbing, no complicated wiring or special procedures are required for on-site installation (you may want to prepare for a drain line). (Split system requires professional installation by a licensed refrigeration technician). Units are shipped from the factory fully charged and ready for use when mounted in a wall and connected to 115 AC volt source.
Two Breezaire Compact Series models available for capacities of up to 265 cubic feet.
Koolspace KoolR 600
Are you looking for a real quiet wine cellar cooling unit? This make and model is the standard for which others measure the noise of their products. The KoolR Plus (Magnum) Wine Cooling Unit (KoolR 600) leads the industry in efficiency, power and quality. Koolspace, koolR™ may be a good choice for a small spaces.
KoolR Plus (Magnum) Wine Cooling Unit (KoolR 600)
Ideally, koolR / KoolRPlus Magnum units should be installed above the cellar door as they need air circulation around and below the unit. The cooling unit’s rear end conveniently monitors the temperature inside your wine cellar with a digital display. The koolR & KoolRPlus (Magnum) wine cellar cooling units come with an off-white colored front grill which can be painted any colour to allow the back end of the device to blend-in with existing decor.
The units come standard with a High-Temperature Alarm. The system’s electronic controls come with advanced EMI / RFI filters. EMI Filters, or electromagnetic interference filters, also called RFI Filters or radio-frequency interference filters, are an electrical device / circuit that mitigate the high frequency electromagnetic noise present on the power lines.
WhisperKOOL Mini Split Wine Cooling Unit
WhisperKOOL Platinum Mini Split is a compact wall mounted wine cellar cooling unit that cools wine cellars up to 500 cubic feet.
The Platinum Mini Split is small and compact, yet powerful and quiet. This efficient wine cooling unit can cool rooms of up to 500 cubic feet. It’s a good choice for a converted closet, pantry, and or economical wine cellar. As with all of the Platinum Models, the Platinum Mini Split comes with our most advanced controller and gives the user complete control over their cellar environment. If you don’t mind seeing the grill of your cooling unit in your cellar, a wall-mounted split system is what you need. If you prefer your unit to be out of sight, you should get a fully ducted split system.
The Platinum Series of split systems allow you to decide where the evaporator unit and the condensing unit will be located. The condensing unit can be located up to 100 feet away from the evaporator unit. The evaporator unit will be mounted in the cellar, or it can also be located nearby with air ducting.
Please note it’s strongly recommended that buyers also purchase the exterior housing with the WSSMINI regardless of positioning. Without the housing, the inner fan is exposed. There is no additional delivery cost if the housing is ordered with the cooling unit, while there will be a delivery fee if the housing is ordered separately afterwards.
A Ceiling-Mount Mini Split is also available where the evaporator may be fully or partially recessed into the ceiling for a very discreet appearance.
Maintaining Your Wine Cellar’s Chill
After a wine cellar has been built, regardless of its size, volume and material specifications, the time will still come when regular inspections are needed to keep an eye on its integrity and make sure you’re not inadvertently cooling down your entire house or restaurant. Even giving the unit a good vacuum occasionally will help to clear any build-up.
During wine cellar inspections, the use of thermal imagery can determine whether the conditions of the cellar plus the wine cooling unit still provide the ideal environment for wine storage.
The most champagne and sparkling wine that is served in North America is served during the holidays, especially on New Year’s Eve. Are these wines different from others, as far as storage needs? With one minor exception, storage for champagne is actually the same as for other wines. A wine cellar with a wine cooling unit by a major manufacturer such as Breezaire, Cellar Pro, CellarCOOL, or Koolspace provides the right temperature range of about 55°F. Humidity levels also need to be controlled to about 70%, for optimal storage.
What is Different about Champagne?
For wine to be referred to as “champagne,” the grapes used must have been grown in the Champagne region of France. The area has defined boundaries and various growing areas. Strict procedures must be conformed to in order for a wine to legally be packaged and presented as champagne. These matters are coded into international treaties and trade agreements. Those specifications include:
· Types of grapes used
· Growing conditions
· Blending
· Storage
Champagne is typically made from a three-grape blend of Pinot Meunier, Pinot Noir, and Chardonnay. This makes champagne a cuvée, which is a type, blend, or batch of wine. Blanc de noir and chardonnay champagnes are made from Pinot Meunier, Pinot Noir, or a mix of the two.
