The best mini cellar?

[Glass_A_Day]

Ideas, brands, must have features? Let me know what you all think.

[hotwine]

If you're looking for a mini (for 50 btls or less), recommend you spend as little as possible. I bought a Chinese import from HEC Corp. at Sam's a couple of years ago, 34 btl capacity, smoked glass door, temp control but no humidity control. Holds 56F and 60% humidity in our laundry room just fine. Think I gave $299 for it, and it's probably available for half that if you shop around. (Later added a EuroCave 260 and then chilled the old storm cellar/bomb shelter for a total capacity now of at least 1250 btls.) Check Sam's, Home Depot, Lowe's, and Costco for the best deals. Saw the same unit in Lowe's last week for $199, and I've seen it somewhere as low as $149. There's no need to spend big bucks for small capacity.

[Glass_A_Day]

Wow, that's less than I thought. Good to hear. I was planning on starting small as I only have a few "ageworthy" bottles as of now. The rest are pretty much ready to go. Thanks for the advice hotwine. Will get to shopping post haste.

[Glass_A_Day]

I was thinking of doing the same to my storm cellar/bomb shelter in comming years. How is the electrical use in doing that? For now I ended up trading my wine guy some labor for a Lord Winston 50 bottle he had "lying around."

[hotwine]

You did well to get the LW 50 for some labor. As for electrical service in the cellar.... had an electrician do all the work: removed and replaced service box for outbuildings, rewired workshop, laid underground service to cellar, installed a breaker box on the outside, with overhead light and switch, and service inside for split refrigeration system, plus lighting. And along the way, installed an outlet at the barbecue area, so I'm no longer cooking by flashlight. He was moonlighting from his real job, so charged me $20/hour. Wound up being about a grand, I think. The trench from the house for the conduit ran 180 feet. There has been NO impact on electricity consumption! Nada, zilch, zero. <P>I should add that about the same time, our old Sears deepfreeze died, and replaced it with a super-efficient upright. Can only conclude that the added consumption for the cellar chiller was offset by the more efficient freezer and upgraded service components.<P>[This message has been edited by hotwine (edited 01-08-2003).]<p>[This message has been edited by hotwine (edited 01-08-2003).]

[Glass_A_Day]

Thanks hotwine. You have given me food for thought.

[Bucko]

Careful GAD, Hotsie will have you herding his cattle before long..... he is a shifty dude (retired Army you know).

[Glass_A_Day]

Cattle? I hope the job pays well.....

[Thomas]

Free steak every night...

[hotwine]

Nah, Buckster, I didn't retire from the Army; just did my duty and went back to makin' a living.<P>Raising cattle doesn't pay well at all, but Foodie's right - it does keep the freezer full of lean & clean fresh beef.

[Glass_A_Day]

Sounds like it's worth it. I'll take the job. I do have a tendency to go straight for the tenderloins though....Only two per cow....May get expensive having me on staff. <IMG SRC="http://www.wines.com/ubb2/wink.gif">

[Glass_A_Day]

The new LW is up and running. Seems whisper quiet and holds the temp well. Very pretty unit also. Life is good sometimes....