Archive for the ‘Wine Coolers’ Category
What to Look For in Wine Coolers
There are a lot of people out there that like their wine, but do not always have a place to store it. The refrigerator is too cold for most wines that are unopened. Unless you have a basement that stays cool, you are going to need a wine cooler refrigerator to keep your wine at the perfect temperature. Now, there are tons of different wine cooler refrigerator units out there worth getting. However, there are some that you should stay away from. Today we are going to talk about a few of the ones that are worth getting. We are also going to talk about a few of the features that make these units the best of the best.
The first one we are gong to talk about is the Summit SWC1775 Wine Cooler. Now, the Summit is made for only the serious wine enthusiast. The quality of this unit is unmatched by other wine coolers, and not only that, but its size is unmatched as well. Of course, this does not mean that the Summit is really huge, because it’s not overly big. However, the way that the inside is set up allows you to store up to 120 different bottles of wine on two different settings. In fact, this double unit has two different areas that have two different humidity controls, meaning that you can really enjoy wines of all varieties. To top it all off, the Summit also has an automatic defrost, a carbon filter, and a vibration dampening system, everything that you could ever want in a wine cooler.
If you do not drink that much wine, then the Summit could be a little bit to big for you. This is where the GE Profile comes into play. This is a wine system that can hold up to 29 bottles of wine. It, of course, has adjustable temperature controls and even a digital temperature readout so you always know what the temperature is. One reason why people like this model is not only its small size, but because of its multiple shelfs with pull-out ability, meaning that you will have no problem looking for what bottle of wine you want to pull out. On top of all this, it also comes with a door lock to make sure you keep all of your wine protected from anyone who might try and take some.
The last one that we are going to talk about happens to be one of the coolest. This is the Jenn Air Mini Wine Cellar Refrigerator. Now, just because it’s mini, does not mean that it can not hold a lot of wine. In fact, this one can hold up to 50 bottles. However, this wine cellar takes up a lot less space than any other wine refrigerator you may buy. That is because this one gets built right into your cabinets (just like a dishwasher would be). It features glass doors, so you can showcase your wine, and with its electronic thermostat, you can rest assured that your wine will always be the right temperature.
Wine Coolers – How to Choose the Right One for Your Needs and Budget
A wine cooler is a refrigeration unit installed either over or under a counter top or by itself in a kitchen or bar area of a home. Wine coolers provide a temperature and humidity controlled environment in which to store your wine collection. There are many types and brands at varying price levels on the market today. But simply buying the least expensive cooler with the capacity you need is not usually the best approach. There are many other factors which must be considered.
Factors to Consider
Capacity (Bottle Count)
Bottle capacity may be the most important factor in selecting a wine cooler. You will want to make sure your wine cooler is big enough for the wine you are going to collect. If you’re simply buying a case or two of wine to consume over the next couple months, a 24 bottle cooler may seem sufficient. But wine collections have a tendency to expand, so it is a good idea to allow for growth in your estimate. Many people who have purchased wine coolers wished they had double or even tripled their estimates. Surplus bottles tend to accumulate in the same area of the home but under less ideal conditions. If you are a true connoisseur and wish to age some wine for several years you will need a considerably larger unit to hold all of your aging wine, along with your regular supply for daily consumption. Again it is a good idea to at least double your estimate.
Temperature Zones
In addition to size considerations, you also have the choice between single, dual or three temperature zone coolers. The first zone is for storing light and red wines, the second for chilling white wines, and the third for chilling sparkling wines. The most popular of these are the dual zones coolers, with separate and independently controlled temperature zones: one for red wines and one for white. If you are an amateur, choose a wine cooler with preset temperature controls.
Types of Shelving
Basic less expensive units come with chromed wire shelving, sometimes adjustable sometimes not. Higher quality wine coolers use vinyl coated wire shelving, sturdier wood shelves or wood framed grids. Since wine bottles come in varying shapes and sizes it’s a good idea to choose a cooler with adjustable shelves if you plan on storing any larger sized bottles.
Some wine coolers now come with slide-out, glide-out or rollout shelving. These are great for reaching a bottle without unduly disturbing its neighbor and for cleaning.
