We are independent & ad-supported. We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links.
Advertiser Disclosure
Our website is an independent, advertising-supported platform. We provide our content free of charge to our readers, and to keep it that way, we rely on revenue generated through advertisements and affiliate partnerships. This means that when you click on certain links on our site and make a purchase, we may earn a commission. Learn more.
How We Make Money
We sustain our operations through affiliate commissions and advertising. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission from the merchant at no additional cost to you. We also display advertisements on our website, which help generate revenue to support our work and keep our content free for readers. Our editorial team operates independently of our advertising and affiliate partnerships to ensure that our content remains unbiased and focused on providing you with the best information and recommendations based on thorough research and honest evaluations. To remain transparent, we’ve provided a list of our current affiliate partners here.
Home

Our Promise to you

Founded in 2002, our company has been a trusted resource for readers seeking informative and engaging content. Our dedication to quality remains unwavering—and will never change. We follow a strict editorial policy, ensuring that our content is authored by highly qualified professionals and edited by subject matter experts. This guarantees that everything we publish is objective, accurate, and trustworthy.

Over the years, we've refined our approach to cover a wide range of topics, providing readers with reliable and practical advice to enhance their knowledge and skills. That's why millions of readers turn to us each year. Join us in celebrating the joy of learning, guided by standards you can trust.

What is a Wine Refrigerator?

By R. Kayne
Updated: May 16, 2024
Views: 35,312
Share

A wine refrigerator, also called a wine cooler, is made especially to chill your wine to the perfect serving temperature for great taste every time.

Ideally wine is stored in a "wine cellar" -- an appliance very similar although it controls humidity too. Wine is best stored at about 55 degrees Fahrenheit (13 degrees Celsius), but some wines taste better served at cooler temperatures. A wine refrigerator is intended to chill the wine to the correct temperature for serving. However, if you want to use it for storage you can compromise a little on the temperature.

The kitchen refrigerator in your home is probably set too cold for most wine, but more importantly, the temperature fluctuates every time it's opened. If you have a family, that can be often! Wine requires a constant temperature to maintain its integrity, and keeping it in poor conditions can cause chemical reactions that spoil the taste. Storing it in a garage or closet where the temperature swings is also not a good idea.

A wine refrigerator is the answer to protecting your investment whether you enjoy simple dinner wine or a fine Cabernet.

Rich, red, and full-bodied wines are best served between 59-66 degrees Fahrenheit (15-19 degrees Celsius). If you're going to be using your wine refrigerator to store it, choosing a temperature at the lower range will give you the best results.

If light red wines are your passion you're in luck, as 55F (13C) is a great temperature for both storing and serving these wines.

Blush, rose and dry white wines are normally served between 46-57F (8-14C). If you will be using your wine refrigerator to chill them, you can choose the temperature you prefer. If using it both for storing and chilling, stay as close to 55F (13C) as possible.

Sparkling wines and champagne tend to taste best at 43-47F (6-8C). In this case you can set the wine refrigerator as such and simply consider drinking the champagne sooner rather than storing it for extended periods.

Wine should be laid on its side to keep the cork moist so that it doesn't dry out and shrink, which can allow air in the bottle and ruin the wine. Humidity also plays a part in storing wine, which is why a wine cellar controls humidity. Some wine cellars come with 3 different temperature zones: 1 zone for storage (also good for light red wines), 1 for chilling white wines, and 1 for chilling sparkling wines; essentially combining a cellar with a wine refrigerator. When you are going to drink a bottle you can take it out of the storage section and put it in the appropriate temperature zone. This type of wine cellar is close to the size of a standard refrigerator and can cost about $2000 U.S. dollars.

A wine refrigerator can fit under the counter or in a corner and will take up little room. A small 6-bottle model is even made to sit on top of the counter, at about $100 dollars. Some models have control buttons for either red or white wine that will set the proper temperature for you. A 20-bottle unit of this type will cost a few hundred dollars. There are also much larger models.

A wine refrigerator will protect your bottles from the odors of other foods, and against vibrations that can both spoil wine. When properly stored, wine not only maintains its quality but can improve in bouquet and flavor as it ages. For anyone who really appreciates the fine taste of wine, a wine refrigerator is an investment that will pay off every time you open a bottle!

Share
HomeQuestionsAnswered is dedicated to providing accurate and trustworthy information. We carefully select reputable sources and employ a rigorous fact-checking process to maintain the highest standards. To learn more about our commitment to accuracy, read our editorial process.
Discussion Comments
By anon284423 — On Aug 10, 2012

Naturally, depending on what you are looking for, you may want to look at more high-end commercial wine coolers that offer more features.

By anon56764 — On Dec 17, 2009

Prolonged high ambient temperatures can shorten a wine's life. A wine storage calculator estimates the impact of higher temperatures.

By anon48107 — On Oct 09, 2009

mine goes to 40 degrees, it's a GE unit and my fridge just broke so it's serving as the fridge while i'm waiting for parts. nifty.

By anon40554 — On Aug 09, 2009

How cold does a wine cooler go? I would like to store soda in mine but don't know if it will get cold enough?

By c4wu — On May 28, 2009

For long term storage, a wine cellar is recommended over a wine refrigerator in order to preserve the wine. Wine refrigerators, like Avanti/Le Cache/EuroCave are great investments for wines that will be consumed in a shorter period; for those who have an extensive wine collection, I'd suggest looking into a wine cellar.

By benjamintr — On May 09, 2007

"Wine Refrigerators" are often referred to simply as "Wine Cabinets". Also, there is a big difference between wine refrigeration units that are intended to simply bring the wine to a proper serving temperature and those that are created for the long term storage and aging of fine wine. Many wine refrigerators were not created for storing wine longer than a period of months.

Share
https://www.homequestionsanswered.com/what-is-a-wine-refrigerator.htm
Copy this link
HomeQuestionsAnswered, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.

HomeQuestionsAnswered, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.