Under Counter Wine Coolers

Undercounter wine coolers - also referred to as built-in wine coolers - provide the perfect environment to store your wine, whether it be in the short term or the long term. They are designed to be installed under kitchen counters or between cabinet spaces.

They have specific installation requirements - and generally, it’s best to get them installed by a professional. You’ll often need to leave around 2 or 3 mm of space around the unit to allow for optimal airflow.

If you don’t follow the manufacturer’s instructions, you could not only void the warranty but damage the cooling system (and your wine collection!).

Continue reading for our buying guide to Elite Wine Refrigeration’s under-counter wine fridges - including the difference between integrated and under-counter models, the key features of wine coolers, and how many bottles an under-counter wine cooler can hold.

 

Integrated Wine Coolers vs Under Counter Wine Coolers

Integrated wine coolers share many similarities with built-in wine coolers. Both can be installed alongside other large kitchen appliances - however, with all wine coolers, it’s important to avoid installing them close to appliances that generate heat (for example, ovens, dishwashers, or washing machines).

Built-in wine coolers may protrude or jut out of your kitchen space - however, integrated wine fridges offer a seamless aesthetic. Often, integrated wine fridges are completely enclosed into kitchen space, whether it be walls or cabinets. You can check out our collection of integrated wine coolers here.

Freestanding wine coolers are more different from built-in and integrated models. Because of the placement of the vents, you need to leave sufficient space around the unit for the air to flow freely and to prevent the cooling system from overheating.

Freestanding wine coolers are designed to be placed standing freely, and unlike integrated and built-in models, aren’t supposed to be installed in small spaces.

All wine cooler designs offer an effective wine storage solution, storing your wine in the best way - whether it be in the long-term for ageing, or the short term to prepare your wine for serving.

 

Key Features of Under Counter Wine Coolers

Wine coolers no longer serve the function of simply keeping your wine cool - in the digital age we live in, wine coolers are full of convenient features to enhance your wine storage experience.

For example, in our collection of under-counter wine coolers, you can find units that feature LED lighting. We have a variety of LED lighting options for your wine cooler, including bright white lighting, warm yellow lighting, as well as orange and blue colour LED lighting.

Another convenient feature of our under-counter wine coolers is Push2Open door technology - simply tap the corner of the wine cooler to gain access to your wine collection. Most of the wine cooler doors are also reversible, making installation super flexible.

Be sure to check out the shelving options - some of our coolers feature telescopic shelving, adjustable shelves, or fixed shelves. If you opt for a wine fridge with a display shelf, you can proudly display your favourite bottles and wine accessories, including wine glasses or a decanter.

From dual temperature zones to UV protection, read on to learn more about the best features of under-counter wine fridges.

 

Temperature Zones

When wine coolers were first introduced, they only maintained one temperature throughout the unit. These are called single zone wine coolers. However, as technology has progressed, manufacturers have developed wine fridges that feature dual-temperature zones or multi-temperature zones.

You can benefit from a dual-zone wine cooler if you have a varied wine collection - red wines and white wines are best served at separate temperatures, and a dual-zone fridge allows you to store your different wines at their optimal serving temperatures.

Likewise, a dual-zone wine fridge enables you to store some of your wine bottles for long periods of time, while having other bottles being stored at the same time but at serving temperature.

Multi-zone wine coolers feature polyvalent technology, allowing you to store your wine collection at three separate temperatures within the same unit. In polyvalent wine coolers, the top of the cooler is the warmest, and the bottom is the most chilled. This means you can store your reds at the top and your whites at the bottom.

 

Humidity Regulation

High-quality under-counter wine coolers will feature humidity regulation, which can make long-term wine storage a breeze. Your wine needs some humidity in the storage environment - this is to keep the cork moist.

Without enough humidity, the cork will dry out over time - ultimately exposing your wine to oxygen. This can ruin the quality of the wine in a matter of hours.

However, it’s important to avoid exposing your wine collection to too much humidity. Too much humidity can also be harmful to your wine - it can lead to moisture accumulating inside the wine fridge, encouraging mould growth.

Our selection of under-counter wine coolers feature humidity regulation, so you don’t have to worry about the humidity levels inside your wine fridge.

 

UV Protection

UV protection is extremely important when storing your wine, whether you’re only storing it for a couple of days, or you’re storing it for years to come. UV rays can cause irreversible damage to your wine, causing what is known as ‘light strike’.

Because of this, you may be reluctant to purchase a glass-door wine cooler - you may presume that they let sunlight through that can damage the quality of your wine.

At Elite Wine Refrigeration, this isn’t the case. All glass-door wine coolers have UV protection, so you can rest easy knowing your wine is safe and protected from harmful UV rays.

 

How Many Bottles Can Under Counter Wine Coolers Hold?

Built-in wine fridges can generally accommodate between 30 and 50 bottles - however, at Elite Wine Refrigeration, we have a variety of sizes available. You can find a 25-bottle wine cooler, a 181-bottle wine cooler, and everything in between.

Generally, built-in wine coolers are more suited to medium sized collections, as they are designed to be installed under kitchen counters. If you have a large wine collection, you may wish to consider a freestanding model.

Check out our range of under-counter wine coolers today - including models from esteemed brands such as Dunavox, Swisscave, EXPO, and many more.