Home wine refrigerator
The appearance of the home wine refrigerator is distinguished by impeccable style and nobility. The doors are made of glass, which prevents ultraviolet rays from penetrating into the storage chamber. This is important because ultraviolet light can discolor and spoil wine. For illumination, special lamps are used that do not spoil the noble drink, do not increase the temperature in the chamber and allow you to see the bottles without opening the door.
The exterior finish can be different: wood, steel or leather - it all depends on individual preferences. The shelves can be made of wood, which will even better dampen vibrations coming from the compressor. Sometimes you can see slanted shelves that allow you to see the labels on the bottles.
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Wine refrigerator specifications
If you want to purchase a home-made wine storage option, you should inquire in advance about the temperature conditions that wine requires to preserve its benefits and taste. In addition, you need to pay attention to the following technical characteristics of refrigeration equipment:
- ventilation system power;
- noise during work processes;
- Ease of Management;
- type of cooling.
Functions of the device, what conditions it provides
The main task of refrigeration equipment is to maintain a certain temperature. Its range is quite wide - from 5 °C to 20 °C, although the recommended temperature is 10-14 °C. A certain type of wine requires certain conditions, which is important to consider when choosing a specific model.
The ability of the device to protect an alcoholic drink from oxidation processes is also important. The bottles are positioned horizontally; advanced models have a built-in system for adjusting the level of air humidity. This function is important because it protects the cork from drying out.
An odor removal function is also required. During long-term storage, any foreign odor can disturb the original aroma of the drink, so special filters are used.
Types of home refrigerators for wine by temperature
Depending on the temperature regime, there are four types of devices, each of which has its own functional purpose. The first type includes models that provide a certain temperature and maintain it constantly. Another type involves the presence of two insulated chambers, where one is used to store wines, the other to cool the drink before serving. The third type involves the presence of three chambers, each of which has its own temperature regime.
The fourth is represented by devices in which there are many refrigeration chambers with the ability to maintain a given temperature in each.Almost any drink can be stored inside such a cabinet and the temperature is maintained over a wide range: 7-21 °C.
How does a small home refrigerator differ from similar equipment?
Differences from industrial units
Industrial refrigerators have impressive dimensions and, unlike home devices, are designed for storing large volumes of wine of different varieties. Therefore, such equipment must provide a variety of conditions for specific brands, and, therefore, have a more complex technical organization.
Home wine refrigerator and wine cabinet - what's the difference?
A wine refrigerator, as a rule, maintains only a certain temperature, but is not able to provide the other conditions necessary for storing the drink. Such devices are very reminiscent of an ordinary household appliance, somewhat modified stylistically. In general, there is confusion between the concepts of a wine refrigerator and a wine cabinet, hence the lack of understanding of their technical features. Therefore, in order to avoid mistakes when purchasing a certain model, it is worth carefully finding out all the technical capabilities of the device.
Requirements for a quality wine refrigerator
What size devices are ideal for storing wine at home?
In an apartment or private house (provided there is no significant free space), it makes sense to install small cabinets. Many models can be easily integrated into a kitchen set or placed separately in the living room. For the first option, cabinets with a capacity of less than 32 bottles are suitable, for the second option – 130–160 bottles.
What criteria should you use to select a home wine refrigerator model?
Wine storage must meet the following criteria:
- ensure the immobility and horizontal position of the bottles;
- protect from ultraviolet radiation;
- maintain a constant temperature depending on the variety;
- maintain air humidity level (50–80%);
- ensure good air circulation in the chamber.