If you really want a proper wine cooler for your home, but want to get the best value for money possible, then this post is for you.
Below we've picked out our favourite best value wine fridges for each popular type.
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If you don't find what you want in the list, you can also sort our entire range by cheapest price on this page: Shop Wine Fridges
Cheapest Wine Fridges
Dunavox DXFH-28.88 - Single Zone - 28 Bottles - Freestanding - 430mm
Best for: Great Value
Product Highlights:
| Price | £699 |
| Type | Freestanding |
| Temperature Zones | Single Zone |
| Bottle Capacity | 28 Bottles |
| Features | Tinted glass door (UV-treated), Removable shelves, Internal LED lighting (blue), Automatic humidity management |
| Width | 430mm |
| Height | 830mm |
| Depth | 480mm |
| Colours | Black |
| Energy Rating | G |
| Shelves | 6 |
Philip says: "Elevate your small wine collection with the Dunavox DXFH-28.88, a stunning, freestanding wine cooler featuring a temperature control range of 5-22℃, energy efficiency, and a 28 bottle capacity that perfectly complements your decor.".
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| 28 bottle capacity: Ideal for small wine collections. | Cannot be built-in |
| Temperature control: 5-22℃ temperature range for wine storage. | Small bottle capacity may not be large enough for some |
| Energy efficient: Low energy consumption saves on costs. | |
| Sleek design: Complements any interior decor. | |
| Freestanding design: Can be placed anywhere in the room. | |
| Single zone: Ideal for those storing one type of wine. |
Dunavox DXFH-30.80 - Dual Zone - 30 Bottles - Freestanding - 480mm
Best for: Smaller Collections
Product Highlights:
| Price | £899 |
| Type | Freestanding |
| Temperature Zones | Dual Zone |
| Bottle Capacity | 30 Bottles |
| Features | Tinted glass door (UV-treated), Removable shelves, Internal LED lighting (blue), Automatic humidity management |
| Width | 480mm |
| Height | 840mm |
| Depth | 490mm |
| Colours | Black |
| Energy Rating | G |
| Shelves | 5 |
Philip says: "Choose the Dunavox DXFH-30.80 for exceptional wine storage with this stylish, dual-zone wine cooler, capable of storing up to 30 bottles with a temperature range of 5-22℃ and energy-efficient design that saves costs and flatters any interior decor.".
Dunavox DXFH-30.80 - Dual Zone - 30 Bottles - Freestanding - 480mm Dual Zone - Click To Check Price
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Dual zones: Store different types of wine optimally. | Cannot be built-in |
| 30 bottle capacity: Ideal for small wine collections. | Small bottle capacity may not be large enough for some |
| Temperature control: 5-22℃ temperature range for wine storage. | |
| Freestanding design: Can be placed anywhere in the room. | |
| Energy efficient: Low energy consumption saves on costs. | |
| Sleek design: Complements any interior decor. |
La Sommeliere SLS102DZBLACK - Dual Zone - 102 Bottle - Freestanding - 550mm
Best for: Large Capacity Freestanding Design
Product Highlights:
| Price | £999 |
| Type | Freestanding |
| Temperature Zones | Dual Zone |
| Bottle Capacity | 102 Bottles |
| Features | Electronic display with touch controls, Handle less, UV treated glass door, Digital temperature display, Anti-vibration system |
| Width | 550mm |
| Height | 1277mm |
| Depth | 565mm |
| Colours | Black |
| Energy Rating | G |
| Shelves | 5 |
Philip says: "This large freestanding wine cooler is beautifully designed, and ideal for serving and storing wine. The large range of the temperature zones allows you to store any type of wine, and the dual-zone technology ensures each type will be stored at the correct temperature.".
La Sommelière SLS102DZ - Dual Zone - 102 Bottle - Freestanding Dual Zone - Click To Check Price
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Dual temperature zone: 5-12℃ Upper and 12-18℃ Lower | Can't be installed built-in |
| Digital temperature display for easy monitoring | Too large for a countertop |
| 5 beech fronted steel wire shelves | |
| Quiet Noise level: 41dB | |
| Good energy rating for less power consumption | |
| 2 years parts and labour warranty |
La Sommeliere ECS80.2Z - Dual Zone - 75 Bottle - Freestanding - 480mm
Best for: Dual-Zone
Product Highlights:
| Price | £1049 |
| Type | Freestanding |
| Temperature Zones | Dual Zone |
| Bottle Capacity | 75 Bottles |
| Features | Adjustable front feet for levelling, White interior LED lighting, Digital temperature display, Audible and visual alarms |
| Width | 480mm |
| Height | 1270mm |
| Depth | 570mm |
| Colours | Black |
| Energy Rating | G |
| Shelves | 7 |
Philip says: "The La Sommeliere ECS80.2Z wine cooler boasts 2 temperature zones (5℃ to 20℃), quiet 41dB operation, UV protection for wine, 7 semi-sliding shelves, and winter system for cooler environments - making it an optimal, yet unconventional, solution for wine storage.".
