Your kitchen design will benefit from modern wine storage ideas that are both stylish and functional. Purchasing, collecting, and tasting wine is a pleasurable experience. In order to keep up with your expanding wine collection, you’ll need a dedicated storage and display area.
You can use modern ideas for wine storage to select the best organizers for storing your bottles in the best possible condition. Wine storage ideas that are both functional and visually appealing enhance your kitchen’s aesthetics while preserving your wine collection’s true flavor.
To prevent the flavor of the wine changing by exposure to oxygen, bottles of wine are sealed with corks. Modern coolers, convenient wine bottle organizers, and modern storage ideas help keep the bottles tilted to keep the cork in direct contact with the wine.
What options do I have for kitchen wine storage?
Modern kitchens are built with the idea of entertainment in mind. This is why eat-in kitchens and kitchen islands with bar areas are popular design components. Another way to enhance most households’ “social central” is to store wine in the kitchen.
It is possible to incorporate wine storage into your kitchen with a variety of options. Consider the following suggestions and examples.
On the counter
In order to keep your wine within arm’s reach, you should place it in a classy wine rack on the counter. Adding a few wine holders to your kitchen counter is a simple way to add style and function.
Wall mounted wine rack
A wall-mounted wine rack is an excellent alternative if you don’t have any art for your kitchen walls. It lets you show off your passion for wine in a unique way. If you live in an apartment, this is a great way to store wine because it takes up very little counter space.
Under cabinet wine rack
Either rearrange a lower cabinet to accommodate a wine rack or purchase custom wine bottle cabinet inserts to store wine bottles at an angle. This will prevent the corks from drying out, resulting in better-tasting wine.
Your wine collection might benefit from the removal of the cabinet door. This will let you see exactly what you have on hand and what you need to buy more.
Use a drawer
It’s also possible to store your small wine collection in a kitchen drawer for easy access. The following are a few options for storing wine in a drawer:
- Consider adding a pull-out drawer to make the most of a small opening.
- Make sure your cabinets are safe by installing a toe kick drawer. This is a great solution for those who want easy access to their wine but do not want it on display.
- Incorporate a pantry-style pull-out drawer into a standard cabinet.
Portable kitchen/bar cart
You can store wine in bar carts and a portable kitchen. When entertaining, place a tabletop wine rack on top of the cart’s cabinet to display a variety of wines to select from. In addition, you can store the cart in a room other than your kitchen. This allows you to free up valuable kitchen space.
Temperature controlled wine cabinet
Wine caves, built-in wine cellars, or wine coolers are all terms for the same thing. These can be made in any size you desire.
You can divide varietals into separate compartments if you prefer to store different varietals at different serving temperatures. Storage at the correct temperature will help extend your wine’s life and make it taste better every time.
An island in your design may be the perfect place to house a wine cooler. You will not have to travel far to get a new bottle. When hosting friends, ensure you’re not missing out on any conversation. You can refill your glasses easily by simply unlocking the door.
Wine Storage Ideas for Kitchen Remodels
As part of your kitchen remodels, consider the following two options for wine storage if you want to include a designated area for the wine.
Kitchen Island
A kitchen island is a great place to store wine, regardless of whether it is new or an update to an existing one. In terms of space, the island can accommodate a large volume of wine or only a small portion, depending on how much you need to store.
No matter how little cabinet space or counter space you have, your favorite bottles of wine will never be far from your reach again.
Wine Refrigerator
If you’re a wine enthusiast, installing an under-counter wine fridge in the kitchen is something you should seriously consider. If you want to ensure that your favorite wines are always served at their ideal serving temperature, consider installing a wine refrigerator with zoned temperature controls and pullout shelves. Depending on your available space, you can acquire any size refrigerator.
Wine Storage Tips
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Keep your wine at a cool temperature
The wine ages and goes bad if the temperature is too warm. If you’ve ever left a bottle of wine in your car during the hot months and wondered why it tasted like pure alcohol or even a bit vinegar-like, you know what heat does to a bottle. Of course, this is an extreme example, but generally, wines served at room temperature lack the opportunity to express their full flavor and often taste duller than those served chilled.
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Avoid storing your wine in the refrigerator for long periods of time
Most believe keeping their wine in the refrigerator will solve the temperature puzzle. However, unless you’re using a wine fridge, this will be as bad as not keeping the wine at the proper temperature. Your wine’s development slows, and the cork dries when stored in a standard kitchen refrigerator. Have you ever left a tomato out in the open in your refrigerator? The tomato shrivels up in a matter of days. This is because, unlike a wine cooler, your kitchen refrigerator cools by removing humidity. Ensure you keep the corks moist to perform their essential function. A musty-smelling, “corked” wine results from a dried-out cork.
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Do not forget to keep your wine in a place that is convenient for you
Though it might benefit the wine, storing it in the upstairs closet, away from potentially harmful elements, is neither convenient nor practical. Wine is a chat starter and a way to bring people together, whether it’s open or closed. Make sure you keep it in a convenient and easy location to get to so it’s always ready for use.
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Avoid placing your wine in the refrigerator’s top area
Keeping the wine’s integrity intact is just as important as making it as convenient as possible. Three reasons why keeping your bottles on top of your refrigerator is one of the worst places in your home. The first thing to remember is all the vibrations your refrigerator creates, such as when the compressor turns on or off, when the ice maker produces ice, when the water dispenser is turned on, etc. Vibrations can affect the taste and aging process of your wine.
Secondly, your refrigerator emits heat, which can be uncomfortable. Heat is expelled as the compressor and other internal components work hard to keep the interior cool. The top of your refrigerator often feels warm. Finally, the top of your refrigerator will likely be close to your light fixtures. Even if this isn’t the case for everyone, storing your wine in a location like this is a bad idea. The heat of incandescent light bulbs can accelerate your wine’s aging process.
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Keep your wine on its side when storing it in the fridge
You won’t have to worry about “corked” wine if you keep your bottles on their sides, with the wine constantly in contact with the cork.
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For long-term storage, do not keep your wine upright.
The same reason it’s best to store wine on its side also makes it a bad idea to do so upright. The wine does not contact the cork when the bottle is upright. When the cork dries out, the wine will become musty and foul-smelling. If you’re storing wine upright for a short period of time, you can get away with it. This is because you’re banking on the fact that the bottles will be sold quickly. Keeping the bottles upright in the refrigerator for over a few weeks is best.
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Always keep your wine at the same temperature every time you open it
Your wine’s chemical and aging processes can be harmed by temperature fluctuations, just as they can be by vibrations. This is why temperature control in refrigerators and wine cellars is so exacting. The ideal temperature is a moderate one that doesn’t fluctuate much.
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Avoid storing wine at room temperature for an extended period of time
It would be best not to store or serve wine at room temperature because it is too warm. Flat and overly alcoholic or vinegar-like in extreme cases, warm wine is dull and dreary.
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Keep your wine in a place where you can easily see it
Having a clear idea of what you have and where you can find it is vital. There is no substitute for a well-organized visual display of your entire collection.
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Do not store your wine in a room with glaring overhead lights or the sun
Lighting makes it easier to select and view your wine collection. It’s critical to pay attention to the type of lighting used. Heat is not a good thing to have in your home. The damage done by the sun’s ultraviolet rays is even greater. Avoid exposing your wine to direct sunlight by keeping it away from windows or other light sources. LEDs are your best bet when it comes to lighting. LED lighting emits only a gentle glow and no heat.
Conclusion
While storing wine in the kitchen can be challenging, finding a location that is beneficial to the wine and convenient for you is possible.
