Is a wine cooler worth the money? It's not as simple as YES or NO, unfortunately! Whether or not to purchase a wine fridge is a decision many wine lovers reach in time.
Ultimately, the purpose of a built in or freestanding wine fridge is to create the most ideal storage conditions for your wine collection and theres a number of factors that will be worth considering before you take the plunge.
While keeping your wines in a purpose build home wine cellar is a distant dream for most of us, a far more economical alternative to a wine cellar, is a wine fridge!
And these appliances are becoming increasingly popular with wine enthusiasts and can be found in the households of many wine lovers for reasons you're about to discover...
Are Wine Coolers Worth It?
Wine coolers can be an incredible addition to your home both practically and aesthetically, but you may be wondering why exactly they are so special and whether they are truly worth the money?
There are 3 main factors you will need to consider before deciding whether a wine cooler is a worthwhile purchase for you.
Here, we will explain the purpose of the device, how it's different from a regular refrigerator and the factors that will influence your decision of whether a wine cooler is worth your money.
1. What Benefits Do Wine Fridges Provide?
The ideal temperatures for wine to be stored depends on the type of wine it is.
For example, white wine should be kept at an approximate temperature of around 8-10 degrees celsius, whilst red wine should be kept at an approximate temperature of around 16-18 degrees celsius.
The purpose of a wine cooler is to ensure that these temperatures are achieved and maintained 24/7.
A wine cooler does this using either a compressor or thermoelectric method which circulates a constant, stable flow of air through the internal storage area of the cooler, maintaining the preset temperature.
Wine coolers are also available with polyvalent technology, meaning you can store more than one type of wine in the single wine fridge.
Wine coolers also work to protect the wine against UV rays, humidity and vibrations - which are all factors that can damage and ultimately ruin the wine.
2. The Difference Between a Wine Cooler and a Regular Refrigerator?
Whilst you may be tempted to simply store your wine in a regular refrigerator, there are several reasons why you may want to avoid doing so.
A wine cooler is designed to protect your wine from environmental changes and fluctuations in humidity.
A wine fridge is engineered to maintain a high and effective level of humidity at all times whilst gradually lowering the temperatures.
In contrast, regular refrigerators are designed to dry out humidity and escalate temperatures at a rapid rate.
The temperatures of regular refrigerators are also extremely inconsistent due to the door being opened and closed multiple times a day.
Further, regular refrigerators are also subject to vibrations as they run on a large, non-mounted compressor.
Vibrations can be damaging to wines as they can disrupt their natural maturation process.
Because of these factors, regular refrigerators are not suitable for the long-term storage of wine.
If you want your wine to age properly and taste its best, then it would be worth investing in a wine cooler.
3. What Kind of Wine Collection Do You Have?
Whether a wine cooler is worth the money will predominantly depend on the size and condition of your wine collection.
If you are a wine enthusiast who has a collection of 15+ bottles it may be worth investing in a wine cooler.
A wine cooler will ensure that bottles are stored in perfect conditions for long term ageing.
If wines are left in cupboards or regular refrigerators, they may be subject to a variety of environmental fluctuations and this will detrimentally impact their taste over time.
A wine cooler will also provide you with extra of organization in the home, especially if your wine collection is beginning to clutter up your home space.
4. Do You Have The Right Wine Storage Conditions Already?
Another factor that will determine whether or not a wine cooler is worth the investment, is the location and size of your home.
If you live in a house or an apartment that is particularly warm, humid or poorly insulated, it may be practical and beneficial for you to invest in a wine cooler.
Likewise, if you are someone that is currently renovating your home and are looking for that extra special feature to give your space that unique, luxe feeling, a wine fridge could be the perfect answer.
Before deciding on whether or not to invest in a wine cooler, you should ensure that you have an adequate space for it to be positioned.
It will need to be free from vibration (not placed next to a washing machine), away from direct sunlight and positioned so there is sufficient ventilation around the back, sides and top.
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Final Thoughts
Before deciding on whether a wine fridge is worth it and the investment for you, you may want to consider the following points before making the purchase:
- The benefits a wine fridge will provide
- Why a wine fridge is better than a normal fridge (for storing wine)
- Your wine collection size, variety and value
- Your existing wine storage options
If you have any questions, leave them in the comments, or email us at info@expertwinestorage.co.uk
You can browse more posts on Wine Storage here.
Author: Philip Thompson
Philip is the General Manager at Expert Wine Storage, and is very knowledgable about all things relating to wine and wine storage, including wine fridges. He is regularly featured in media outlets sharing his knowledge on wine. Connect on Linkedin
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