Erik Neilson on August 17, 2017 0 Comments It can sometimes seem as if there’s an endless array of options when it comes to deciding how to store your wine. Should it live in a cellar? How about a wine fridge in the kitchen, or a small cabinet that’s out of sight? Maybe a wine rack on the wall? These are all common questions that homeowners have when it comes to finding the right storage solution for their wine collection. If you’re looking for a storage upgrade and none of the above options feel right for you, then perhaps a wine credenza is the right fit for your home. What is a Wine Credenza? Wine credenzas offer an elegant, sophisticated intersection between long-term storage and decorative highlighting of your collection. They allow you to store things such as glassware, decanters, corkscrews and other wine-related accessories so that everything is within reach once your guests finally arrive. Customization allows for wine credenzas of all shapes and sizes to be built and modified, ensuring that there’s an option out there for everyone. The right furniture can take any kitchen or dining room to new heights — especially if it’s doubling as wine storage. How to Find the Best Credenza For You Interested in picking up a wine credenza for your home? Here are some of the most important things to think about as you move forward on your quest to find the perfect piece for you and your family. 1) Cooling vs. Non-Cooling There are essentially two different types of wine credenzas on the market: Credenzas that offer only storage. And, those which offer temperature-regulated storage. It’s easy to overlook the importance of temperature regulation when it comes to storing wine outside of a cellar, but bear in mind that your wine credenza will likely be used not just for short-term storage, but long-term as well. If you intend to use your credenza for aging wine, then it is strongly recommended that you choose one that has the ability to cool your wine at its optimal storing temperature. Credenzas featuring wine cooling equipment will no doubt be more expensive than the non-cooling alternative, but the added cost is very much worth paying if you plan on storing your wines for more than just a few months at a time. Number of Cooling Zones Another factor to take into consideration when choosing a wine credenza is how many cooling zones there are. Some high-end credenzas feature multiple zones, which allows you to store all of your reds, whites, sparklers and other wines at the ideal temperature for each. Others only feature a single zone, however, which keeps all of the wines inside the unit stored at the same temperature. Depending upon how extensive your collection happens to be, one of these options may be a better fit for you than another. If budget is a concern, you’ll do well to choose a wine credenza that features a single zone. 2) Style & Design One of the major benefits of choosing to add a wine credenza to your home is the sheer amount of style and decor it can bring to whichever room it’s placed in. There are credenzas available that can fit any type of home design, whether it be rustic, modern or anywhere in-between. The majority of credenzas tend to store wines horizontally and look great when placed along a lengthy wall, such as in a dining room or living room. For rooms where space is a concern, vertical tower-style credenzas are available, which can be a great addition to dining areas. 3) Material & Durability Material comes to mind when choosing a wine credenza, too. Some are constructed from wood and are ideal for placing in rustic homes, especially if they have somewhat of an unfinished look to them. Others are more modern and are made out of heavy steel, iron or other types of metal, thus framing your collection in a sleek, elegant manner that will wow your guests. Many credenzas are outfitted with elaborate, shiny hardware, while others are much more understated in their design. Choosing that which is right for your home will depend largely upon personal preference, as well as the current look and feel of the room you plan on putting the credenza in. 4) Storage Capacity Another difficult decision that needs to be made when shopping for a wine credenza is how many bottles you need it to hold. With a lot of above-cellar storage, the goal is often just to hold a few bottles at a time, which can be drank during the week with dinner or when guests arrive over the weekend. Wine credenzas are a bit of a different story, however. Since the temperature in most credenzas is regulated, you can store your wines long-term in them without having to worry about degradation. With this in mind, you may choose to store your entire collection in a credenza rather than make use of your cellar any longer. When choosing how much storage capacity to go with when you buy a new credenza, it’s important to give yourself some breathing room. In other words, if you’re currently storing 35 bottles of wine, you’re going to want to move up to something larger than a 36-bottle wine credenza. Why? You would otherwise be shorting yourself the opportunity to grow your collection, and if you’re already storing that much wine, chances are you’ll be buying more bottles down the road. While budget will ultimately dictate which size wine credenza is right for you, don’t go with a smaller option if you have plans of ever building your collection further. 5) Storing Other Accessories Aside from storing bottles of wine, you should also consider whether you’ll be storing other accessories, such as glassware, decanters or bottle openers. It’s not uncommon to find a credenza that offers extra storage space for these items. Whether it’s drawers that can hold all of your corkscrews, or a built-in rack that allows you to hang your stemware, these credenzas are popular for their ability to double as a home bar. If you’re not planning on building a large wine collection, then perhaps a credenza with extra storage would be the best fit for you. 6) Light Blockage While the right credenza can help to age your wine to perfection over the years, the wrong selection may actually do more harm than good. Specifically, those which allow vast amounts of light to reach the bottles inside. Both sunlight and artificial light can speed up the aging process, causing a wine to change faster than it would naturally. More often than not, the results of this are less than ideal. This is why it’s important to eliminate as much UV rays as possible from hitting your wine. No matter what type of credenza you get, you should strongly consider one that offers at least some protection from outside light is a must. Final Thoughts No matter how you’ve been storing your bottles up until now, wine credenzas are more than worth taking a look at. There are options out there that can accommodate a number of different budgets, and with a little bit of research, you’ll surely find the one that’s right for your home.
