So you’ve got a wine collection started, or maybe you’ve inherited a stash from a wine-loving relative. Either way, you want to keep those bottles in prime condition, which means storing them at just the right temperature and humidity. Let me tell you, nothing is sadder than opening a special bottle you’ve been saving only to find it’s gone off.
I learned this lesson the hard way some years back when I cracked open a birthday Bordeaux from my sister only to be greeted by a nasty whiff of vinegar! Not an ideal celebratory sip. After that trauma, I knew it was time to get serious about my wine storage situation.
The ideal conditions for wine storage are fairly precise: between 10-14°C with a humidity of around 70%. Much warmer or cooler and your wines won’t age well. Too dry and the corks shrivel, allowing in oxygen that oxidizes and spoils the wine. Seems simple enough, but maintaining these parameters can be tricky depending on where you live. I’m in Southern California where temperatures swing wildly between summer and winter. And central heating in winter really dries out the air. Definitely not ideal for my delicate grape juice.
Smart Cellar Tech to the Rescue
After a bit of research, I discovered there are some great smart cellar tech solutions that make it much easier to keep your wine cellar humming along at the perfect temp and humidity all year round. No more sad surprise spoilage! Let’s take a look at some of the options:
Smart Cellar Temperature Controllers
These gadgets are super handy for controlling cooling and heating units to maintain a consistent temperature range in your wine fridge or cellar. Options like the Inkbird ITC-608T allow you to set your ideal temperature span and will automatically turn on an AC, heater, or cooling fan when the temps go outside your set range.
Many also come with a remote sensor you can place on the racks near the bottles, so the unit responds to temperatures right where you store your vino, not just the ambient room temp. Models like the Johnson Controls Digital Thermostat have dual zones allowing you to choose separate zones for reds and whites if needed.
I put an Inkbird controller on the mini fridge in my dining room that I use for everyday drinking wines and it works beautifully. No more wild temperature swings between pours! Just set it and forget it.
Smart Humidifiers
Dry air can really threaten your wine collection. All that natural cork drying out is bad news! Smart humidifiers like the Aircare MA1201 can hook up to your smart home system or app, allowing you to monitor and control humidity remotely. No need to manually refill tanks or adjust settings.
Set your desired humidity level and the unit handles maintaining it through auto-refills and output control. Getting that consistent 70% humidity prevents corks from shrinking while avoiding any mildew risks of too much moisture. I put an Aircare in my cellar and love getting notifications when the tank is low so I can quickly do a refill. Small effort for nice peace of mind!
Smart Dehumidifiers
While most wine collections need a humidifier to maintain ideal conditions, you may need a smart dehumidifier if you live somewhere quite wet or have a basement space that sees excessive moisture. Dehumidifiers like the Frigidaire FAD504DWD can tie into your home automation platform to remove excess vapor from the air when humidity creeps above your target.
This is great insurance against mold growth which can occur with sustained levels over 70%. Smart controls let you set a desired humidity threshold and the dehumidifier automatically turns on as needed to gently bring things back down to the ideal range without over-drying.
Smart Multisensor Monitors
For ultimate peace of mind, I highly recommend installing a smart multisensor monitor like the Govee WiFi Temperature Humidity Monitor. This lets you track temperature, humidity, light levels, and motion 24/7. Sensor data feeds right to your phone so you always know conditions are ideal in your wine sanctuary.
If anything starts to deviate from your target range, you get an instant notification and can take action. This is great for spotting gradual changes before they become a real issue for your collection. Pretty handy to also track light and motion so you know if anything is amiss in the cellar.
Smart Lighting
Don’t forget about lighting! Harsh UV light can damage wines over time. Smart lighting lets you control the lighting schedule and scene in your cellar via app.
Tunable smart bulbs like the Philipps Hue White Ambiance pair with sensors so lights automatically turn off if no motion is detected for a period of time. You can also set them to a low gentle glow that’s easy on your precious bottles.
I use Hue lights on remote dimmers in my cellar and love tuning them to a calm amber scene that gives just enough light to browse my racks without unnecessary UV exposure.
Smart Leak Detection
Wine and water definitely don’t mix! A smart leak detector like the Honeywell Lyric Water Leak and Freeze Detector can save the day if any plumbing fails. Sensors on this device monitor temperature and moisture. If a leak occurs, you immediately get a notification so you can rush to avoid water getting out of control.
No one wants to see their priceless ’82 Margaux floating down the drain due to a cracked pipe. Smart leak tech takes the stress out of any potential plumbing disasters.
Key Things to Consider
If you’re ready to take temperature and humidity control to the next level, here are some tips for choosing and setting up smart tech in your wine sanctuary:
- Carefully measure the total volume of the space where you store wine. This determines how powerful a system you need for adequate temperature and humidity control.
- Select a central, out of the way spot for your cooling, heating, and humidifying tech – you don’t want equipment buzzing away right by your cozy reading nook!
- For whole room systems, make sure to find units with enough vents and fans to effectively circulate air throughout your cellar. This ensures you don’t get any hot or cold dead zones.
- If your bottles are stored against the walls in racks, consider a smart sensor with a wire probe that you can snake behind the racks to track temp right at wine level, not just the room.
- Set your temperature control range at the outset based on the types of wine you have – 12-14°C is ideal for long term aging of reds, while 10-12°C suites whites and shorter-term holds.
- Start humidity control at 70% for optimal wine preservation, then make small adjustments as needed to find the right balance for your cellar’s conditions.
- Add a smart hygrometer you can check remotely to monitor humidity trends over time. This helps you refine the settings.
- Presence sensors help trigger lights on/off based on motion so you don’t accidentally leave bright lights on for long periods when the cellar is empty.
- Determine if a dehumidifier is needed in addition to a humidifier. This depends on your climate and the moisture load of the space.
- Use smart notifications as your warning system for any parameter deviations or emergencies like leaks or temperature spikes.
- Check in on your wine cellar environment periodically via your control app. Like a garden, it may need occasional tweaks!
Enjoy Some Well-Tempered Bottles
And there you have my deep dive into keeping your wine perfectly pampered with smart tech! Hopefully this overview gives you some great ideas for leveling up your collection’s storage situation.
No more counting on makeshift air conditioners in summer or emergency space heaters in winter to try and keep things in check. Let technology’s marvelous monitoring and automation take the stress out of the equation!
I know my wine enthusiasm has jumped several notches knowing my ever-growing assortment of bottles is resting comfortably in a protected cellar sanctuary. Now when friends come over for dinner parties, I can confidently grab a random surprise bottle knowing it will be in peak condition. After all, there’s nothing better than sharing tales and toasts over amazing wines aged to perfection. Here’s to taking sips in good company!
So if you’re a wine buff looking to up your cellar game, consider embracing some smart systems. Here’s to enjoying better bottle storage and truly well-tempered wines! Let the aging and imbibing commence. Cheers!
