At a Glance:
Types of Wine Fridges and Their Features
Whether you are a wine connoisseur or simply enjoy trying interesting bottles you find, a wine fridge is an asset any level of wine enthusiast needs. These small refrigerators keep your wine perfectly chilled, allowing you to pair different styles with the meals you prepare. Whether you regularly entertain company or enjoy 5-star meals at home, a wine refrigerator is the only place you should be storing wine.
However, as you start your search for a wine fridge, you might notice that you have more options than you realize. There are several styles, brands, and technological features to choose from based on your personal preferences. Use this guide to find an ideal refrigerator for wine preservation, and see which brands we recommend.
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Shop NowWhat is a Wine Fridge?
There are many types of small refrigerators and beverage centers on the market. Your first step is to learn the differences between these options so you can choose the right one. Here’s what you need to know:
- Wine refrigerator: These refrigerators are designed to hold wine specifically. They’re often characterized by the use of wooden racks that are built to cradle the bottles while displaying their labels. Single zone, dual zone, and multi zone terms are another way to tell if you’re dealing with a wine fridge vs beverage fridge.
- Beverage center: These models can hold wine, but they are also meant to hold other drinks. You might keep a beverage center in your home theatre or outdoor patio so guests can grab a glass of wine, a can of beer, or a chilled soda. Keep in mind, chances are you won’t find the temperature zones on one of these models unlike with wine refrigerators.
- Mini fridge: A.k.a. a small refrigerator. A mini fridge serves as a smaller version of a refrigerator and usually only has basic cooling capabilities. These are ideal for a college dorm or in an office cubicle.
Types of Wine Fridges and Their Features
The easiest way to shop for a wine cooler is to look at the features and styles available. From there, you can eliminate the options you don’t want and focus on the features that you do. Here are a few things to consider as you search for the best choice for your home.
- Storage: Depending on the brand and design, wine fridges can hold anywhere from 40 bottles to more than 150 bottles. They typical household can get by with a 40-bottle model, and the more one of these units holds, the higher the cost.
- Size: In most cases, a wine fridge is compact and can be installed underneath the counter. If you want to go larger for a bigger wine collection, you may have to upgrade to a built-in wine cabinet.
- Usage: decide whether you want a beverage center that can hold cans and other drinks or if you want an appliance dedicated exclusively to wine.
- Cooling zones: A single zone wine fridge will remain at one temperature, meaning it can only cool one type of wine at a time. On the other hand, dual or multi-zone wine cabinet has two or more cooling areas, expanding the storage options. Filter your options by dual or single zone wine fridge models.
Once you narrow your search by these criteria, you can consider the types of brands you like and consider other bonus features like Wi-Fi connectivity, removable shelves, and UV-resistant panels. You can also review different design options, like built-in models vs panel-ready and freestanding coolers.
Wine Fridge Pros and Cons
If you are still asking yourself, “Do I really need a wine fridge?” consider the pros and cons. There are several benefits of a wine fridge for many homeowners, but these models aren’t perfect for everyone, as we reveal here.
Pros
✅ You can store wine at ideal temperatures to protect its flavor.
✅ You can prevent elements like the sun and humidity from distorting your wine.
✅ Wine coolers are often more affordable than wine cellars and other built-in units.
✅ Wine coolers don’t take up much space.
Cons
✖ Wine coolers can be pricier than beverage centers.
✖ Some coolers only chill wine, which isn’t ideal if you also enjoy beer and other drinks.
✖ There needs to be space in the kitchen for another appliance.
The decision to buy a wine cooler comes down to your lifestyle. If you enjoy collecting unique bottles with complex flavor profiles, a wine cooler might be worth the cost. However, if you have a family that enjoys a variety of drinks, a beverage center might be the better options instead.
Wine Fridge Price Ranges
There are several factors that can contribute to the cost of your wine fridge, including the brand, storage capacity, and size. However, you can expect a starting point of $1,500 when looking for quality wine fridges. Some of the more advanced models can cost nearly $4,000 and are ideal for people who are passionate about wine.
Best Wine Fridge Brands
Wine fridges are luxury appliances, which means they aren’t always produced by entry-level brands in the market. Many wine fridge brands are high-end—which is a good thing. This means that the products you buy will be made with high-quality materials and come with several standard features that you wouldn’t otherwise get. A few brands to consider for your wine fridge include Sub-Zero, Thermador, Zephyr, and Vintec.
