For people who love their wine and want to keep it under ideal conditions until it’s time to open the bottle, a wine fridge is a popular choice. Wine coolers typically keep wine at consistent temperatures and protected from light and humidity.
Wine coolers use considerably less energy than a regular fridge. They’re typically about 10 to 20 °C warmer than your regular fridge. Depending on the size and style of your wine cooler, you’ll experience different levels of energy consumption.
In the rest of this article, we’ll take a closer look at wine fridges and their typical energy consumption. We’ll see some factors and options when it comes to choosing the best wine cooler for you.
Size of Your Wine Cooler
Wine coolers come in a range of sizes. You can find full fridges that will stand about 5 feet (1.5 meters) tall and will hold dozens of bottles of wine. You can also find much smaller fridges that will hold around 12 bottles.
The size of the wine cooler you choose will have to do with your wine collection and personal preferences. If you’re a serious wine collector with many bottles that you need to keep in ideal conditions, you may opt for a large wine fridge that would hold fifty to one hundred bottles.
However, for most people, a smaller wine cooler will be more than enough to get the job done. A small cooler designed for 12 bottles of wine could be more than enough for your small wine collection and will use much less energy when compared to the much larger full-size fridges.
Many wine coolers have a freestanding design, meaning they need an open space to operate. So, you can’t put them too close to other appliances or tuck them under counters or in cabinets. They need adequate open space on all sides in order to operate effectively and efficiently.
Thermoelectric and Compressors
There are two main types of wine coolers you might come across when shopping for one of these appliances. Each has some pros and cons and will impact the amount of energy your fridge ends up using.
Thermoelectric Wine Coolers
Thermoelectric wine coolers are appealing because they’re small and quiet options. They hold around 12 – 18 bottles of wine, and you won’t hear them running or experience any vibrations from the fridge itself. The upfront cost of these fridges is generally more affordable given their small size.
However, these coolers are running all the time and can end up being more costly on your energy bill. They’re also sensitive to the outside temperatures of their environment, meaning they’ll require additional energy to regulate the inside temperature if the outside temperature is constantly fluctuating.
Compressor Wine Coolers
Your other main option when it comes to wine coolers is compressor fridges. Compressor fridges are less expensive when the energy bill comes, but they require more of an upfront investment.
These fridges are typically larger in size and can emit more noise and vibrations than thermoelectric fridges. However, they aren’t particularly sensitive to outside temperatures and are more energy-efficient overall, even with their larger size.
Compressor wine coolers have a motor that will only come on when the temperature needs regulating. This kind of fridge doesn’t work all the time. How often the motor will need to come on will depend on the environment of the fridge.
If you’re constantly opening the door of your wine fridge, the motor will have to kick on more often to keep the internal temperature cool and consistent. As with any fridge, more energy will be needed if it’s consistently in a hot environment.
For an in-depth comparison of the two types of wine fridge technology, you can check out this informative video on Youtube:
Shopping for a Wine Cooler
If you’re ready to invest in your wine collection with a specialty wine cooler, there are plenty of options out there. Consider the size that works best for you, as well as if you prefer the compressor or thermoelectric technology. Once you know your preferences, check out these top-recommended options.
Ivation 12 Bottle Compressor Wine Cooler
Ivation is a great brand of wine fridges that give you efficiency and affordability. The Ivation 12 Bottle Compressor Wine Cooler is available on Amazon.com and is considered an Amazon Top Pick. This sleek, energy-efficient, freestanding wine cooler is a great one to get started with. Its slim and tall design won’t take up too much floor space while keeping your bottles cool.
You can set this fridge at your desired temperature, seeing as red and white wines have different preferences when it comes to storage. This cooler won’t be impacted by hot outside temperatures, meaning it will keep running efficiently through the summer months.
Although the cooler’s door is clear glass, it resists UV waves that could harm your wine collection stored inside. The double-paned design is there to protect your favorite wines while allowing them to be seen from the outside.
Ivation 28 Bottle Compressor Wine Cooler
If you like the compressor technology but need a large option, consider the Ivation 28 Bottle Compressor Wine Cooler available on Amazon.com. This fridge features many of the same advantages as the 12 bottle version, such as the UV-protected glass and sleek design. However, it also comes with a few added bonuses.
First, this fridge gives you more space to house your wine collection. It comes with wire racks that will display your wine bottles attractively as they sit safely inside your wine cooler. Additionally, this fridge features smart technology that allows you to monitor the temperature from your phone.
You can download an app that will give you up-to-date information about the temperature and allow you to change the settings from a distance. If you’re interested in monitoring your wine cooler’s energy activity and making adjustments when you see fit, this smart technology is a perfect choice for you.
Koolatron Urban Series 6 Bottle Thermoelectric Wine Cooler
If you’re looking for the smallest and quietest option, consider the top pick Koolatron Urban Series 6 Bottle Thermoelectric Wine Cooler on Amazon.com. While this might not be the most energy-efficient option because of its thermoelectric technology, it can still be a good choice for some conditions.
If you just have a few bottles of wine you are looking to keep chilled, this cooler is the perfect size for you. Additionally, if you’re looking to put this cooler in a place with a mild, stable exterior temperature, it’ll run more efficiently and effectively.
This wine cooler is freestanding, so it will need space on each of its sides in order to operate properly. It’s quite small and sleek and is ideal if you want a wine cooler but are tight on space.
Hi all! I’m Cora Benson, and I’ve been blogging about food, recipes and things that happen in my kitchen since 2019.