A Guide to Buying a Wine Fridge

Admit it. You’ve thought about it. Maybe you’ve even considered (gasp) asking for it, like on your wedding registry or holiday wishlist. You catch yourself pondering the pros and cons while sitting in traffic or in the shower. So much anticipation and contemplation...for a wine fridge. And with good reason. This is a game-changer and a choice you can’t take lightly once you’ve decided to pull the trigger.

Last year, we decided to convert our second bedroom into an office and fun room (yes, you can have fun in an office!). One of the first items we bought was a wine fridge. We did a lot of soul searching and product research before we took the plunge. And, for the record, it has been a 110% life-altering acquisition.

Here are a few things to wrap your head around and ask yourself if you’re considering a wine fridge.

1) “Cool factor” aside, do you need a wine fridge?

If you’re a collector, looking to secure more precious wines, or have put a priority on keeping top quality wine stocked and preserved, you need a wine fridge. These little gems are completely different than your garden-variety refrigerator. Wine fridges are designed from the ground up to stabilize temperatures, control humidity, and block unwanted light with practically bulletproof double-paned glass.

2) How large (capacity) of a unit should you buy?

Consider how much wine you generally drink. Now double that number. That’s how many bottles you should plan to store in your wine fridge. People are surprised how quickly they outgrow a fridge, thanks to gifted bottles and the propensity for collections to multiply as wine palates become more refined and exploratory.

3) Do you need a single or dual-zone unit?

Single zone means the fridge has one controlled temperature; dual zone has two areas so you can keep wines either in storage or in a section for service. The key to knowing which is right for you is determining whether you’ll be using your fridge for storage or service or both.

Some people prefer to store their bottles in different climate zones so they’re always at the right temperature, whenever they want to drink. We have a single temperature zone (55 degrees) fridge which works well for us. We simply plan for when we want to drink and put our white wine in our kitchen refrigerator (service at 45-52 degrees) or leave the reds (service at 58-65 degrees) to come to room temperature before decanting or consuming.

4) What can you get for your money?

The price range is vast and depends on the features that really matter to you. Do you want a luxury brand? Is a more expensive one better? We tried to crowdsource and read reviews. I wouldn’t necessarily buy a large or pricey one from a big box department store, but a 12 bottle or smaller one might be ok.

I highly recommend buying from an aficionado like Wine Enthusiast. We were looking for something of high quality but nothing over the top. Eurocave is the luxury brand, the Ferrari of wine fridges, running about $3,500 a pop. Our single-zone Wine Enthusiast brand cost us $1,500 and holds about 150 bottles. Aside from the occasional hum and the need for an auxiliary, app-controlled heat and humidity monitor we found on Amazon for $20, it’s a winner.

5) Where should you keep your wine fridge?

Remember that a wine fridge is a modern day cellar. Think vampire...it should live in its own designated, dark, and cool spot. That means a quiet corner away from sun (UV light causes premature aging), windows, and heat. And if you have kids, keep your fridge in a bump-free zone; you don’t want it to be disturbed by motion, especially if you’re storing vintages for aging.

6) How should I stock my fridge?

This is mostly personal preference, but it’s great to start with the basics: reds, whites, sparkling, and dessert wines.

From there, move on to varietals, like pinot noir, chardonnay, champagne, prosecco, and nebbiolo.

Finally, specialize by countries such as France, Italy, Spain, Portugal, New Zealand, and California, and then even by regions, like Napa, Sonoma, Paso Robles.

Having a wine fridge opens up possibilities you may never have thought possible! I hope this info has been helpful...happy planning!

Cheers!