ChangeMe
Grape Sorter
Posts:218
 | | 09/05/2005 12:04 AM |
| I'm from California, so when I think of proper wine storage, I'm thinking about keeping wine cool enough (among other things).
My question is, if I'm setting up a cellar in a location that get's really cold, do I need to worry about the wine getting too cold? I thinking of a passive cellar in a place like Michigan, or in a mountain resort in Colorado or something.
Would a passive wine cellar in a location like that get too cold? Would a normal stand-up wine cellar with a cooling unit keep the wine in good condition through a freezing winter? How cold is too cold for red wine storage?
Thanks | | | |
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love_cab_chard
Master of Wine
Posts:12248
| | 09/05/2005 2:43 AM |
| | Realistically, you could go as cold as high 40s, let's say 48 or so. Thing is that your wine will age very, very slowly. But, I would not go below 48. Though, I’ve heard restaurants that store wine @ 45 or so. I don’t know, that sounds a bit too cold for my preference. | | | |
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skwid
Wine Connoisseur
Posts:5452
| | 09/05/2005 5:19 AM |
| | You can go into the low 40's. That was the temperature in the Glamis Castle cellar which had cases of 1870's and 1864/5 first growth Bordeaux which were unearthed in the 1970's and still drinking well. I wouldn't want to go below that though. At temperatures that low your wines would age more slowly than pretty much anyone else (only Anthony's cellar would be close among Vinocellar folks that I know of). | | | |
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ChangeMe
Grape Sorter
Posts:218
| | 09/05/2005 9:02 AM |
| Thanks for the info.
I'm thinking of moving a small part of my cellar to a vacation spot that can get really cold. It's easy enough to plug in a stand-up wine cellar to keep the wine cool while I'm away, but I haven't found any that will also heat things up if it gets too cold.
Seems like a waste to keep the heater on all winter to warm up the whole house while I'm away. | | | |
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wineismylife
Arlington, TX
Master of Wine
Posts:11872
| | 09/05/2005 2:10 PM |
| | Depending on how cold a vacation spot we're talking about here I doubt you'd have a problem. The cooling unit itself will help product the wine inside from dropping in temperature as quickly as the outside air. In addition, this is in a basement. The temperature there will be better regulated and proabably slightly warmer than the outside. | |
Joe
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Wine is like potato chips around me...if it's open, it's gone. | |
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Sacred Cow
Wine Thief
Posts:2764
| | 09/05/2005 3:27 PM |
| Quote:
Thanks for the info.
I'm thinking of moving a small part of my cellar to a vacation spot that can get really cold. It's easy enough to plug in a stand-up wine cellar to keep the wine cool while I'm away, but I haven't found any that will also heat things up if it gets too cold.
Seems like a waste to keep the heater on all winter to warm up the whole house while I'm away.
Rudy:
I doubt you would really ahve a problem with the wine. For practical reasons, even while you are away you will have to keep the home heated somewhat. Most people with second homes keep them set at 50-55 while away. Reason: Frozen pipes. If you don't want them to freeze and burst, you need to keep some minimal heat in the house. Most home thermostats have the lowest heat setting in the 50-55 range, thus establishing your minimum. And keeping the wines at a proper temperature is a side benefit.
Mike | | | |
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kpak
Alaska
Wine Thief
Posts:2836
| | 09/05/2005 8:40 PM |
| | unless the power goes out. | |
The difference between genius and stupidity is that genius has it's limits...
ps - friends don't let friends eat farmed salmon. | |
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Winetex
Austin, Texas
Master of Wine
Posts:10373
| | 09/05/2005 9:11 PM |
| | I might be concerned about the humidity getting too low if it gets too cold. | | | |
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Sacred Cow
Wine Thief
Posts:2764
| | 09/05/2005 10:59 PM |
| Well, if the power goes out, the lack of heat would be a factor for a cooling unit too. But I have to modify my prior post, the cooling unit would be a great idea if the wine will be in a dry climate like Colorado. Even if the temp is OK here, the lack of humidity would be a huge issue. You will need to add humidity to the air somehow if you are going to store the wines for a long period of time. If only for 6-12 months, it would not be much of a factor.
Mike | | | |
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mountainman
Mammoth Mountain
Wine Bottler
Posts:3074
| | 09/06/2005 5:09 AM |
| | My cellar is passive but it is underground. It stays pretty consistent year round, even in the "dead of winter" here. Properly built, the wine in a subterranean cellar should stay the same temperature as the cold water that comes out of the faucet in the house. | | | |
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ChangeMe
Master of Wine
Posts:12891
| | 09/07/2005 12:41 AM |
| | my cellar is about 50-52 degrees through the summer and in the winter it goes to about 48-50 degrees. i have yet to notice any problems with humidity at these temps. my humidity stays between 65%-68% year round. that might just be the area i live in though. imo you could probably go down to 42-44 degrees without any problems. | | | |
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Budman
Master of Wine
Posts:11814
| | 09/08/2005 11:42 PM |
| How many bodies do you have buried there???  | | | |
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ChangeMe
Master of Wine
Posts:12891
| | 09/09/2005 12:51 AM |
| Quote:
How many bodies do you have buried there???
just make sure to tell the authorities if you don't hear from me. also tell them where to look  | | | |
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ChangeMe
Grape Sorter
Posts:218
| | 09/10/2005 6:06 PM |
| | I'd like to go underground if at all possible. That sounds like the best option. I'm sure it's not an easy task to get it done right though. | | | |
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