If you follow me on Instagram, you probably saw that I partnered with the brand ArteVino to test their COSY wine cabinet model. It’s been a few months now since the COSY was installed in my home, so it’s time to share my impressions with you. To begin, I will briefly review the important criteria to keep in mind to preserve wine in optimal conditions. Of course, I will explain how the COSY model is built to adequately fulfill all these criteria. Finally, I will share my opinion on the ArteVino COSY wine cabinet.
The criteria for optimal wine conservation
Any true wine lover generally wishes to age his bottles of wine in the best conditions. And to do so, it is important to always keep in mind the criteria that make a wine age in optimal conditions, namely a constant temperature, an adapted hygrometry, darkness, absence of vibration and an adequate air circulation.
Temperature
The ideal temperature for aging a wine is around 12°C (at a higher temperature, the wine will tend to evolve more quickly, and at a lower temperature too slowly). Another important aspect is the stability of the temperature, as too many variations are harmful to the wine. ArteVino’s COSY model has polyurethane foam insulation and aluminum interior walls that allow for effective temperature distribution inside the cellar. Moreover, it is equipped with an ultra-efficient cooling system and a heating resistor to stabilize the temperature. COSY displays the actual temperature of the cellar at all times to allow constant control of the temperature in the blink of an eye.
Hygrometry
The humidity level inside your wine cabinet should always be between 65 and 80%. Below this level and over a prolonged period of time, corks may dry out and the wine may leak. Too much humidity can cause mold and damage corks and labels. The COSY cabinet is constructed with stuccoed aluminum interior walls that are highly effective against condensation and ensure proper moisture distribution. Finally, COSY comes with a humidity cassette filled with clay balls that have the effect of bringing more humidity if needed (especially if you live in a particularly dry area). COSY also displays the humidity level inside the cellar so you can check and correct it if necessary.
Protection From Light
Ultraviolet rays cause tannins to degrade, so it is highly recommended to store your wines in the dark. Therefore, choose a cabinet with a solid door or a glass door that is treated to filter out ultraviolet rays. The anti-U.V. treatment on the glass doors of the COSY model ensures a 97% filtration rate.
Lack of Vibration
Vibrations are damaging to the evolution of the wine in the long term and are particularly harmful on the oldest vintages which are often very fragile. The polyurethane foam insulation of the COSY model avoids frequent start-up of the compressor and therefore limits vibrations. Moreover, the compressor in question is isolated from the rest of the cabinet and rests on silent blocks. COSY is equipped with 2 adjustable feet to ensure a good stability. Finally, the bottle racks do not rest directly on the walls or on the back of the cabinet to avoid any possibility of vibrations.
Air Circulation
This is the last criterion to keep in mind. Air that does not circulate and is not renewed can lead to the development of mold and bacteria. The pressure difference between the two openings in the COSY cabinet allows the air inside the cabinet to circulate and renew itself (warm air rises and cool air falls).
My Thoughts on the ArteVino COSY Cabinet
POSITIVE
. A state-of-the-art wine cabinet to preserve your precious bottles in the best conditions
. Quality materials
. Very quiet
. Reliable
. Built-in or free-standing
. 2 cabinet models: an aging cellar and a service cellar
. Recognized know-how and expertise
. Made in France
NEGATIVE
. A storage capacity of only 39 bottles (which can be increased to 52 in storage mode to optimize the capacity of the cabinet)
. The price
I have been using the COSY cabinet for a little over 6 months now and I must say that I have nothing but positive things to share with you. As soon as I received the cellar, I immediately noticed that it was built with quality materials. On several occasions, I checked the actual temperature and humidity with a thermometer and a hygrometer and the test was always accurate. As for the humidity level within the cabinet, it never dropped below 60%.
My wine cabinet is located in the dining room and I was very positively surprised by the very low noise level it generates. You can barely hear the compressor when it starts up.
I think it’s particularly clever that ArteVino has decided to offer two models: a maturing wine cabinet and a serving wine cabinet. I personally tested the maturing wine cabinet, but with a bit of retrospect, maybe I should have opted for the serving one which allows you to serve your wines at the right temperature (I already own two maturing wine cabinets).
For a big wine lover like me, the capacity of 39 to 52 bottles may seem very small, but the COSY model is primarily aimed at wine lovers with little space or wishing to have a high-end wine cabinetin their kitchen. And as for the price, I concede that it is in the high range, but it s in my opinion totally justified. I personally prefer to pay more and own the best in wine preservation and maturing technology. Peace of mind is also very important. ArteVino is a brand of the EuroCave Group, a world leader in wine conservation and service. So there is no doubt about the quality and reliability of the product which is built in France. I myself own two EuroCave cabinets, one of which is over 15 years old, and they both work like a charm! In the end, it’s all a matter of choice, you can always pay less, but don’t expect the same level of quality… And if issues or repairs appear sooner than expected, the initial savings might not be worth it…
I hope I have enlightened you and please feel free to contact me if you have any questions about the ArteVino COSY model or more general questions about purchasing a wine cabinet.
To learn more about the ArteVino COSY model, click here.
This article is a collaboration with ArteVino. I received the COSY model from the brand in order to test it and share with you my opinion on the product. I was not paid by the brand to write this article.
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