The Difference Between a Wine Fridge & a Wine Cooler

Keep your bottles chilled in a cooler or refrigerator.

Wine refrigerators and wine coolers are both methods of chilling wine and storing bottles. While some people use the two terms interchangeably, the two appliances are actually slightly different. A wine cooler has a smaller shape and size, for transporting the wine between locations. Wine refrigerators have a larger size because you use the appliance in one location.

Wine Refrigerators

Wine refrigerators resemble standard home refrigerators, but with a much smaller size. The refrigerators typically stand 3 feet tall or less and slip into small areas of your home. Place the fridge behind a couch, in a closet or in an unused corner. According to Modern Wine Cellar, the refrigerators are best suited for storage of one year or less. Use the refrigerators for short-term storage of multiple bottles of wine.

Wine Coolers

Unlike wine refrigerators, which you keep in one location, wine coolers have a portable design. In Britain, manufacturers refer to the devices as champagne coolers and champagne hampers. The appliances hold large bottles of wine and champagne, regulating the temperature inside. A carrying handle at the top allows for easy transportation of the cooler. Use wine coolers when carrying wine or champagne to a party or when bringing wine home from the store. The coolers are also suitable for quick chilling of a bottle before dining. Some designs even feature plugs that connect to a cigarette lighter in your car. Basic designs feature a foam exterior that keeps chilled bottles of wine cold until serving, rather than chilling the bottles automatically.

Benefits

Both wine coolers and wine refrigerators keep your wine chilled. You should serve wine at a temperature of 40 degrees Fahrenheit up to 65 degrees Fahrenheit. Wine cellars store bottles at 55 degrees Fahrenheit, which keeps wine drinkable for years. Cellars are expensive, but refrigerators are much cheaper. The small size lets any wine enthusiast display and collects a few bottles for regular use.

Warning

Do not use either a wine cooler or refrigerator as a long-term substitute for wine storage. A wine refrigerator typically lasts 10 years or less. Neither system provides any method of regulating humidity in the space. Wine needs a small amount of humidity, around 40 percent for proper storage. Refrigerators and coolers may also breakdown as the result of electrical surges or electrical failure. The sudden increase in temperature caused by a power failure can ruin the wine.

References

• Modern Wine Cellar: A Wine Refrigerator Is Not a Wine Cellar
• Compact Appliance: Beverage Coolers