Whats The Best Way To Clean Or Maintain It
Your wine fridge wont require too much interior upkeep, especially if your model features an odor-minimizing carbon filter, but when you do decide to give it a wipe-down, simply unplug the cooler and use a mild soap to clean any metal or plastic surfaces. If your shelves are made with wood components, use a gentle wood cleaner.
How Long Does Wine Last In The Fridge
When stored properly, e.g. in a wine fridge, unopened wine bottles can be kept for years. If youre opening a bottle and plan to store the bottles remnants in your wine fridge for later, just be sure youre using a bottle stopper with a strong seal, as most wine fridges store bottles horizontally. Alternatively, use a system like Coravin to tap into your bottles and enjoy them for months to come.
What Types Of Two Zone Wine Coolers Are There
Once you decide to buy a dual zone, its important to understand the different types of wine refrigerators you can buy for your home. You will see these terms: freestanding, built-in, undercounter, and countertop.
A freestanding wine refrigerator is just that, it stands on its own. It can be placed anywhere in your home. You just plug it in and you are done. This is what we had in our condo in the US. A built-in wine cooler slides into an open space in a cabinet. Normally these care undercounter wine fridges. This means they fit into the space between the countertop and the floor. A countertop wine fridge is one that is generally smaller and meant to fit on top of a kitchen counter or other tabletop.
Choosing between these types of wine refrigerators, most of them just require you to measure the space you have available. The exception is a built-in wine cooler. If you plan on adding a wine cooler to an existing cabinet space it is important to buy one that is meant to be a built-in wine fridge. There are certain considerations for a built-in fridge, most notable is the type of cooling system.
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Pay Attention To The Compressor
Its one of those things that might sound super obvious, but its easy for it to slip your mind when youre shopping for appliances. You want for your wine cooler to operate quietly. The last thing you want or need is a constant, obnoxious hum to ruin the ambiance of your home.
The main thing to look at on the noise factor is the units compressor. This is a part that the manufacturer should be putting design resources into, not one where corners are cut. A cheap or faulty compressor will mean a loud fridge, whereas a quality compressor means quiet operations.
Vibration levels are also extremely important when it comes to wine storage appliances. The reason is because vibrations disrupt and agitate the sediments in your wine which can cause your wine to lose uniformity as it ages. The end result is a wine that doesnt reach its potential or worse, goes completely bad.
With this being said, pay attention that your compressor operates with low noise and low vibration, and pay attention to customer feedback on this point.
Best For Multiple Beverages: Newair Beverage Refrigerator And Cooler
Product Ratings
What We DidntLike
The NewAir freestanding wine fridge and beverage cooler comes at a reasonable price and has a lot to offer for wine enthusiasts. Its our pick for best for multiple beverages and heres why.
Size & Coverage
This cooler has dimensions of 18.4 x 18.9 x 33.13 inches and measures 19 inches in width. It has the storage capacity to fit up to 126 cans!
This all makes it up to the task when it comes to hosting a football game or Oscar party. There are two other sizing options for this type of cooler, one that fits 60 cans, and the other fitting 160 cans.
Material, Features & Ease Of Use
Made to be freestanding, there is no need to worry about tricky installation.
Temperature settings range from 37F to 64F, with 7 temperature presets, ensuring you can serve your wine at the perfect temperature.
The shelving is also adjustable, allowing for more space for larger bottles. Our favorite feature was the double-paneled door which helps to block out UV rays, which can affect the quality of wines.
It has a manual defrost option as well, and has a stainless steel finish, making it sturdy and durable.
Overall, as wine enthusiasts, we were pleased with the efficiency of this wine fridge and beverage cooler and the reasonable price!
A few of the wine fridges and coolers listed, including this one, have mentioned the use of interior lighting with LED lights.
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Eurocave Premiere L Wine Cellar
The EuroCave Premiere L Cellar is one of our most popular units for good reason. Aside from its modern, sophisticated design, the EuroCave Premiere also boasts an eco-friendly level of energy consumption: 64% lower than comparable models. An intuitive, touch-sensitive control panel with a remote, LED lighting system makes this large-capacity unit equal parts functional and beautiful.
Ideal Temperature For Red Wine
The ideal temperature for red wine is between 50 and 68 degrees Fahrenheit. This is a pretty big range and can depend on the type of wine you store. Lighter body wines, like pinot noir, should be kept on the cooler side. Fuller body reds, like Bordeaux wines, should be kept on the warmer side. This is because of the effect of tannins on wine. My preference is for something around 60-62 degrees.
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Ivation Dual Zone Wine Cooler
- Capacity: 33 bottles
- Dimensions: 15 x 22.7 x 34.2 inches
Ivation has a hard-won reputation for producing intelligently-designed and highly efficient wine coolers that dont break the bank. This 33-bottle dual-zone cooler continues that winning tradition.
Despite the substantial capacity, this is a space-saving refrigerator ideal for smaller kitchens. Small and squat it measures just 20 inches across youll nevertheless benefit from a Tardis-like space inside this cooler. The upper zone is intended for storing bottles between 54F and 64F, while down below you get a broader temperature band from 41F to 57F. Whether you want to keep reds, whites, or sparkling wines, you can keep them all chilled appropriately and simultaneously.
