Wine fridge buying guide: How to buy the best fridge to store your wine collection

Compare some of the best wine fridges

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Name	Product	Average Price (AUD)	Bottle capacity	Cooling zones	Installation type	Purchase today
Magic Chef MCWC12B		$155.17	12	1	Countertop	Buy at Ebay	The Magic Chef MCWC12B is an affordable countertop wine fridge with three removable wine racks.	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
Lemair LWC59		$408	40	1	Free standing	Buy at Appliances Online	The Lemair LWC59 has chrome shelving and a built-in anti-vibration device.	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
Vintec V30SGMEBK		$670	35	1	Free standing	Buy at Appliances Online	The Vintec V30SGMEBK is fitted with three adjustable wooden shelves and internal LED lighting.	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
Danby DWC93BLSDB		$749.24	36	1	Free standing	Buy at Amazon	The Danby DWC93BLSDB is fitted with black wire shelving and has a recessed pocket-style handle.	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
Baumatic BWC646		$919	46	2	Built-In	Buy at Ebay	The Baumatic BWC646 has six illuminated black wire shelves and two temperature zones.	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
Husky HUS-WC54S-BK-ZY		$1,279	46	1	Free standing	Buy at Appliances Online	The Husky HUS-WC54S-BK-ZY comes with a three-year warranty and a digital temperature display.	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
Liebherr WKb 4611		$2,253	195	1	Free standing	Buy at Appliances Online	The Liebherr WKb 461 offers a large 195 bottle capacity and a powerful cooling system.	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
Vintec AL-V40DG2E		$2,300	40	2	Free standing	Buy at Ebay	The Vintec AL-V40DG2E is designed with double doors and two chambers for different temperature controls.	Compare	loading Fetching your data...

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Why buy a wine fridge?

Why bother spending hundreds or thousands of dollars on a wine fridge when you've got an ordinary fridge that works just fine? One reason might be that you don't have enough space for all those bottles in the family fridge, but there's a much more important point to be aware of: your kitchen fridge is set to the wrong temperature.

Red and white wine need to be stored between 12℃ and 18℃. Wine fridges, which are also known as wine coolers and wine cabinets, will maintain a steady temperature in this all-important zone. They also maintain humidity at around 70% (to keep corks in place and stop air penetrating the bottle) and protect your bottles from UV rays.

In a perfect world, you'd probably have a cavernous walk-in wine cellar stocked with hundreds of bottles. In real life, a wine fridge offers a practical compromise, providing optimum storage conditions for your wine collection but without taking up too much space.

What types are available?

When buying a wine fridge, you'll need to compare fridges from the following:

• Specialist wine cooler manufacturers, such as Vintec
• Refrigeration specialists, such as Liebherr and Husky
• General appliance manufacturers, such as Hisense and DeLonghi

How to compare wine fridges

Not all wine fridges are created equal. Prices range anywhere from $150 for small, entry-level options right up to more than $5,000 for state-of-the-art coolers capable of holding more than 200 bottles. How much you pay will depend on the size of the fridge, the number of temperature zones you want, and whether you require advanced or basic features. Of course, the quality and value of the wine you want to store will also play a part.

Here are the key factors you need to consider when comparing your options:

• Compressor or thermoelectric

  Start by considering the cooling technology a fridge uses. Compressor-type fridges can maintain colder temperatures for longer, but they can have higher vibration levels and are usually more expensive.

  Thermoelectric models are cheaper, quieter and use less energy; however, they can be affected by ambient temperature, so they may not be the best choice if they'll be placed in a garage or somewhere with significant temperature fluctuations.

• Temperature zones

  Another factor to consider is the number of temperature zones a fridge has. Basic models only have one zone, which means storing all your bottles at one temperature. But if you're willing to pay more, you can get a dual-zone or multi-zone fridge with different compartments for storing each variety of wine at the optimum temperature. More temperature zones mean more flexibility, but they also mean a higher price tag.

  Think about your storage needs to decide how many cooling zones you want. If you just want somewhere to keep your shiraz in perfect condition, a single-zone fridge may suit. But if you've got a varied collection of red and white varieties, you may want the versatility of multiple cooling zones. Another advantage of dual-zone coolers is that you can use one zone to store wines and the other to serve them, ensuring that your bottles are at the perfect temperature when you're ready to pour.

• Controls

  Check how easy it is to set your fridge up exactly how you want. For example, are there touch buttons or dials? Is there a digital temperature display so you can program your fridge to the precise level you want? Is there a humidity control system and if so, does it feature a water reservoir you'll need to fill from time to time? If there are charcoal filters to eliminate unwanted odours, how often will you need to replace them?

• Door

  Most wine fridges feature glass doors so you can check on your collection without opening them. Doors are typically tinted to protect against the negative impact of UV rays, and some are made of tempered glass for extra strength. Check whether any unit you're considering features a reversible door for flexible installation.

  If your wine collection is valuable and you want to protect it from thieves or curious children, look for a model with a lockable door.

• Shelves

  Wood shelving is generally preferred to metal shelving because it means less vibration.

  Sliding shelves ensure easy access to your bottles but can mean sacrificing some storage space, and it's also worth checking whether you can easily remove the shelves to create space for storing larger bottles.

  Finally, some models feature display shelves complete with LED lighting if you want to show off the most prized bottles in your collection to envious dinner guests.

• Size and aesthetic appeal

  Check the specs sheet for the dimensions of any wine fridge so you can be sure it'll fit in the space you have available. Also take care when choosing where to put your wine fridge – noise may be a concern in your living area, while you'll want to keep it away from the oven if placing your fridge in the kitchen.

  Another factor to take into account is where the fridge will actually sit. You can choose from compact benchtop models, freestanding appliances or fridges designed to be installed under your benchtop or as part of the cabinetry.

  If your wine fridge will be on public display, you'll obviously want to consider its overall design and aesthetic appeal before buying. For example, will it match the existing decor in your kitchen or living room? Black and stainless-steel finishes are common, as are wooden shelving and LED lighting.

• Warranty

  Check the length of the manufacturer's warranty – two to three years is common – and exactly what it covers.

Which wine fridge is best for me?

The perfect wine fridge for you depends on the type of wine you want to store, the space available in your home and your budget.

Once you know the key features you need and a rough price limit, you can start shopping around for a suitable fridge. To help make the buying process easier, we've compared the pros and cons of five popular fridges in the table below: