The Wine Specatator’s August 31, 2011 issue has a great article about how to buy wine at auction, including nine strategies to help newbies participate with success. 

Here’s a (self serving!) excerpt from the article:

“Auction houses offer catalogs of their upcoming sales.  Read the catalog’s condition reports carefully.  Wines kept in professional or home temperature-and-humidity-controlled storage are preferable to collections housed in natural or ‘passive’ cellars, because the latter are often subject to temperature fluctuations, whihc can affect wines adversely.”

Only Le Cache wine cabinets feature CellarPro cooling units with adjustable humidity control.  For more information, visit www.lecachewinecabinets.com and www.cellarprocoolingsystems.com.  At www.sonomawineaccessories.com, we carry the complete lines of products from Le Cache and CellarPro, as well as other high-end products from well-known manufacturers of wine cellar racks, wine storage products and wine accessories.

We recently created product demos for Le Cache Contemporary and European Country wine cabinets, and CellarPro 1800 and VS Series wine cooling units.  The Le Cache demos are narrated and animated to highlight product features, galleries, comparisons, options/upgrades and specifications.  The CellarPro demos also include narrated installation instructions for wine cellar installations.

To view these demos, start at the product page for the item you wish to view, and click on the “View Demo” button, or click on a link below:

• Le Cache Wine Cabinets
  • Contemporary Wine Cabinets Demo
  • European Country Wine Cabinets Demo
• CellarPro Cooling Systems
  • 1800 Series Wine Cooling Units Demo
  • VS Series Wine Cellar Refrigeration Systems Demo
  • Wine Cellar Split Refrigeration Systems Demo – coming soon

Let us know what you think!

We are excited to announce the introduction of extended warranties for all Le Cache Wine Cabinets, as well as CellarPro 1800 Series wine cooling units and CellarPro VS Series (ie 3200VSi/VSx & 4200VSi/VSx) refrigeration systems.  

These extended warranties enhance the coverage and extend the terms of the standard warranties associated with our wine storage equipment.  The extended warranties differ by product, as summarized below. For complete terms and conditions, please click on the link beside each warranty.

• Le Cache Wine Cabinets:
  • $199 Retail + $49 Deductible per incident
  • Key Features: Increases the warranty from 2 to 5 years on the cabinet; covers all parts and labor; includes in-home service; covers round-trip shipping for replacement cooling units
  • Exclusions: Leveling / door alignment, cleaning the coils, replacing the light bulb, improper installations, commercial customers, non-transferable
  • For more information, visit http://www.lecachewinecabinets.com/wine-cabinet-accessories-lc/lecache-extended-warranty
• CellarPro 1800 Series Cooling Units:
  • $79 Retail + $49 Deductible per incident
  • Key Features: Supplements the standard 5-year warranty; covers all parts and labor; includes in-home service; covers round-trip shipping for replacement cooling units
  • Exclusions: Cleaning the coils, improper installations, acccesories, 220V units, 1800XTSx, commercial customers, non-transferable
  • For more information, visit http://www.cellarprocoolingsystems.com/purchase-wine-cooling-unit/modifications-accessories-cp/cellarpro-1800-extended-warranty
• CellarPro VS Series Cooling Units:
  • $249 Retail + $99 Deductible per incident
  • Key Features: Increases the warranty from 2 to 5 years on the entire system; covers all parts and labor; includes in-home service; covers round-trip shipping for replacement cooling units
  • Exclusions: Cleaning the coils, improper installations, accessories, 220V units, commercial customers, non-transferable
  • For more information, visit http://www.cellarprocoolingsystems.com/purchase-wine-cooling-unit/modifications-accessories-cp/cellarpro-vs-extended-warranty

If you have any questions or need additional information about our extended warranties, please don’t hesitate to contact us.

We are thrilled to announce that, as of today, we are launching our reengineered CellarPro 1800QTL cooling units.

We were able to reduce the noise level of our 1800QTL cooling units, while maintaining our superior performance, by redesigning the fan components used on the condensing side of the cooling unit. Our newly reengineered 1800 QTL cooling units will use two fans instead of one fan to exhaust the hot air, resulting in lower RPMs and meaningfully quieter performance without sacrificing cooling power.