The racks of the shelves are all adjustable so you can easily create your ideal storage environment, whatever bottles or cans you want to keep on hand.
You can take care of manipulating the temperature using simple and responsive touch controls. These couldnt be easier to use, even if youre not the greatest tech lover.
The double-paned glass doors keep the interior cooling zone insulated. The doors also stop UV rays penetrating your wine bottles, something that can play havoc with the tannins and overall flavor of your favorite bottles of vintage wine.
While we found nothing but praise for the wine cooler itself, we cant say the same about customer service. Several consumers have complained about less than helpful or responsive customer care.
The 7 Best Dual Zone Wine Fridges In 2022
When I set out to find my first dual zone wine cooler, I faced a dilemma: with so many good options on the market, how was I supposed to know which one was the best? As far as problems go, it was a great one to have, though it still one required some serious consideration.
It took some research, but I eventually found the dual zone wine cooler that was right for me .
In this guide, Ill share seven of the best dual zone wine fridges on the market today so that you can find the option that gives you the most bang for your buck.
Keep reading to find out!
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Good To Know Complaints On Cheap Models
Keep in mind though many people complain on the low quality of small, cheap, wine coolers by these brands. Reviews provided by owners of these wine coolers often mention:
- early failures-break downs ,
- bad customer service .
This doesnt mean that each and every unit by these brands is of low quality but the frequent complaints mentioned in reviews should make one extra cautious before buying a wine fridge from any of these brands.
Temperature Controlled Wine Storage
Wine refrigerators are ideal for storing wine because they can maintain the ideal temperature for wine storage regardless of the outside environment. One of the problems with long-term wine storage is that the temperature of your home fluctuates over time. Between heat in the winter and air conditioning in the summer, there are huge differences in temperature and humidity.
Even if you keep your home at a steady temperature, what happens when you head out on holiday and turn the air con off? Temperature changes, as well as changes in humidity and light, can affect the taste of any wine you are storing for the future. It can also affect the wine that you plan on drinking in the near future.
All of this is why wine pros focus a lot of their time and energy on how to properly store wine. It is why wine is aged in a cellar, in dark spaces. It is why nice restaurants store their wine in temperature controlled cellars and refrigerators. You dont need to be a pro, though, to properly store wine at home.
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Do Wine Fridges Use A Lot Of Electricity
Wine fridges use a lot less electricity than traditional fridges. Traditional fridges use around 350-800 watts of electricity, while wine fridges typically use only 100 watts on average. This is because wine fridges are designed to keep wine at a cooler temperature than food, so they don& rsquor t need to work as hard to maintain that temperature.
Works Best In Small Wine Fridges
Thermoelectric technology is used in smaller appliances where less quantity of cool air is needed to be produced.
Consequently, the efficiency of cooling decreases while the cost of operation grows with appliance size.
So please keep in mind, that thermoelectric coolers are small wine refrigerators with maximum bottle count of 28 32 bottles..
That is to say, if you only have space for a countertop wine cooler with 4-12 bottles capacity then a thermoelectric unit might be the ideal choice.
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Whats The Difference Between Freestanding And Tabletop Wine Coolers
Tabletop wine coolers are a type of freestanding wine cooler, but not the other way around.
Freestanding refers to any appliance that is designed for use on its own. In other words, its not designed to be built in to a cabinet or other sort of set up.
Tabletop appliances are simply freestanding appliances that are compact enough to be ideal for use on top of a counter.
Why Buy A Dual
You might think that a wine cooler is extravagant because you can just shove your opened wine bottles in the fridge and call it a day. However, if you take your wine seriously, you know that a wine cooler is very advantageous as it gives the best preservation process of your reds and whites.
Compared to a single zone cooler, the dual-zone cooler has an edge because it has two compartments with a larger storage capacity in which you can store your red and white wines separately. Each compartment can also be set at different temperatures.
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What Should I Look For When Buying A Wine Fridge
When youre in the market for a wine fridge, you should consider several factors to ensure you purchase the best one for your needs. First, consider how much wine you typically have on hand and purchase a fridge that can accommodate your collection. Its also important to choose a model with the right temperature range for chilling all your favorite wines at their ideal serving temperature. Additionally, many wine lovers prefer dual temperature zones in their fridge so they can store both red and white wines at the optimal temperature.
Best For Wine Storage: Antarctic Star Wine Cooler/cabinet Beverage Refrigerator
Sizes: 17.52 x 18.7 x 31.5 inches| Brand: Antarctic Star | Features: Blue Interior LED lights
What We Liked
- Storage for bottles and cans
- Quiet operation with little vibration
What We DidntLike
- Manual temperature controls
Our pick for storing wine is the Antarctic Star brand wine cooler. It works fabulously and comes at a super low price, which we absolutely adored.
This cooler has a couple of size options to choose from, which we found to be another great wine enthusiast perk to this item and brand.
