Recommend Your Wine Fridge

[Deleted]

I'm starting to shop around for wine fridges, and am a little overwhelmed by all the options!

For any of you that have a unit, what do you really like about it, what would you recommend I look for, etc?

I am looking at units that are around this size, but am interested in any general advice: 

www.wineenthusiast.com/wine-enthusiast-classic-166-dual-zone-wine-cellar-(stainless-steel-trim).asp

[v]

212 may have recommendations?

[awkwardpenguin]

Lol, ours is a bit smaller than that.

Dual zone is my main requirement.

[tacom]

We were given this little guy as a gift. I like that it's the perfect height to be tucked away next to our couch. bonus points for serving as a surface to store our tiffany flutes and a candle.

yours looks 100% more legit.  

[212]

Feb 15, 2015 11:57:50 GMT -5 v said:

212 may have recommendations?

We have Eurocave, either the Revelation or the Pure L-- I forget and I'm actually in Sonoma right now. It's expensive, but it's the gold standard in terms of temp control, humidity, vibration, etc, so we went with that. It's what almost every wine maker recommended and we've been very happy.

We also have a few smaller fridges, the best of which is our Subzero. But we store our wine to cellar in the Euro.

ETA: We don't like the dual climate options. We were burned by one a few years ago and we lost all of our reds. We "cellar" everything separately now.

[Poppy]

We have a small dual zone and my main complaint is that it holds a lot more whites then reds and we primarily drink/buy reds.

If I was buying today I'd also consider energy efficiency because refrigerators are expensive to run so a little more upfront cost might end up saving money ever the long term.

[Deleted]

Thanks for the tips!

tacom, for the one you have...is it loud? I am trying to get a sense for how much I should care about the decibel ratings, since yours is in a living area curious if you notice it, or if it is more part of the white noise of the home.

[tacom]

Not at all. Never noticed the sound.

However, we live in the city on a busy road. We are 11 stories off street level but we still have plenty of white noise around us.

[lmdbww]

www.homedepot.com/p/Whynter-28-Bottle-Thermoelectric-Wine-Cooler-WC-28S/202555751?N=5yc1vZc3o4Z6r2

I have that one. Not as big as you'd like, there may be larger versions of it. The brand was recommended to me on some wine board (forget where). I got it for a gift, otherwise I would have chosen a dual zone or more adjustable temp below 52.

[UnderProtest]

We had a U Line wine fridge, but it was much smaller than you are looking at. I think it was around 50 bottles. Well, I guess we technically still have it, but its at my parent's house (which is a scary thought). We had it built in under a staircase so we needed one that was considered under counter mount. It was very quiet and we had no issues with it.

[expatpumpkin]

We have a Sub-zero wine fridge and beverage cooler. Side by side and very quite, basically silent.

[loskadoodle]

If you can afford a euro cave, buy one. You will not be disappointed.

[FishChicks]

We have owned two of the exact one you posted. Both were purchased from Costco. Both failed with 6 months and we hauled them back to Costco for a refund. The first one's control panel went dark and never came on again. The second one's compressor went out. Also, with larger bottles (cabs, pinots) we fit 130 or fewer bottles in there, based on my cataloging software.

[cheezer]

We have this one and we're thrilled with it www.wineenthusiast.com/wine-enthusiast-silent-48-bottle-double-door-dual-zone-wine-refrigerator-(stainless-steel-trim-door)-(wood-front-shelves).asp

Very quiet as we essentially live in a studio with our lack of doors.

The only thing we wish is that we had a bigger fridge as we have wine all over our apartment. We're at the point where we need offsite specialty wine storage.

[spinnaker5]

I have had good success with Vinotemp:  bought a 28-bottle back around 2000 that is still working fine, and it's been moved to 4 different locations.  Since then prices have continued to drop and the newer fridges are much more energy-efficient and quiet---- so there really are great deals out there, and it can really make the difference as far as storing wine properly.  Hope you find something that works for you!  

[Deleted]

Feb 16, 2015 16:03:43 GMT -5 FishChicks said:

We have owned two of the exact one you posted. Both were purchased from Costco. Both failed with 6 months and we hauled them back to Costco for a refund. The first one's control panel went dark and never came on again. The second one's compressor went out. Also, with larger bottles (cabs, pinots) we fit 130 or fewer bottles in there, based on my cataloging software.

This is what I am worried about, it seems that so many of them have compressor or other issues - I mean, it's "just" a fridge, and not even as cold as a freezer, c'mon wine fridge peeps get your act together!!!!

[LoveTrains]

I have a built in vino temp in my condo. Somewhere I can find a picture. I got it at Costco. It is at least seven years old and works fine - and that is with tenants abusing it for five years. I only have a one zone because dual zone has issues IMO.

[Deleted]

LoveTrains - thank you!

Clearly the EuroCaves are top of the line, but I am already spending money out the ear for this basement project, so I'd love to find a nice, reliable option that doesn't cost $4k+ - hearing your experience with the vino temp (with tenants) is awesome.

[LoveTrains]

Mine is an under counter, all stainless steel, wood shelves with digital temp display. Sorry I can't find a photo right now.