Last Updated on February 19, 2022 by Tom

Different Kinds of Wine Coolers

When it comes to choosing the right wine storage option for your wine collections, wine coolers are often the best bet out of them all. Every wine connoisseur needs a wine cooler to keep and preserve your wine to prevent aging.

This house appliance offers the most convenient storage option out there. A wine refrigerator saves your wines from spoilage as it keeps them at optimum humidity and temperature. Thus, enhancing the aroma and flavor of your wines.

However, there are different types of wine coolers, which makes the decision process a bit tricky. In this post, we’ll discuss the several types of wine coolers as well as key factors that should influence your decision.

Different Types of Wine Coolers

Built-in Coolers/ Undercounter wine coolers

As its name implies, the built-in wine cooler is a small and compact type of wine cellar. They are integrated into space or a cabinet in the kitchen. Thus, this house appliance is most suitable for people looking to save up more valuable floor space.

However, among the different types of wine coolers out there, the built-in wine coolers are the most expensive option. Why? They feature an intricate design, which allows these devices to function excellently without needing ventilation around them.

Therefore, it is important to purchase only a wine cooler designed and specified by the manufacturer to be installed in cabinet space. Else, you might be dealing with all sorts of problems, including ruining your entire favorite wine collection.

Unlike other options in this guide, the built-in wine coolers offer a larger wine capacity to accommodate more wines.

Free-standing Coolers

When it comes to wine coolers, free-standing wine coolers are the most popular options. This common appliance comes with a middle-range price tag and available in different storage capacities and sizes.

Free-standing wine coolers are designed to preserve a wide range of tastes and preferences and cater to your needs. This house appliance is available in various sizes to ensure every wine connoisseur finds the perfect fit without losing a huge amount of floor space.

Another incredible thing about free-standing wine coolers is the compact design, which allows you to fit them anywhere in your home. Thus, adding functionality and aesthetics to any home.

Single Zone and Dual Zone Coolers

Single Zone wine coolers

As the name implies, this wine cooler offers single storage space. This appliance disburses a specific temperature and maintains it throughout the cooler. Single zone wine coolers feature a rack design that allows you to store your bottles of wine separately at optimal cooking conditions.

They are equipped with either a thermoelectric or compressor cooling mechanism since it’s engineered to keep wine collection at one temperature. But if you want a more efficient single zone wine cooler, then you should opt for a compressor-based model.

Single-zone coolers are ideal for anyone looking to store one kind of wine and feature a seamless temperature function to prevent your collection from aging. Sadly, these single-zone coolers cannot be fluctuated that becomes an issue when it comes to maturation.

Dual Zone wine coolers

Dual-zone wine coolers offer two separate storage to keep different wine collections at different temperatures. It comes with more racks to hold bottles of wine separately for more uniform cooling.

Similarly, this type of wine cooler can also be equipped with a compressor or thermoelectric-based cooling system. For compressor-based wine coolers, they are equipped with two different mechanisms to cool both compartments separately. While thermoelectric models, all you’ve to do is replace the thermoelectric rod in each compartment.

The dual-zone wine cooler is a perfect pick for wine enthusiasts since it allows you to store both red and white wine separately under different conditions. One major drawback of this cooler, it’s a cheaper option for those looking to store different types of wine at a time. Sadly, it can be a waste of money and probably space for people looking to preserve only one kind of wine.

CounterTop Coolers

The Countertop cooler is another different type of wine meant for wine enthusiasts with small living space. These models are small and compact, making them a go-to for people with limited amounts of floor space.

The countertop cooler is not an ideal choice for people looking to collect a limited number of wine bottles but perfect for people who tend to enjoy drinking their favorite wine. These appliances are available in a wide range of storage capacities and sizes. Depending on the manufacturer, some countertop wine fridges can hold up to 24 bottles of wine.

This compact wine refrigerator requires some sort of ventilation. Therefore, it’s important to have enough space. Thus, it’s only reasonable to measure the space you intend to place the cooler before purchasing this house appliance.

>>>Check here Best Countertop Wine Cooler

Compressor Wine Coolers

This type of cooler is powerful and features a motor to help attain the preferred cooling tempers. With the aid of a fan, this appliance draws cold air and gets rid of the heat through the cooler’s back. This mechanism ensures this device can maintain an optimum temperature. This versatile machine boasts rapid cooling time and does not get affected by the external environment.

