Do I Need a Wine Fridge?

There comes a point in every wine lover's life where the question ‘do I need a wine fridge?’ comes up. Perhaps the cupboard used to store your favorite bottles is overflowing, or you’re starting to bring special bottles home from trips. If you do the math, if you have more than 30 or 40 bottles in your home, a wine fridge is probably a wise investment. Specially crafted just for wine, these fridges safeguard your collection and ensure your wine is stored safely, whether you plan to drink it in one week or ten years. 

The benefit of a wine fridge is they come in a range of sizes and styles. Some are grand, able to hold a hundred bottles while others are compact and small enough to fit under a kitchen counter while still being able to hold 30 bottles. Some units have dual temperature zones for both reds and whites, while others are specifically designed to fit cans. Curious to learn more? Here’s everything you need to know about buying a wine fridge. 

What is a wine fridge?

A wine fridge is a dedicated refrigerator for storing beverages, whether that is port, wine, beer, or Champagne. Every detail of a wine fridge is designed to protect and enhance the flavors of wine, saving the bottle from direct light, humidity, and temperatures that can prematurely spoil a bottle. The temperature of a wine fridge is customized to wine’s ideal cellaring temperature, and the glass front is crafted to block UV rays. 

How do you use a wine fridge?

Grab your favorite bottles and slide them into the slots in the fridge. Store the bottles that you think are most susceptible to age. Bottles like breezy rosés and everyday wines likely won’t need extra security, so prioritize the age-worthy reds or whites. 

Consider sorting your bottles by age or style. I prefer sorting my fridge from the top down—my whites that I’m likely to drink sooner rather than later or the bottles I’ll pull out when friends come over go at the top. On the bottom rows of my fridge are the special things—wines that could benefit from a few years of aging. Once your fridge is packed, set your temperature and your bottles will be chilled and ready when you need them.

Where should I put my wine fridge?

Wine fridges are often outfitted for different spaces. Some are freestanding—all you need is a plug to set it up. Others are built-in; designed to be added into cabinetry. What’s the difference? A built-in wine fridge has fans on the front, allowing it to be installed within cabinetry, say, in a kitchen or countertop—spaces where a vent can’t push heat into the back of the unit. 

What capacity do I need?

That’s up to you! A good rule of thumb is to expect your collection to double over time. So if you have twenty bottles now, look for a fridge that holds at least forty bottles. If you have fifty, look for a larger fridge. If you have 100 bottles, well, you get the gist.