
Best 10 Wine Coolers
As Of June 2022
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Make your Wine Collection look more Elegant with the Best Wine Cooler
Oh, a tasteful glass of wine is all you need to relax and enjoy some time alone or with friends. But no one can savour the delight of wine if it is tasteless. Can wine be bland, though? Yes, it can be! If you don’t store it at the required temperature, it will lose its rich taste and aromas.
If you want to keep the taste of your wine pristine, you need to invest in a wine cooler. And that is what this post is all about. You have seen the products. Now, it’s time for some in-depth knowledge to help you find the cooler that will suit your needs and space. Keep reading to learn more!
What is a Wine Cooler?
A cooler or cellar is an awesome appliance that will not only keep your entire wine stock cool, but it will also add grace to the place you keep it. It is essential to check all the features before purchasing one as there are many choices out there from various retailers in the market. We did the research for you and here are a few key features to look out for:
- Volumes available
- Number of shelves
- Reversible door
- Lighting feature
- Noise level
And many more! You need to keep in mind all of them as they can significantly affect your experience in the long run.
Why do I need a Wine Cooler?
Well, to be honest, there are more than just one reason why you should invest in a wine cooler. Here are some basic ones:
- Temperature zones: Your regular fridge will not keep your wines fine. As there is an optimum temperature to store wine, it is necessary for you to get a cooler (with different temperature zones, if possible).
- Events: If you have a party at your house, it gets tough to fit all the drinks and frozen food in your fridge. So, this gives you another good reason to invest in a cooler.
- Protection: If wine is not stored at a perfect temperature, it gets spoiled or loses its taste very early. Hence, it is necessary to buy a wine storage cooler for preserving its quality.
- Style: Other than function, the wine fridge also adds finesse to the place you keep it. So, style is another reason why you should choose one of the top wine coolers there are.
When to use a Wine Cooler?
It is a common tradition to gift champagne and wine bottles to each other on Thanksgiving and other festivities. And when these gifts become high in number, you surely need to empty some space in your fridge. Here is where a cooler will come in handy.
In contrast to this, if you are hosting a party at your home, your need to have secondary chiller storage for drinks. You can again use a cooler here. If you have a bar business, a wine fridge is a must-have appliance for your business.
It can become a bit difficult to choose the ideal wine cooler by yourself. There are many factors to take under consideration, so we are here to help you pick the best one for you!
Storage space
The key factor that you need to consider is the capacity of the cooler. As the coolers come in various volumes, your usage will help you decide how big a cooler you need. The wine bottle capacity also plays a crucial role in this. Hence, take that also into account. An eight bottles cooler is enough for your home use, whereas 21 bottles will be best for even your business.
Energy consumption
Make sure you analyse the energy consumption of the fridge before you make your final pick or you may have to pay hefty power bills. Most of the coolers are of A+ or A++ rating that has an annual consumption of around 105kWh, which is way better and more eco-friendly. They will not jack up your power consumption.
Noise
When opting for a cooler, do make sure that it is powered by thermoelectric technology. This technology makes your fridge absolutely noiseless and vibration-free. On the other hand, condenser technology can lead to more vibrations, so if you are worried about humming, avoid this.
Temperature Range and Stability
If you have different types of wine to store, you need to check the temperature range of the cooler. It will help you know what kind of wine you can store in the cooler. As there are both single-zone and double-zone coolers on the list, you can opt for any of it, depending on the type of beverage you want to keep chilled.
Add-on Features
Apart from all these basic features, it is best to look for some additional features such as:
- LED Screen
- Touch Controls
- Locking mechanism
- Wavering door
- Internal light
And others! These are not that necessary, but they reduce your hassle to a great extent. We are going to discuss more features closely in the following sections, so, keep reading!
Types of Wine Coolers
If you are planning to make a buy of the best cooler, it is necessary to discover all the types first. Here is a detailed analysis of all types:
Single Zone
If you are a beginner in wine stock, then a single sector cooler might be the best for you. Why? Well, as the cooler has only one zone and control of temperature, you can store wines without need the extended knowledge of which is the ideal temperature for each one. Hence, for keeping your wines chilled, you’ll need a single sector cooler.
Dual-Zone
Yes, if you are a wine lover, it is best if you opt for a dual-zone cooler. This type of fridge has two vertical sections. Both the sections have dedicated temperature controls that you can use to store both red and white vino.
