If you’ve been searching for the perfect place to store your bottles of wine, there’s no better way to start than by purchasing a wine cooler. Before you go to buy one, however, it’s crucial to understand how wine coolers work, what the different types of wine coolers are, and how a wine cooler can drastically improve your wine storage techniques. This article will cover everything you need to know about wine coolers
What Is a Wine Cooler?
A wine cooler is a compact refrigerator explicitly designed to keep wine in optimal serving or storing conditions. While precise temperature controls are the main appeal of wine coolers, many models also offer dual-zone cooling and humidity controls. Wine coolers are typically also constructed with racks perfectly shaped for wine bottles, allowing the cooler to maximize space efficiency and best preserve the sediment inside of the wine bottles.
As more and more people move into apartments and compact homes, wine coolers only continue to grow more popular each year. Built-in wine coolers appeal to enthusiasts who want a stylish new home appliance, while the freestanding alternatives are perfect for anyone grappling with limited space and a limited budget. As the market for wine coolers continues to expand, more and more options become available. Today, buyers even have the chance to choose from innovative thermoelectric cooling and reliable compressor-based cooling.
What Is a Dual-Zone Wine Cooler?
A dual-zone wine cooler has two separate sections, allowing you to keep red wine and white wine at their ideal serving temperature in the same wine cooler. A dual-zone wine fridge is an excellent option for many reasons. Since they have separate temperature controls, they’re incredibly versatile for wine storage. They are also much more power-efficient and aesthetically appealing than two separate wine coolers, making them an excellent option for anyone who adores both white wine and red wine.
What Is the Difference Between Thermoelectric Wine Coolers and Compressor-Based Wine Coolers?
Thermoelectric wine coolers and compressor-based wine coolers are two types of appliances used to refrigerate and store wine. Thermoelectric wine coolers (link to How Does The Thermoelectric Wine Cooler Work - A Full Guide) use the Peltier effect to expel heat energy by transferring electricity through two metal plates, while compressor-based wine coolers remove heat energy by compressing a refrigerant within the internal coils to produce heat.
Each type of wine cooler uses a different method to refrigerate the inside. As a result, both have completely different advantages and disadvantages when deciding on a compressor-based wine cooler or a thermoelectric wine cooler. Thermoelectric coolers are quieter and better for leaving the sediment within wine bottles alone, while compressor-based wine coolers are efficient and ideal for most general-purpose uses.
What Is the Difference Between Freestanding Wine Coolers and Built-In Wine Coolers?
Freestanding wine coolers are a type of wine cooler that can be placed on countertops or around the house, while built-in wine coolers are placed within a specific area of your home and installed. There aren’t many differences between freestanding wine coolers and built-in wine coolers in terms of performance, but there are some key design features you can look out for when trying to determine whether a wine cooler is freestanding or built-in.
To start, freestanding wine coolers will likely have adjustable legs that allow you to level the device completely. Meanwhile, built-in wine coolers generally have limited features because they’re often placed in the same way an oven or dishwasher would. Another difference you can look for is how the wine cooler is ventilated. If the wine cooler is ventilated from all sides, you can assume it’s a freestanding unit. If the ventilation is only on the front, you can assume it was specifically designed for built-in installation.
Why Should I Use a Wine Cooler?
Using a wine cooler is one of the best and easiest ways to preserve the flavors of your wine and store it over the long term. Many wine coolers are designed to reduce the vibrations, light, and humidity that reach your bottles of wine, ensuring they last as long as possible while maintaining the same pleasant flavor notes.
Compared to typical refrigerators, wine coolers are significantly better at maintaining the quality of the wine. While wine in the fridge is subject to a temperature fluctuation every time the door is opened, bottles of wine kept in a wine cooler are protected at a consistent temperature. And while typical refrigerators are too cold for wine due to how they’re used to keep perishable goods, wine coolers can be temperature adjusted for the specific type of wine you’re storing.
Depending on the type of wine cooler you choose to purchase, many other optional features can make owning one worthwhile. For example, many wine coolers offer locking features that allow you to protect your bottles from children. Other features include UV-protected glass doors, digital temperature control panels, and adjustable internal racks.
Best of all, when you use a wine cooler to store your wine, you can keep your bottles in the ideal horizontal position without sacrificing a considerable amount of your fridge space. There’s no shortage of ways wine coolers can protect your collection and make each glass significantly more enjoyable.
In fact, if you plan on making a significant home improvement, purchasing and installing your own personal wine cooler is one of the best choices you can make. Once you’ve tasted a glass of rose wine chilled at the perfect serving temperature, you’ll see why wine coolers prove so popular year after year.
Final Thoughts
Wine coolers only continue to become increasingly popular each year, and there’s a good reason: these incredible appliances are perfect for protecting your wines and making each glass taste significantly better. However, as you shop for your new wine cooler, you must know all the most important specifications to look out for. As long as you remember the key features in this article, you won’t have trouble finding the ideal wine cooler for your home.
