Wine fridges are undoubtedly the best way to store your wine and ensure it ages correctly. They also provide the option of having your collection on display.
However, with so many varied options on the market, it’s easy to get confused about which products are great and which are duds.
In this article, we take a look at 5 of the best wine fridges on the market today.
After our wine fridge reviews, we list the key things you’ll want to watch out for when choosing one to ensure you end up with the best product for your needs.
1. Vintec 170 Bottle Wine Cellar (Top Pick)
This wine cellar from Vintec looks great, works well, and is reliable. It has a split climate system, so you can have one temperature for reds and another for whites.
The shelving works quite well also: it’s made from wood and has shock absorbers to reduce vibration. There is also internal LED lighting so you can clearly see the labels on your bottles when making a selection.
Although the manufacturer claims that it holds 170 bottles, this refers to Bordeaux bottles, not the standard bottles used for Australian wine.
Many people found that it will fit 100 bottles reasonably well, and up to 130 bottles if packed carefully.
In spite of this, it’s a great system that will look fantastic in your home.
What We Like:
- Split climate
- Reduces vibration
- Looks great
What We Don’t Like:
- Capacity is smaller than advertised
2. Hisense 30 Bottle Wine Cooler (Best Value)
The Hisense 30 bottle cooler is a high-quality unit. It can actually fit more bottles than advertised, which is rare for a wine cooler.
It also runs very quietly, so you can keep it as a display unit in your den or lounge room. The internal LED lighting will display your wine bottles nicely.
The shelving racks are made from wood to help reduce vibration, which is great, and the temperature is steady and reliable. If you want something for a small collection then this is a good choice and will last a long time.
What We Like:
- Large capacity for its size
- Wood shelves
- Quiet
- 3 Year warranty
What We Don’t Like:
- Single temperature zone only
3. Vintec 50 Bottle Wine Cabinet
This is another great unit from Vintec. It has an external compressor and wooden shelves with shock absorbers to keep vibration to a minimum.
It also has two zones so you can store reds and whites at different temperatures. The internal lighting is great, using LEDs to keep the power use low.
The look is stylish and it has sleek lines making it an excellent display feature. The feet are also fully adjustable so you can ensure it is always level.
As with some other wine cabinets, the 50 bottles mentioned refers to Bordeaux bottles so you may have trouble getting 50 standard Australian bottles into it, but otherwise, it is a great unit.
What We Like:
- Reduces vibration
- Split climate
- Looks great
What We Don’t Like:
- Capacity is smaller than advertised
4. DeLonghi 145L Wine Cabinet
This DeLonghi wine cabinet looks great. The legs are fully adjustable to keep it level, and the door is reversible so you can have it open from the left or the right.
The shelves are wire, which won’t absorb vibration as well as wood. Also, there is a child-proof lock on the temperature controls, which seems a strange choice for a wine cabinet.
Some people found that on hot days, moisture would condense on the glass and form a pool at the bottom of the unit, so keep it out of direct sunlight.
Overall, this is a solid wine cabinet that will suit most people.
What We Like:
- Reversible door
- Adjustable feet
What We Don’t Like:
- Wire shelves
5. Hisense 47L Bar Fridge
This mini bar fridge from Hisense is great for keeping your drinks cool over summer. It isn’t suitable for storing wine long-term; it can only hold around four standard wine bottles, and two of them will stand upright.
It doesn’t have a glass door either, so it’s not a display piece. Use it as a beer fridge or as temporary storage for small amounts of wine.
The bottom rear contains the compressor, so the bottom storage is smaller than it first appears. You can fit cans or stubbies down there, but not large wine bottles.
It has a freezer for ice, and door racks for cans and small bottles. If you need a small fridge to store your drinks for a barbeque or a party then this will serve you well.
RELATED: The Best Wine Glasses
What We Like:
- Small size
- Affordable
- Freezer included
What We Don’t Like:
- Low capacity
- Not for long-term storage
Wine Fridge Buyer’s Guide
Why not use a Regular fridge?
Storing wine in the fridge is fine for a few bottles that you plan to drink soon. But when your wine collection gets bigger you will need a dedicated cooler to keep them at a constant temperature.
Each time you open the fridge it changes the temperature, which affects the flavour of your wine.
You will also typically store bottles upright in the fridge. This causes the cork to dry out and may break the seal over time. Wine bottles should be stored on their side so the cork is in constant contact with the wine.
A good wine cooler will also have fans to maintain a constant airflow. This prevents bacteria from forming on the corks.
Vibration
Vibrations can cause wine to age prematurely. To prevent this, look for a wine cooler that has wooden racks and shock absorbers.
Wood absorbs vibration whereas metal doesn’t. It is also useful if the compressor is on the outside of the unit as this further reduces vibration.
RELATED: The Best Fridge In Australia
Temperature
For long term storage, wine should be kept at 10-15 degrees celsius. For wine that you plan to drink in the near future the ideal temperatures are:
- Red wine 12-19ºC
- White wine 8-12ºC
- Sparkling wine 5-8ºC
Larger wine coolers should have split zones so you can keep your reds and whites at different temperatures.
Smaller units of less than 50 bottle capacity, generally have only one temperature zone.
Appearance
Let’s be honest, one of the main reasons to have a wine cooler is vanity. If you want to show off your wine collection, choose a unit that has a stylish look and fits in with your decor.
It should have a glass door and good internal lighting so you can see all the bottles inside at the same time.