CellarPro 1800QTL cooling units are available for immedate use in all Le Cache wine cabinets. Now, Le Cache customers will enjoy the QUIETEST self-contained wine cooling units in the market, along with all the features and benefits that come standard on all CellarPro cooling units, such as:

• Oustanding cooling performance
• Adjustable humidity control
• Electronic thermostat and digital display
• Audible and visual alarms
• Interchangeable top or rear vent exhaust
• High-performance air filtration system
• Auto defrost
• 5-Year warranty (parts and labor)
• Made in the USA

Please note that we will leave the prices for Le Cache Wine Cabinets and 1800QTL cooling units unchanged.  At CellarPro and Le Cache, we are committed to the continuous improvement of our products and services. If you have any questions about our redesigned cooling unit, please don’t hesitate to ask.

We are excited to announce the launch of our Dual Zone Modification for Le Cache Wine Cabinets.

The dual zone modification provides two completely separate temperature zones inside Le Cache wine cabinets, with optimal storage conditions in one hald of the cabinet, and optimal serving temperatures in the other half.

The zone modification is available exclusively with larger Le Cache wine cabinets – ie sizes 3100, 3800 and 5200. This modification is perfect for restaurants, hotels and bars that need to maintain both serving AND storage conditions inside one cabinet. Please note: the dual zone modification automatically includes an upgraded CellarPro 1800XTS cooling unit, which provides additional BTU required to handle the additional thermal load.

The dual zone modification will be available and ready to ship with cabinets at the end of November. The price of the dual zone upgrade (including the upgraded cooling unit) is $399.

For more information, please click on the following link: www.lecachewinecabinets.com/wine-cabinet-accessories-lc/dual-zone-modification.

For readers who are technically inclined, we asked our manufucturing engineer why so many Breezaire cooling units are failing after just 3 years in the field. His answers to our questions are below.

First, a bit of context. For 17 years, Le Cache used Breezaire cooling units* exclusively in its wine cabinets. In 2006, we started receiving alarming numbers of calls from customers complaining that their cooling unit “won’t get below 60 degrees”, “runs all the time”, “won’t cool properly” and “won’t get above 49 percent humidity”, and started to notice a significant increase in manufacturing defects. That’s when we decided to develop CellarPro cooling units.

At CellarPro, we use premium components and advanced manufacturing and testing processes from beginning to end. As a result, it costs us more to build a CellarPro unit than our wholesale cost to purchase a Breezaire unit! But we felt like we had no choice, and after reading the following Q&A, we think you’ll agree.

Q. It looks like we’ve repaired approx. 50 Breezaire units in the last few months. What are the most common failures?

A:
Qty / Description
9 / Bad Controller
1 / Bad Compressor
41 /  Leak Evaporator
0 / Leak Condensor
2 / Leak Gas Loop
2 / Bad Cap/Strainer
1 / Bad Fan

This data is not 100% complete, but it outlines the general trends. Some units had multiple issues. Most common is a leak – we have stopped doing the detailed leak detection because it is so time consuming, so if the unit does not have a charge we replace the evap, hot gas loop, and cap/strainer. Most of the units with controller problems also had a leak. I would estimate 10% of the leaks to be in the gas loop, the rest are evaporator leaks.

Q. What is causing the failures?
A.

Controller: not a quality component. Between 15 and 20% of the returned leaking units also have a bad controller. Having the unit run excessively creates two problems: 1) increased coil wear on the inside due to long run times and cap tube system inability to regulate, so velocities can get higher than optimal 2) Long runs create excessive moisture on the cold side, and heat on the hot side, which accelerates the corrosion of the hot gas loop.

Evap leaks: Not conclusive, but I believe a portion are internal source leaks due to controller problems or undersized units causing excessive run times. Another factor could be that Breezaire does not evacuate their coils as effectively, or they leave their systems open too long during the brazing process which can create acids in the oil. If the leaks are external, eg acid from the wine bottles, which is a corrosive agent to coils, Breezaire’s grey coating may not be sufficient to protect against this.

Q. Is there anything we should tell customers to do in the field to extend longevity?

A. Run the unit at the highest setpoint that can be tolerated.  At 55F, the Breezaire unit may have to run constantly.

Q. Will CellarPro units experience the same failures?
Our controller is more reliable, we have defrost cycles, we have larger coils to minimize condensate generation, TEV’s to regulate the flow to prevent excessive internal refrigerant velocities, and we have electrofin coating on the coils which is much more effective against external corrosive agents. We have some risk with the hot gas loop, but we do a better job of insulating it from direct contact with other metal. A portion of the BA failures were mechanical due to a sharp mounting bracket crimped down on it, which we do not have.

