If you enjoy wine on a regular basis and don’t have a wine refrigerator, it might be time to consider getting one. Whether shopping for a cooler, cellar or fridge – the terms are interchangeable – here are some tips and amenities to consider before you buy.
Think big(ger)
I have never heard anyone say they wish they’d bought a smaller wine cooler. (In fact, frequently just the opposite.) So size up at least 8-12 bottles from what you think you’re going to need. I promise, over the holidays and when you host a special occasion, you’ll be glad to have the extra storage space.
Bottle size matters
When a wine refrigerator states it holds 50 bottles, it means 50 standard Bordeaux-sized ones. Champagne, pinot noir and some Napa Valley cabernet sauvignon bottles are wider and bulkier and will take up more space. If you have a mix of varietals you may need to plan on your storage capacity decreasing by as much as 25 percent.
Freestanding and built-in cellar units are different
Most people don’t know to ask the question and it ends up being a costly mistake. Built-in coolers typically have the air vents in the front while freestanding units vent out the back. A back-vented refrigerator will overheat if it’s enclosed in a cabinet. So, unless it’s stated on the product description don’t assume it can be installed either way.
Here are some units with interesting features, depending on your needs.
If you’re looking for a basic unit
Newair 33 Bottle Single Zone Free Wine Cooler
This is a solid unit if your goal is simply keeping your wine chilled.?The cooler comes with an easy-touch digital display to adjust the temperature between 41 and 64 degrees. It’s equipped with removable racks to?provide customized storage, and?the stainless-steel?design looks great in any room. One-year limited warranty. 33 bottle capacity. $400, Wayfair, wayfair.com.
A good option for a two-zone cellar
U-Line 5.1 Dual-Zone Panel Ready Wine Cooler
If you want to store white and red wines in a single unit at the perfect temperature for each check out this dual-zone wine refrigerator. It has stainless steel inside and out, a specialized convection cooling system for fast cool down and constant temperatures and two independently controlled areas, each with 38-65 degree temperature ranges. The full-depth lower interior gives you extra storage space, and the wine racks offer 17 different shelf positions to accommodate a variety of bottle shapes. This model can be built-in or used freestanding and is available with stainless steel or integrated door finishes. One-year warranty. Holds up to 49 bottles. $5,200, Fuse Specialty Appliances, Fort Lauderdale, fusespecialtyappliances.com.
A great addition to your kitchen
Sub-Zero Designer 24? Panel Ready Wine Cooler
If you want to store more than a couple of cases of wine this could be a good choice. Two of the features of the Designer 24? are the dual evaporators that keep the humidity at a consistent level (to keep wine corks from drying out) and the UV-resistant glass door to shield the wine from harmful light. It also has magnetic door seals that keep the cold air in and you can store up to eight bottles on each of non-vibrating roller glide shelves. The cooler can be connected to your home security system so if there’s a power failure or power malfunction with the unit it sends an alert to your phone. It comes with a full two-year warranty, along with a full five-year sealed system warranty and a limited 12-year sealed system warranty. LED lighting and inventory tile system included. 102 bottle capacity. $7,340, Fuse Specialty Appliances, Fort Lauderdale, fusespecialtyappliance.com.
If you’re purchasing wines by the case
VinoView L 155 Smart Wi-Fi Single Zone Wine Cellar with Frameless Glass Door
One of Wine Enthusiast’s top sellers, this unit has built-in Wi-Fi allowing you to control your wine cellar temperature from your cell phone. The shelves showcase the bottles label-forward and slide out to easily access the wine (even the back bottles.) The inside LED lighting is adjustable and is available in frameless glass and seamless, stainless steel doors. Its Steady-Temp compressor cooling technology provides consistent temperatures, and the front air-venting system gives you the flexibility to have it freestanding or built-in. The cellar runs quietly and comes with shelf tags to organize your collection. Stores up to 155 bottles. Standard Warranty: 1-year parts and labor, 3-years sealed system (parts only). $2,999, wineentusiast.com.
For the serious collector
EuroCave Revelation Double L Wine Cellar
EuroCave has long been known as the “king” of wine cellars, and the Revelation Double L showcases all of its top amenities. The cellar’s UV-free lighting brightly and safely showcases your collection. Its unique self-closing shelving system protects the bottles from vibration and has space between shelves to prevent them from touching to keep the labels intact. The MDS shelf design gives you a capacity of up to 12 bottles. This unit has an energy efficiency rating of A+ and uses 55 percent less power than traditional wine cabinets. An inventory labeling system is included. This wine cellar is actually two single units, side by side, with opposite hinged doors offering capacity of up to 364 bottles. EuroCave Revelation is the only wine cellar on the market that provides a full 5-year parts and labor warranty. Starting at $13,990, wineenthusiast.com.
Peg San Felippo is a certified sommelier who served as a judge at the recent Los Angeles Invitational Wine & Spirit Challenge, the annual American Fine Wine Competition, South Florida’s home-grown national wine event; and THE Rosé Competition.
Originally Posted On: https://www.sun-sentinel.com/2023/04/07/the-perfect-chill-how-to-choose-a-wine-cooler-cellar-or-fridge/