Small Luxuries: Wine Refrigerators Offer Handy Storage

You don't need to be a wine connoisseur to appreciate the little luxury of a wine cooler. This small refrigerator helps keep wine at the proper serving temperature for short-term storage. Most wine experts recommend that wine stored in a wine refrigerator should be consumed within a year — these appliances store wines but aren't meant to age them.

If you're serious about starting a wine collection, or if you just want convenient storage, a wine cooler can keep your favorites on hand. Here we'll cover what you should look for in a wine cooler as well as location considerations.

Single- or Dual-Zone Refrigeration

Most wine refrigerators come with either single-zone or dual-zone refrigeration. Good-quality wine coolers should have a temperature range of at least 45 to 65 degrees Fahrenheit.


Single-zone refrigeration will work well if you plan to chill just one type of wine. The temperature in a single-zone cooler will vary from the top to the bottom — the larger the refrigerator, the more the temperature will vary.

If budget and space are your main concerns, a single-zone refrigerator is your best bet. Plan to store white wines at the bottom, where it's cooler, and red wines at the top. But be aware that temperature variation is not the same from one cooler to the next.


Dual-zone refrigeration means you can store multiple types of wine in the same refrigerator; there are independent temperature controls and displays for each zone. Plus, the better coolers offer a full temperature range in each zone, so they're extremely flexible for various types of wines. However, these added features do tend to increase the cost; a quality dual-zone wine cooler will be more expensive than a single-zone one.


Size

The amount of wine you'll need to chill and have ready for entertaining will determine the capacity of the wine cooler you should get. Not sure how much space you'll need? Multiply the amount of wine you drink in a week by 52 to get a year's worth, and add a few extra bottles for entertaining purposes.


If space is at a premium, simply buy your wine as needed to minimize the need for a larger cooler. This will cut down on cost, too.


Racks

Pay attention to the type of rack that comes with your refrigerator. Not all racks are created equal; some can't fit particularly tall or large bottles.



Choose a rack that fits with the aesthetic of your home, too. Wine cooler racks can come in all wood, all chrome, plastic or a combination of several materials to fit different design styles. Some high-end models also come with custom doors panels so you can coordinate them with your existing cabinetry.


Built-in or Freestanding?

Built-in wine coolers are custom fitted into the surrounding cabinetry. This type of unit requires extra consideration for installation. Most of these coolers vent from the front, and they need space to vent adequately. The door swing will have an impact on where the cooler should be located, for proper access and so it doesn't block traffic. Many high-quality wine cooler manufacturers offer a reversible door option, but it's found less frequently on lower-priced models.

Built-in undercounter coolers come in a variety of widths, from as narrow as 6 inches to as wide as 30 inches. Most built-in coolers tend to measure 24 inches wide. Those can range from $800 to more than $3,000 (excluding installation costs), depending on the features.


Wine coolers don't have to be mounted under a countertop, either. When they're mounted above the countertop, as this one is, it's easy to see what's in the cooler without having to bend over.


They're also a great addition to a butler's pantry or food pantry, for easy serving and entertaining.


Under Counter Wine Cooler, 32-Bottle - $438 Freestanding wine refrigerators work well for those who don't have space for a built-in cooler. These refrigerators also come with either single- or dual-zone refrigeration and can be located in a basement, garage or vented closet. They vent from the back, so be sure to leave space at the back and top so the heat can escape.

Freestanding wine coolers range in price from $199 to $2,000, depending on the features and size. Some compact countertop models cost as little as $115.

Whether you're willing to splurge on a high-end cooler, or a small countertop model will suit your wine storage needs, the right wine cooler could give your home little sense of luxury you've been looking for.

More: Fine Thing: A Wine Fridge Right Where You Want It

URL: Small Luxuries: Wine Refrigerators Offer Handy Storage http://www.decor-ideas.org/cases-view-id-21630.html