If you are a serious wine collector you may be thinking about investing in a wine refrigerator. Even if you consider wine collecting to be a hobby or just enjoy keeping a few bottles on hand for special occasions, a wine refrigerator is something you may want to buy.
Also known as wine cellars or wine cabinets, they ensure that wine ages properly under optimal conditions of temperature and humidity. Wine refrigerators also protect wines from the sun’s ultraviolet rays as well as vibrations, both of which cause wines to age prematurely.
Styles, Design, and Sizes
Wine refrigerators are available in a number of different sizes and styles. Large or small, fancy or plain, there is a wine refrigerator to fit almost anyone’s needs.
Wine refrigerators are either free standing, mounted under or built into cabinets. They can be located just about anywhere in the house including the basement, garage, and dining room or on your kitchen counter. Units have either solid or glass panel doors. Many models with glass doors have interior lighting to show off your collection.
When it comes to size, keep in mind that it is better to buy a wine refrigerator with a larger capacity than you think you need. Most likely, your collection will “grow” into it. Small wine refrigerators hold anywhere from 6 to 20 bottles. Medium sized units hold about 60 bottles, while larger ones hold 110 to 500 bottles comfortably. Anything beyond that requires a real wine cellar.
Many larger wine refrigerators are designed to look like pieces of furniture such as a credenza, cabinet, or china cupboard. They are made of cherry, mahogany, or oak with beautiful finishes that blend in with living room decor. Less fancy models usually have a stainless steel or faux wood finish.
Price
How much you are willing to spend depends on how serious a collector you are or plan to be. Prices range from $200- 300 for 20 bottle units to $1,000 for units that hold 60 bottles and $2,000 and up for high end units with the capacity to store 110 to 500 bottles.
It is possible to save money by assembling a larger wine refrigerator in the range of 110 to 500 bottles yourself. It will not be as glamorous looking as other high-end models, but will provide the same benefits while fitting into your budget.
What Features to Look For
The purpose of a wine refrigerator is to duplicate the conditions found in a wine cellar, namely temperature, humidity, darkness, and lack of vibrations. Listed below are some important features to look for when buying the best wine refrigerator for your needs. As with most products, the more expensive it is, the more features it has.
1. The unit should be durable and constructed well, not flimsy or cheaply made
2. The interior and exterior should be easy to clean and to maintain.
3. Interior controls should be water resistant.
4. If you plan on storing both red and white wines, look for a dual temperature zone unit (one for red and one for white) so that wines can be stored together.
5. Temperature and humidity controls or monitors. Whether they are manual or digital, they should be precise and fine tuned without difficulty.
6. Thermoelectric cooling. Most units use this technology, which means there are no vibrations.
7. Good air circulation inside the unit.
8. Rigid foam type insulation is better than fiberglass insulation, which soaks up moisture and can lead to problems down the road. The amount of insulation is important when the unit will be located in an area with fluctuating temperatures, for example in the garage.
9. Adjustable shelves
10. Glass doors, if present, should be double glazed (thermal) and tinted to protect wine from the sun.
11. Look for adjustable leveling legs (similar to a refrigerator) for under-the-counter models
12. Locks if there are children in your home.
