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Vinotemp's India Hynes Discusses the Latest in Wine Storage Technology

VinotempVinotemp International, a leader in the wine storage industry, has been building premium wine cabinets for over 20 years. Vinotemp is a full-service manufacturer of custom wood wine cabinets and racking, Wine-Mate cooling systems, and a distributor of quality metal wine cellars. Specializing in all aspects of the wine storage industry, with an emphasis on customization. Since 1985, selling over 250,000 wine cellars in the U.S. and overseas.

IntoWine recently caught up with India Hynes, President of Vinotemp, to discuss the latest in wine storage technology.

Sub-Zero Wine Storage Units: Innovation from the Refrigeration Experts

by Janie Franz

Ever since Westye F. Bakke built the first freestanding freezer in the basement of his home in Madison, Wisconsin, over sixty years ago, the company has set a standard for refrigeration innovation. Last year, it was named one of the top ten Green Brands in the US and the UK. It is no wonder then that wine connoisseurs would expect SubZero to create the definitive wine storage unit.

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Vinotemp's India Hynes Discusses the Latest in Wine Storage Technology

VinotempVinotemp International, a leader in the wine storage industry, has been building premium wine cabinets for over 20 years. Vinotemp is a full-service manufacturer of custom wood wine cabinets and racking, Wine-Mate cooling systems, and a distributor of quality metal wine cellars. Specializing in all aspects of the wine storage industry, with an emphasis on customization. Since 1985, selling over 250,000 wine cellars in the U.S. and overseas.

IntoWine recently caught up with India Hynes, President of Vinotemp, to discuss the latest in wine storage technology.

Is wine better or worse with a synthetic cork instead of a natural cork?

QUESTION: Is wine better or worse with a synthetic cork instead of a natural cork?

I hate synthetic corks and love natural cork or Stelvin screw tops. Synthetic corks are often very difficult to pull out of the bottle. They haven’t yet convinced me that a wine can age as well with a synthetic cork as they can with natural cork or even screw top. To me, synthetic cork indicates cheap wine or a wine that is unlikely to be made in a natural way.

Do screw caps on wine bottles indicate a cheap wine?

QUESTION: Do screw caps on wine bottles indicate a cheap wine?

No.  Cheap wine indicates cheap wine.  There is an issue with corks as a small percentage of them will cause a problem with the wine in the bottle.  The most famous of these is TCA which is a bacterium that, while harmless, can cause a wine to smell and taste muted at best or like wet cardboard at worse.  Other issues are imperfect seals which cause a wine to age prematurely.

Should wine be stored flat like in wine racks? Or, is it ok to have it standing up like in most supermarkets?

QUESTION: Should wine be stored flat like in wine racks? Or, is it ok to have it standing up like in most supermarkets?

Madeira is the only wine that should be stored standing up. If the cork fails and falls into the bottle, it will still survive. Any other wine should be stored lying down in a cool, dark, humid environment, away from vibration and fluctuations in temperature. Supermarket shelves have a high turnover, so there is no danger of the wine being stored long enough to have the fact that it is standing have any impact.

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