Wine Refrigerators - A Shopping Guide for Beginners

Choosing a wine refrigerator can be a daunting task. First, if you visit local appliance stores or big box outlets, there are very few models to choose from. Second, there are so many sizes, features, etc. over a wide price range. Lastly, there seems to be a lack of information about wine storage. Where to start? Let’s review some basic facts about wine storage:

1. Wine should be stored at around 70 % humidity. A wine cooler typically has controls to allow you to adjust the humidity level for the exact types of wine your store.
2. A wine fridge offers simple wine storage solutions for anyone as it holds wine at the ideal temperature. Large wine cellars can be expensive and not practical for most people.
3. If you buy both red and white wines, the optimum cooling temperatures will vary.

Now that you have these basics, you can narrow your search by considering the following:

1. Capacity needed – Wine coolers are available in almost any capacity imaginable from a single bottle wine chiller to large cellars to accommodate hundreds of bottles. If you are working with a limited budget or have limited space in your home, you should choose a compact wine cooler to store a modest wine collection. However, if your budget allows, consider buying a cooler that will store approximately 50 or so bottles. This will assure that you won’t outgrow your new wine refrigerator as your wine collections gets larger.
2. Cooling method – Basically, there are two choices for powering the refrigerator: traditional compressor or thermoelectric cooling. Traditional compressors have superior reliable cooling mechanisms (similar to a regular kitchen refrigerator), but operate with vibration which may not be suitable for certain wines. Thermoelectric wine refrigerators consume higher energy,and working life is not as long as compressor type.
3. Features desired – Like any other appliance, wine coolers have various features to make them more attractive for consumers. Examples of options include dual zone temperature control (handy for storing both red and white wines), locking doors, UV glass, fixed or sliding racks, humidity adjusters, etc.
4. Style – After considering the first three items (capacity, cooling technology, and features), the last thing on the checklist is style. Some kitchens or bar areas with limited space will find a countertop wine cooler to be quite effective. Others may prefer an under counter wine refrigerator to integrate with their existing kitchen appliances.