Wine Fridges Plus

Who says that a wine enthusiast has to break his/her budget? You can enjoy the…

A wine refrigerator is more than just a fancy version of a fridge, it is…

Whether you’re a seasoned wine enthusiast or just barely started getting into it, it’s important…

If you’re a wine enthusiast and love collecting vintages, you need a good place to…

Who says that a wine enthusiast has to break his/her budget? You can enjoy the best that the market has to offer, provided you know where to look. There are several online tools that promise to help you acquire the requisite knowledge, not the least of which are the numerous wine insider websites out there. They are your one stop shop to learn all the insights you need to learn about wine.

The ideal wine insider website would familiarize you with several concepts, including the right terminology, tools, and even the manufacturing phase through to its delivery. So to help you find the best resources on your fingertips, we have collected the following wine insider websites that have a repository of up-to-date information.

Wine Folly

This website first launched in 2011. It was founded by three young entrepreneurs, Madeline Puckette, Chad Wasser, and Justin Hammack who had wanted to offer something of value to the local wine enthusiast community. Wine Folly contains a free newsletter that allows novice enthusiasts to learn basic terms related to wine.

Signing up for the newsletter also means staying on top of special offers that wine dealers may have. These could include discount coupons and tips about retailer discounts in your area.

Wine Insiders

We found Wine Insiders to be the best resource when it comes to researching about excellent wine bottles that can be delivered right to your door. Aside from being a great repository for cutting edge information related to your favorite wines, Wine Insider has exciting deals that you won’t easily find elsewhere, with substantial discounts and access to rare bottles that every wine enthusiast will appreciate.

Wine Insiders has strategically partnered up with several popular manufacturers, including Vicente Gandia, Abbazia, Castellani, Georges Vigouroux, and Bernard Magrez to make their discounted deals possible. So if you’re starting out on your wine journey, the ideal place to search for relevant information would Wine Insiders.

VinePair

VinePair was founded by two people who are innately passionate about wine, Joshua Malin and Adam Teeter. VinePair covers all the latest trends about wine, including the glass types, corkscrews, decanters, ice buckets. This website is ideal for users who are travelling to different countries and want to taste the best that the local cuisine has to offer.

Additionally, VinePair has its own shop that offers amazing choices of wine at great discounts. VinePair is mostly popular for their “Best of Lists,” which are very long articles that their authors spend countless hours researching on so you don’t have to.

Wine Spectator

Powered by a robust forum with thousands of members and a helpful app called WineRatings+ with over 365,000+ ratings, Wine Spectator has grown to become the comprehensive go-to website for all things relate to wine. It offers unique insights about different restaurants, locations and retailers. By signing up to their newsletter, you will be able to stay on top of the latest news, guides and accurate predictions relate to wine.

If you’re a wine enthusiast and love collecting vintages, you need a good place to keep them. Wines are delicate and can spoil easily if there’s excess humidity, heat, and disturbance. A wine cooler maintains a good environment to ensure all the vintages stored inside remain in good condition for a long time.

There are many different kinds of wine coolers available in the market, so it is important to determine which option suits you best. This article will act as a guideline to help you buy the best wine cooler for your requirements.

Size

This is one of the most important factors to consider while buying a wine cooler. You need enough space to store your entire wine collection safely.

Here are some factors to keep in mind while determining the size of the coolers:

• Present and Future Collection – Count all of the bottles you have on hand. That gives you an idea of how much space you need to store your wines at the minimum. Once you have determined that, think of how many vintages are on your wish list and how much you wish to expand your storage. That helps you determine how big the wine cooler should be.

• How Much Space Do You Have? – This is also an important consideration because buying a big cooler will be of no use if you don’t have enough space to store it in your home. Before you even start looking for one, consider your home carefully and find an ideal place to fit the cooler in.

• Budget – Larger and more complex wine coolers are more expensive. Look at the cooler prices and consider how much you’re willing to spend on this appliance. If you’re on a budget, invest in a smaller cooler. You can always add another small cooler down the line if needed.

Choosing the right ensures you don’t run into problems at a later date. If you already have a large collection of wine bottles, it’s a good idea to get a big wine cooler at the beginning.

If you’re just starting out, choose a small one. It is possible to sell it later and buy a bigger cooler once your collection grows bigger.

Type of Cooler

Coolers don’t just vary in size, but also in construction and technology. Looking at the different options and features available will help make your decision easier. Consider the options mentioned below to make the best decisions:

• Single Temperature – Single temperature cooling system is the least complicated wine storage option. It is ideal for people who collect a single type of wine. Enthusiasts prefer to drink white wine slightly chilled and red wine at regular room temperature. The storage solution should reflect that. If you collect mostly white wines or mostly red wines, this system will work for you.

• Dual Zone Cooler – This system is more flexible and ideal for people who collect all kinds of wine. There are two zones within this cooler and each can have a different temperature setting. Having a dual zone cooler means you can store white, red, rose, and other wines at your desired temperatures without spoiling them.

• Thermoelectric or Traditional? – A thermoelectric cooler is ideal if you need a small storage option, care about energy consumption, dislike loud appliances, and have a consistent home temperature. If these options don’t apply to you, consider getting a traditional refrigerator. That appliance can be larger, is effective, and will work well even if your home temperature fluctuates.

Make sure you understand the applications and specifications of every type of wine cooler before making a purchase.

For example, many people don’t understand how thermoelectric coolers work and expect it to perform well in fluctuating home temperatures.

Humidity and UV Rays Protection

There’s a reason why wine was traditionally stored in cool and dark wine cellars. It needs a delicate balance of humidity, temperature, and low exposure to sunlight. Here are some factors to keep in mind:

• If the wine is exposed to harsh UV rays, it will oxidize and run sour.

• If the storage doesn’t have adequate humidity, your wine won’t age well and the cork on the bottles will dry out easily.

• Wine will spoil if it isn’t kept at ideal temperatures. In most cases, this is around 55°F though you can keep it at 45°F to 65°F.

Many wine coolers some with special features to maintain the right balance. These coolers are a little more expensive, but they’re a good choice for collections with a large and diverse range of wines. If you intend to age wines and then later sell them, it is a good idea to invest in a more sophisticated storage system.

This wine cooler looks just like a dog!

You should also consider the appearance of a wine cooler before purchase, especially if you’re investing in a big one. Many homeowners don’t want coolers to disrupt the design and appearance of their interiors.

A well-designed and attractive wine cooler will add to the beauty of your home but a plain and functional one will stand out like a sore thumb. It might be a good idea to consider built-in coolers that blend in seamlessly into a home’s décor and architecture.