Are you a wine lover seeking the perfect storage solution to preserve and savor your favorite bottles? Do you find yourself entertaining guests regularly and constantly having to find room to store and chill wine? Then you need to add a wine fridge to your home appliance arsenal! Beyond being a stylish addition to your home, these appliances offer a treasure trove of benefits that can enhance your wine-drinking experience.
Regular Kitchen Fridge vs. Wine Fridge
Temperature Control
Wine fridges offer precise temperature control within a specific range, ideal for storing wine. They maintain a consistent temperature, typically 45 to 654 degrees Fahrenheit. On the other hand, regular fridges have a broader range to cover many more bases. Plus, due to the door being opened more frequently (and in households with children probably almost constantly), the temperature is much harder to control and keep constant.
Your regular refrigerator is meant to keep things cold – and not all wine is meant to be kept at that temperature. A wine fridge allows you to set your temperature to store any variety of wine – warm, cold, white, red...you can store it all.
Humidity Control
Wine fridges often include humidity control features to maintain the optimate humidity level for wine storage. Did you know that the ideal range for wine is between 50% and 70%? This helps the corks from drying out and the wine from becoming oxidized.
Vibration Reduction
Excessive vibration can negatively impact the quality of your wine over time, so wine fridges are built to minimize these vibrations and keep your wine as pristine as possible.
Shelving and Layout
Regular fridges, while having adjustable shelves or components, aren’t made specifically to store wine securely. A wine fridge, on the other hand, is specifically designed to store wine bottles in a horizontal position. Storing wine this way helps keep the cork moist, preventing air from entering the bottle and affecting the quality of the wine. Plus, these shelves are made to only store wine, so you can easily fit many bottles of wine at once. Your regular refrigerator has to store and organize a lot of different food and probably often doesn’t have the space for more than one or two bottles.
Aesthetics and Display
Wine refrigerators are, simply put, much prettier than their regular kitchen counterparts. They often feature a glass door or a transparent panel allowing you to showcase your wine (and monitor it without opening the door). Wine fridges are designed with aesthetics in mind; they are made to be on display and a focal point in your home.
What else can I store in my wine fridge?
- Cheese: What goes better with wine than cheese? Wine fridges can store certain types of soft or semi-soft cheeses that benefit from the controlled temperature and humidity in the fridge.
- Chocolate: A wine fridge is an excellent option for storing chocolate, so it’s not too hard (like it would be in a regular fridge/freezer) or too melted (if you left it in a pantry or a cupboard).
- Fresh Herbs: Are you tired of watching your fresh herbs wilt on the counter or in your fridge? With the cooler and consistent temperature of a wine fridge, it’s a great storage option to extend the life of your herbs.
Where should I put my wine fridge?
There are several things to consider when choosing where to place your wine fridge. So whether you’re thinking about keeping it in the kitchen, dining room, or some other place in your home, you have to factor in these considerations:
- Temperature Stability: Wine fridges should be placed where the temperature remains relatively stable. Outside variations in temperature can affect the quality and aging process of the wine.
- Ventilation: Wine fridges generate some heat, so it’s essential to place them where the heat can dissipate effectively.
- Avoid Vibrations: Place your wine fridge on a stable, level surface that minimizes vibrations from nearby appliances, foot traffic, and other disturbances.
- Darkness: Wine is sensitive to light, particularly UV rays, which can degrade the wine’s flavor and quality over time. We recommend placing it in a dimly lit area where the sun’s rays can’t get through. You could choose a dimly lit room or place it under a countertop in your kitchen or entertaining space.
- Accessibility: Consider the convenience and accessibility of your wine fridge when choosing its location. You’ll want it to be where you can easily get to it and remove single bottles without disturbing the others inside.
What size wine fridge do I need?
- Countertop - For the Dabbler: These smaller wine fridges are designed to rest on a countertop or small table. They generally hold between 6 and 18 bottles and are ideal for wine enthusiasts with limited space or who only need to store a few bottles at a time.
- Medium - For the Modest Wine Collector: These wine fridges are generally freestanding and ideal for standing independently or under a countertop. They often have the capacity for 20 to 50 bottles and are popular for wine collectors with a modest wine collection.
- Large Capacity - For the Afficianado: Most often found in restaurants or by serious wine collectors, these wine fridges are spacious and can accommodate, in some cases, hundreds of bottles of wine.
So what are you waiting for? If you consider yourself a wine lover, add a wine fridge to your home! Stop in, and we can help you find the perfect one for your home and lifestyle.