The bubbly aspect of champagne is a matter of science. Once a Champagne cork has been popped, yeasts ferment sugars, forming carbon dioxide gas.
Ideal Long-Term Champagne Storage
Like other wine in long-term storage, champagne should be stored on its side. This ensures that the cork stays damp. If the position of the bottle keeps the cork dry on the inside, the cork can dry out to the point of shrinking. This leads to more air getting inside, causing oxidation, which spoils the flavor.
There should be no UV rays that can get to champagne. Because bubblies such as champagne are highly light-sensitive, they are usually stored in dark bottles that provide extra UV protection. The type of lighting used in a wine cellar is an important issue, since some types of bulbs emit UV rays that can spoil wine the same as direct sunlight does.
Short-Term Champagne Storage
Bottles of champagne and sparkling wines that will be stored for up to a month but no more are best left standing up, according to some wine experts. The bottles must, however, be protected from artificial or bright light.
A Toast to Auld Lang Syne!
You can count on enjoying your champagne that has been stored properly in a custom wine cellar kept cool by a Breezaire, Cellar Pro, CellarCOOL, or Koolspace cooling unit. Rosehill Wine Cellars if you’d like to create the perfect custom wine storage in your home for future New Year’s toasts.
Store wine in a custom wine cellar by Rosehill Wine Cellars
What would it be like to live like Royalty in 2018? When it comes to drinking wine, we can do as the British Royals do, since some of their choices have been publicized through the years. It’s always good to adopt new habits at the dawn of a fresh beginning. Why not make a habit of drinking like royals in the New Year? As all oenophiles know, life is better with wine. And the wine itself is better when it has been stored in the perfect environment provided by a custom wine cellar with a wine cooling unit by Breezaire, Wine Guardian, Cellar Pro, or another top wine refrigeration manufacturer.
The Queen’s Wine Habits
Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom reportedly has daily habits which include drinking wine several times of the day. She famously enjoys Dubonnet, a fortified wine, with gin just before lunch daily. She garnishes the cocktail with a lemon slice. Dubonnet is a sweet fortified wine produced in France. The alcohol content is 15%. The Queen is onto something because serving Dubonnet with gin is the oft-preferred method. Her Majesty also reportedly drinks wine with lunch and one or two glasses of champagne each evening; the vintages haven’t been named, which may mean that she drinks a variety of wine and bubbly at dinnertime.
Drinking like the Queen of England won’t fit every lifestyle, considering that by UK government standards, she qualifies as a binge drinker. Being sober is a requirement for anyone with a job they’d like to keep.
The recipe for gin and Dubonnet is 1 part gin and 2 parts Dubonnet with the optional lemon or orange garnish. Stir and pour over a generous portion of ice in your cocktail glass.
How a Future Princess Celebrates Her Wedding
The night before Kate Middleton became the Duchess of Cambridge, she enjoyed a meal at the Goring Hotel in the Belgravia district of London. The wine she chose to drink with her salmon and steak Chateaubriand was Casa Lapostolle Sauvignon Blanc 2009, which was available at that time for about $50 per bottle. Quite unpretentious for a future royal.
Drink like the Royals!
Probably the best way to drink like the royals is to keep a supply of your favorite wines and champagnes in your custom wine cellar. With the temperature and humidity kept within the perfect range for wine storage by a top wine cooling unit from a manufacturer such as Breezaire, Wine Guardian, or Cellar Pro, every bottle of wine should be jolly good.
Pull your favorite wine from a custom wine cellar by Rosehill Wine Cellars.
