Most experts agree that temperatures ranging between 53 and 57 degrees are great for wine storage, regardless of whether you’re storing a bold Cabernet Sauvignon or a delicate Pinot Gris. It’s a myth that red and white wines need to be stored at different temperatures for their entire lives; if you see a dual-zone that separates reds from whites, it’s only because white wine is supposed to be served at cooler temperatures than red wine. You can store all of your varietals long-term in one spot without impacting their quality–you’ll just want to stick whites in an ice bath for a few minutes before drinking, since cellar temperature isn’t quite cool enough. Although a storage climate of 53 to 57 degrees will work for all varietals, some experts claim that your cellar can climb into the mid-60s without negatively affecting certain wines (as long as you plan on drinking them within a few years). However, keeping your wine at a constant 55 degrees is best for bottles that you want to age for decades, since any exposure to raised temperatures over the long-term could result in a cooked wine that tastes flat.

Similarly, if your cellar dips below 45 degrees, you could also ruin your wine. Air becomes dry at lower temperatures, which causes the cork to shrink and the wine to leak or oxidize. The basic guideline is as long as your cellar is under 70 degrees and above 45 degrees, your wine should be safe from serious damage over the short-term (a few years). When it comes to choosing the best temperature to store your wine, consistency is more important than anything else. My friend from Languedoc doesn’t fret over small dips and spikes in temperature because her cellar consistently stays between 55 and 60 degrees on its own. You’ll only start to see damage if your cellar’s temperature increases or decreases by more than 10 degrees in a short period of time. When this happens, the cork expands and contracts, which causes oxidation. Invest in an accurate thermometer to make sure your wine stays within 10 degrees of your ideal range at all times. To keep temperatures steady all year, you’ll need to install insulation and you’ll either need your cellar or you’ll need to install a dedicated cooling unit.

You’ll also want to build your home cellar without windows to keep the climate under control (and avoid exposing your wine to UV light). Next, use an outdoor-grade door that seals your cellar off from the rest of your home. If you live in a relatively cool climate, or your cellar is underground, you may not need to actively cool it. In this case, you’ll want to focus on insulation and thick, weather-stripped doors to keep the cellar at the right temperature.best wine for his birthday Unfortunately, cold air from cooling units tends to leave your cellar abnormally dry. top wine rating sitesTo combat this, you’ll need to use a humidifier to keep corks supple, or make sure your cooling unit is equipped with a built-in humidifier. best white wine for drinking without food

Either way, you’ll want to link the two units together so that they . I’ve seen humidifiers destroy thousands of dollars of wine in a matter of days because the humidifier couldn’t accurately measure the humidity in the room. I visited a cellar that was so humid that water started to drip from the ceiling; nearly all of the bottle labels had peeled off from the excess moisture, making them worthless. Wine experts still aren’t sure what the ideal humidity level is for wine, but Jancis Robinson says 75 percent humidity is a good starting point for most cellars. food and wine best restaurants dcYour perfect humidity level will vary depending on the climate conditions of your cellar, such as whether you have windows and how tightly your cellar is sealed off from the rest of the house. best cheap fruity red wine

If you don’t have a cooling unit because your cellar stays naturally cool, a humidifier might be overkill. In this case, Alexis Lichine recommends spreading a half inch of gravel on the floor of your cellar, and sprinkling it with water every few days. It’s important to work with what you already have; don’t force your naturally-60-degree wine cave to stay at 55 degrees, especially when the humidity is already ideal. high end wine kitsThat 5-degree difference won’t destroy your wine, and you’ll have to work hard to achieve it. top dc wine barsInstead, create a cellar cooling system that allows you to relax, keeping your bottles safe with minimal effort on your part.best wine tasting cities Whether you are starting your high-end wine collection or adding to an established portfolio, Vinfolio is your partner in buying, selling, and professional storage. best wine catalogue design

