Wine Chiller Comparison

Light, fruity wine is best served chilled.

As wine consumption rises, so does the use of accessories such as decanters, wine keys and chillers. Wine chillers vary from tableside ice buckets to ice jackets, electronic chillers and wine refrigerators.

Price

Ice buckets are an inexpensive way to chill wine.

The most cost-efficient wine chiller is the ice bucket, which is available in tabletop and tableside models. Electronic models that chill wine to a set temperature are available at higher prices.

Time Frame

Serve red wine at room temperature or slightly warm.

How quickly you want your wine chilled for service will determine the type of chiller you need. An ice bucket can take up to 20 minutes, while electronic models are much faster and can be programmed to a specific temperature. Many have preprogrammed modes for different types of wine.

Expert Insight

When chilling wine with an ice bucket, use a mixture of 50 percent ice and 50 percent water. Ice alone would take up to 60 minutes to chill wine properly, while an ice/water mix takes only 10 to 20 minutes.

References

• Wine Definitions: Chilling Wine!
• Love to Know: Electric Wine Bottle Chiller

Resources

• Wine Products Unlimited
• Wine Expert