What Is A Wine Fridge?

A wine fridge is exactly what it says on the fridge - a fridge that is specifically for storing wine.

A wine fridge is sure to keep your wine collection fresh, cool, and well preserved for long periods of time - longer than wines usually keep without being refrigerated.

There’s no better storage space for your wine collection than a wine fridge.

You can use a wine fridge to store your wine bottles on a long term basis, but you can also keep your wine in your wine fridge ready to be served.

Keeping your wine at the right temperature is important - it can keep your wine fresh for longer and can bring out the right textures, flavours, and appearance.

It’s recommended that wine is kept at temperatures between 11-14°C, so this will be the most common preset setting you’ll find when looking for wine fridges.

Most wine fridges are built to accommodate 750ml bottles of wine - however, most wine fridges have removable shelves, making it easier for you to accommodate larger bottles of wine like Champagne or Prosecco.

 

Types of Wine Fridge

There are three main designs of wine fridges - the freestanding wine fridge, the integrated wine fridge, and the built-in wine fridge.

 

Freestanding

Freestanding wine fridges are a great choice, and you can purchase them as big as you like. If you’re looking at storing 40 or more bottles, a freestanding wine fridge might be your best option.

Unlike other types of wine fridges, freestanding wine fridges stand on their own, and can pretty much be placed anywhere in your kitchen, living room, dining room, pantry, or cellar.

If you don’t have much cabinet space, freestanding wine fridges are also a good choice compared to built-in wine fridges or integrated wine fridges, which can take away space from your kitchen cabinets and lack flexibility when it comes to space.

If you only need to store a few bottles, you can find quality and conveniently sized wine fridges.

This is ideal for keeping wine ready to serve, whether it be after a long day at work or to serve at a dinner party.

It’s important to note that freestanding wines shouldn’t be used as built-in coolers, as the ventilation system is different.

The heat exits from the back of the unit, where the cool air is drawn in. If you place a freestanding wine fridge in the wrong place, it can be dangerous as it can overheat.

This is why you should always keep around 2 or 3 inches around each side of the fridge unit, as well as leaving space above the unit for air to flow freely around.

 

Built-In

One of the best parts about built-in wine fridges is that they always look great in your kitchen. They fit snugly under countertops and are a great addition to any kitchen.

Like with freestanding wine fridges, it’s important to leave space around the unit for maximum airflow - in the case of built-in wine fridges, leave around 0.5cm around the sides.

The vents are typically located around the front of built-in wine fridges, and the fans are usually found underneath, so the warm air is released around the sides of the unit.

If you’re a wine lover, you’re in luck as many built-in wine fridges can store over 200 bottles of wine.

Whether you’re storing wine in the long-term, or you’re storing wine ready to serve, a built-in wine fridge might be your best option.

 

Integrated

Integrated wine fridges are similar to built-in wine fridges - however, this type of cooler is designed to be fully integrated into the design of your kitchen or dining area.

You’re sure to find an integrated wine cooler to match any interior - however, they’re typically more expensive than freestanding wine fridges, as more work needs to be done to integrate the unit into your home.

You’ll find that many integrated wine fridges have dual temperature zones, which is ideal if you plan on storing different types of wine, or if you want to use the fridge to store wines long term and to keep wine at serving temperature. 

Click here to learn about the difference between dual and single temperature zones.

The vents are usually found on the front of integrated wine fridges, which means you won’t need to leave much space behind the unit for optimal air circulation.

However, if the fans or vents are found at the rear of the unit, it’s important to leave at least 0.5cm so the warm air can flow freely.

 

Benefits of a Wine Fridge

A wine fridge is a must-have if you’re a wine lover. A good wine fridge will keep your bottles of wine at the perfect temperature, making sure it lasts a long time while retaining the optimal freshness, taste, and flavour.

Wine fridges also make a statement that you care about the quality of your wine and that you’re not just a casual wine drinker.

It’s not difficult to find a wine cooler that will fit in perfectly with the design of your home - and a good wine cooler can complement your home and offer a sleek and stylish appearance.

Wine fridges can also act as a display for your top-quality wines, and any wine connoisseur will be sure to notice your wine fridge.

Wine fridges come in all shapes, sizes, colours, and designs - so you’re sure to find one that matches your style.

You can find wine fridges that store just a few bottles or some that could store your entire wine collection.

A wine fridge is sure to keep your wine at this optimal temperature if required. If you choose a dual-temperature wine fridge, then you’ll have the option to store your wines at different temperatures.

This is ideal if you want to keep your long-term wines at the optimal storing temperature and keep others at serving temperature, so they’re ready to serve either yourself or your guests.

Click here for our buyer's guide on wine coolers!