Proper storage for tasty wine treasures

 I have been dealing with the problem for some time. On travels to remote corners of the earth, my husband and I picked up wine treasures that needed some time to reach their full potential. Urban living being what it is, these precious bottles were tucked wherever there was space. Not, of course, over the stove or the fridge, which I see people do regularly and which makes me cringe,  but a few bottles in the bottom of a coat closet, another couple sharing space with linens, a case in a musty basement...

As our collection grew, so did our fear that when it came time to open that luscious 2000 port, or that second-growth 2000 Bordeaux, the rewards for lugging it around all those years would be less than stellar. We shopped long and hard, and found ourselves a Danby Silhouette wine fridge, holding somewhere in the neighborhood of 72 bottles. With wood shelves and black sides, it makes an impressive (or embarrassing, depending on your point of view) statement in a corner of the dining room. It stands about five feet tall, makes little noise, something that was a concern for us, and can be covered over if modesty demands.

A wine cellar craze has been sweeping the country – for an article about luxury homes, I even saw a custom-built wine cellars in a home where the people didn’t drink. But experts say that, if you’re looking to store less than 400 bottles, a wine fridge is the way to go. These chillers, with clear glass doors and digital temperature controls, have replaced decorative wooden wine racks in most upscale kitchen renovations, and you can even find them at Home Depot and occasionally Marshall’s these days.

Looking for something bigger? Check back next week for some advice from experts.