Buying Guide: Wine Coolers
Introduction
Want to indulge in a chilled alcoholic beverage after a hard day’s work? Like your wine or beer refrigerated on a warm sunny day? Sounds like a wine cooler would be perfect for you. A wine cooler is a cabinet-like container that has rows of shelves for storing bottles. This device acts as a refrigerator to keep your wines at a cool temperature. Wine coolers have use at home as well as at bars and pubs. Both functional as well as aesthetic, the wine coolers look good and match with the décor of most rooms. The importance of wine coolers can be gauged from the fact that most alcoholic drinks do not taste good at normal temperature. The temperature of a wine cooler can be adjusted to lower the temperature of the drink to just the right level.
How a Wine Cooler Works
A wine cooler has similar functionality as a refrigerator. Some wine coolers have a compressor-based functionality to initiate the cooling, while others have a thermoelectric peltier system for lowering the temperature. The second option is preferred in a wine cooler as the cooler that uses a compressor has added vibrations that affect the wines’ sediments. Thermoelectric cooling is also more efficient and conserves more energy and thereby less electricity is consumed.
The overall size as well as the layout of the interiors may vary as compared to a fridge. The shelves are arranged in such a way that the bottles can be placed in a horizontal position, utilizing more space. Beer cans and soft drinks can also be stored in the wine cooler.
Besides individual preferences as far as the desired temperature of wine is concerned, there is something called serving temperature. Serving temperature is the temperature at which a wine tastes its best. For white wines, this temperature varies between 16 and 20 degrees Celsius, while for red wines it is around 21 degrees Celsius. Above or below this temperature, the wine’s flavor might be compromised. Another considering factor in wine storage is the humidity of the surroundings. The wine cooler offers humidity levels of around 80 percent, the optimum level required for wine.
What to Look for in a Wine Cooler
You should by now have got an understanding of the functionality and use of a wine cooler. However, considering the number of various kinds of wine coolers on the market, finding the right one for you may not be easy. This buying guide seeks to make that decision somewhat easier for you. Below, we have listed some of the main features you need to keep in mind when buying a wine cooler:
- Variable Temperature Adjustment: This facility that generally uses an adjustable thermostat is present in almost all wine coolers. For young or relatively low-quality wines, it is advisable to store them at a lower temperature as the coldness camouflages any taste issues. Older and more refined wines can be stored at a temperature close to room temperature. Some wine coolers have a dual temperature facility for red and white bottles.
- Quiet Operation: You wouldn't want a chainsaw running in your kitchen or dining room. The wine cooler should perform its cooling function in a quiet manner with negligible sound from the motor or any other moving parts.
- Environmentally Friendly : Ozone chemical free wine coolers are the preferred choice as they are friendly on the environment. Thermoelectric wine coolers do not use any Freon, which is proven to be detrimental to the atmosphere.
- Minimun Vibration : This feature makes the cooler more efficient, reduces wear and tear, does not unsettle the wine’s sediments, and also ensures quieter operation. Vibration is kept in check by using a thermo-electric cooling system.
- Size: This would of course depend on individual preferences and where the wine cooler is being used. Some wine coolers are available as small units that can be placed on a table and can accommodate just a single or a few bottles. Bigger wine coolers are standalone cabinets that have a capacity of over a hundred bottles. For homes, a wine cooler having a capacity of around 20 bottles should be more than enough. For small commercial outlets, larger capacity wine coolers would make more sense.
- Built-in Fan: This fan located at the rear of the wine cooler ensures equal distribution of the coldness throughout the wine cooler.
- Tempered and Tinted Glass Door: The glass door provides a clear view of the wine cooler’s contents and is tough enough to withstand impacts up to a certain intensity. A tinted glass protects the wine from excess light.
- Auto-Defrost: This feature ensures that ice does not form inside the cooler.
- Interior Lighting: A small light inside the cooler which switches on as soon as the door is opened is ideal for those nightcaps or even late night snifters. An LED light, unlike other bulbs, is preferred as it does not raise the temperature of the cooler’s interior.
- Slide-Out Shelves: Shelves that can be slid out allow the bottles to be easily accessed and removed. The shelves are sometimes designed to fit the shape of wine bottles.
- Digital Display : Electronic temperature control with a digital display is helpful in instantly reading the temperature of the cooler.
- Lock: Some wine coolers have a locking facility to prevent access to liquor by children.
Buying the Right Wine Cooler
It is recommended that you view the various wine coolers listed on www.etronics.com. Select a wine cooler from reputed manufacturers of this product such as Avanti. Clicking on the following links will offer you a price-wise distribution of the various wine coolers and related accessories on offer: $50 - $100, $100 - $200, $200 - $300, $300 - $500, $500 - $1000, $1000 - $2000.
Besides the looks and the features of the wine cooler, another factor governing your decision should be the after-sales service, and warranty.
