The Just Chill Buying Guide
A wine refrigerator is not any ordinary storage unit or appliance, it is home for your favorite bottles and an investment in drinking smooth, well temperatured wines.
Steady Wine Temperatures and Humidity
Wine needs steady temperatures and humidity to be at their intended, ideal flavor and aroma. Ideal white wine temperature is between 49-55 degrees F (7-12 degrees C) and ideally red wines are between 62-68 degrees F (15-20 C). A standard food refrigerator is set between 32-40 degrees F (0-4 degrees C) to keep food safe. So, white wine is stored too cold . Conversely, red wines stored at room temperature are too warm.
Your common food refrigerator is not only too cold for wines to be stored at their correct temperature, but the food smells can penetrate the cork and alter the flavor of your wines.
How To Pick The Right Wine Fridge For You
The main things to consider when you are searching for the best wine cooler for you and your needs are your available space, whether you need a built in or freestanding unit, dual zone cooling vs. single zone cooling, and the size of your collection.
- Space for Your Wine Fridge
The beauty of wine fridges it that they come in so many sizes and shapes, anyone can find a place for one. Take some time to decide where the best location in your home is for a wine fridge. Kitchens, dining rooms, living rooms and home bars can have many different spaces and are commonly built in units. Family rooms, game rooms, garages, and outdoor patios can often times accommodate larger units and can be freestanding with the additional space. Wine fridges can also be installed in RVs and boats. Make sure you measure your space and install according to manufacturer's specifications.
- Built In or Freestanding
A built in wine fridge means that the until has the ability to be recessed into cabinets and small spaces. The reason that these units have that possibility is because it exhausts from the clearance below it. As with any fridge, always make sure that it is installed properly for ventilation.
A freestanding wine fridge should not be in cabinetry, up against a wall, or in smaller spaces. This is because the exhaust ventilation is on the back of the unit and it needs additional space to work properly. These are ideal for larger and outdoor spaces.
- Dual Zone vs. Single Zone
The next question to ask is whether you will be storing whites, reds, sparkling, all of the above of any combination. If you only collect and drink one shade of wine (just whites and sparkling or just reds) then a single zone will meet your needs well. Most of us collect and drink both whites and reds, so having the ability to have 2 zones for wine temperatures is great. It is also helpful for other beverages (soda, juice, beer) or creating one side for serving, so as not to disturb the other side of wines.
- Bottle Count
Whether you are just starting out with a few choice bottles or you are a seasoned wine collector, you can get the right size wine fridge for your needs. One important thing to consider on the bottle count of the unit you are purchasing is how many bottles of wine you purchase a month versus how many bottles you consume a month. If your collection is building, take it into consideration. How often do you entertain friends and family? With units from 6 bottles to over 100 bottles, you can find just the bottle count you need (or desire to fill up!)
With so many options, the right wine fridge is out there for everyone! If you still have any additional questions about your upcoming purchase, or just need some friendly advice, please reach out to our knowledgeable staff at Just Chill. You can email 24 hours a day at drink@justchillwine.com or give us a ring at 970-509-0592 Monday-Friday 9am-5pm MST. We are here to help!