What is a Freestanding Wine Cooler? (Full Guide)

by Philip Thompson
07 February, 2023

In this article, we discuss what a freestanding wine fridge is, important considerations when buying one, and interesting statistics.

What is a Freestanding Wine Fridge?

A freestanding wine cooler is a wine fridge used to chill your wine, that should be located in a freestanding position, with ventilation of 5-10cm around the sides and back and should not be built into cabinetry or under a counter.

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This is because they need ventilation around them to avoid overheating, and to ensure the refrigeration system can work effectively.

Browse all wine coolers here.

Freestanding vs Built-in - What's The Difference?

The main difference is that you cannot install freestanding units into kitchen cabinetry, as they require a lot more ventilation around them.

However, freestanding models are cheaper than built-in models, so are a better option if you're on a budget.

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Interesting Statistics

In 2020 the wine cooler industry was assessed at 6 billion USD.
It is projected that the wine cooler industry will grow at a Compound annual growth rate of 5.1% (2021-2027)
The NA region owned the biggest share in 2020 in the wine cooler industry (33.2%)
The APAC region owned the second-biggest share in 2020 (28.9%)
The popularity of wine and the rising demand for luxurious products is expected to drive the wine cooler industry.

small freestanding wine fridge

Important Features

Capacity

The capacity of your wine fridge is important, as you need it to be large enough to hold the number of bottles you need, but also not be so large that you're wasting space (and therefore energy/money).

Expert Wine Storage offers bottle capacity filters, so you can shop easily for the number of bottles you need. Learn more about wine bottle capacity requirements here.

Temperature Zones

Different types of wine require different storage temperatures (see our wine temperature guide), so if you plan on storing more than one type of wine, you need a multi-zone wine cooler.

These allow you to easily use a digital display to set the temperatures of different parts of your wine fridge, allowing you to store both red and white wine in one fridge.

Browse dual zone wine fridges here.

Digital Display Screen

A digital feature displaying the temperature and other settings will make it easy to monitor and make adjustments. The temperature inside the cooler can be easily seen and the perfect conditions for wine storage are easily maintained.

Auto-Closing Door

The benefit of an automatic closing door is that the door automatically closes when it is left open accidentally, ensuring your wine doesn't get warm, and providing an extra layer of security and convenience.

Built-in Fan

This is an essential component of any large wine cooler, as it helps to create an even temperature distribution throughout the unit.

By circulating the air in the wine cooler, the fan ensures that no hot spots form and that the desired temperature is maintained. This helps to preserve the quality of the wine and prevent any damage to the bottles.

Power Usage

When choosing a freestanding wine cooler, power consumption should be taken into consideration, as it will affect your energy bill and the impact on the planet.

Appliances are now rated on a scale of A to G in the UK (started in March 2021). The older scale is still used for some appliances, which is A+++ to G. The old scale A+ can be equivalent to F on the new scale.

Expert Wine Storage allows you to filter products by their energy rating, to help you buy based on power consumption - Shop Energy Efficient Wine Coolers

Noise

If your wine cooler is really noisy, it may start to become annoying, particularly if it's quiet in your kitchen.

Decibels (dB) is the metric used to measure the noise level of a wine cooler, and for bedrooms or living rooms, it is ideal to choose a cooler with a lower noise level (e.g. 35dB).

This will ensure that the appliance does not create any discomfort or disturbance in the area.

Expert Wine Storage allows you to filter products by their noise level, ensuring you can find an appropriate fridge for your preferences - Browse Quiet Wine Fridges here

Design

Depending on your home's aesthetic, you may want to choose a sleek, contemporary design or a more classic, traditional look.

We recommend choosing a style that complements the existing decor of your house or kitchen. If you choose an integrated model, you can fit a cabinet door to the front, so it fits in seamlessly.

Warranty

When you are looking for a wine cooler, it is important to consider the warranty period.

Generally, the longer the warranty period, the more peace of mind you will have. For example, a two-year warranty is often considered a standard length of time to cover any potential problems.

Expert Wine Storage allows you to filter products by warranty duration, helping you to make an informed decision.

Installation

The weight and size of the cooler can make the installation process difficult, so it is important to research the type of installation that is required for each cooler - unless you're getting installation included.

A built-in model will be harder to install than a freestanding version.

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FAQ’s

Where to install your wine cooler?

Wine fridges come in two configurations - freestanding or built-in.

Freestanding wine fridges can be placed on your countertop or it can be placed beside your fridge/cabinets.

Built-in wine coolers, on the other hand, can be installed within kitchen units or under cabinets for a more seamless look. Integrated models are similar to built-in ones, but can have a cabinet door fitted to the front (to make them fit into your existing kitchen better).

Can I install a freestanding cooler in my cabinets?

Wine coolers are often seen as an integral part of a built-in kitchen environment, but unfortunately, a freestanding wine cooler unit can’t be installed within a built-in unit.

This is because freestanding wine coolers have a backside vent, which does not allow for installation into a built-in unit.

Conclusion

We hope you enjoyed learning all about freestanding wine coolers.

If you have any questions, leave them in the comments, or email us at info@expertwinestorage.co.uk

If you want to learn more about other types, consider our related blog posts:

You can also shop new wine coolers online at Expertwinestorage.co.uk.

You can browse more posts on Wine Storage here.