Q. Should we change anything in how we manufacture our CP units?
A. We do make continuous improvements as we learn more from field feedback. With regard to what we’ve seen on BA units, our current design, components, and manufacturing processes minimize our risk of similar field failures.

*Le Cache wine cabinets used Breezaire’s WKB 1060 and WKB 2200, which are the same as WKD 1060 and 2200, WKC 1060 and 2200 and WKCE 1060 and 2200 cooling units, except that the “E” units have Electronic, rather than mechanical, controls.

Our free shipping promotion on Le Cache wine cabinets will be ending soon!

Shipping costs, which include inside delivery to a ground floor, setup and removal of packaging materials, range from $400 to $800 depending on the size of the wine cabinet and the shipping destination.

To take advantage of this free shipping promotion, you must submit your order by March 31.  Even if your cabinet ships after March 31, you will receive free shipping on your cabinet.

If you place your order at www.lecachewinecabinets.com, we won’t charge your credit card until your cabinet ships, and if you change your mind before the cabinet ships, there’s no charge and no penalty.

Don’t miss this limited time offer!

Question: Which wine cabinet do you think has higher wine bottle capacity:

Cabinet A:   71w x 31.5d x 40h (inches)

Cabinet B:   68w x 29.5d x 40h

Answer: You would think that the larger cabinet would have higher bottle capacity, right? In fact, the manufacturer of wine cabinet A advertises capacity for 174 bottles and the manufacturer for wine cabinet B advertises capacity for 284 bottles – fully 63% higher than wine cabinet A!

So what gives? Well, for one thing, Le Cache (the manufacturer of wine cabinet A) has bottle spacing to accommodate large-format bottles. Our spacing is 3 3/4″ in each and every cell. Americave, the manufacturer of wine cabinet B, has tighter spacing – they claim 3 1/2″ – so if you divide the width of each cabinet by the cell space, cabinet B would gain 1 column of space – roughly equivalent to 20 bottles of additional capacity.

So where is the space for the other 90 bottles? We don’t know!! But if you’re considering the purchase of a wine cabinet or credenza from Americave (aka Vintage Series and Estate wine cabinets), make sure you ask the right questions – otherwise, you’ll have far less capacity than you bargained for – and by the way, did the salesman mention that all sales of Americave, Vintage Series and Estate wine cabinets are final? And it takes 8-12 weeks to build? And they use Breezaire cooling units?  And it’s almost $1000 more expensive than the Le Cache wine credenza?  Maybe higher price is related to the higher bottle count….

Good luck!

Effective January 15, we will be increasing the prices of our wine cabinets an average of $350 per unit.  We have not increased our prices in 3 years; nor did we increase our prices when we switched from Breezaire to CellarPro cooling units.  The price increases reflect increases in our manufacturing costs that have accumulated over several years.  We also will be raising the prices of CellarPro 1800 QTL, QT and XT wine cooling units by $100.

At the same time that we raise our prices, we will introduce free shipping for our wine cabinets.  The free shipping promotion, which is for a limited time, includes inside delivery and setup (ie “white glove” delivery) to a ground floor.  To take advantage of our free shipping promotion, use the following code when checking out:  LCFS1Q10. 

The net effect of these changes will be a reduction in the delivered price of our wine cabinets.  We appreciate your business!

SmartMoney magazine published an interesting article today. The main point of the article is that 2009 was a very good year to start a wine collection, because wine prices have come down drastically due to lack of demand resulting from the weak economic environment.

For collectors interested in starting or adding to their wine collection, the article recommends staying away from “mass-produced” wines, and focusing instead on low-production “crafted” wines from Burgundy or Bordeaux.  In addition, stick to highly-rated wines produced in celebrated years.

Most importantly, the article recommends paying close attention to “proper wine storage”, which along with the provenance, or history of ownership, can have a surprising impact on value.

We agree! For more information about proper wine storage and related products, please visit www.lecachewinecabinets.com and www.cellarprocoolingsystems.com.

Thanks to everyone for the kind words on Robert Parker’s wine forum!

