n.
- A place for storing wine.
- A stock of wines.
wine cellar
| Dictionary: wine cellar |
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| Wine Lover's Companion: wine cellar |
A term that can refer to both a storage area for wines and the wines stored there. Traditionally, wine cellars were underground because such a location keeps the wines at the proper temperature. Subterranean cellars certainly aren't a requirement today with air-cooling and the advent of temperature-controlled units that can be placed anywhere. No matter where wine is stored, the bottles should be lying on their sides so that the cork stays moist and airtight. A drying cork can shrink and expose the wine to oxygen (see oxidation), which can ruin a wine. Ideally, a wine cellar should be dry (but not overly, since a modicum of moisture helps keep the corks from drying out), well ventilated, vibration free, cool, and dark. The cellar's temperature should remain fairly constant-if it changes, it shouldn't do so drastically. The ideal temperature for storing wine is around 55°F, but a reasonably consistent temperature between 45 and 70°F is acceptable. However, the warmer the temperature, the faster a wine will change. University of California, Davis researchers discovered that every 18°F increase in temperature can double the rate of a wine's chemical changes. In short, the characteristics of a wine stored at 72°F could possibly change twice as fast as one stored at 54°F.
| WordNet: wine cellar |
Note: click on a word meaning below to see its connections and related words.
The noun has one meaning:
Meaning #1:
storage space where wines are stored
Synonym: cellar
| Wikipedia: Wine cellar |
A wine cellar is a storage room for wine in bottles or barrels, or more rarely in carboys, amphorae or plastic containers. In an active wine cellar, important factors such as temperature and humidity are maintained by a climate control system. In contrast, passive wine cellars are not climate-controlled, and are usually built underground to reduce temperature swings. An aboveground wine cellar is often called a wine room, while a small wine cellar (less than 500 bottles) is sometimes termed a wine closet.
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Purpose
Wine cellars protect alcoholic beverages from potentially harmful external influences, providing darkness and a constant temperature. Wine is a natural, perishable food product. Left exposed to heat, light, vibration or fluctuations in temperature and humidity, all types of wine can spoil. When properly stored, wines not only maintain their quality but many actually improve in aroma, flavor, and complexity as they mature.
Conditions
Wine can be stored satisfactorily between 7-18 °C (45-65 °F) as long as any variations are gradual. A temperature of 13 °C (55 °F), much like what is found in the caves used to store wine in France, is ideal for both short-term storage and long-term aging of wine. Note that wine generally matures differently and more slowly at a lower temperature than it does at a higher temperature.[citation needed] Between 10-14 °C (50-57 °F), wines will age normally.[1]
Active versus passive
Wine cellars can be either active or passively cooled. Active wine cellars are highly insulated and need to be properly constructed. They require specialized wine cellar conditioning and cooling systems to maintain the desired temperature and humidity. In a very dry climate, it may be necessary to actively humidify the air, but in most areas this is not necessary. Passive wine cellars must be located in naturally cool and damp areas with minor seasonal and diurnal temperature variations—for example, a basement in a temperate climate. Passive cellars may be less predictable, but cost nothing to operate and are not affected by power outages.
Debate on humidity
Some wine experts debate the importance of humidity for proper wine storage. In the Wine Spectator, writer Matt Kramer noted a French study which claimed that the relative humidity within a bottle is maintained 100% regardless of the closure used or the orientation of the bottle.[2] However, Alexis Lichine says that low humidity can be a problem because it may cause organic corks to dry prematurely. An inch of gravel covering the floor periodically sprinkled with a little water was recommended to retain the desired humidity.[1]
See also
References
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 | Dictionary. The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright © 2007, 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2007. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved. Read more |
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| Wine Lover's Companion. Wine Lover's Companion. Copyright © 2003 by Barron's Educational Series, Inc. All rights reserved. Read more |
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| WordNet. WordNet 1.7.1 Copyright © 2001 by Princeton University. All rights reserved. Read more |
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| Wikipedia. This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Wine cellar". Read more |
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