Its a pretty efficient cooler too. When thinking of the electrical costs of maintaining a wine cooler, it is an important factor to consider. Here is a closer look at why we liked this item:
Size & Coverage
Measuring 17.52 x 18.7 x 31.5 inches, and 3.2 cubic feet inside, makes it an ideal fit for a small space within ones home or outside nook.
Its made to fit up to 26 bottles of wine, but it can also fit cans and other small beverages.
Material, Features & Ease Of Use
With a glossy black stainless steel finish, the cooler gives a polished and shining look, topped with interior LED lighting. Its the perfect cooler for a calm dinner party or a fun get-together with friends.
This cooler makes minimal noise when its running, and offers a manual temperature control between the degrees of 40F and 61F.
The legs and shelves of the cooler are adjustable making it a great bargain, and a long-lasting beverage cooler.
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Main Features Schmecke 33
Cooling Method: Compressor cooling with fan-assisted air circulation: constant temperatures, stable storage environment for your wines.
Controls: Digital press button controls for both zones. After setting the desired temperature just touch the lock icon to freeze the settings.
Display: Easy to see LCD screen shows the current temperatures.
Top Zone: 54 64°F : suited for storing reds, Bottom Zone: 41 57°F : good for chilling whites and sparkling wines.
Door: Double layer, thermopane glass door with black trim and recessed handle. Door glass is tinted to filter UV rays.
Safety Lock: Door can be locked, comes with 2 keys.
Shelving: Removable chromed metal racks hold the wine bottles. To make room for wide, larger bottles just pull out a shelf.
Installation: Freestanding only. Cannot be built in.
White LED interior light shows off the wines nicely.
The 12 Best Dual Zone Wine Coolers
Wine might be remarkably easy to drink, but storing wine effectively is much more challenging.
You should avoid storing wine in the refrigerator as the temperature and humidity levels are both unsuitable. Additionally, storing wine upright causes the cork to dry and shrink. Wine bottles should be stored horizontally so the cork is in contact with the liquid.
A wine cooler allows you to store your collection at the right humidity levels and temperature. A single-zone cooler works well if you drink exclusively red or white wine.
Lovers of mixed wine, though, will appreciate that red and white wine need to be chilled at different temperatures. A dual zone wine cooler gives you independent cooling zones, allowing you to keep all types of wine ready to serve at its best.
If you feel a dual zone unit makes the smoothest fit, heres what to consider:
OK, with that framework in place, you should find you can confidently navigate our collection of the best dual zone wine coolers for mixed collections.
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Why Have A Dual Zone Wine Cooler
Lets start with the basics: why should you buy a dual zone wine cooler in the first place? Perhaps your single temperature cooler has served you adequately to date. If you own one of these coolers, however, youre already aware of its biggest drawbacks: a single temperature cooler serves all wines at the same exact temperature.
Obviously, this is less than ideal.
More versatile dual zone wine fridges, however, allow you to store and serve your wines at their unique serving temperatures, enhancing flavor and bringing out the best qualities of your wine. This could be a great investment for anyone, especially for those looking to impress on social occasions.
How Do You Put Wine Into A Wine Fridge
In general, wine bottles should always be stored on their sides, and not upright. The point of this is to prevent the cork from drying out by maintaining contact between the corks surface and the wine inside the bottle. If a cork is allowed to dry out, this means that oxygen will find its way into the bottle, and this is bad news for the wine .
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Glass Doors With Uv Resistant Features
Another reason why its better to store a wine collection in a wine cooler as opposed to an open wine rack has to do with the sun. If your wine is stored where the bottles are exposed to direct sunlight, the UV rays can be quite harmful.
UV rays penetrate the wine bottles and damage the tannins. In turn, this leads to a difference in flavor as well as in the aroma. Top-of-the-range wine coolers will always have UV-resistant glass doors to keep the UV rays from coming in contact with your wine.
Lanbo Wine And Beverage Refrigerator Dual Zone Built
An expanding wine collection calls for an upgraded wine storage solution, and this 18-bottle and 55-can finest dual zone wine chiller with Double-Layer from Lanbo is just the ticket.
The thermoelectric technology utilized by the Lanbo wine cooler allows it to run silently while maintaining the desired temperature and to resume operation should power suddenly be lost. As the temperature ranges from 41°F to 64°F, the majority of wines can be stored there safely.An integrated carbon coal filter in the cooler eliminates any concerns about the unit’s distinctive odor. You can preserve the wine’s flavor and quality with the help of a carbon filter while also maintaining the fridge’s cool temperature.Strong, double-paned glass is ideal for storing wine since it shields its contents from light and heat extremes.The ability to store two different kinds of wine in separate compartments is a handy feature of the Dual Zone Design.
Pros
- A carbon filter could absorb the smell machine.
- Versatile installation allow you to install easily.
- Featuring with digital controls and LED displays to monitor and control the interior temp is convenient.
- Handles is installed for easy access.
Cons
Antarctic Star 36 Bottle Wine Cooler/Cabinet Beverage Refrigerator Small Mini Red & White Wine Cellar Beer Soda Counter Top Bar Fridge Quiet Operation Compressor Adjust Temperature Freestanding Black
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Kalamera 24 Bets Dual Zone Wine Cooler Refrigerator 46 Bottle Dual Zone
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