PRESERVING YOUR WINE
You may often find the perfect meal is not complete, unless the perfect glass of wine accompanies it. The right food and wine pairing can be the source of ultimate bliss for every passionate epicurean. In order to enjoy the splendor of such a combination, one does not need to frequent expensive restaurants or purchase overpriced wines. Rather, if you host elegant dinner parties at home or simply want to spice up a dinner, you can do it with a selection from your personal collection, pulled from a wine storage system in your home.
Whether you are drinking an $18 Merlot or a $45 Pinot, care needs to be taken to ensure your favorite vintage doesn’t spoil or degrade in quality during storage. Keep in mind that temperature is one of the most important factors to consider when preserving your wine. Wine kept at too warm a temperature will age faster than wine kept at a cooler temperature, so it is recommended that all wines should be stored at a consistent temperature between 40ºF–65ºF.
The proper humidity level is also crucial to ensure the best possible storage environment for wine. A relative humidity of about 70% is recommended to prevent the cork from drying out and shrinking. If the cork dries out, it will allow air and foreign odors to get into the bottle and destroy the wine’s flavor.
Additionally, it is also important to keep wine stored away from direct light or heavy vibrations. Direct light can prematurely age wine, while ultraviolet (UV) light can give wine an unpleasant aroma. Excessive movement or vibrations caused by noisy compressors can impede the stable development of the wine, so a wine storage unit that guarantees low vibration is ideal.
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Dacor knows that the art of collecting is a labor of love to a wine connoisseur. This is why the company offers two Epicure® WineSteward™ refrigeration systems—either with dual temperature zones or a single temperature zone—the perfect choices for any aspiring collector.
The dual-zone Epicure WineSteward has two separate temperature zones, ranging from 41ºF–68ºF, which can be set and maintained in the unit. This enables storage of red and white wine or Champagne in one unit, an ideal solution for the collector whose tastes are varied. With four pullout wine racks, the dual-zone Epicure WineSteward has the capacity to hold at least 44 bottles (750 mL).
For wine specialists with less eclectic taste, the single-zone Epicure WineSteward maintains its contents at one temperature, ranging from 37ºF–68ºF, with five pullout racks that hold at least 53 bottles (750 mL).
Each model features an electronic control panel with a digital display that operates the climate control system and allows temperature monitoring without opening the door in order to help maintain a more stable interior environment.
So your crisp Pinot doesn’t begin to taste like a dry Cabernet, an internal fan distributes air evenly throughout the unit, and superior insulation provides greater efficiency with an active carbon air filtration system that removes unwanted odors, keeping the contents pure. You can take advantage of the Wine Labeling System and create custom labels to keep your collection perfectly organized. The interior racks are made of fine acacia wood, known for its properties of beauty, durability and odor resistance.
The UV-protected glass door and interior fluorescent lighting shield your wines from UV rays that can penetrate even the darkest bottles and prematurely age a bottle of wine. With less vibration than competitors’ models, the Epicure WineSteward offers a reduced risk of sediment disturbance, another known cause of premature aging in wine.
Designed for convenient undercounter installation for almost every room in the home, both the dual- and single-zone units are 24" wide and available with doors that open to the left or right.
Everyone knows that wine improves with age, so you need to control all the factors affecting the life and quality of your collection. With the help of the Dacor Epicure WineSteward, you can ensure your wines stay at their peak.
To learn more details about the Dacor Epicure WineSteward, click here.
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THE DETAILS - April 2009:
