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Glossary Of Terms
By winecoolersguide.com
Built in Wine Coolers
Built in wine coolers are designed to sit evenly, and blend in seamlessly, with the rest of your kitchen cabinets. Built in wine refrigerator units with compressor based cooling systems require front venting so the sides and back of the appliance can be enclosed in the surrounding cabinetry. Built in wine coolers are typically placed in the kitchen to uniformly merge with other kitchen appliances.
Compressor Cooling System
A conventional compressor cooling system contains four fundamental parts - the compressor, condenser, throttle valve and evaporator. In simple terms, these parts work together to circulate and heat up a refrigerant which is then condensed and cooled, with the heat rejected and evaporated and the now cold refrigerant mixture lowering the temperature of the enclosed space it is in.
Countertop Wine Coolers
Countertop wine coolers are ideal for homes that have more limited free space and or for wine enthusiasts that do not need or desire larger wine storage capabilities. Countertop wine refrigerators provide the same temperature and humidity protection as the bigger built in and free standing units, but use less space and provide a less expensive alternative.
Dual Zone Wine Coolers
A dual zone wine cooler has two independent chilling compartments each with temperature sensors, settings and displays for each zone.
Free Standing Wine Coolers
As the name implies, a free standing wine cooler requires an open floor space, but obviously does not require any cabinetry installation. Assuming a proper electrical outlet is available; a free standing wine refrigerator is a "plug and play" unit that can be moved to your most convenient floor space. However, free standing wine coolers do require adequate space on all sides for compressor based cooling system’s ventilation.
Humidity
Humidity is the percentage of water in the air. In general, wine needs to be stored in a place with a humidity level of 70% to 80%.
Single Zone Wine Coolers
A single zone wine cooler has a single temperature sensor and temperature setting for the entire wine cooler.
Sulfites
Almost all wines contain sulfites that are naturally produced during fermentation. Sulfites are essentially a preservative that allows wine to age without it turning sour or developing a vinegar taste.
Tannins
Tannins are a natural compound found in grape skins, seeds and stems. The amount of tannins in wine depends on the winemaking process and grape extraction. How winemakers macerate the grapes (particularly red grapes) impacts the amount of tannins in the wine. In contrast to red wines, white wines tend to obtain more of their tannins from the barrel aging process.
Thermoelectric Cooling System
Thermoelectric wine coolers contain solid state semiconductor devices that do not have moving parts, fluids, chlorofluorocarbons or other chemicals or gases. Electrons moving through the semiconductor material absorb heat and move it to the hot, expelling end of the wine cooler unit cooling the air in the enclosed unit. Thermoelectric coolers have several advantages over conventional compressor units including no moving parts, which results in less vibrations and a more silent operation.
Thermostat
A thermostat is a device used to regulate the temperature of a heating or cooling system so that the system’s temperature is maintained near a desired chosen temperature. The thermostat does this by switching heating or cooling systems on or off as needed to maintain the correct temperature.
Wine Aging
Wine aging is mostly the interaction between three of wine’s components, sulfites, tannins and acid and the fruit in the grape itself. In general, for wine to properly age, it needs to have the right levels of sulfites and tannins in it plus enough acid. A wine without the right mix of these components will turn into vinegar as time passes.
Wine Cabinets
Wine cabinets are intended for longer term wine storage and are designed to keep wine at 55 degrees Fahrenheit, or about 13 degrees Celsius. Wine cabinets store bigger collections of wine with larger systems holding 500 bottles or more. Most wine cabinets have detailed wood finishes and trim and thus double as attractive furniture pieces.
Wine Cellar
A traditional wine cellar is an underground wine storage area. Today, a wine cellar can refer to: 1) a below ground structure that, naturally provides the cool and humid conditions needed for longer term wine aging or 2) an above ground wine storage area with temperature and humidity maintained by a climate control system.
Wine Chiller
A wine chiller normally refers to a single or double wine bottle holder that is kept cooled in a refrigerator or freezer until needed.
Wine Coolers or Wine Refrigerators
The terms wine cooler and wine refrigerator are used interchangeably and refer to the same type of wine refrigeration appliance. A wine cooler or wine refrigerator is a shorter term wine storage appliance and are excellent for shorter term storage and aging of wines and should be used to store ready to drink wines at their proper serving temperatures. Wine coolers or wine refrigerators are generally not intended to age wine for multiple years.
Wine Rack
A wine rack is a storage device that typically holds bottles of wine on their side.
Published 07/27/2009
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