Author: Luke Shepperson

by Luke Shepperson

Storing Wine Correctly: Wine Storage Tips

Building up a wine collection is becoming an increasingly popular thing to do but, if not stored correctly, your wine could be ruined by environmental factors known to spoil or taint the flavours.

Choosing a CDA wine cooler will eliminate the danger zones in wine storage. With wooden slide out shelves to beautifully present your bottles, electronic temperature control, a UV protected smoked, toughened glass door, humidifiers, temperature alarm and memory function, you can rest assured that your investments are well looked after.



We’ve put together a handy, comprehensive check list to help you keep your wine collection in tip top condition.

Wine Storage: Top Tips

  • Maintain a humidity of between 50 and 80%, as this keeps the corks from getting too moist or dry.

  • Protect your wine from sunlight. UV rays can cause otherwise stable compounds in wine to degrade, potentially ruining your wine.

  • Keep bottles secure and avoid unstable racking. Unnecessary movement could compromise the storage of your collection as the vibration disturbs sediment.

  • Dramatic changes in temperature may spoil taste. Maintaining a constant temperature will preserve the quality of your wines.

  • Strong odours could permeate the corks, tainting the flavours and notes in the bottle. Limit the risk of smells reaching your collection by keeping them in a secure environment.

Here is our rough guide on serving temperatures, to bring alive the flavours and enjoy the best that each has to offer:

White wine:

6°C Champagne

7-8°C Sweet & sparkling wines e.g Muscat

9-10°C Medium whites- e.g Chardonnay, Chablis and Sauvignon Blanc

11°C Full bodied/oaked whites- e.g White burgundy

Red wine:

12°C Juicy fruity- e.g Beaujolais

13°C for young Spanish or Portuguese wines

14°C Madeira

15°C Medium bodied- e.g Chianti, Zinfandel

16°C Rioja, Pinot Noir

17°C Cabernet Sauvignon, Burgundy

18°C Rich, spicy- e.g Bordeaux, Shiraz

by Luke Shepperson

The Heat is On With CDA Warming Drawers



Essential Kitchen & Bathroom Business magazine’s Mike Casey heralds the warming drawer as a “fine example” of how a “quiet and steady appliance…can suddenly blossom and have their day in the sun.”

Useful for much more than plate warming, these drawers allow you to perfect the art of slow cooking as well as: melting, defrosting, making yoghurt and proving dough.

“CDA offers two warming drawers as part of its compact appliances collection. Taking up to six place settings with fan heat and temperature adjustable from 30-80°C. CDA warming drawers also have a non-slip silicone mat so dishes don’t slide around, and a maximum capacity of 25kg.”

Warming drawers are the perfect partners for a CDA oven, whether it is for heating your plates to the right temperature or keep food warm ready for serving.
by Luke Shepperson

10 Reasons Why a Dishwasher is Essential



Washing up by hand takes time – the average dishwasher takes 12 international place settings (a mix of crockery, cutlery and serving dishes) and takes about nine minutes to load and unload. Washing this much in the sink by hand would take about an hour. Some of CDA’s large capacity dishwashers take up to 15 place settings, saving even more time and money.

  • There’s a popular misconception that dishwashers use a lot of water, Not true !  A dishwasher can do a full load using as little as nine litres of water – doing the same amount by hand in the sink would use around 49 litres – no contest !

  • Dishwashers save on energy costs too –  all machines are cold fill and heat exactly the amount of water needed for the wash programme to exactly the right temperature. Washing up in the sink always means adding cold to hot water you have already paid to heat up.

  • Many machines have a delay button so you can take advantage of lower tariff electricity.

  • Dishwashers do it better. Powerful modern detergents and temperatures higher than the hand can stand deliver sparkling results.

  • The dishwasher is more hygienic too. The average tea towel is a hot bed of bugs and bacteria. The machine dries using hot air so there’s no need to wipe cutlery and crockery with a cloth.

  • Washing up can be put into the machine to wait until there is a full load – cutting down on kitchen clutter.

  • Short programmes mean cutlery etc can be washed between courses – really useful at Christmas and on big family occasions.

  • Modern dishwashers make short work of pans, casserole dishes and roasting tins – you really can wash anything that is marked dishwasher safe. In general it is only crystal glass, bone handled knives, hand painted china and some plastic items that can’t be safely washed by machine.

  • Owning a dishwasher puts an end to family rows about whose turn it is to wash up – what are you waiting for?

by Luke Shepperson

Grand Designs for CDA Wine Coolers



July’s edition of Kitchens, Bedrooms & Bathrooms magazine features a stunning period home in Edinburgh that has been refreshed and sympathetically modernised with a new layout that creates the perfect, open plan living space.

“Stunning interiors to inspire your own grand design”

A sleek white, with black glass and steel trim, kitchen design features the perfect under-counter kitchen accessory: CDA’s 30cm stainless steel wine cooler

“The kitchen was the most challenging part of the process…as she explains…I would be spending most of my time in here, so I had to get it right.”

“The island was crucial in making the kitchen function smoothly…[the island] contains a freezer on one side and wine storage unit on the other, with plenty of storage”

A 30cm wine cooler with huge storage capability within a stylish exterior. A humidifier and temperature alarm maintain optimum conditions for storage. It comes with wooden slide out shelves, the capacity to hold up to 20 bottles, electronic temperature control and a UV protected smoked, toughened glass door to protect your wine collection; this is the perfect addition to any functional kitchen design.

by Luke Shepperson

“Light, modern design inspired our extension”



Real Homes magazine’s May feature “Light, modern design inspired our extension” displays the EVP61SS chimney hood and its ability to encompass both great functionality and minimalist design. When choosing the appliances for the new extension, this reader wanted discreet but highly functional equipment and a contemporary look that would provide a clean backdrop for her accent colour.



The CDA EVP61SS is a contemporary stainless steel extractor with 3 speeds plus an intensive setting, a touch control panel, as well as a filter saturation warning light that makes maintenance hassle free. It also has a 15 minute timer allowing the extractor to switch off automatically after cooking.