We are proud to introduce the launch of our Mission Series wine cabinets. Straight lines and stunning details define the Modern Series, which was created by acclaimed Bay-area furniture designer Berkeley Mills exclusively for Le Cache. Outside the cellar, engineered wood mullions and ebony accents offset hardwood doors, insulated paneled walls and the natural grains of hand-stained cherry wood veneer. Inside the cellar, wine collections are protected from UV rays by double-pane tinted glass and pampered by all-wood universal racking and an advanced digital cooling system from CellarPro Cooling Systems that was engineered to maintain optimal temperature and humidity conditions for proper wine storage and aging. Though such features typically add hundreds to thousands of dollars to the final cost of a wine cabinet, we offer our wine cabinets with all-inclusive pricing – at significant savings to other manufacturers’ products. We also promise to ship each wine cabinet within three-to-five days of purchase, compared to the industry average of six to eight weeks.

Customer feedback played a significant role in the design of our wine storage cabinets. For example, we extended the use of its SB/0™ Technology to allow our wine cellars to be placed flush against the wall in response to complaints that existing wine cabinets, which require up to six inches of clearance between the wine cabinet and the wall, are too intrusive. We also designed our all-wood wine racking to accommodate not only standard Bordeaux bottles, but also increasingly popular larger bottle sizes, such as Burgundy, Pinot and many Champagne bottles. Our new Mission Series comes in two upright sizes to accommodate wine collections ranging from 172 to 286 bottles, and a credenza unit that accommodates 180 bottles. Mission Series wine cabinets are available in a choice of Provincial or Classic cherry hand-stained finishes, with prices starting at $3,499.

Our entire collection of wine cabinets and wine accessories can be seen at www.lecachewinecabinets.com. Our website also offers a wine cabinet shopping guide, wine cabinet comparisons and more information about the proper storage and aging of fine wine.

We are pleased to announce the introduction of the following products (anticipated in March/April 2009).

Mission Series wine cabinets. Developed by Berkeley Mills, a highly acclaimed designer of arts and crafts furniture, the Mission Series will be launched initially with our double-deep credenza, Mission 1400 and Mission 2400. These three items will be available in our exclusive Provincial and Classic cherry finishes.

Contemporary Credenza. This single-deep credenza is perfect for small spaces, and perfectly matches the clean lines and simple elegance of our popular line of Contemporary wine cabinets. This credenza also will be available in our exclusive Provincial and Classic cherry finishes.

All Le Cache wine cabinets include standard features like hardwood doors and beautiful cherry wood veneer, all-wood universal racking, high-performance CellarPro cooling units and the best customer service and warranty coverage in the industry.

View our new Mission credenza and Contemporary credenza.

In recognition of today’s difficult economic environment, we have decided to postpone the price increase that had been scheduled for January 1.

We recently installed 150 solar panels on our roof, which will cover 95% of our annual electricity usage. The environmental benefits were too compelling to ignore, and the economics were pretty good too! See a picture of our solar panels.

I just read the site of a new retailer, and was flattered by the amount of content that they copied from www.lecachewinecabinets.com! Imitation is the most sincere form of flattery, right? (And also the quickest way to build content on a new website!!)

The site, winecoolers.com, seems to be focused on the lower quality brands at the current time. It’ll be interesting to see if they start selling some of the premium wine cabinet brands too.

If you have experience with this retailer, please share your experiences.

We thought it would be fun to post pictures of our customers and their Le Cache wine cabinets on our website at www.lecachewinecabinets.com

If you would like to participate and you purchased your wine cabinet after November 2004, please email a picture of you and your cabinet (or, if you’re shy, just your cabinet!) and accompanying text (optional) to us at info@lecache.com. We expect to size the pictures to 4”x6”, but if your picture is a different size, don’t worry about it – we’ll crop the picture to make it fit. For each picture, please include your first and last name, and city and state in which you live.

Cheers!

Effective May 1, 2007, the prices of Le Cache’s Contemporary Series wine storage cabinets and Wine Vault Series wine storage cabinets will increase. The prices of Le Cache’s European Country Series wine storage cabinets will remain unchanged.

The prices of our wine cabinets have remained unchanged for 2 ½ years, even as our manufacturing costs have increased. At the current time, we are raising prices to reflect our increased manufacturing costs.

We will apply new prices to all orders received after April 30, 2007.

Thank you for your interest in Le Cache!