It’s thirsty Thursday…only one more day until the weekend..you can almost taste the freedom. You find your mouth begin to water as soon as you notice it’s almost 5 o’clock. Happy hour calls your name! As soon as you walk in the bar, drink specials offend you, with names like Scorpion Pee and Smoker’s Cough. You reluctantly gaze into the wine cooler and see it overstocked with cheap white zinfandel and pink moscato. The bar is already filling up, so you order a half bottle of the house cab and hope to catch some hint of a buzz before you begin to take on the scent of the hipster one stool over. You spend the next hour guzzling a watery red wine while wishing you could take off your shoes and wondering how long it’s going to take the bartender to run your credit card. At the end of the night, you get home with aching feet, 3 sketchy new Facebook friends, and a promise to yourself that you will not do it again.
Happy hour was created to improve the quality of your busy work week! But, these days, happy hour does not mean you have to go into the bar nearest work with the intentions of “waiting out the traffic.” Happy hour is about quenching that insatiable thirst in your most comfortable environment. It’s about opening your favorite bottle of wine, in your favorite room, with your favorite people. Where are you pulling that bottle of wine from? Hopefully from a custom wine cellar or wine cabinet with a reliable wine cooling unit from a top manufacturer like Breezaire, but I digress.
We live in the era of comfort and convenience..where groceries and even fast food are delivered right to your house. You can stream the hottest movies right to your television. Why not customize your happy hour? Say no to wearing uncomfortable clothes while sitting at a bar full of strangers and drinking sub-par beverages. Go home. Get comfortable. Pull out your favorite bottle of red and let it breath…as you breathe in the happiest hour of your day.
Properly serving wine is important to any wine connoisseur. No educational degrees are required to earn this title, but a certain level of wine knowledge is necessary. An essential area of expertise that a wine connoisseur should possess is using the best glass for the type of wine being served. You can be confident that whatever wine bottle you pull from your custom wine cellar or wine cabinet, it has been properly stored if it is equipped with a reliable wine cooling unit that provides the right humidity levels, as well. Among the top manufacturers of wine cooling units are Wine Guardian, Koolspace, Breezaire, WhisperKOOL, and CellarCOOL.
Stemware
Beautiful wine glasses are about more than aesthetics and variety. Certain types of wine can be better enjoyed when served in one type of glass as opposed to another. What stemware is made with is equally important.
In previous times, high quality stemware was made with lead glass because of a higher refraction index and because it’s heavier than everyday glassware. Because of concerns about ingesting lead, lead-free crystal is now the preferred type of wine glass.
In theory, all that’s needed for serving wine within acceptable margins of correctness is to stock your home with one set of wine glasses for red wine, one set for white wine, and a set of Champagne flutes for sparkling wines.
Serving Red Wine
The type of glass you serve wine in does make a difference in the flavor. It should be noted that most wine glasses are designed to be used with a half glass of wine, so that there is room in which to collect aromas.
Red wines are served in wine glasses with larger bowls, for the following reasons:
The burn of ethanol is further from the nose.
The larger bowl makes it possible to discern more aroma compounds.
Ethanol evaporates more effectively on a larger surface area.
The wider opening results in a smoother taste of the wine.
Red wines contain tannins, which is a bitter or spicy taste that needs to be mitigated. The higher tannin wines are better enjoyed in a taller glass, half filled.
To Be Continued
Be sure to check back for tips on glasses for white wine and sparkling wine as well as proper serving temperatures. If you are an aspiring wine connoisseur and need proper wine storage for your home, contact us at Rosehill Wine Cellars. We specialize in building custom wine cellars, and we recommend using wine cooling units by some of the top manufacturers, such as Wine Guardian, Koolspace, Breezaire, WhisperKOOL, and CellarCOOL.
Welcome to Rosehill Wine Cellar’s blog where we share our creativity and offer insights into the best practices for storing fine wines. Our blog details how recent scientific advancements meet old world traditions in the wine cellars we design and build. We display our installations and reveal our inspirations as we extol innovation across the entire industry. Our original photos and authentic stories celebrate good wine cellar designs and wherever possible we showcase the work of our experts and their efforts to further the art and science of proper wine storage.
