Chase Maser on December 1, 2016 0 Comments A major issue in many homes is finding enough space in the fridge to store things. With gallons of milk, cartons of eggs, and all the half empty ketchup bottles crammed in, it’s nearly impossible to find a nice spot for a bottle of champagne or an assortment of white wines. If you’re tired of having to constantly pull out five other items to reach the Riesling in the way back, then buying a freestanding wine refrigerator might be a perfect alternative. It doesn’t matter if you have an extra space in the kitchen to fill or if you want to store your wines in a separate room for safekeeping, we have created the below guide to help you make your decision a little easier. Below, you will find a rundown on frequently asked questions, maintenance tips and other features that will help you decide whether this type of wine fridge is the right choice for you. Common Questions About Freestanding Wine Refrigerators If you’ve thought about buying a wine cooler but haven’t yet, it might be because you’ve convinced yourself that your refrigerator or countertop is as good of storage as any. The reality is that this simply is not the case, as a wine cooler includes so many added features and offers so much storage space that a true wine collector desperately needs. Here a couple of common questions and concerns people raise when deciding if a freestanding wine cooler is the best option for them, as well as explanations as to why this type of appliance is so useful for aging and storing wine. 1. Why Use a Wine Refrigerator? The best thing that a freestanding wine refrigerator can provide is a safe storage space made specifically for your wine collection! These appliances come in a variety of different bottle capacities, with smaller units that hold less than 10 bottles to units that hold well over 100 bottles. With that in mind, you’ll never have to turn down another great sale at the supermarket for fear of not having enough room to store it all! Having a space designated for your collection will help you keep things organized and prepared. That way, when you come home at the end of a long day you can take off your shoes, walk over to the wine fridge and pour yourself a glass without any fuss. Another benefit of using a wine refrigerator instead of your regular refrigerator to store your wine is that a wine refrigerator can store your collection at the perfect temperature. You may have heard that certain types of wine thrive when stored at a specific temperature, and that different wine styles have different optimal temperatures. A freestanding wine cooler allows you full control over the temperature your bottles are stored. 2. Where Can I Put a Freestanding Wine Cooler? The beauty of owning a freestanding appliance, as opposed to a built-in one, is that you can install it anywhere you want! Freestanding units are simple and low maintenance, meaning that you can literally push it up against the wall, plug it in, and start loading in your beverages. If you have an empty space in your kitchen to fill, if your garage could use a sleek appliance to inspire some character, or if you want to keep it in your bedroom next to your bedside, it’s as easy as moving it into place and turning it on. Ultimately, deciding on where you want to place your new appliance will determine what size unit you need to purchase, so it’s always a good idea to solve this step first before buying something that is oversized or doesn’t live up to your spatial needs. 3. What’s the Cost? Thankfully, because of their free-moving, versatile placement ability, freestanding units tend to be less expensive than their built-in counterparts. Built-in wine refrigerators cost more because they are engineered to be built into an undercounter space within your cabinets, or to replace and old trash compactor. Stricter parameters require a bit more dough, so buying a freestanding appliance usually offers more wiggle room on finances. To put it into perspective, this EdgeStar 32-Bottle unit will run you about $450, whereas this similar sized built-in wine cooler from EdgeStar costs about $300 more. Clearly, the price gap is huge when considering that the bottle capacity and temperature zones are relatively the same. They’re both from the same brand and have great reviews, but if you had to choose based on budget, you may want to opt for the freestanding version. Learn More: The Differences Between Built-In & Freestanding Wine Coolers Features of Freestanding Wine Refrigerators A freestanding wine cooler is more than just a refrigerator with slots for wine bottles. These units come outfitted with several features that help promote the healthy aging of your collection, and many even include multiple zones so you can store more than one type of wine at its optimal temperature. Multiple Cooling Zones One of the perks to owning a separate refrigerator unit for your wines is that many appliances (depending on how large they are) offer dual or multiple zones for temperature control. This means that the first half of your fridge can store white wines at a chilled 50 degrees, whereas the lower half can store sparkling wines at teeth-chattering 40 degrees. This is a must-have feature for many wine collectors, and adds quite a bit of versatility to anyone with a growing collection. Not only will you have the space to store multiple types of wine, you’ll also have the accessories to properly maintain and enjoy your wines at the correct temperature. Cooling Methods Along with multiple cooling zones, wine refrigerators utilize different kinds of cooling methods to maintain a steady temperature inside, such as thermoelectric, compressor, or air cooled technologies. As you browse your options, you’ll find that most freestanding wine coolers are compressor-based. This means that it has the ability to cool a large number of bottles while keeping temperatures stable despite any outside temperature fluctuations. This type of cooling does tend to consume a bit more energy than other cooling methods, but is often considered to be the best cooling option for wine coolers. Depending on the size of the wine cooler you intend to purchase, there are several freestanding units that offer different cooling types other than compressor based cooling, if that’s what you prefer. What to Remember Buying any new appliance comes with a laundry list of things to think about, but the best things to remember about purchasing a freestanding wine refrigerator are placement, capacity and price. Knowing where to put the unit, how much you need to store and maintain and how much you’re willing to spend will basically make the decision for you. The only thing left to do now is to find a wine cooler that looks the best in your home! There are tons of great options that will undoubtedly suit your needs, and you’ll thank yourself at the end of every day with a perfectly cooled sip of Pinot Noir from your very own fridge full of your favorite wines.
