Wine storage is different than any other product.
Unlike cheese, milk, lunch meat and even fruit, wine is actually still a living grape. If stored properly, the wine will taste as intended by the grower.
However, if exposed to light, vibration, temperature or humidity change the wine can taste very different.
The term “corked” or spoiled wine is derived from dry conditions when storing wine. The cork is dried out and lets air into the wine which destroys the tannins. So it is important to store wine in the perfect conditions.
Wine Storage
Caves are the best places to store wine. Seriously. A cave is dim, does not vibrate and has pretty constant temperature and humidity. Caves are pretty scarce in the Boston area. Closets are actually decent places as well.
For products, Sub-Zero is the gold standard as it is truly designed for storing wine with two thermostats and low E door to prevent air infiltration. Even the compressor is mounted on rubber grommets to dampen vibration. However, not everyone is willing to spend $4,000 on a wine storage.
Let‘s look at two popular, lower priced models, Danby and the new Yale. There is a $800 difference in price. Should you trust your wine in either and is the $800 well spent?
Danby
Danby is a marketing company based in Canada. It is a very different company. They sell the most compact refrigeration in the world yet have no factories of their own. They outsource manufacturing in Mexico, the US and mostly China.
Their distribution is a bit of everything from WalMart to smaller retailers. As I said, Danby is unique.
Danby DWC508BLS - $729.99
Features:
- 50 Bottle capacity
- Built-in or freestanding
- Temperature range 39F-64F
- Precise digital thermostat with LED display
- Interior LED lighting
- 6.5 sliding black wire shelves with beechwood face
- Tempered glass door
- Reversible hinge for left or right hand opening
Yale Wine Center
Yale has been in Boston since 1923 and Framingham since 2015 with headquarters in Stoughton. Service is the majority of Yale with 90 staff in delivery, service and customer service. We started private labeling wine units along with other products to provide better or comparable features for less money.
These wine coolers are manufactured in the US.
Yale ND24WSG1 - $1899.99
Features:
- 48 bottle capacity
- 2 year warranty
- Roll out shelves with stainless front
- Frost free controls ensure precise temperature management 40F-65F
- Thermal efficient cabinet ensures optimum wine preservation
- Blue style LED interior lighting
Which Should You Buy?
Both hold about the same amount of wine and both have LED lighting inside. LED does not emit heat as incandescent lighting will. Some wine coolers still use an incandescent light bulb adding light and heat directly over a wine bottle. Crazy.
Danby is a value line and nice looking. It is also inexpensive.
The Yale is manufactured in the US with a better steel cabinet versus China for Danby. Appliances are still produced better in the US and Europe...for now.
(See reviews of all the major brands in our free guide)
The Yale offers Dynamic Cooling Technology for rapid cooldown and better temperature stability. Stability is essential in preserving wine. The shelves glide better so there is less tannin killing vibration. It's also one of the most energy efficient wine units on the market.
Overall, if you store more valuable wine for a longer period of time, Yale does a better job at preserving the wine itself. Danby is a really good price alternative for shorter storage time.
Additional Resources
Looking for more information about wine coolers, beverage centers, icemakers and refrigerators? Get the Yale Undercounter Refrigerator Guide with features, specs and inside tips to all the brands. Well over 110,000 people have read a Yale Guide.
Recommended Reads
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A Note About Pricing
Pricing on this blog is for reference only and may include time sensitive rebates. We make every attempt to provide accurate pricing at time of publishing. Please call the stores for most accurate price.
