Why Use a Wine Cooler?

Fancy yourself as a sommelier? You should consider getting a wine cooler!

Not everyone is able to build themselves a fancy cellar for their wine. And if you have a family to feed, it’s hard to fit all your wine in the fridge. In fact, there are many reasons as to why you shouldn’t store your wine in the fridge!

If you need some reasons to take the plunge and get a wine cooler, we’re here to tell you exactly why you should. If you’re serious about your wine, and want to take your collection to the next level, then read on.

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Why Buy a Wine Cooler?

You should consider buying a wine cooler if you care about the quality of your wine. Regardless of how many bottles of wine you own, a wine cooler will enhance your wine drinking experience. 

If you have some bottles of wine that you intend to age, a wine cooler is essential. Temperatures in the UK are not ideal for storing wine. In fact, regardless of the climate of your country, leaving a bottle of wine out will expose it to many conditions that can negatively impact its quality. This includes UV light, temperature fluctuations, humidity levels, and vibrations. A quality wine cooler will protect your wine from all of these.

If you don’t have an expansive collection of wine, that’s okay. Wine coolers come in a large variety of bottle capacities. Our smaller capacity models can hold up to 8 bottles of wine.

So, do you need a wine cooler to store wine? If you don’t have a wine cellar, it is highly recommended to get a wine cooler to store wine. Wine left at room temperature will only last around 6 months to a year. So if you’re planning on storing it for longer, you need a safe place for your wine.

Lady enjoying a glass of red wine

What Does a Wine Cooler Do?

You may be asking what the purpose of a wine fridge is. These appliances generally have two main purposes; to store wine, and to get wine to its optimal serving temperature. However, there’s a few other things that they do whilst serving these purposes.

Maintains a Constant Temperature

A wine cooler is purposely built to keep a constant temperature. The technology used to do this is similar to a fridge. However, most people will open their wine cooler considerably less than their fridge. This means that the temperature will not be affected by people constantly opening the door looking for food.

Maintains Optimal Humidity Levels

Storing wine bottles at an ideal humidity level is exceptionally important. If you store wine in low humidity levels the cork will dry out. When this happens, oxygen is able to enter the bottle and oxidate the wine. This leads to wine spoilage, and a bitter, acidic taste. Too high of a humidity isn’t as much of a problem. However, if humidity levels reach over 85% then mould growth could become an issue. Wine coolers are designed to keep humidity levels constant, so your wine bottles remain in the best condition.

Uses Low Vibration Technology

Wine coolers use advanced low vibration technology so as to not disturb the wine. Vibrations can disrupt the chemical balances in your wine bottles. These disruptions can negatively affect the taste and aromas of your wine, and prevent it from maturing properly.

Protects Wine From Outside Elements

Wine coolers further protect your wine from the outside elements. It’s not just temperature, humidity, and vibrations that can hurt your wine! UV (ultraviolet) rays cause unwanted chemical reactions in your wine. This results in the release of sulphur. Sulphur causes your wine to taste and smell unpleasant, ultimately ruining it.

So, does a wine cooler make a difference? Absolutely. Without one, your wine can be exposed to fluctuating temperatures and humidity levels, and UV light. Those who keep their wine in the fridge are subjecting their wine to low humidity levels, and high vibrations from the motor.

  • Should you keep red wine in a wine cooler?

Yes, red wine should be stored in a wine cooler. Many believe that red wine should be stored at room temperature, however this isn’t quite right. All wine should be stored long-term between 10-14°C. Therefore, a wine cooler is for both red and white wine.

Red wine does have a higher serving temperature than white wine. However, in most cases, this is still lower than room temperature.

What Are the Benefits of a Wine Cooler?

Other than keeping your wine in perfect condition, are there any other benefits? Absolutely!

Large wine cooler integrated into dark blue cabinets
  • Convenience – Instead of eating into valuable fridge space, a separate wine cooler will keep all your bottles in one place. If you get a freestanding model, then you can put it anywhere in the home. You could even put it next to your bed if you wanted. Bring it outside for parties, put it under a kitchen counter, the choice is yours.
  • Low Cost and Maintenance – Compared to wine cellars and refrigerators, wine coolers are the cheapest way to store your wine, and also the lowest maintenance.
  • Chill Your Wine Glasses – As an added bonus, a wine cooler can be used to chill your wine glasses. It would be a shame to get your wine to the perfect temperature, only to then pour it into a warm wine glass fresh out of the dishwasher. If you store your wine glasses in your wine cooler then you can be sure that they’re at the perfect temperature.
  • Style – It’s hard to argue that wine coolers aren’t stylish. They can elevate your wine collection from a cupboard overflowing with bottles, to a sophisticated display. Incorporating them into the design of your kitchen can leave you with a stunning look. For example, a built-in cooler makes a fantastic kitchen feature.

Things to Consider Before Buying a Wine Cooler

Before making the decision to purchase a wine cooler, there are some things you should consider. This way you’ll be sure that you’re investing in the right product for you.

Capacity

If you’re shopping for a wine cooler, don’t just go for one that will fit your current collection. Think about how big your collection could be, and try to make sure your new purchase will accommodate that. This way, you’re can ensure you futureproof your cooler!

Noise

Some wine coolers will make a noise as they run. Be sure to keep this in mind when you’re deciding where to put it. If you, say, live in a small apartment and want to put it in your kitchen, you may want to consider getting an integrated model that doesn’t make as much noise. A slimline model can squeeze into most kitchens, no matter how strapped for space you are.

Multi-Zones

Do you want to be able to have multiple temperature zones? This would allow you to store wine long-term, and also bring your wine to their optimum serving temperatures. Remember to factor this into your decision, and figure out whether it would be best for your collection. Dual zone wine refrigerators are very popular with our customers due to the improved storage options.

Location

If you’re getting an integrated wine cooler, you need to know where it’s going to go. Just remember to leave enough space, including the necessary ventilation. If you’re going freestanding, then you need to consider the same, but you’ll have more options and leeway.

FAQs

  • Can a wine cooler be used as a fridge?

No, you shouldn’t use a wine cooler as a fridge. A fridge is colder, which is important for keeping products fresh.

  • What’s the difference between a wine cooler and a mini fridge?

A wine cooler is specially designed to store wine. It will have the ability to become much warmer, and have higher humidity levels. It will also be made with low vibration technology. A mini fridge on the other hand will have lower temperatures and humidity levels, and will not protect wine from vibrations.

  • What is the difference between a wine fridge and a wine cooler?

“Wine fridge” and “wine cooler” are often used interchangeably. However, some may use “wine fridge” to describe a wine cooling appliance that can hold more than 30 bottles. Some may also refer to a wine storage section within a larger refrigeration appliance as a wine cooler. Here at appliance city, our wine coolers are defined as standalone appliances specifically designed to store wine. They have a capacity range of 8 bottles, to over 300 bottles.

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