Vintage Cellars Monterey ETL 12-bottle - Manual (Page 11)

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a thermostat maladjustment or ventilation problems. Call WineKeeper for instructions.
7. What kind of regular maintenance should I perform on my unit?
Visually inspect the latex rings on each stopper assembly for wear or splits. Replace as needed. Inspect all
O-rings on the inlet and outlet sides of the regulator and any quick disconnect fittings on your unit.
Replace when showing signs of wear or cracking (silicone lubricant or mineral oil applied to these O-rings
will increase their longevity). Clean all parts that come in contact with the wine every 4 weeks (see
cleaning instructions). Replace the white pinch clamps as needed.
8. How do I replace my stopper assembly?
You must first be sure to pinch off the nitrogen pinch clamp and release pressure from the wine bottle,
then remove the complete assembly from the cabinet by loosening the hose clamp using either a slotted
screw driver or a 1⁄4" socket or nut driver. Pull the wine tube (with the hose clamp still connected) off of
the stainless steel siphon tube that passes through the stopper assembly. Pull off the 1⁄4" O.D. nitrogen
supply line from the brass fitting on the rear of the stopper assembly. (Before replacing this tube on the
brass fitting later, you may need to cut off approximately 3/8" so that you will have a tight connection).
Now that you have completely removed the stopper assembly from the cabinet, grab the stainless tube at
the bottom where it is bent, and pull it out of the stopper assembly. Insert the stainless tube into the new
stopper assembly, use a little water to lubricate the first 3"- 4". Simply reverse above steps to re-install.
9. Which gas is better for my WineKeeper unit, nitrogen or argon?
Nitrogen, which comprises approximately 80% of the air we breathe, is inert (it has no odor, taste or
color, and displaces oxygen). Argon has similar properties, but is slightly heavier than air and tends to
form a blanket between the surface of the wine and any air trapped in the bottle. Neither gas has any
special properties, such as neutralizing or encapsulating oxygen. Oxygen is what causes wine to oxidize.
While argon has a slight advantage, its benefits are minimal due to its higher expense and lower
availability. The only time argon out-performs nitrogen is when sparging an opened and poured bottle of
fresh wine. Sparging is introducing a gas into a bottle to force out as much air as possible before re-corking
it. Using argon in a properly used and maintained WineKeeper may slightly increase the wines useful life
on the machine.
10. How long will wine last on my WineKeeperTM unit?
The length of time wine will remain fresh on your WineKeeper will vary based on a number of factors:
temperature, wine age and wine type, and cleanliness of your machine. This makes it impossible to give a
firm length of time. As a guideline you should expect wines to last approximately one to three weeks.
Some wines, such as ports and sauternes, can remain sound for many weeks.
11. Why does my wine appear to be cloudy or flakey?
Cloudy or flakey wine may be a symptom of a dirty system and poor maintenance. Incorrect use of the
system may also contribute to this condition. See "Operating and Cleaning Instructions".