If you’re a new wine enthusiast, you may find yourself with a small collection of bottles and nowhere to store them. It was once two or three bottles on your counter, but now maybe you have more than five bottles that you want to age for a few years. Will you leave them on your counter for the next three years? Hopefully not.
The perfect solution for storing your beautiful bottles is a high-quality wine fridge! You may think wine fridges are massive appliances only hardcore wine connoisseurs need, but a wine cooler is ideal for anyone who loves wine, even if you only have a few bottles.
If you’re building up a collection of bottles, we recommend starting with a 12-bottle wine fridge! Keep reading to learn why 12-bottle fridges are an excellent cooler if your wine obsession is growing.
Top Benefits of a 12-Bottle Wine Fridge
So why is a 12-bottle wine fridge a stellar investment? There are several reasons we will explain below. We know it may seem unnecessary, but when you understand the benefits, you’ll wonder how you ever enjoyed wine without one of these stylish fridges.
1. Proper Wine Storage
First, having a wine cooler refrigerator means you can control the temperature and humidity surrounding your bottles. Proper wine storage keeps your wine fresh and delicious, as it should be.
Wine is surprisingly sensitive, as it can be ruined by UV rays, extreme temperatures, high or low humidity, and even vibrations. Wine coolers give you complete control over the storage environment, so every bottle is perfect when you open it.
2. Compact Size
Buying a wine refrigerator can feel like a big commitment, but a 12-bottle fridge is compact and sleek, so it’s ideal for smaller kitchens or dining rooms.
A 12-bottle wine fridge is typically only a few feet high, so it’s easy to build one into your kitchen counter or slide it under a table if that’s easier. A compact wine fridge like a 12-bottle cooler allows you to store wine properly without renovating your entire cellar or taking up all the space in your kitchen.
3. Bottle Organization
We beg of you not to haphazardly leave your bottles around the house. Not only can it compromise the quality of the wine, but it can also result in misplaced or forgotten bottles. It’s tragic if you’re looking for the perfect pinot noir to go with your steak dinner, but all you can find is a chardonnay.
Keeping your wine bottles beautifully organized in a quality fridge means you can comfortably and easily peruse your available bottles and decide which is best for the situation!
4. Decent Capacity
As mentioned, one of the fabulous benefits of a 12-bottle fridge is the compact size, but it also offers generous capacity. Four-bottle fridges are a decent option for people who don’t drink wine too often or keep bottles in the house as they age. But if you drink wine regularly and want to create a small collection, a 12-bottle wine refrigerator is perfect.
On the other hand, you’re probably not at the wine-loving level that you need a cellar or a fridge that fits hundreds of bottles. A wine fridge that holds 12 bottles at the ideal temperature gives you decent capacity without taking over your home, making it the ideal option for a wine lover at the beginning of their wine journey.
5. Storage Versatility
If you’re still on the fence about investing in a wine fridge, it’s important to note that wine fridges aren’t just for wine.
Many wine coolers have adjustable or removable shelves. You can arrange the fridge interior to fit water bottles, soda cans, beer cans, and any other beverages you want to keep chilled. You can even store food in your wine cooler refrigerator if necessary! So if your wine obsession waxes and wanes, your wine cooler will still be useful.
Other Wine Fridge Sizes
If you love the idea of a wine cooler but aren’t sure if a 12-bottle fridge is the right size, there are plenty of other sizes to consider! Wine fridge sizes can range from super small four-bottle coolers to massive fridges that can hold over 200 bottles. If you’re still shopping for the best home wine fridge, below are the size categories to choose from!
- 4-5 Bottle Wine Cooler
- 6-25 Bottle Wine Cooler
- 26-37 Bottle Wine Cooler
- 38-66 Bottle Wine Cooler
- 67-110 Bottle Wine Cooler
- 111-200 Bottle Wine Cooler
- 200+ Bottle Wine Cooler
Should You Get a 12-Bottle Wine Fridge?
If your love of wine is thriving and you want to take your wine drinking to the next level, a 12-bottle wine fridge will help you care for your wine bottles and let them age beautifully.
So, no more keeping your wine collection on the kitchen counter wine rack or in a dusty cabinet. Treat your favorite bottles of wine with respect and appreciation by investing in a high-quality wine fridge.
FAQs
If you have more questions about investing in a wine cooler, below are some related questions.
How much do wine coolers cost?
The price of a wine cooler depends on its capacity, product features, and quality. Small coolers can cost under $100, while massive wine fridges can cost thousands. The average price for a high-quality 12-bottle wine fridge is about $500.
How many wine bottles warrant a wine cellar?
People typically don’t need a wine cellar until they collect 500 to 1,000 bottles. Wine coolers can fit a few hundred bottles, so you don’t need a cellar until you reach four digits.
Should I get a wine dispenser?
If you tend not to finish wine bottles promptly after opening them, a wine dispenser is a brilliant investment. Wine dispensers keep the wine in the opened bottle fresh for weeks or months so that you can enjoy the same bottle of your favorite wine for a long time.
