Viking VCWB300RSS Wine Booklet - The Fine Art of Aging - Page 7

Should I have a Viking wine cellar? There are many reasons for owning a wine cellar. A wine cellar will control the four main factors for storing and aging wine successfully. Convenience is an added incentive, as a wellstocked cellar assures you of always having the right wine at the right time. Since most retailers offer discounts by the case, it also makes economic sense to buy more than one bottle at a time, particularly from exceptional vintages. A wine cellar allows you to store your wine away from foods that could potentially start to ferment, such as fruits, vegetables, and cheeses. Additionally, owning a wine cellar is a fun way to observe and taste a promising young wine and follow its evolution into a high quality, mature wine that will please your palate and highlight any occasion. There is simply no other way to experience the full potential of great wine. Another advantage provided by a good storage system is that the temperature at which the wine is maintained will be much closer to its optimum serving temperature. This is particularly desirable when you want a nice wine on the spur of the moment for a dinner party, or when arriving home with a need for relaxation. While storage temperatures for reds tend to be cooler than recommended serving temperatures, it is much better to serve the wine a bit too cool and let it warm in the glass or decanter to the desirable temperature. Most people serve red wines too warm (room temperature), which detracts significantly from their potential pleasure. Conversely, white wines are frequently served too cold, inhibiting the wine from displaying its texture and flavors. Viking has addressed these issues by creating three separate chambers in its storage units, each with its own temperature control. Thus, reds can be stored at one temperature, while whites and champagne are stored at different temperatures. Another zone can be kept slightly cooler than the optimum serving temperature for wine you will be offering at a dinner party that night. This gives you the flexibility to manage your collection in a way that balances your storage and aging requirements, with the convenience of short-term accessibility.