Ben,

Thank you for the email. I am currently deployed to Iraq and was researching various wine cabinet manufacturers. I discovered Le Cache during my online (when available) research and subsequently read an article in Wine Spectator, I believe, that rated Le Cache highly. I was going to delay making a decision until I redeployed; however, after the brochure arrived my wife decided to purchase the Euro 2400 as my birthday gift. It has been delivered, beautifully done, and awaiting my return for stocking (47 days remaining). Thanks and have a good day.

Michael

Got the following email today -

“I am looking at buying a used Wine Storage Cabinet in the Dallas area, and it is being advertised as a Le Cache unit. It looks similar to the 3800 model, but there are a few differences. Please contact me via e-mail and I will send you a picture. It is important to me that I am buying the Le Cache quality. I am also interested in finding out if there is still warranty on it. Thanks for the help.”

The customer sent a picture of the wine cabinet in question, and the scary thing is, it really looks like a Le Cache Model 3800 wine cabinet! Truth is, the cabinet is not a Le Cache, as evidenced by the oak wood (we only use cherry wood), tan Breezaire (ours are black), and mechanical temperature control (we exclusively use digital cooling units.)

For anyone interested in purchasing a wine cabinet from Le Cache, please make sure that you talk to Le Cache or one of its authorized dealers. Our warranty applies only to products purchased directly from the factory or from an authorized dealer.

Keys to the Cellar, a new book by wine critic Peter Meltzer, talks about the “strategies and secrets of wine collecting.” The book’s chapters cover a variety of topics, ranging from how to build a collection of wine, how to purchase wine and how to properly store and enjoy wine.

Mr. Meltzer could’ve done a better job checking his facts and researching the companies that he mentions in the chapter about wine storage. On page 124, the author states that “highly rated brands of [freestanding temperature-and humidity-controlled wine storage units] include Breezaire, Le Cache, Vinocraft, Avanti, Haier, Danby and Marvel.”

In fact, six of the seven brands should should not have been included in the author’s summry:
- Breezaire makes cooling units, but it does not make wine storage units
- Vinocraft is rumored to be out of business
- Avanti, Haier, Danby and Marvel make coolers which control temperature but NOT humidity!

Instead of these six brands, Mr. Meltzer should have named Vinotheque, Vinotemp and Wine Cellar Impressions which, in addition to Le Cache and EuroCave, currently are the leading manufacturers of freestanding temperature-and humidity-controlled wine storage units.

Later on the same page, the author exhorts the reader to “definitely…do some comparative shopping, because the disparity between brands of storage units can be considerable.” As an example, the author says “a 286-bottle unit from Le Cache runs about $3,400, whereas a 700-bottle unit from Vinotheque sells for just $400 more.”

Huh? Not only is some of the information incorrect, the comparison is quite deceiving. Checking on Vinotheque’s site, its largest capacity wine cabinet stores 526 (64 Champagne and 462 Bordeaux) bottles, and costs $3,915. This is the price of an unfinished cabinet, and doesn’t include:

- doors with windows: starting at $1,435
- cherry wood upgrade: $800
- furniture finish: $350
- digital readout: $180
- front venting: $644
- Total cost: $7,324

In comparison, a similarly-configured wine cabinet from Le Cache, with bottle capacity for 622 Bordeaux AND Burgundy AND Turley bottles, costs thousands less. A wine cabinet from Le Cache includes:

- doors with windows: no charge
- cherry wood upgrade: no charge
- premium furniture finish: no charge
- digital readout: no charge
- top vent: no charge
-Total cost: less than $5,000!

Mr. Meltzer clearly is knowledgeable about wine collecting, and it’s evident that he put a lot of effort into writing a comprehensive book for wine enthusiasts. It’s too bad that the book’s credibility and effectiveness are impaired by careless mistakes.

During hot summer months, many wine cabinets experience condensation on the post, locks and even the doors. Like a glass of iced tea on a warm day, wine cabinets are cold on the inside, and this coldness will cause moisture from the warm air to condense on any surface (such as metal) that conducts heat from the inside to the outside. Therefore, locks and metal strips that are exposed to the inside and the outside environments will accumulate condensation on the warm side.

In order to reduce condensation on your wine cabinet, do the following:

• Raise the temperature set-point to 59 degrees or above.