Top Wine Fridge Models
Ready to finalize your wine refrigerator options? Then the last step is to look at the best models on the market. Here are a few top wine fridge reviews to consider from the appliance industry’s leading brands.
Zephyr 24" Stainless Steel Wine Cooler
If you have two feet of kitchen space to spare, you have room for an elite wine fridge from Zephyr. This model is part wine cooler part beverage center, making it the perfect solution for households that are fans of more than one drink selection. This Zephyr wine fridge can hold up to 21 bottles and 64 12-ounce cans and keep them perfectly chilled with Active Cooling Technology and two independent coooling zones.
Featured Zephyr PRWB24C32CG review: “I love how it has elevated the look of our dining room and the lighting is beautiful for setting the mood. I love to keep it on the amber color year-round.”
GE Profile™ 4.8 Cu. Ft. Stainless Steel Wine Center
Shop This GE Profile Wine Fridge
This GE Profile wine fridge is a great option if your household enjoys two different wine flavors. The secret to this dual zone wine fridge is GE’s Dual Zone temperature control, which allows you to choose two different settings for the interior. You can set any temperature between 43 and 62ºF to perfectly store your wine. The wine fridge capacity is 44 bottles and a versatile storage system that lets you display your favorite wines how you like.
Featured GE Profile PWS06DSPSS review: “I'm very happy with my wine fridge. It looks great in my kitchen along with my other GE Profile appliances.”
Thermador® Professional 24" Stainless Steel Wine Cooler
Shop This Thermador Wine Fridge
If you want to outfit your kitchen with luxury appliances, consider this Thermador wine fridge. It has a 41-bottle capacity across six different shelves and is made specifically for holding wine. This dual zone wine fridge can store two different types of wine in the same space at precise temperatures for the perfect chill at the first pour. Stored inside this unit, even your oldest vintages are safe thanks to a UV-resistant door and SoftClose engineering that doesn’t rattle bottles.
Sub-Zero® Classic Series 30" Panel Ready Wine Cooler
Shop This Sub Zero Wine Fridge
Sub-Zero is another luxury brand, and this model has the experience to match. This is a full-size option that is 84 inches high, the same size as most built-in refrigerators. It can hold 146 bottles of wine across 15 racks behind UV-resistant glass designed to protect your wine and preserve it for several years. This Sub Zero wine fridge is an elite option for dedicated wine enthusiasts with the power for users to control two temperature zones from anywhere using Wi-Fi connectivity.
U-Line® Modular 3000 Series 36" Stainless Steel Wine Captain® Wine Cooler
This U Line wine fridge is spacious, with enough room to hold up to 62 bottles of wine. This could be a better option if you enjoy collecting different years and vintage bottles but aren’t ready to commit to the full-size wine fridge. This model comes with a sleek black interior and LED lighting to illuminate your wine collection. Whether in stainless steel or a panel-ready option, any wine enthusiast will appreciate this cooler’s design and dual zone chilling.
Vintec 24" Matte Black Wine Cooler
Rounding out the list of potential options is this Vintec wine fridge. This wine fridge dual zone model creates a temperature gradient, which means your wine gets progressively cooler the lower it is placed. It comes with seven slide-out shelves, two removable ones, and a display shelf for your favorite bottles. It can hold 140 total bottles. This is both a stylish and highly functional wine fridge for your home.
Now that you understand the benefits of an under counter wine fridge and the models available to you, it’s your choice whether adding one of these appliances to your home is the right choice. Consider your beverage needs and wine preferences to choose the best model available. Our team at East Coast Appliance is always here to help you choose. Browse our entire selection online or visit one of our Virginia appliance stores to learn more.
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Shop Wine Fridges at East Coast
There is a reason we are dubbed “The Discount King” — for unbeatable deals, shop refrigerators online at East Coast Appliance. Our friendly associates are always happy to help you find the perfect wine fridge for your favorite vinos, whether you call us or use our online chat feature. Better yet, stop by one of our showrooms to see why we are the best appliance store in Virginia. Visit us today!
Learn More: 5 Reasons to Buy a Beverage Center