Built-in Wine Cooler and Built-in Wine Fridge

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Built in wine fridges including 15cm, 30cm, 40cm, 50cm, 60cm wide

What is a built in or undercounter wine fridge?

Built-in wine fridges are wine fridges that fit neatly into the design of a kitchen and sit on the floor. They can be flush fitting or just pushed in under a counter. Unlike freestanding units they don't require ventilation all around them so can be 'boxed in' from all sides and the back with carpentry or walls. Most units are designed to fit under a kitchen counter and vent from a grille at the front of the unit that must not be blocked. Some tall built-in units can also be built-in to carpentry. 

Built-in wine fridges come in both single and dual zones, they're usually quieter than freestanding units as they are inside your living space, most units are either black or stainless steel. If you require a built-in unit but also want to place a door in front of it, that is also possible, look for 'panel ready' options in the filters.

What's the difference between a built-in wine fridge and a freestanding wine fridge?

Built-in wine coolers can be used as freestanding wine coolers but not all freestanding wine fridges can be built-in. The reason for this is due to where the venting (expelling of hot air) occurs on the fridge. Wine fridges that front vent are safe to be built into a kitchen because they expel air our of the front of the unit. This means that panelling and cupboards can be built around them.

Are built-in and undercounter wine fridges the same?

Built-in wine fridges are any wine fridge that is built in to kitchen but not raised off the floor. If the wine fridge is built-in but off the floor its classed as an integrated wine fridge.

An undercounter wine fridge, is a fridge that sits on the floor but has a countertop above it.

Why choose a built-in wine fridge?

Most customers choose built-in wine fridges because they want to serve with at the ideal serving temperature, however, some models are also fitted with carbon filters that mean they are suitable for the long term maturation of fine wine. All Swisscave wine fridges have carbon filters and most mQuvee units do too.

Seamless Kitchen Design: The main reason to choose a built-in wine fridge is to blend the technology into your kitchen's design. Built in wine fridges sit on the floor and vent from the front panel. Those who wish to hide the wine fridge within the kitchen design can hang a door on a 'panel ready' integrated wine fridge.

Precise Temperature Control: One of the most critical features of a built-in wine fridge is its ability to maintain a consistent and precise temperature. Different types of wine require specific storage temperatures to mature and express their flavours fully. These units offer dual or multiple temperature zones, allowing you to store various wine types in ideal conditions.

Humidity Control: Built-in wine fridges also provide humidity control, maintaining the necessary moisture levels to keep wine corks from drying out and preventing oxidation.

UV Protection: All built in wine fridges are equipped with UV-resistant glass doors or solid doors to shield your wine from harmful light exposure, preserving the wine's integrity.

Vibration Reduction: To prevent any disturbances to the sediments in wine bottles, these fridges have vibration-reduction technology, ensuring that your wine remains undisturbed during storage.

What features should I look for with a built-in wine fridge?

Asking these ten questions will direct you to the right built-in wine fridge.

1) How tall in my kitchen counter? Most built-in wine fridges are 82cm tall but had adjustable feet which take them up to 89cm tall. There are some units that are already 88cm tall and have the ability to extend up to 95cm tall.

2) Do I want the wine fridge to visible or not?

Look for 'panel ready' wine fridges if you want to hide the wine fridge inside the kitchen design.

3) What ventilation will this wine built-in wine fridge need?

As long as the front grille is not blocked (it may be hidden with a plinth with holes in it) then the unit can vent.

4) Do I need a single or dual zone built-in wine fridge?

Do you have more red or white wine, is Champagne important to you? Not all dual zone units are split 50-50 with most favouring the red section to the white. Be sure to check how many bottles of wine fit into which compartment.

5) Can Champagne fit into an built-in wine fridge?

Some built-in units require partial shelf removal to fit Champagne into them thanks to the wide base of a Champagne bottle. v

6) Can a built-in wine fridge be used to mature wine?

Yes, if a carbon filter is fitted inside.

7) How loud are built in wine fridges?

Anything under 39dB will be quiet enough to go into a kitchen, cheaper wine fridges tend to be noisier and may disturb.

8) Flush fitting or push in and go?

Some wine fridge doors open into themselves, this means you don't need extra space on the door opening side to account for the door overhang, however, some are not flush fitting. Be sure to look at the installation guide on every fridge to work this out.

9) What is the height, width and depth of my aperture?

Remember that all wine fridges come with a plug, if your socket is directly behind your wine fridge you'll need to account for the depth of the plug too in working out the size of the wine fridge you need. Most wine fridges take account of this and are 57cm deep, allowing for plug space.

10) Do I need to look for security features?

Do you have children in the home, if so, you may want to choose a wine fridge with a lock.

Which is the best brand of built in wine fridge?

Our premium brand wine fridges are produced by top wine fridge manufacturers like Swisscave, Liebherr, Dunavox, Climadiff, mQuvee and EuroCave wine fridges are all considered premium in terms of their abilities to store wine specifically Vs more generic fridge manufacturers.

In 2024, an built in wine fridge is going to cost around £20-£30 to run per year. Single zones are more energy efficient than dual zones from the same brand, brands like Liebherr, Swisscave and EuroCave are the most energy efficient.

If you're looking for advice about a built-in or undercounter wine fridge then feel free to contact us via live chat or visit us in our London store.