I have a small (50 bottle) wine refrigerator that I use to store some of my better wines. It does a great job with maintaining the correct temperature. The humidity is maintained with a small tray filled with water. The problem is that I have noticed that a musty smell has developed inside. First - I assume the smell is caused by some mold or mildew that has developed - is this potentially harmful to the wine being stored? Second - what can I do to correct the problem?
Answer From Expert Roger Bohmrich MW
Some wine refrigerators have a replaceable filter, so you should check if yours does. Are you changing the water frequently and cleaning the tray thoroughly when you do? You may want to use distilled rather than tap water, as this could be the source of the odor.
If the smell is not corrected by a new filter or water, then you may need to remove all the bottles, putting them temporarily in a refrigerator while you carefully clean the interior, racks and tray with a clean, damp sponge and dry with a cloth. Then replace the bottles, fill the tray again and see if the problem has been resolved. Last, you could try using baking soda as an odor absorbent. Put the soda in a small glass bowl rather than in the box, which could be affected by the high humidity.
In any event, it is conceivable but very unlikely that the mold, if that is the issue, could be absorbed by the wine around or through the cork.
