Wine cabinets 101

Most people have at least one treasured bottle of wine and, as Gary Brown of Harvey Norman says, it doesn’t matter if it cost $10 or $4000, you still need to protect its integrity. “Many people have a story to tell about the wines in their collection, so you want them to be in their best condition,” he says. And that’s where a wine cabinet comes in. 

With temperature fluctuation one of the most damaging factors for a wine’s development – when bottles are exposed to heatwaves and other changing conditions – cabinets provide a consistent setting that lies within the optimal window; between 12 and 14 degrees, Gary says. Cabinets also help shield bottles from light, with UV rays particularly harmful to wine, also providing the right level of humidity for the maintenance of corks and labels, as well as preventing vibrations. 

Cabinets start in price from around $700 and go up to $10,000, although there are more expansive options that lie beyond that, including walk-in spaces that hold up to 20,000 bottles. “The majority of the market is made up of the cabinets for about 50 bottles,” Gary says. Commonly, these are found under kitchen benches, putting everyday wines in easy reach. “But these same people tend to come back and buy another one because they fill them up so quickly, so the ideal cabinet size can often be the ones that hold up to 190 bottles.”

With that in mind, it’s important to consider where you’re headed with your collection and which types of wines you wish to buy in the future, as well as the quantities you may be sourcing. And for those who don’t consider themselves wine collectors, but simply like to have good wine on hand, dual-zone cabinets ensure all the favourite wines are ready to drink at the ideal temperatures.

To assess your needs and learn more about the wine cabinet options to suit your home, visit your nearest Harvey Norman store.