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| 2 Temperature Zones Range of 5℃ to 20℃ | Cannot be built-in |
| Quiet 41dB Noise Level | Shelves only semi-sliding |
| UV Door Protection - Stop damaging UV rays | |
| Sleek black glass door | |
| 7 semi-sliding shelves | |
| Winter system: for cooler ambient temperatures |
Do you really need a wine fridge?
Whether you indulge purely on special occasions or enjoy a glass of wine with dinner every night: a wine cooler is a wise investment. It will preserve the quality of your wines; help prevent corkage and premature ageing due to warm temperatures and reduce the risk of unpleasant sediment building up in the bottom of the bottle.
With a quality wine cooler fridge, you can store bottles vertically and horizontally, protect them against fluctuations in temperature, vibration, and harmful UV rays, and keep them at the perfect drinking temperature for whenever your fancy a glass.
You’ll also have the opportunity to store different wines at different temperatures with temperature-controlled zones and keep your reds, whites, roses, and sparkling wines just as the winemaker intended:
Recommended Wine Serving Temperatures
- Champagne and sparkling wines: 5°C
- Rosé wines: 8-14°C
- White wines: 10-12°C
- Red wines: 12-18°C
What Should I Look For In A Wine Cooler?
If you intend to use your wine cooler for short-term storage, a standard temperature-controlled wine fridge will do. It will keep your wines at the perfect serving temperature and ready to enjoy whenever you want them.
If you want to invest in a wine cooler for long-term storage, a climate wine refrigerator is a better choice. Equipped with humidity control, UV-light protection, and anti-vibration systems: these wine fridges are ideal for expensive wines that require an added layer of protection to preserve their delicate features.
Where Is The Best Place To Install Them?
Integrated wine coolers and built-in wine fridges are typically kept in kitchens, wine cellars, or entertainment areas, but you can install them anywhere you have cabinetry. If you have a space in your new kitchen, an integrated wine cooler will fill it up and provide perfectly chilled wines on demand. You can disguise it with a door that matches the rest of your cabinets and create the perfect kitchen for the entertainer.
The beauty of free-standing wine coolers is that you can keep them anywhere you like, but they require adequate ventilation, and you’ll need a plug socket nearby. Free-standing wine fridges are popular for home bars, family entertainment rooms, and covered outdoor dining areas. As they are not built-in to any cabinets, you can place them anywhere you like.
If you intend to keep your wine cooler in a wine cellar, be sure to check its climate class. Like fridges, standard domestic wine coolers can only function within Class N (normal) climates. If your wine cellar is unheated, you will likely need a Class SN (subnormal) wine cooler.
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How Many Bottles Can They Store?
As wine coolers vary in size, the number of bottles you can keep inside depends on the model you choose. Standard wine fridges can hold between 20 and 50 bottles, which is usually sufficient for domestic installations.
However, some wine coolers can hold 100 bottles or even 150 bottles, so you need to shop around and size up the perfect model for your home.
Most wine fridges can accommodate 750ml bottles of wine, but some have removable, height-adjustable shelves and can accommodate larger bottles such as magnums. Check the internal rack system to see if your preferred wine cooler meets your needs.
Can I Keep Red & White Wines In The Same Cooler?
Yes, you can, but only if it is equipped with adjustable temperature zones. All top-of-the-range wine fridges have this dual-zone feature, but many budget models do not.
If you enjoy a mix of red and white wines, look for a wine fridge with two or more temperature zones. This will allow you to store red, white, rose, and sparkling wines in one stylish cooler.
Related:
- Can a Freestanding Wine Cooler Be Built In?
- What is a Freestanding Wine Cooler?
- What is an Integrated Wine Cooler?
- What is a Built-in Wine Cooler?
What Are The Ideal Conditions for Storing Red & White Wines?
This is not an easy question to answer. Different wines have different needs. Always store wines with corks horizontally to prevent oxidization. Keeping the cork moist will help prevent impurities from entering the wine and creating that unpleasant ‘corked’ taste.
Always store wines at the recommended temperatures listed above. Store them too warm, and they will age prematurely and lose their body and flavour. Store them too cold, and sediment will build up in the bottom of the bottle.
A temperature-controlled wine cooler will help keep all your wines at the perfect temperature and keep your vintages in drinkable condition for longer.
Most wines do not like humidity, and vibration can cause chemical reactions that can cause them to go off. Keep your wines in a room or wine fridge with less than 70% humidity, and where possible, use an anti-vibration system to prevent vibration damage.
Wine coolers with UV-light protection are essential for storing older, light-sensitive wines, and if you often keep open wines for more than a day, you should look for a wine fridge with a charcoal filter.
Do Wine Coolers Use A Lot of Electricity?
A quality wine cooler shouldn’t use more electricity than your fridge freezer, but you should check its energy rating. Wine fridges with an A+ energy efficiency rating are the most economical to run and recommended for family homes, but remember the larger the cooler, the more energy it will use.
A small A-rated wine cooler could be just as energy-efficient as a large A+-rated wine fridge, so shop around, and if in doubt, ask us for the most efficient model for your property.
Conclusion
We hope you enjoyed our post on the best value wine fridges.
If you have any questions, leave them in the comments, or email us at info@expertwinestorage.co.uk
You can also shop new wine coolers online at Expertwinestorage.co.uk.
You can browse more posts on Wine Storage here.
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