• Wine Refrigerator Basics
• Freestanding Wine Refrigerator
• Built-In Wine Refrigerator
• Single Zone Refrigerators
• Dual Zone Refrigerators
• Wine Serving Temperature
• Cleaning the Cooler
• Thermoelectric Cooling
• LED Lighting
• Tempered Glass Doors
• Thermostat Control
• Thermopane Glass Door
• Tinted Glass
• Auto Defrost

Wine Refrigerator Basics : Consumer Buyer's Guide

Wine refrigerators are useful for keeping the correct wine serving or storage temperature and humidity, particularly in warmer climates. There are two main types of wine coolers: freestanding wine refrigerators and built-in wine refrigerators. These wine coolers hold from 1 to hundreds of standard 750mL wine bottles. The ideal serving temperature for wine and champagne ranges between 40°F and 65°F (between 4°C and 18°C). Internal temperature is adjustable and some models have multiple independent temperature control zones for storing different types of wines, some refrigerators come equipped with slide-out shelves, auto defrost and safety locks. Most units come with a thermoelectric cooler that produces less vibration.

The most important difference between a beverage cooler, a refrigerator and a wine refrigerator is that wine refrigerators are set to a higher temperature range because wine should not be stored or served as cold as beer or other beverages. On average, wine coolers will not offer temperatures below 46ºF. Beverage coolers and refrigerators are similar, though beverage coolers frequently do not offer the adjustable shelving and door storage that a refrigerator will, and they often have glass doors in order to display the contents. A wine and beverage cooler has a wide temperature range so it may be used for either, but keep in mind if you want to store both at the same time you will either have too-cold wine or too-warm drinks depending on how you choose to set the internal thermostat.

Wine Refrigerator Models

Freestanding Wine Refrigerators:

Freestanding refrigerators are great for any floor space or area. All models feature either a single or dual temperature control zone. Other common attributes are a safety lock and auto defrost, although these are not available on all wine refrigerators. It’s not recommended to use freestanding coolers in a built-in enclosure area since these units don’t have a front vent to release the heat. The subsequent overheating will noticeably decrease the refrigerators ability to maintain its internal temperature and cool your wine, shortening the refrigerators overall lifespan as the compressor is continually overworked. The only way you can place the unit under your countertop, is if you allow sufficient space around the unit for the heat produced during operation to properly dissipate. We strongly suggest leaving a gap of 2 to 4 inches on each side of the cooler as well as on top and in the back to create the needed airflow around the unit. Place your refrigerator away from direct sunlight or any heat-producing sources, as this will force the refrigerator to work even harder, making it less likely to cool your wine properly.

The Most Common Freestanding Refrigerators are:

Freestanding on the floor:

These wine coolers can stand in any interior space around your home near an electrical outlet. They come in different sizes and in single or multiple temperature control zones.

Countertop Wine Refrigerators:

Countertop wine refrigerators are great for those who don't have the floor space or an area under their countertop for a wine refrigerator. Some can store multiple bottles.

Countertop Wine Chillers:

Wine chillers can chill a bottle in as fast as 5 minutes. They can sit on a table during dinner for easy access without being in the way, and moved back to the counter for storage afterward. Some models even come with a 12 Volt cigarette lighter plug if camping or tailgating.

Built-In Wine Refrigerators:

Built-in wine refrigerators are a good replacement for outdated trash compactors or any other older undercounter appliance in a kitchen or wet bar, making it perfect if you want to free up some floor space. Units include a front vent to dissipate compressor heat during operation; they also come in a variety of colors and sizes to fit anything from 15 to over 150 bottles. Its stainless steel or wood trim and doors add an elegant look to any space around the house. Always position your refrigerator away from direct sunlight or any heat-producing sources, like a dishwasher, as this will force units to work harder to keep cool. Placement near an appliance that may cause vibration such a trash compactor is also detrimental to sediments.

Wine Refrigerators, Best Usage Tips

Single Zone Refrigerators

A single zone wine refrigerator refers to a unit with only one thermostat control, the temperature control knob is often located on the back of the refrigerator. You may store both red and white wines together in a single zone unit if separate zones are unavailable. By placing your red wines in the top shelves of the unit you will be storing them in the warmest section of the cooler. There is usually only a 5 to 8 degree temperature difference between the top and bottom of a single zone wine refrigerator. Ultimately, your red wines will be too cold or your whites too warm depending on how you choose to set the master thermostat of the unit.