Doors
Do you have excessive light in the area you wish to use? Then you may want to consider using a solid or UV tinted door wine cooler. Many units feature glass doors to add visual appeal to the appliance. However glass doors may actually be harmful to your wine, because they let in light which can damage wine. Also, glass doors may not insulate as well a solid door increasing temperature fluctuations and energy costs. If you choose a glass door at least check that it has UV shielding and is double paned. Many glass door coolers also feature internal “mood lighting”. It is a good idea to turn off the light as it is a source of heat and light which are both harmful to wine.
Vibrations
Vibration is also detrimental to wine. It is less damaging than heat or light but it does matter in the long term. Excessive vibration can cause sediment to interact with maturing wine, so it is wise to minimize vibration. Thermoelectric coolers have a cooling system that is both vibration free and environmentally friendly. However, thermoelectric models can only cool to 20 degrees below ambient (room) temperature so are not always the best choice. The next best choice would be a wine cooler with rubber mounts on the compressor and coated shelves to minimize the effects of vibrations.
Security (Locks)
Do you want to secure your wine cooler? If so, consider purchasing a locking wine cooler. It will reduce the number of times it gets opened by curious guests “inspecting” your collection and will also keep the kids from helping themselves when you are out. A locked wine cooler can add security and could prevent a very undesirable outcome.
Reliability
Often when shopping for appliances people focus on size, features, color and overall appearance. This may be sensible when the goods that would be spoiled are merely a week or two of groceries. However, if you have collected even a modest collection of special wines the damages could be significantly worse. Therefore reliability in both brand and model is a really important factor in choosing a wine cooler. Before purchasing a lower end model, consider the cost of replacing its contents if it fails, as well as having to replace the cooler itself.
Price
Since wine coolers are becoming more popular the prices of these units have dropped substantially in the last few years. There are many types and brands at varying price levels on the market today. You will need to need to find the capacity, features and reliability that best match your budget. Things that are a necessity will help narrow the brands down and some special features can be omitted if the cost is too high for your budget.
Take the time to select the right wine cooler for your needs and budget. Check your local department stores or online retailers for the latest wine coolers. Many online retailers offer free shipping and have product reviews that may help with the selection process. Selecting a wine cooler should be an enjoyable process. Storing your wine collection is important, so consider it an investment for all the wines you will enjoy today as well as those that you will save for a special occasion in the future. Your wine will be able to age as intended by the winemaker and you’ll be assured many years of wine enjoyment.
Incoming search terms:
wine coolerWine Refrigerators and Wine Coolers
I’d venture to guess that there is not a single person in the civilized world who doesn’t know what a refrigerator is. It’s that tall rectangular-shaped box that sits in most kitchens and is used to store food and beverages while keeping them cool enough to prevent spoilage. Refrigerators are common and large (usually) appliances. Wine refrigerators are not quite as common, and usually many are not nearly as large, although they can be as large and even larger depending upon their intended usage.
A wine refrigerator uses the same basic process of cooling as a regular refrigerator. The wine refrigerator, however, is designed for the specific purpose of storing wines at a pre-set temperature. Don’t confuse the wine cooler with the wine refrigerator. The wine refrigerator is larger than a wine cooler and stores a larger volume as well.
Because of increased demand, more and more companies are beginning to manufacture wine refrigerators, and the choices are becoming wider and more complex. Some of these newer models of wine coolers come with a feature that allows a user to set the temperature and the atmospheric conditions inside the refrigerator to match the temperature and atmospheric conditions under which the wine was made. That would be great if all you had was one kind of wine from one winery. Most people, collectors in particular, have a large variety of wines, so this feature is really useless.
Some wine refrigerators are also designed to be wine vaults. They are equipped with locks similar to those found on safes. Most of the time, these vault-like wine refrigerators are used to store expensive vintage wines that are about to be auctioned off.
One of the best features found in wine refrigerators is the “one-touch” digital control system that allows you to set the temperature according to the type of wine being stored. The “one-touch” system is programmed to set the temperature according to your selection of red, white, or sparkling wines.