On top of that, it offers a wide range of temperature settings and can hold a large number of wine bottles at optimum cooling temperature.

>>>Check here best compressor wine coolers

Thermoelectric Wine Cooler

The thermoelectric wine cooler uses an electric current to achieve the preferred cooling temp. With this type, no vibrating sound is generated like the compressor-based wine coolers, which makes them perfect anywhere in your house or office.

>>>Check here best thermoelectric wine cooler

How to Choose the Best Wine Cooler

Wine refrigerators or wine cellars are popular today and they come in many different sizes and styles. A number of factors need to be taken into consideration when choosing a wine cooler. Some of these include space, height, budget, durability, size and whether the unit is freestanding or built-in.

Freestanding or Built-in

If you have enough space for a freestanding wine cellar, then this type might work well for your needs. Keep in mind that you will also need some clearance room around it if you would like to get inside of it to retrieve any bottles. Built-in units require less floor area but they still allow access to the inside by swinging out doors on hinges which can open up to 180 degrees.

Space and Size

The amount of space or room you have available is a very important factor to consider when buying a wine cooling unit. Experts recommend that the minimum size for a freestanding unit be one cubic foot for every 750 ml bottle and 1.5 cubic feet per each 1.75 liter bottle. Built-in units should provide at least 0.4 cubic feet per each 750 ml bottle and .7 cubic feet per each 1.75 liter bottle.

Door

Some wine coolers come with one door while other models, especially those which are larger, come with more than one door such as double doors or French doors which open like regular doors only wider since they pull outwards on hinges rather than swing like single doors.

Temperature and Controls

Wine should be stored in a container that holds the temperature at 50 degrees to 58 degrees Fahrenheit. It is best if the cooler allows you to adjust its temperature within this range. Most units come with digital controls which can allow you to set them as low as 45 degrees and as high as 65 degrees Fahrenheit, but remember that doing so may cause charges such as de-icing or defrosting to occur more frequently depending on where you live and what time of year it is. Some wine coolers also offer different modes such as turbo cooling mode or energy saving modes.

Price and Service

The price of a wine cellar varies greatly depending on size, type, brand name and service. A large freestanding wine cellar can range from $400 to $2,000. Built-in models may be more expensive than freestanding ones. When choosing a wine cooler it is important to look at the company’s reputation for quality and service before making your purchase because you will want to know that there is an available warranty if anything goes wrong with your unit in the future.

Wine coolers are great additions to any home cellars and they allow you to enjoy your favorite wines at their best every time you open them up. Before making this investment, keep in mind some of these factors so that you can choose the best wine cooler which is ideal for your needs and preferences.

Wine Coolers FAQs

Q: What exactly is a wine cooler?

A: A wine cooler is really not that much different than your average wine glass. They are just made to hold and drink from and resemble a thermometer rather than a coupe or tulip glass. It has a stem like other fine wines glasses and should be held by the stem instead of the bowl to keep them from getting stained by your fingers. This type of glassware is convenient for serving all kinds of wines (red, white and sparkling) it has a large surface area like a regular red wine glass, but with the thinness of stemware that allows for easy holding.

Q: Is it okay to put ice in my red wine?

A: The answer is yes, you can put ice in your red wine. Some people prefer their wines chilled and if that’s what you like then go for it. However there are some guidelines to follow. If the wine contains tannin (this helps give a wine its dry taste) then do not put ice in the wine, doing so will make the wine taste watered down and ruin it. If the wine is not very dry (i.e. a sweet port) then you can add some ice to it and blend for a more refreshing drink.

Q: I was at a party and somebody put ice cubes in my red wine! How could they do that?

A: I have to agree with you, ice cubes can ruin a really good red wine. It shouldn’t be done, but it’s happened to me too. Unfortunately there is nothing that can be done about it now except to enjoy the rest of your wine and recommend that they don’t do it again. It has been said by wine experts that if you want to put ice cubes in your wine, the best thing is to freeze grapes instead of water.

Conclusion

All in all, it always boils down to personal preference when it comes to choosing the right wine cooler. Wines are preserved either for short-term or long-term consumption. Depending on the wine’s taste, there are different storage temperatures to proper storage conditions.

Other factors to consider including functionality, durability, features, and storage capacity to ensure you make a smart decision. Keep in mind that compressor-based wine coolers are noisy but super powerful and efficient.

Thank you read my blog “Different Types of Wine Coolers”. Real Gastropub