Dual or Triple Zone Refrigerators

A multiple zone wine refrigerator refers to units with 2 or more thermostat controls. Most coolers come with digital controls to adjust the different temperatures. The best way to accommodate both red and white wines within the same unit is to purchase a dual or triple zone wine cooler. Typically, white wines should be stored in the temperature range of 50ºF to 62ºF and red wines will be stored between 58ºF to 68ºF. A multiple zone cooler will allow you to maintain distinct and separate temperature zones within the same cooler. Many times these units will offer a larger storage capacity for one style of wine over the other so be sure to purchase the unit that best suits your individual drinking preference. For triple zone coolers, you can keep your ready-to-serve whites and reds at their appropriate temperatures and in the middle zone keep wines that are still aging at their correct temperature (50-60º F).

Wine Storage Temperatures vs. Wine Serving Temperatures

Many wine experts feel that red and white wines should be stored in the same temperature range (mid 50’s Fahrenheit) for proper maturation. Some choose to store young wines a few degrees warmer and older wines a few degrees cooler. Wines that are not being aged can be stored at serving temperature and will last for up to 6 months. Properly stored wine should then be served in the temperature ranges discussed below

Wine Serving Temperature

Cleaning the Cooler

Caution: Make sure to minimize the exposure of water to any electronic or control parts.

Wine Refrigerator Features

Thermoelectric Cooling

Many smaller wine refrigerators employ thermoelectric cooling instead of utilizing a traditional compressor and refrigerant. A thermoelectric wine cooler will contain what is referred to as a cooling node which is simply a ceramic tile that has electrical current passed through it. As the electrical current is passed through the cooling node the outside of the tile will heat up and the other side (the side facing into the cooler) will cool down. Typically, a thermoelectric wine cooler will contain small fans inside the unit which help to evenly distribute the cool temperatures being created by the node throughout the interior of the unit. Due to the lack of a compressor, thermoelectric coolers will produce fewer vibrations which in turn will equal fewer disturbances of the sediments within the wine bottles. Please keep in mind that thermoelectric wine coolers are not completely silent as the internal fans needed to distribute the cold air within the cooler will produce some noise. Overall, they are usually quieter than compressor driven models.

LED lighting

LED creates light using nothing but the movement of electricity along the path of its semiconductor. LED's are now found on almost every electronic device. They work very similar to standard light bulbs, except for the fact that LEDs are much smaller, brighter and long-lasting. LED lights do not get hot, making them perfect for many electronic applications where heat is detrimental. they require far less electric power than traditional light bulbs due to their efficiency.

Tempered Glass Door

Tempered glass is four to five times stronger than standard glass and does not break into sharp shards when it breaks. Tempered glass is manufactured through a process of extreme heating and rapid cooling, making it harder than normal glass.

Thermostat Control

Every wine cooler comes with an adjustable thermostat so you can adjust the temperature accordingly. Different wines require a different temperature, that’s why thermostats are really important when preserving your red or white wines. Some wine coolers have a single thermostat and others come with 2 or 3 independent thermostats to preserve different types of wine within one unit.

Thermopane Glass Door

Thermopane glass doors consist of two glass panes that contain air or gas sealed between them, making the glass stronger than one pane glass doors. They’re warm to the touch, and minimize the potential of frost and condensation on the inside pane. Thermopane glass doors were developed to be more energy efficient.

Tinted Glass

Tinted, especially UV resistant, glass protects aging wine from sunlight. Ultraviolet light is harmful to wine because it degrades organic compounds, which ruins the wine’s flavor. Sparkling wine is more sensitive to light than other types of wine and should be stored in the darkest parts of a wine refrigerator. It is still recommended that all wine refrigerators, even those with tinted glass, be kept away from direct sunlight as the heat from the light can keep the wine refrigerator from reaching optimal temperatures.

Auto-Defrost

Auto-defrost is a technique which regularly defrosts the evaporator in a refrigerator or freezer. The auto-defrost element is compact and separated from the main cabinet space, allowing it to be heated for short periods of time to dispose of any ice that has formed.