When Beer Fridge Graduates to Wine Fridge
In Best Buy tonight I noticed they had a twelve-bottle wine fridge on display for $99. I’m not sure, but I think it was this one:
Anyway, it was the first sighting of its kind for me here in the East Coast. Wine fridges are all over the place in California which is interesting given that the climate, especially in Northern California, is conducive to wine storage (60 degrees and overcast). Still, I had mine, sitting in the corner of the living room next to the TV keeping my wines at a constant 60 degrees.
Some points to consider when shopping for one if you’re in the market to graduate from beer fridge to wine fridge:
- Look for one with a cooling unit that doesn’t vibrate. Vibration makes wines (and wine dorks) scared. Almost all name brand units will not vibrate these days. It was more of a concern three years ago.
- Variable temperature is very nice to have. I actually keep mine a shade higher than medium because otherwise it takes the reds too long to warm a little before serving. I stick whites in the real fridge for about 30 mins before serving. (This brings up a sidebar that I’ll likely address in a future post:Europeans think that Americans serve reds too warm and whites too cold. They are right.)
- They aren’t energy hogs. Running a twelve bottle fridge in our living room was a blip on our energy bill. Just don’t do anything like put it in front of a heating vent or something.
- Mine has a light but I don’t use it. Feel free to get one without a light.
- Higher end wine coolers will have dual climates. If you demand your whites at 48 and your reds at 59, then by all means spring for the dual climate control. Otherwise, this shouldn’t be a problem.
- Finally, mine has a door that can swing either way (with a switch of the hinge). Not all of them do this and it’s a deal breaker when deciding where to put your fridge. I wouldn’t buy one with out it.
(Edit: this post was later amended)
September 9th, 2011 at 2:46 am
Anything!