• Build the thermal mass inside the cabinet to reduce the cycle time spent cooling the air in the empty space. If you don’t have enough wine bottles, use soda cans, water bottles.
• Keep the first 3-4 rows clear in the column directly below the cold-air discharge (front column only). This will stop the cold air from “splashing” against the center post.
• Check the seals between the door(s) and the cabinet to ensure there aren’t any leaks in the seals.
• If possible, cool down the ambient environment (but if using a fan, avoid blowing air at the wine cabinet, which will worsen the problem).
• If you’re using a bottle probe, which increases cycle times on and off, discontinue use until the temperature cools down.
• If the condensation is coming into contact with wood, wipe it away frequently to prevent damage to wood surfaces, warping of the doors and mold.

Once outside temperatures cool down, the condensation will go away.

The type and thickness of the insulation used in building wine cabinets will determine the insulation properties (referred to as the R-Value) of the cabinet. Generally, a higher R-Value means better insulation.

Wine cabinet manufacturers use foam insulation to build wine cabinets that maintain inside temperatures without excessive use of the cooling system. There are several types of foam insulation available on the market, each with a different R-Value per inch:

Source: http://coloradoenergy.org/procorner/stuff/r-values.htm

When evaluating advertised R-Values, make sure to ask two questions:

1. which type of insulation is being used by the wine cabinet manufacturer, and
2. how thick is the insulation.

Some manufacturers advertise bogus R-Values, most commonly R-12, because it’s difficult to disprove these claims. But remember that the insulation must be at least 2 inches thick in order for the R-Value of the insulation to be R-12.

If you really care about the R-Value of your wine cabinet, the best way to increase the R-Value is to forego glass windows and instead use insulated wood doors on the wine cabinet.

How much insulation do you need? The warmer the environment where the wine cabinet will be placed, the more important the insulation becomes.

Lot’s of wine collectors are upset because many wineries are turning to heavier glass and bigger bottles in an attempt to distinguish themselves among consumers, who correlate better wine with bigger bottles. The problem for wine collectors is that these bigger bottles won’t fit in their wine racks, most of which is designed for standard Bordeaux-size bottles.

Larger bottle sizes can be frustrating. If you can’t fit large bottles – eg Burgundy, Pinot Noir, Turley Zinfandels, many Chardonnays, Champagne, etc. – in your racks, the only solution is to store these bottles in bulk storage areas that normally are set aside for Magnum bottles. Unless you have a lot of space dedicatd to bulk storage (and most people don’t), you’ll quickly run out of storage room for these larger bottles.

The problem is taking on epic proportions. Some collectors are threatening to boycott wineries who use large bottles, while others already have stopped buying large bottles altogether.

It’s hard to fault the wineries for using larger bottles. They’re just trying to distinguish their products and stay ahead of consumer trends, which are good business practices. Wineries must pay higher prices for larger wine bottles, and also higher fright costs to ship their wine – so it’s likely that the wineries have done the cost/benefit analysis and have concluded that larger bottles make sense.

Manufacturers of wine cabinets and wine racks have an obligation to follow changes in consumer trends. At Le Cache, we only sell wine cabinets with Universal racking to accomodate larger bottle sizes. Our all-wood racks will handle large size bottles without ripping the labels or scratching the bottles, saving the bulk storage area for magnums and really big bottles.

If you’ve purchased a wine cabinet, you already know what you’re about to read…

Shipping is, hands down, the hardest part of our business, even though we have relationships with the best freight carriers in the industry. Our freight carriers are contracted – and paid – to provide white-glove delivery service, which includes inside placement and set-up of your wine cabinet, as well as leveling and door alignment, and removal of packaging.

We spend tremendous time and effort building the highest-quality wine cabinets on the market, offering straightforward pricing and providing excellent customer service. So far, our customers are telling us that we’re doing a great job. From the styling of our products to the quality of our construction, we’ve received high marks in extensive customer questionnaires.

We rely on freight carriers to deliver our wine cabinets to our customers and provide the same level of high-quality service. Though we’ve taken extraordinary measures to educate and guide our freight carrier partners, we have found that inexeperienced, unresponsive and/or careless movers have been used all too often.

So what can be done to improve the delivery process? On our end, we will continue to insist that the freight carriers follow directions, act professionally, take proper care and learn more about how to properly set up our wine cabinets. In addition, we will continue mailing the Owner’s Manuals so that our customers will have them in advance of the wine cabinet delivery.

Customers also have the responsibility to become knowledgeable about the delivery and inspection process and wine cabinet placement requirements before taking delivery of the wine cabinet.