Contact us today to get access to the world’s best wine.Let friends in your social network know what you are reading aboutTwitterGoogle+LinkedInPinterestPosted!A link has been posted to your Facebook feed. Log InSubscribed, but don't have a login?Register your digital access.This story was originally published July 2, 2013.The wine cooler has a bit of an identity problem. Is it a wine spritzer? And what about that wild child moment in the '80s when it was the hottest thing on the party scene?Luckily, this cocktail conundrum is easily solved. As Gertrude Stein might put it, wine cooler is wine spritzer is wine cocktail is sangria. And the versions being whipped up today have nothing in common with the cheap, mass-produced products of 30 years ago (which thankfully went the way of shoulder pads)."Mixology has been raised to this new chef-like heights and wine, in a way, is the bartender's hottest ingredient right now," says Mike Dawson, senior editor at Wine Enthusiast. "Cutting-edge bartenders are taking these wine-based drinks to new heights, and creating these New Age coolers, along with countless variations of the sangria and classic wine cocktails like the New York Sour."

Summer is the perfect time for wine coolers, since it's the one time of year even the most dedicated vinophile toys with dropping a fistful of ice in a glass.Switching to a cooler makes wine "a little bit easier to drink," says Chad Furuta of Del Frisco's Grille in New York. At the Grille, bartenders are making spritzers with a house white wine, mixed with ginger ale or a lemon-lime soda and served with a lemon twist or wedge. "Whether you want to call it wine cooler or spritzer, it really is a great summer drink," he says.AZCENTRALThings To Do app: Get the best in events, dining and travel right on your deviceWhat should you use when making your own wine coolers? Well, don't reach for the bottom shelf wine that just doesn't taste good, advises Cappy Sorentino, bar director of Spoonbar restaurant at the h2hotel in the wine country town of Healdsburg, Calif. On the other hand, don't go crazy and uncork an expensive bottle of wine, either."It doesn't have to be the best stuff because you're basically using it as a base," he says.

Look for a wine that has a fair amount of acidity to it, i.e. "yes" to sauvignon blanc or pinot grigio, "no" to chardonnay that's spent a lot of time in oak barrels. For red wines, Spanish wines are, not surprisingly, a good choice since sangria is a Spanish invention. Tempranillo makes a good choice.RELATED: 20 winebars around metro Phoenix | 68 happy hour spots in greater Phoenix He has an interesting take on sangria, which is usually wine fortified with something a little stronger and augmented with sugar and spices. At Spoonbar, he's using a rose wine with pisco (Peruvian brandy), plus a little sugar, some water, fresh pineapple juice, cinnamon and a touch of clove. It's "really refreshing," which is good for Healdsburg, where temperatures can get toasty.Joe Campanale, beverage director of four New York City neighborhood restaurants, encourages cocktail enthusiasts to get creative by mixing up their favorite single-serving cocktail in a pitcher for a group dinner or celebration.

Keep the ingredients light, he advises, as in his Blame it on the Aperol cocktail served at the dell'anima restaurant which combines Aperol, Blue Coat gin, lemon juice in a pitcher with plenty of ice. Give it a stir, pour into flute glasses and top off with sparkling wine for a bright effervescence.Here are a few more suggestions on ways to make your wine cooler-spritzer-sangria-cocktail pitcher perfect.Start to finish: 5 minutes4 ounces sauvignon blanc wine1 ounce silver or blanco tequilaCombine all ingredients in a tall, ice-filled glass. Stir gently, then serve immediately.Start to finish: 5 minutes4 ounces cabernet sauvignon wineSplit the vanilla bean in half lengthwise and scrape the seeds into a tall glass. Add the wine, rum and pineapple juice, stirring to combine. Add ice and top with seltzer water.Start to finish: 10 minutes1/3 cup frozen peach chunks6 ounces prosecco sparkling wineIn a blender, combine the watermelon, peaches and lemon juice. Using a mesh strainer, strain into 2 sparkling wine flutes, then top with prosecco.