Many of us love our wine - reds, whites, it’s all good. And wouldn’t it be nice to be able to keep more than just a bottle or two on hand, for any occasion, whether it be everyday or something special.
Enter the wine refrigerator. They’re not just for connoisseurs anymore.
Just Exactly What is a Wine Refrigerator?
A wine refrigerator is just that: a place to store your wines, and to keep them at just the right temperature, depending on the type of wine it is. They can either be free-standing units, or built in. They can be small, holding just six bottles, or very large pieces that look like your best furniture.
Single or Dual Zone? Do You Drink Red, White, or Both?
This refers to the fact that, according to the size of the wine refrigerator, you can choose to buy a unit that has either one temperature zone or two. Personally, I’d probably spend the extra money just to have the convenience of a dual zone, as I want to keep both reds and whites on hand.
“Green” Wine Refrigerators?
Thermoelectric wine refrigerators have fewer moving parts, and are therefore more compact. These can fit quite nicely in small spaces, perhaps even under a countertop. They may even be better for the planet, as they don’t release ozone depleting chemicals; they also use less energy. The downside, of course, is that they can only hold so many bottles, which may not be enough for your needs. On the other hand, maybe you only have the space for a compact model.
Plain or Fancy?
You can keep it simple, or own a beautiful piece of furniture that’s hiding the wine refrigerator. It’s really up to you.
There are many, many models of wine refrigerators out on the market today. Literally, there is something for everyone’s taste and budget. For example, say you wanted to keep the wine refrigerator in your living room. There are tons of absolutely lovely pieces of furniture which hold wine refrigerators inside. Or how about a sleek, stainless steel model to put in your kitchen? The choices are endless.
They say that wine can be stored forever. As the wine ages, it becomes much better in taste and texture. In fact, the best wines of the world are in fact those that have been stored for a long time now. But there has to be proper storage conditions where a wine bottle can be stored. Earlier there used to be dedicated Wine Cellars where wine could be stored. These cellars were usually located underneath the house - usually in the basement - of the wine maker. Nowadays, it is really difficult to construct a cellar due to the extreme shortage of space.
However, the cool temperature conditions of the cellars can also be imitated by other means. Even though wine require relatively low temperature of 45 degrees Fahrenheit, advances in modern technology have made it possible to create such moderate conditions where wine can be stored to preserve its taste. Commercially, Ice Machines are employed for storing wine. But they are ineffective in properly storing wine. They are unable to allow the wine to mature and allow its taste to develop. Further, ice machines are not able to provide wine with the required humidity conditions which are required to maintain the integrity of wine.
Of late, another practice is being utilized by wine makers to store wine. They are utilizing Wine Refrigerators which are able to simulate the conditions obtained in wine cellars to store wine. They have a huge capacity and can store 130 to 150 bottles at a time. What more? They are highly energy efficient and use minimal power. There is a separate alarm system to notify any change in the storage conditions. Although they are mostly employed by large sized organizations engaged in manufacture of wine, small time wine makers can also buy them and keep them in their home to facilitate the development of the wine they make on their own.
Investing in a wine refrigerator makes sense for anyone who enjoys relaxing with a perfectly chilled glass of wine, hosting a party at home with friends, or takes wine collecting more seriously. Most homeowners are aware that refrigerators - even small ones - are often not very energy efficient. The same is true for wine refrigerators. If you are concerned about saving energy and reducing your utility bills, and at the same time are serious about fine wine, then choosing a thermoelectric wine cooler is your best option.
Thermoelectric wine refrigerators are an environmentally friendly choice. Their operations efficiency alone makes them a good choice for any homeowner, but they have the added attraction of emitting no ozone-depleting chemicals such as CFCs or HCFCs. Over their life, they will consume less energy which of course leads to decreased utility costs.
Since a thermometric chiller is not operated with a traditional compressor, there are fewer moving parts and little vibration. This is a positive feature for wine storage as it is preferable to store wine with no vibration as not to disturb the sediments. The operation of a thermoelectric cooler is very quiet compared to the more traditional mode, making it an excellent choice for any home.
As with any wine cooler, the first consideration before making a purchase is the size of your wine collection. Thermoelectric wine refrigerators are widely available in many different sizes to accommodate any number of wine bottles. Even if you just want to chill a single bottle of wine (or have a limited budget), you can obtain a Vinotemp single bottle chiller. This if a perfect solution for someone who has very limited space or does not intend to keep several wine bottles on hand.