Built-in Coolers
If you want to make your kitchen more functional, then it is best to opt for a built-in wine fridge. The best thing about these fridges is that you don’t have to worry about their ventilation. They are fitted into your kitchen in a way that they perform in an energy-efficient way while staying cool.
Frankly, it all depends on you how much you want to spend and what features you want. However, the price range of wine coolers varies between £100 to over £1000.
If you are buying it for storing normal beer bottles and wines, it is good to go for something between £100 to £400. However, if you are purchasing it for commercial purposes like your bar or restaurant go for those with more capacity. The price range will be over £500 or even £1000.
Extra features like the wavering door, temperature control, touch controls, LED light and display, anti-vibration, etc. also play a pillar role in the price of the cooler. So, if you are opting for more features, you may have to pay more for that.
How is a Wine Cooler different from a Wine Cabinet?
Some of you may think that wine cabinets and wine coolers are the same. But, actually, there are various major differences between them. Here are some of them:
- Refrigeration system: If the built-in freezing system of the cooler fails, you need to replace the whole cooler. On the other hand, if the freezing system of a wine cabinet fails, you can get just the freezing system of the cabinet easily.
- Racking: Racking is way more in wine cabinets than the coolers. If there are a maximum of seven shelves in a cooler, the cabinet can provide you with more customisation for fitting bottles of all lengths and widths. Coolers can only adjust some dedicated bottle sizes. In case you need extra storage space you can purchase a wine rack. It's really practical but on the downside, it doesn't have its own refrigeration system.
- Humidity levels: Reduced humidity (below 60%) can lead air to enter into the bottles and affect the taste of the wine. A cooler cannot maintain humidity up to this level for long, but a cabinet can easily sustain humidity levels to 60%.
Where should I place my Wine Cooler?
The answer to this question depends on the cooler you are opting for.
If you are opting for a countertop cooler, you need to have it on a worktop. Make sure you check for the wavering door feature in this cooler. It will be easy to place in the corner of the worktop.
If you opt for a freestanding variant, you can place it anywhere in your house where you have a power plug and proper ventilation. Just keep a note of the area dimensions while buying one.
If you opt for a built-in cooler or an integrated cooler, it is obvious that it will be either under the counter or at your chest’s height. Note that the storage capacity of these coolers is limited.
Why is it crucial to serving wine at a specific temperature?
The key aspect is the flavour! It is all that differentiates a good wine from a bad wine. This makes it necessary to serve wine at an appropriate temperature, and a cooler helps you maintain that.
Both red and white vinos have unique chemical compositions that taste differently, making them good for us. So, if the temperature is not appropriate for the served wine, your perception of that wine will not be good.
Well, merlot wine should be served at a balanced temperature between 12-19ºC based on the wine type. Merlot wine contains polyphenols and tannins that can taste overly acidic if served in a cooler temperature. However, if the temperature is high, the alcohol may prevent the wine flavour to show their effect. Some red wines are malbec, pinot noir, burgundies, rioja, zinfandel, chianti and more.
The ideal temperature scale of serving white vino is between 7-11ºC. It requires a lower temperature compared to merlot wine. And serving white vino at a low temperature makes it more fresh and crisp. Moreover, at lower temperatures, components like terpenes and aldehydes can enhance the aroma of the wine. Some great white wines are riesling, chardonnay, pinot grigio, sauvignon blanc and viognier.
Why is a Wine Cooler better than a refrigerator?
Here are some quick pointers that make a cooler better than a refrigerator:
- A cooler has dedicated space for wine bottles, whereas a refrigerator does not.
- Cooler allows you to store more wine than a refrigerator.
- You can vary the temperature of a cooler as per the type of wine. Changing the temperature of a fridge can affect the other stored perishables. Low temperatures may also damage the wine.
- Wine coolers make less to no vibration whereas a refrigerator runs on a compressor that generates vibrations.
Always keep in mind that...
It is a dream come true for a wine lover or wine enthusiast to own a wine cooler. With time, the coolers have evolved and have been introduced with various advanced features. So, it is a good time to invest your money on a cooler.
To help you with the price, features and other aspects, we have designed this guide. It will serve as a yardstick for choosing the top cooler for your home. So, what are you waiting for? Go online and make your dream come true! Pick the top wine cooler for you today!