Do you know for wine lovers, preserving and serving wine is almost like an art? If you are a wine lover you surely know how important it is to preserve wine in the perfect temperature to get the most out of your drinking experience. If the wine is too warm or too chilled it will spoil the fun of drinking it. Investing in a wine cooler might be the most convenient way to keep the wine fresh for you. A wine cooler also comes in handy if you are hosting a party. Let’s read on to know more about how a wine cooler can keep your favourite wine at the peak of its freshness.

What Does a Wine Cooler Do?

A wine cooler is a refrigerating appliance designed to preserve wine at a specific temperature. Producing wine is itself a time consuming and sophisticated process. Preserving it in the best possible way is also very important. A Wine cooler will save you from dull tasting or badly aged wine.

Wine Cooler Vs Wine Refrigerator

Although wine coolers and wine refrigerators are used interchangeably, they are different. Wine coolers are small and portable, storing wine at almost 45-degree Fahrenheit. A wine refrigerator is larger and can store 30+ wine bottles. The temperature can be set at a lower degree in the wine refrigerator.

How Wine Cooler Is Different From the Refrigerator

Traditional refrigerators keep food fresh by extracting moisture from them. Wine cooler does not draw out moisture but draws out heat from the bottle. In a typical refrigerator, the temperature escalates quickly and changes frequently. These erratic changes in temperature and the possible contamination from other foods make a refrigerator unsuitable for storing wine.

Types of Wine Cooler

There are different kinds of Wine coolers based on design and functionality. The type of wine cooler you should buy depends on your convenience or requirements.

Built-In Wine Coolers

A built-in wine cooler is customized to fit in with your kitchen cabinets or space. It can also store a large number of bottles. However, a built-in wine cooler will cost more due to the installation charge.

Freestanding Wine Coolers

You should go to a freestanding wine cooler if you are not remodelling or building a new house. They come in all sizes and features with the freedom to set them up wherever you wish. Freestanding wine coolers may not blend seamlessly with your décor but being portable, it gives you more options.

Countertop Wine Coolers

If you are very tight on space, you should opt for a countertop wine cooler. They are small and convenient for storing wine that you drink regularly. Depending on the size, you can store from 6 to 24 bottles in a countertop wine cooler.

Thermoelectric Wine Coolers

A thermoelectric cooler uses electricity to maintain an even temperature. They don’t have any dynamic parts and offer no vibration, which is good for preserving wine. Thermoelectric coolers can heat up easily if used in a warm environment.

Compressor Wine Coolers

Compressor wine coolers can lower the temperature more than thermoelectric coolers. As Vibration from the compressor can spoil the wine, vibration is kept at a minimum in the compressor wine cooler. Compressor based wine cooler can take up more energy than a thermoelectric wine cooler.

Single Zone Wine Coolers

Single-zone coolers are for storing wine in a single temperature zone. If you prefer just one kind of wine like white or red,   you will be comfortable with a single zone wine cooler.

Dual Zone Wine Coolers

Dual-zone wine coolers allow you to divide your cooler into two temperature zones- storing and serving. As we normally prefer to drink chilled white wine and slightly warmer red wine, a dual-zone wine cooler serves better in such circumstances.

Things to Consider Before Buying a Wine Cooler

You should bring into consideration factors like space, size, temperature before buying a wine cooler. Let’s find out more about them.

Size

If you are a casual drinker and not interested in collecting wine, a small thermoelectric wine cooler will suit you the best. If you are thinking about collecting different exotic wine bottles you will need a larger wine cooler that can store more than 30 bottles.

Space

While thinking of buying a wine cooler you should also consider how much space you can clear out for it. If you have some cabinet space unused, you can think about a built-in wine cooler. If you are running short on space, consider a countertop wine cooler.

Temperature

Although both red and white wine can be stored at the same temperature, a dual-zone wine cooler is more convenient for both storing and serving. It will allow you to better control the temperature.

Special Feature

Special features like humidity controls, touch controls, child locks, LED lighting, special alarms should also be put into considerations before buying the wine cooler. Humidity controls and UV ray protection are important features to be kept in mind if you are planning to store wine for a long time. These extra features might cause some extra expense. You should consider a combination of all the features that meet your interest the most.

How Much Does a Wine Cooler Cost?

As you might have guessed the more technology or storing capacity you want in your wine cooler the more you have to pay for it. You have to spend roughly 100-300 USD for an average freestanding wine cooler. The price will be higher if you want a built-in wine cooler. If you want a large wine cooler with all the handy features like humidity controls, alarms, multiple zones be ready to pay at least 1000 USD.

In conclusion, a wine cooler can be a pretty convenient feature to your home. Buying a wine cooler, You can expand your wine collection with extra zeal. With your wine bottles sorted in your wine cooler, you can free up some space in your refrigerator. If you are still hesitant about buying a wine cooler, think about taking a sip from perfectly chilled chardonnay as you relax. It will be worth it!