Togther with our customers, we can improve the level of service provided by the freight carriers who deliver our wine cabinets.

Wine cabinet cooling units come with several different types of venting configurations, each of which has an impact on where the wine cabinet can be placed.

Top-venting cooling units exhaust hot air out of the top of the wine cabinet, and intake cold air in from the back of the cooling unit. This configuration requires that there be sufficient space above the wine cabinet so that the hot air can dissipate properly. Typically, three inches of space are recommended between the wine cabinet and the wall behind it, so that the cooling unit has enough space to draw cold air through the cold air intake.

Back-venting cooling units exhaust hot air out of the back of the wine cabinet, and also intake cold air in from the back of the cooling unit. This configuration requires that there be sufficient space behind the wine cabinet so that the hot air can dissipate properly. Typically, six inches of space are required between the wine cabinet and the wall behind it, so that the hot air exhaust doesn’t suffocate the cold air intake.

Manufacturer guidelines for wine cabinet placement are based on cooling unit configurations, and should be followed to ensure optimal long-term cooling unit performance.

Humidity DOES matter when storing and aging wine over long periods of time. The ideal range for humidity is 50 to 70 percent. Not enough humidity, and the outside of the cork could dry out and shrink, leading to ullage and possible oxidation of your wine. Too much humidity, and the wine bottle labels might get moldy and/or peel off.

If you live in a dry area, it’s especially important to cellar your wine in a sealed environment. That way, you can add moisture inside the wine cellar and the moisture will remain inside. To add moisture, try placing a shallow dish of water with a sponge inside the wine cellar, or spray a mist of water from a water bottle inside the wine cellar.

If you live in a humid area, make sure that the cooling system in your wine cellar will remove excess moisture from the air. For more information about the proper conditions for long-term wine storage and aging, see The Importance of Proper Wine Storage.

We believe that the choice of woods used in wine racks is very important, for two reasons:

1. Decay resistance – “Woods vary considerably in decay resistance and durability. Woods like cherry and redwood are “resistant or very resistant” to decay.

2. Tendency to warp – woods like cherry and redwood are among those with the lowest tendency to warp.

When we think of “decay,” we think of fungi – or mold – and how to deter the growth of fungi in our wine cabinets and wine racks. There are four basic requirements for wood-inhabiting fungi to thrive. Rendering any one of these unsuitable can control fungi:

1. Temperature- Between 75 and 90 degrees Farenheit is optimum for the growth of fungi. Beyond the extremes of 40 and 105 degrees Farenheit, growth essentially stops.

2. Oxygen – Fungi needs oxygen to grow

3. Moisture – Fungi can develop in wood with average moisture content as low as 20%.

4. Food – Woods vary considerably in decay resistance or durability. Where it is impossible or impractical to keep wood below 20% moisture content, the next best approach is to choose a durable wood or wood that has been impregnated with a chemical preservative.

The first three requirements all exist inside a wine cabinet, so the only way to control against fungi is #4. Therefore, the choice of wood used to build wine racks is very important, and it should be a wood that is resistant to decay, such as redwood, black walnut or cherry.

For more information, check out the book by R. Bruce Hoadley called “Understanding Wood, A Craftsman’s Guide to Wood Technology” or see our wine cellar shopping guide.

Universal racking is designed for wine cellars to accomodate most wine bottles, including not only Bordeaux bottles but also Burgundy and many Champagne bottles.

Most wine cellar manufacturers offer standard wine racking that is 3 1/4″ or 3 3/8″ wide in their wine cabinets. The problem is that standard wine racks fit Bordeaux wine bottles just fine, but larger bottles like Burgundy, Champagne and Pinots won’t fit in these standard racks.

Why would wine cabinet manufacturers ever make standard wine racks in the first place? Because they believe that consumers want to get the highest possible bottle capacity inside their wine cellars. In reality, these bottle capacity numbers are misleading given that many bottles can’t be racked in the wine cabinet.

Before purchasing a wine cabinet, find out whether the racks come with standard or Universal racking, and whether the Universal racking will be offered in SOME or ALL of the rows and columns in the rack. You shouldn’t pay extra for the “privilege” of having Universal racking — in fact, less wood is required to build them, so there’s no good reason for Universal racks to cost more.

For more information, please see our wine cellar shopping guide.