Chase Maser on November 14, 2016 0 Comments It’s a classic problem among wine drinkers: going to a tasting and buying a buffet of varietals and then desperately trying to shove them into your refrigerator or into a credenza, where they will be stored for that perfect dinner party which has yet to be planned. It’s nearly impossible to turn down a great sale of your favorite Prosecco or Merlot, but what’s equally as impossible is how you’re going to properly store and maintain all your great purchases. Once the crisper drawer is full and the cabinet space is spoken for, the only thing left to do is to buy a dual zone wine cooler that can help get your life back on track. Why Buy a Wine Cooler Anyway? First of all, if you’re serious about the wine you drink, then you’ll want to store your wines in the best possible way to ensure their longevity and flavor. Buying a wine cooler offers the best preservation of wines because the appliance itself is made specifically for them. You won’t have to deal with the hassle of where you’ll store your bottles of reds and white, and instead, you can have a designated space for them, all while having a unique appliance that adds so much to your household. Wine coolers themselves can be either built-in or freestanding, which means you can place one into an empty space under the counter, into an old trash-compactor spot, or up against the wall to fill a blank space! With other features that wine coolers have to offer, it’s much more than just a place for your wines; it’s a great purchase to show others that you mean business. So, What Are Temperature Zones? Temperature zones represent the temperature-controlled areas that a wine cooler can have. There are several different sized options that can accommodate the wine storage needs of any type of wine drinker. Whether you’re a modest consumer on the weekends, or you’re popping bottles every night, there are great options available that will keep you prepared. Below, we outline the main three types of wine coolers: single zone, dual zone, and multiple zone. Single Zone Wine Coolers On average, most wine coolers are single zone units, which means that they can be set to only one temperature that is maintained throughout the entire appliance. A single zone unit is ideal for a consumer who only purchases a single type of wine, like Cabernets or Rieslings. The wine can be placed into the unit, set to a perfect storing temperature, and then is ready to serve whenever needed. Units that are single zone are typically the cheaper option, and tend to be smaller in size because they are geared toward a certain kind of wine. That being said, know that basically every kind of wine cooler can be made into a single zone unit, so you are able to find a single zone unit in nearly any capacity that you need. Dual Zone Wine Coolers The option that we feel offers the best experience of storing and maintaining a collection is an appliance with dual zone capabilities. A dual zone unit is one that has two spaces equipped with separate temperature controls. This means that a consumer can store all their red wines at a mild 60 degrees on top, and all their white wines can chill at a frigid 50 degrees down below. Having two spaces for different wines offers a lot of versatility for a consumer because it doesn’t limit someone to a specific varietal. Sometimes a consumer can feel let down by a single zone unit because most of their collection consists of only red wines, and if someone gives you a bottle of Sauvignon Blanc, you may have to store it in your fridge next to the ketchup. Having a dual wine cooler unit will alleviate the stress of accumulation. On the other side of the spectrum, having only two spaces to store wine will also keep a consumer aware of how many bottles they purchase and go through. If you have tons of space to store your wines, you may end up stockpiling so much that you never actually get a chance to drink it all. A dual zone wine cooler gives you just enough room to experiment, while giving solid parameters to limit spending. Dual zone units can be compact like single zone units, but they can also come in larger capacities. The best thing to remember is that essentially any wine cooler can be made into a single or dual zone unit, but more zones equals a higher price. Once you figure out where you want to place your wine cooler, that will ultimately dictate the size of the appliance you need, which in turn helps you determine how many zones it can have. Multiple Zone Wine Coolers If you’re feeling really adventurous, you can purchase a wine cooler with multiple zones, which means that your appliance can have several different temperature-controlled areas inside. An appliance of this kind is the best option for a wine lover with a multifarious collection. Champagnes can be stored at 40 degrees at the bottom, Pinot Grigios can be stored at 50 degrees above, Port wines at 57 degrees above those, and Syrahs stored at 64 degrees at the top; the choice really is up to you as so many different brands allow you to tailor your wine cooler to your specific needs. The bottom line is that if you’re a diehard connoisseur, then go ahead and splurge on the extra control. What to Remember There’s a lot to consider when buying a new appliance, especially when it comes to buying a wine cooler. Factors like placement, size, temperature zones, and price are the main things to consider, but more importantly, you have to consider your lifestyle. If wine isn’t much of a priority in your everyday life, then a smaller, single zone unit is perfect. If you absolutely can’t live without wine and you need all different kinds to function, then a multiple zone appliance is the absolute. But if you find yourself in the middle, and your at a crossroads between buying a Zinfandel and a Chianti at the market, you can take pleasure in knowing that you can efficiently store both in your modest dual zone wine cooler.
