Wines are unique beverages in that their taste can vary dramatically from one vintner to the next and from one type of grape to another. This very fact is what makes wine interesting for us to drink, compare and enjoy. However, these same variations also tend to complicate their respective wine storage and aging processes.

Red wine is fermented with the juices and solids (skins and pulp) mixed. On the other hand, grape juice that is separated from the solids is used to make white wine. Red wines are often improved by aging them from five to fifteen years. White wines generally are made to be consumed immediately and aging them beyond three years may actually be detrimental to their enjoyment.

Many wine information sites generalize that the optimal wine storage temperature is 55 degrees F. Some wine sites establish a range of temperatures for red wines at 50 to 64 degrees F., while the white wine range is from 41 to 50 degrees F. Because white wines generally age faster than red wines, storing them at a cooler temperature will slow their respective aging process and allow them to be stored longer than if at higher temperatures. Storing red wine at slightly higher temperatures than white wines will allow them to age within a reasonable period.

What is the best solution to wine storage when enjoyment of both red and wine wines is your desired goal? Investing in a wine refrigerator or wine chiller designed with two different storage zones is the best solution. Commonly called dual zone wine coolers, these appliances have two separate and independently controlled temperature environments: one for red wines and one for whites. This type of wine cellar allows the wine enthusiast to “enjoy the best of both worlds”.

Dual-zone wine coolers come in two basic configurations. The most common configuration is to have the two independent zones on top and bottom of your wine refrigerator. Each of these two compartments will have their own respective temperature controls. Another configuration you can purchase is the side-by-side configuration. This type of wine cooler commonly has what are often termed “French Doors”. Either configuration will enhance the look of your home and solve the problem of storing and aging different types of wine.

Storing and aging your red and wine wines at their best temperature will enhance your enjoyment of them. Being prepared to address all of the different wine choices of your guests will make you an entertainment professional.

See our entire line of dual zone wine coolers at:  http://idealwinecoolers.com/page/dual_zone_wine_coolers.html

Author: Ronald Senn, Vice-president of Ideal Wine Coolers, 11/27/2009

For me Thanksgiving is all about family.  Today I will be dining with an array of brothers, sisters, uncles, aunts, sons, daugthers and grandchildren.  The total count will be near 40 unique individuals.  My son and his family will be the only ones missing.  My daughter-in-law is in North Carolina with two of my grandchildren.  Her husband, my son, is in Iraq for the holidays.   I miss him but I am thankful that him and his partners are serving our country!

We at Ideal Wine Coolers wish you the best on “Turkey Day” and it is our hope you are safe and well.

Author: Ronald Senn, Vice-president Ideal Wine Coolers  11/26,2009

Ideal Wine Cooler’s  Danby Combination Front Vented Dual Zone Beverage Cooler can store 165 beverage cans and 77 wine bottles and features a locking glass door. This beverage center could also convert to a fancy wine cooler that would hold up to 154 bottles of your best vintages. This beverage center can be used in either free standing or built in applications. The dual-zone cooling allows you to set independent temperature levels for each compartment. The double door design provides access to more frequently used items while allowing the remaining collection to age undisturbed. Elegant stainless steel trim and soft blue LED interi0r lighting makes it a stunning show piece. Tempered glass doors and roller glide shelving provide protection against agitation and UV light allowing your collection to age flawlessly. The towel bar style handle, integrated lock with key, and frost free operation makes this beverage center a pleasure to own. The beverage cooler comes with right hand door swing only. This beverage center surely brings in a new era of design with the different potential configurations and uses. Look no further for superior wine storage.

FEATURES:
* Built-in or Free Standing Applications
* Beverage Center configuration for 77 Bottles of Wine, 165 Cans, and 5 2-Liter Bottles
* Wine Cellar configuration max. Capacity of 154 Wine Bottles
* Elegant Tempered Glass Door with Stainless Steel Trim
* Temperature Range 39 to 64 Degrees F.
* Two Separately Controlled Temperature Zones
* Stainless Steel Trimmed Black Wood Shelves
* New Roller Guide Shelves
* New Towel Bar Style Handle
* Frost Free Operation
* All Black Interior
* Right Hand Door Swing Only (not reversible)

CAPACITY:
* 77 Wine Bottles, 2-5 Liter Wine Bottles, 165 Cans or a Total of 154 Wine Bottles

DIMENSIONS:
* Width 23 7/16 Inches x Depth 28 7/16 Inches x Height 69 5/16 Inches

SHIPPING:
* Freight Carrier based on Weight: $230.00

WARRANTY:
* 24 months parts and labor

Check out our selection of free-standing and undercounter wine coolers

The Wine Consumer Issue revolves around three primary axes.  One axis is the ever-increasing demand by the consumer as wine popularity soars.  Another angle to the wine consumer issue is the wholesalers, the traditional intermediaries, seek to protect their state-sanctioned monopolies, in other words, they want their share of the “American Money Pie”.  The last issue axis revolves around the old-fashion laws regarding shipment of wine across state lines.  All of these issue components serve to restrict your ability to buy and ship your favorite wine no matter where you get it.

An ever-increasing favorite beverage of many people is wine and demand for wine is increasing rapidly.  With over one-thousand different wine varieties, the choices seem nearly infinite.  Wine tasting parties are very popular and great events to get to know other people.  In the past thirty years, the number of wineries increased by several hundred percent.  There is now at least one winery in every state, but distributors in all fifty states represent less than twenty percent of these wineries.  The issue is consumers do not have the freedom everywhere to obtain wine from their favorite vintners.

The traditional American business model starts with a producer that leads to a wholesaler that leads to the consumer.  The wholesalers in this equation are naturally fighting your ability to purchase and ship directly from the producer of your choice, strictly a matter of money.  In last 30 years as wine popularity and demand has increased the number of wine wholesalers has drastically diminished.  The wines currently marketed are generally limited to two or three distributors in each state with a great deal of interest in keeping direct wine shipping laws in place.

Did you know that only thirty-five states now allow the retail shipment of wine to adult consumers across their respective borders?  In those states, the shipping restrictions range from limited to very restrictive.  Fifteen states continue their ban on any form of cross border shipping of wine.  Some of these states even classify that act as a felony.  Imagine; obtaining the wine you want from where you want could have you facing criminal charges.

This wine consumer dilemma became apparent to me after visiting the website of a great organization: Free The Grapes.  This organization was established in 1998 to address directly the wine consumer issue that is summarized above from their website.  By visiting their website, you can get more specific information regarding the wine consumer controls associated within the state you live.  Their web site can be found at http://www.freethegrapes.org/index.html.

Maybe it is time we wine lovers got involved with this issue so our enjoyment of wine can continue unabated.  Of course, that is my opinion; you should develop an opinion of your own with regard to this issue.

More information websites dedicated to wine and wine issues can be found in the “Links” Section at http://idealwinecoolers.com/page/favorite_links.html.

Author: Ronald Senn, VP Ideal Wine Coolers, November 2009