How to find the best wine cooler

Wine cooler buyers guide

Whether you enjoy the occasional chardonnay on an evening or you’re a serious sommelier, we have a wine cooler to suit everyone and every home. But with so many different wine coolers to choose from, it can be difficult to know where to start. Here’s our handy guide to help you out.

What is a wine cooler?

As well as enabling you to showcase your wine collection, a wine cooler maintains the optimum temperature and humidity conditions to bring out the full flavour of your chosen tipple.

Wine cooler size and capacity

As a starting point, you’ll need to think about the size and capacity of your wine cooler fridge. Consider how many bottles you want to store and, of course, how quickly you’ll be drinking them! Also bear in mind that your collection may grow over time.

Whether you want to store a few bottles or start an impressive wine collection, we have a wine cooler to suit your requirements. Our wine coolers come in all sorts of different sizes and can usually store anywhere between 6 to 140 bottles.

Large upright models such as this Liebherr freestanding wine cooler are perfect if you have a large wine collection or love to entertain. Short on space? Our collection of tall slimline wine coolers are a great option if you only want to store a few bottles.

Freestanding vs integrated

As with other kitchen appliances, wine coolers can either be freestanding or integrated (built-in). Which one you choose will depend on the look you want to achieve and the space available.

If you’re looking to just keep a few favourites cool and have limited cabinet space, then a smaller freestanding wine cooler may be better for you. That said, freestanding models can also be a good option for wine enthusiasts as they aren’t really limited by size. Bear in mind that freestanding wine coolers have a vent at the back and therefore cannot be placed directly up against a wall.

Integrated wine coolers are designed to be built discreetly into your existing counters and cabinetry and are a great option if you want to create a sleek, streamlined look in your home. They typically have a vent at the front that channels heat away from the unit, meaning they don’t require as much space behind the appliance.

One or two temperature zones?

Keeping your favourite bottles at the right temperature can mean they age better. If you’re a fan of white wines, the best temperature is between 9-10 degrees. Red wines, however, prefer a slightly warmer temperature of around 12-15 degrees.

If you enjoy a mixture of red and white wines then look for a wine cooler with multiple zones. That way you can keep both at the right temperature and they will be perfect when you are ready to pop the cork and enjoy your favourite tipple.

Energy ratings

When buying any appliance, it’s important to consider its energy rating – and wine coolers are no exception. The higher the rating, the more energy-efficient your appliance will be. This could save you money in the long run as you will spend less on electricity to keep your appliance going.

Other features to consider

Lighting

Some wine coolers now come with interior LED lighting. This is an ideal feature if aesthetics are important to you or you simply want to highlight your favourite bottles. Plus, LED lights don’t affect the temperature inside the cooler so they won’t damage your wine collection.

Tinted glass

Tinted glass protects and preserves your wine collection by preventing harmful UV rays from entering the unit.

Anti-theft

Some models come with security features such as locks to help safeguard your wine collection. This is particularly beneficial if you plan to store vintage or premium wines.

Shelving

Most wine coolers are designed to store standard-sized bottles, so if you intend to keep larger bottles it might be worth looking for a wine cooler with removable or adjustable shelves. This will give you more flexibility when it comes to storing and organising your wine collection.

Charcoal filters

Some wine fridges are fitted with charcoal filters that are designed to remove unpleasant odours from inside the appliance to maintain optimal air quality.

Winter system

If you intend to keep your wine cooler in a location where the temperature fluctuates, for example, a garage, you might want to buy a model that comes with a winter safety system. This ensures the wine cooler can withstand sharp drops in temperature without affecting its performance or the internal conditions of the unit.

Anti-vibration

Constant vibrations can negatively affect the flavour and quality of your wine. You can minimise this risk by opting for a wine cooler with an anti-vibration compressor, which helps to keep the unit stable.

More information and delivery

Knees stock a great range of wine coolers and wine fridges from top brands including CDA , Fisher & Paykel, Liebherr, Smeg, Rangemaster and more. For details on the makes and models available, please visit our website or get in touch. Our helpful staff are always on hand if you have any further questions.

We also offer free local delivery on standard large appliances (less than 60cm wide) within set postcodes. Please see our delivery services page for more information.