Looking to Buy a Wine Refrigerator?

Probably the most important reason people buy a wine refrigerator is to protect their wine assets, and keep the wine in the best potable condition. Ideal storing temperatures vary with each wine type, but the most critical thing is to avoid extreme changes in temperature.

Generally speaking, temperatures from 40-65 degrees Fahrenheit is sufficient, but optimal ranges in Fahrenheit degrees are listed below:

White Wine - 49-56
Red Wine - 55-60
Rose Wine - 49-51
Champagne - 53-59

When you buy a wine refrigerator, be sure it will safely and consistently preserve your vintages. Fluctuations in temperature, and the speed with which it happens, makes a significant impact on how fast your wine ages.

If you notice a sticky residue around the cork, it's a good sign the bottle has been through some drastic temperature changes. These changes cause expansion and contraction of the the wine, which can do harm to the cork. It's as though you pulled out the cork and recorked it over and over.

What you probably won't notice are the tiny droplets of wine seeping out around the cork, and in doing so, allowing air to pass into the bottle. When the air comes in contact with the wine, oxidation starts, and that bottle becomes unfit to drink.

If you buy a wine refrigerator, you're assured that your wine will age as it's supposed to. The bouquet develops fully, the taste is divine, and you don't have the problem of spoilage to worry about.

And don't think you have to be wealthy or own a house with a wine cellar to protect your wines. If you want to buy a wine refrigerator, they're available in wide ranges of price and size, so you can easily find one to fit both your budget and your home.

Are you an avid wine collector or do you just like to have a few bottles on hand for parties and special occasions? This can help determine which storage size is best suited for you. You can buy a wine refrigerator to hold as few as 6 bottles, but if your collection is large or you entertain frequently, you may want to consider a larger model that holds 16, 18, 28 bottles or more.

How much space do you have in your home to accommodate a wine refrigerator? If space is limited, you may want to consider a compact wine refrigerator, built specifically for smaller spaces.

Where will you put a wine refrigerator? Keep in mind how much sunlight comes in, and whether it's a drafty area that might affect the performance of the wine refrigerator or cause the temperature to be unstable.

Do you drink only one type of wine or do you prefer a variety? If you enjoy different wines, you may find a dual zone wine refrigerator is your best choice for keeping different wines at their optimal temperature.

How much do you plan on spending when you buy a wine refrigerator? No longer made just for the wealthy, wine refrigerators are available at prices suitable for all budgets. Less expensive models can be found for under $100, while upper end versions can be priced well over $1,000 and there are many wine refrigerators available that fall within those two extremes.

What style wine refrigerator best suits your aesthetic preferences? If you want to showcase your wine bottles, consider a glass front model. A smoky or shaded glass is best to help filter light from reaching your precious wines. If you prefer not to worry about light particles degrading your wines, then you may be happier with a wood cabinet or one with a stainless steel door.

If you really want to keep your wines at the perfect temperature for their exquisite taste, then a dual zone wine refrigerator is really a must. Wine needs to be chilled at specific temperatures, depending on the type of wine.

A dual zone stainless wine refrigerator allows you to keep two different kinds of wine, with both chilled to their optimal levels. It's especially nice to have a variety of wines to choose from when it's time to unwind at the end of a long day, and even more so when you know the wine you're pouring has been chilled to perfection.

You may also want to consider a thermo-electric variety of stainless wine refrigerator. There are fewer moving parts to break and there's no loss of freon because of vibrations,

You also won't have to worry about keeping a condenser clean and free of dust or dirt. A dirty condenser is one of the biggest reasons people problems with their wine refrigerator's performance. If you go with a thermo-electric stainless wine refrigerator, you'll not only have less maintenance, it's more energy efficient as well.