More people would benefit from a small wine refrigerator than most of them would realize. It is one of those things that many people would find useful but would never buy for themselves. That is why the small wine refrigerator is perfect for most people who do not have large collections of wines and only need something to keep their private small collections for a short to moderate period of time between acquisition and consumption.

A small wine refrigerator offers all the basic conditions necessary to store most varieties of wines. The small collections of a common household usually are stored in suboptimal ways anyways and a small refrigerator brings them that much closer to their perfect wine storage needs.

Ideally wines are kept in the dark, most importantly away from sunlight and fluorescent fixtures. Ultraviolet rays cause the wines to have an unpleasant smell. Small wine refrigerators are lit with incandescent or sodium vapor lamps which are safer for the wines.

Small Wine Refrigerator

A small wine refrigerator also forces the wines to be stored on its side as it should be. This keeps the cork from drying out and allowing air to get into the bottle which will spoil the wine.

Vibration is another factor that could affect the aging of a good wine. It is very possible to convert a typical small refrigerator into a wine refrigerator; however, for long storing periods a real wine refrigerator is necessary because the compressor causes vibrations in a typical refrigerator which wine refrigerators are designed to suppress.

Any wine kept over a year should be refrigerated. The temperature should never be over 75 degrees Fahrenheit or the wine will begin to oxidize. For a mixed variety of wines the ideal temperature is 54 degree Fahrenheit. Also, the temperature should be kept as constant as possible and the change should be gradual. A rise in temperature causes the wine to escape through the cork while a drop in temperature will cause air to be sucked back into the bottle. This could cause premature aging of the wine. A small wine refrigerator will go a long way in maintaining the consistency of the temperature.

Wines should be stored at around 70% humidity. Too low humidity will cause the cork to dry and causes evaporation of the wine. But too much humidity over 70% can encourage the growth of mold and ruin labels. A good small wine refrigerator will also keep the humidity level optimal for wine storage as well.

A wine “breathes” so if improper storage can ruin the wine through the cork. Keep the win refrigerator clean and check the temperature and humidity levels often if the unit is new. Once you are confident that it is working properly and consistently you can rest assured your wines are stored in good conditions.

A small wine refrigerator is perfect for most households. Most people aren’t the enthusiast that would spend thousands on a large wine cabinet. A small wine refrigerator is perfect for keeping the small selection that most people have in their homes in tip top shape so that it can be enjoyed on those special occasions.