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Understanding the Importance of Having a Wine Refrigerator
Wine is a drink that many people enjoy. It is a drink that can be a celebration or a personal joy. Wine is also expensive and so there are many people who want to store it in a way that preserves it and keeps it from going bad.
This is where a wine refrigerator comes in handy, as it helps preserve wine by maintaining the ideal temperature, based on the type/variety of wine that is being stored.
Deciding where to put your wine fridge can be a little tricky. This article will help you figure out the best place for your wine refrigerator.
Where Should I Put My Wine Fridge?
There are many locations where you can use a wine refrigerator, and these include:
- Kitchen
- Home Bar
- Dining Room
- Outdoor Patio
- Garage
- Bedroom
- Basement (Wine Cellar)
- Entertainment Room
You may also want to use a wine fridge in a commercial setting, for example:
- Bar/Nightclub
- Restaurant
- Hotel
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Where Can I Place a Wine Fridge?
Many people like to store their wine in a fridge, but some might be confused as to where exactly they can place their wine cooler?
This article will help you better understand the most popular types of wine cooler, and where they can subsequently be placed:
- Undercounter wine cooler: Front-facing vent, can be placed in almost location (either in a built-in or freestanding position).
- Freestanding wine cooler: Have to be placed in an open location where air can get to the back and side of the unit, as this is usually where the air vents are.
- Countertop wine cooler: These are placed on top of a countertop, and subsequently, are much smaller in size.
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What to consider when purchasing a wine fridge?
Wine can be considered a luxury good and it is important to store it at the perfect temperature to ensure that it lasts.
A wine fridge is a way to store wine at the right temperature and also to display your collection. There are many factors to consider when shopping for the best wine fridge.
Wine fridges come in a variety of shapes and sizes so the first consideration is what size you need. To store more wine, you will need a larger wine fridge. If you live in a hot climate, a compressor-powered wine fridge will be more suitable for your needs. Choose one with the best insulation based on where you live and how often you plan on opening the fridge door.
How do I know what wine fridge I need?
There are many different types of wine coolers to choose from.
If youāre not sure where to start, weāve outlined some important questions that will help you make the right decision.
- What is your budget?
- How many bottles do you plan on storing?
- Do you intend to store both reds and whites?
- Do you need a built-in or free-standing unit?
- What temperature settings are best for your needs?
Weāve discussed each question above, including the most ideal wine refrigerator depending on the answer provided.
What is your budget?
One of the most important questions. The cost of a refrigerator can vary depending on size and style, for example, you can purchase a 10 bottle wine cooler for approximately $150, whilst you can also purchase a 100 bottle wine fridge for over $1500.
Cheaper wine fridges will often have lower quality cooling systems and internal electronics, therefore theyāre more likely to experience temperature fluctuations. This would not be suitable for a wine collector who has a large collection of expensive wine bottles, but may be ok for a casual wine drinker.
More expensive models will provide a more consistent, steady temperature with near to no vibration.
Generally speaking, wine refrigerators are priced in the range from $150 ā $5000
How many bottles do you plan on storing?
The storage capacity is also something to consider when buying a wine fridge since they all come with different shelves for bottles of wine. The more shelves available, the more storage capacity that is available for storing your favourite wines.
If youāre a casual wine drinker, then youāll obviously look for a wine cooler that has a lower bottle capacity than if you were a wine collector, who isnāt necessarily drinking any of the wine.
Itās often the case where people consider a wine fridgeās bottle capacity, but overlook the physical size and weight. A large model will in-turn hold more bottles, but it will require a larger physical space. Then depending on the unitās size, there may be practical implications of getting it into the desired location (door sizes, home layout, etc).
A smaller model might not hold all of your bottles but it will be much easier to put into place.
Do you intend to store both reds and whites?
If youāre looking to store both red and white wine together in one unit, it may be better to purchase a dual zone wine cooler, because they are built with two separate temperature zones, which ensures that each type of wine is cooled at the right temperature.
Do you need a built-in or free-standing wine fridge?
If youāre thinking about buying a wine fridge, you might be wondering if it should be built-in or free-standing. A free-standing wine fridge has its ventilation at the back/sides of the unit, and therefore itās limited in its positional application, since it can only be placed in open spaces. However, a built-in wine cooler usually has front-facing ventilation, and therefore can be placed under-counter or in built-in locations (I.E under a kitchen worktop) whilst still being able to cool its inner compartments effectively. Built-in wine fridges are slightly more expensive, but worth it if youāre looking to position them within an integrated environment.
It should be noted that the ideal environment for storing wine is a cool place, with low humidity levels. This means out of direct sunlight.
The best refrigerator temperature for storing wines is between 45-60 degrees Fahrenheit and at 70% humidity.
Wine storage should be done in an environment where the temperature remains stable and it does not fluctuate. This is important to maintain the chemical balance of the wine.
What temperature settings are best for your needs?
This question describes two main aspects:
1) Wine coolers are usually either powered by a thermoelectric or compressor-based system
Thermoelectric units are not capable of cooling to the low temperatures that compressor wine coolers are. Additionally, they do not operate at the same effectiveness when placed in a warm environment.
2) Wine coolers are available in single-zone, dual-zone and either quad-zone versions.
Depending on the type of wines that you want to store, it may be useful to purchase a wine fridge with more than one cooling compartment, as different wine varieties will have their own unique cooling temperature requirements.
Conclusion
We hope that this article has been insightful and youāve learned more about where to put a wine fridge, whether itās in your home or a commercial setting.
If youāre still looking for more information, read our article on how to choose a wine fridge.
