When it comes to wine fridges one of the most common questions pondered is where to put your new wine fridge. It's no surprise, then, that many wine aficionados have incorporated wine fridges into their homes and kitchens to ensure a steady flow of accessible and properly stored vino constantly available at the ideal temperature.
A wine fridge is simply a refrigerator specifically designed and engineered to store wine, typically within a certain temperature and humidity range. Wine fridges are usually installed in kitchens but can also be placed in living rooms, bedrooms, or even garages and conservatories for added convenience. They come in various sizes, from full-size tall wine fridges to mini, countertop models, and are designed to fit your specific storage needs. Some wine fridges even come equipped with dual-zone temperatures, so you can store both red and white wine at their optimal temperatures for service.
Wine fridges come in a range of price points and quality levels, some with incredible internal technology and others that are far more simple. Some wine fridges are aimed at the long term maturation of wine, like wine cabinets, and some purely for wine service.
When it comes to selecting the right kitchen wine fridge for your home, you must consider the differences between freestanding, built-in, and integrated wine fridges. All three types of fridges are designed to keep wines at their optimal temperatures for storage and proper aging. The type of fridge to choose, however, will depend on several criteria, including the size and layout of your space, your desired features, and your budget. Let’s take a closer look at the differences between freestanding, built-in, and integrated wine fridges.
Freestanding kitchen wine fridges
Freestanding wine fridges are highly accessible and can be placed anywhere in your home as long as they have 2-3 inches of space around them and 12 inches of free space above. Freestanding wine fridges vent from all around and expel the hot air produced in their running around their top, back and side so must not be built in to carpentry but left to stand along.
They offer the most flexibility when it comes to installation and placement. When buying a freestanding wine fridge, you will need to consider: size, features, and additional accessories, such as a lock, anti-vibration feet, heaters, and adjustable racks. They sometimes come with reversible doors, allowing you to customize the look of your refrigerator.
Built in kitchen wine fridges
Built-in wine fridges are more expensive than their freestanding counterparts, but they offer a more popular and attractive option for a kitchen as they can built in to kitchen carpentry with only the door exposed. Built in wine fridges are the most popular options for kitchens.
Sitting on the floor and venting from a panel at the bottom front of the unit, even this can be hidden behind a plinth as long as the unit can still vent, undercounter wine fridges come in the standard 15cm, 30cm and 60cm widths, but also 40cm and 50cm widths are available too.
Built in wine fridges tend to be less for the long term maturation of wine, unlike many freestanding options, but for wine service. This means there are more dual zones available in the built in wine fridges and fewer have wine maturing technology like carbon filters or security tech like locks and child locks because the wine stored within is usually not as expensive.
Integrated kitchen wine fridges
Integrated wine fridges are a variation of the built-in model in that they blend seamlessly into the existing cabinets or cabinetry in your home but also be raised off the floor and fit into a specific aperture and in some cases, have a door placed on the front to totally blend in to your kitchen.
While they are often more expensive than freestanding or built-in models, they are probably the most aesthetically pleasing option for your home due to their ability to totally blend in to the design. Most integrated wine fridges vent from behind, however some models are now totally self ventilation which means no channel for ventilation needs to be built.
Integrated wine fridges, like built in wine fridges, are mostly used for service but some brands, such a Swisscave and Liebherr, also include carbon filters and the technology needed to age your very finest wines.
When choosing a wine fridge, make sure to consider the type of fridge that best fits your needs and budget. Freestanding, built-in, and integrated wine fridges each have their own pros and cons, so make sure to do your research and select the best option for you. With the right fridge, you can ensure that your wines are kept properly and that you get the most out of your collection.
Wine storage technology for the kitchen
Key features to look out for when choosing a wine fridge for the kitchen, now you know whether you need a freestanding, built-in or integrated model would include;
Single or Dual Zone
The first question to ask yourself if what kind of wine will go in the fridge and what is the purpose of the wine fridge (service or long term maturation). If its long term maturation then only a single zone wine fridge is necessary, if it's for the service at the ideal temperature of both red and white wine, then a dual zone wine fridge will fit the bill.
Carbon Filter
If long term maturation is the aim, then a carbon filter should also be selected. A carbon filter helps purify the air in the system and stops bad odours from infiltrating the cork and spoiling the wine.
Reversible Door
Do you want the door to open from the left or the right. Most kitchen wine fridge that are built in or integrated come with reversible doors, but not all. Ensure you choose a model with a reversible door if you want it to open from right to left.
Child lock or mechanical lock
If you have children in the house then a child lock, to stop tampering with the temperature controls and also a mechanical lock, so children can not access your alcohol, is a good idea. Most unit do not come with either, so be sure to look for more premium units in this case.
Sliding shelves
Finally, the shelving system is going to be more important than you think. Undercounter wine fridges, especially dual zones, are very tight for space, if you have lots of Champagne and Burgundy shaped bottles then if you buy a 46 bottle wine fridge, it will, in reality, perhaps only hold 30 bottles and if your bottles are very wide, perhaps even less as you will need to remove a shelf to get very wide based bottles into any undercounter wine fridge.
When choosing a wine fridge for the kitchen consider the factors above, visit us in our London store, or use the live chat function for expert help.