More serious wine collectors, however, might want to consider a larger wine refrigerator. Small coolers start with a six-bottle capacity and are a good choice for an entry-level wine refrigerator. If you have more space in your kitchen or bar area, you will certainly benefit from choosing a larger model. Wine collections which are more diverse - containing champagne, red wine, and white wine - will benefit from a larger model since dual-zone features are more readily available in larger capacity refrigerators. Even a large capacity 60-bottle wine fridge can fit into a limited space if you choose a tower model which is tall and skinny.
A homeowner who enjoys wine will certainly benefit from a wine refrigerator. By choosing a thermoelectric model, you will gain the added benefit of making an eco-friendly decision as well!
Any wine enthusiast could tell you the basics of proper wine storage. The fact that some people forget is that it really depends on the length of storage that determines how particular the conditions must be. A small wine refrigerator is perfect for moderate storage periods defined by a few years.
The most basic consideration of wine storage is the temperature of the environment the wine is stored in. A dedicated refrigerator is a great way of controlling the temperature for general wine storage.
Another factor closely related to temperature control is humidity. Too much humidity and the labels could ruin while too low humidity could cause the wine to escape through the cork.
One factor that could ruin the contents over time if stored for over a year is vibration. That is why transporting wine should be minimized whenever possible and the storage conditions have as little vibration as possible. Wine refrigerators are specialized to combat the vibrations caused by the compressor of standard refrigerators.
Ultraviolet light is another enemy of wine which can cause an unpleasant odor. The tinted bottles provide minimal protection and the wine should be kept out of fluorescent or sun light. Wine refrigerators use incandescent bulbs which cause minimal impact to the wines.
A small refrigerator is useful in many situations but a specialized refrigerator is specific to the particularities of storing such a delicate beverage. It is important to know about your refrigeration needs to get the most out of your small wine refrigerators.
Proper storage of wine is essential to its full enjoyment. As such, the popularity of wine refrigerators is on the rise even amongst the amateur wine drinkers. However, before purchasing one, read the wine fridge reviews first.
Comparison Shopping
Wine Refrigerators come in many shapes and sizes, colors and capacities, details and design that it can be confusing to first-time buyers. Thus, you have to determine your needs in a wine fridge in terms of what kind of wine bottles you intend to store in it (red or white or both) and how many bottles you expect to place inside it (single or multiple compartments).
With this information on hand, you can then begin comparison shopping. Keep in mind that two wine refrigerators may have similar price tags but the features will substantially differ. Or two fridges will have similar features but will have significant price differences. This is where wine fridge reviews come in. By reading through them, you can make comparisons between wine fridge models in terms of shapes and sizes, colors and capacities, details and designs, all without leaving the comforts of your home!
Separate Truth from Fiction
However, you must beware as not all positive reviews on a wine refrigerators are necessarily true. For all you know, the reviewer is a paid affiliate marketer and/or employee of the manufacturer who desire to increase sales, hence, the glowing reviews. Thus, you have to check and double check the reviews under consideration so that you can separate the truth of actual users from the fiction of advertising hype. Just remember that if the wine fridge reviews are too good to be true, then they must be too good to be true.
Spot Potential Problems
And speaking of advertising hype, glowing reviews will gloss over the common problems faced by buyers of the wine fridge. After all, what manufacturer in his right mind will advertise to all and sundry the defects of his products?
You must read through the wine refrigerator reviews so that you can avoid wine fridges that can and will pose potential problems. Usually, dissatisfied customers will point the way to these potential and actual product problems like inconsistent temperature, unsealed doors, low quality materials, cheap look and clumsy design, among other things. With wine fridge reviews on hand, you stand a better chance of choosing the best wine fridge even if you have to pay extra money for it.
Acquire Guidance
The Internet is so full of scams and schemes in all forms that it’s often best to acquire expert assistance from people who have actually used the product and can provide a more-or-less objective opinion. At the very least, you can avoid inferior products with unsatisfactory customer service when many actual users have warned other about them. Besides, it would be nice to be pointed the way to great bargains!
Indeed, wine fridge reviews can be your best friend in choosing the best wine fridge for you. Just remember to exercise good judgment when reading through these reviews. Ultimately, it will be your choice that will matter.
