What is a Wine Cooler?

Posted on August 18, 2022 in Brands

In short, wine coolers or wine cabinets are refrigerators that are specifically designed to store wine at the perfect temperature, which is essential because if wine is kept too warm, it can speed up the ageing process. In this article, we share everything you need to know about storing your wines and why a wine cooler may be worth the investment...

What temperature should a wine cooler be?

Most people tend to serve white wine straight from the fridge, but actually, it is best to take it out of the fridge and open it around one hour before serving. This gives the aromas a chance to come through and for the wine to breathe.

Lighter white wines are best served the chilled, between 7-10 ̊ C
White wines with more body, or oaky undertones, should be served between 10-13 ̊ C
Sparkling wines are best served well chilled, at 6 – 10 ̊ C

Keeping wines in your fridge is fine for up to a couple months, but it’s not great for the long term. The average fridge temperature falls well below 7° C to safely store perishable foods, and the lack of moisture could eventually dry out corks, which might allow air to seep into the bottles and damage the wine. It must be noted that wines do not freeze well. Storing your wine somewhere it could freeze such as an unheated garage in winter, can cause the liquid to start turning into ice which could expand enough to push the cork out.

For red wine, it’s recommended to put it in your wine fridge for 30 minutes before serving, so that the temperature drops slightly. Yes, this does sound like madness, but red wines should be served at room temperature, which should be between 16-18 ̊ C. However, so often our cosy homes are much warmer than that. It is best not to serve wine that’s too warm as the taste can lose its depth and body. This is where a wine cooler comes in handy...

Having a separate fridge just for your wine might seem like an extravagance, but they are vital for keeping your drinks in the best condition. For most of us, a wine cellar isn’t an option, but investing in a wine cooler is the next best thing.

Dunavox wine cabinets cleverly controls the air temperature and protects wine against light exposure, humidity, vibration and heat to ensure the best serving conditions. Dunavox offer a wide variety of luxury wine cabinets ranging from those with the capacity to store small, personal collections, to apparatus equipped to provide the necessary climate for larger collections intended for long storage.

The Dunavox Glance range features push-to-open technology that maintains the streamlined look of a handleless kitchen design, as well as, an impressive integrated ventilation system that does not require an additional vent for airflow.

Opting for a single zone wine cooler means you have one temperature control and the storage space is undivided, so the whole cooler is set to the same temperature. This style is best if you tend to keep only white or only red wines, since they don’t have the same optimal temperatures.

Dual zone wine coolers, on the other hand, have two temperature controls and the storage space is divided into sections which may be set to their own temperatures. This style is ideal for keeping both reds and whites without resorting to two wine coolers.

Click here to browse the Dunavox range

Can you store beer in a wine fridge?

Any beverages that can be stored at room temperatures can be kept in a wine fridge, too. The same goes for other alcoholic beverages including beers and ciders – there's nothing wrong with using a wine fridge for beer, as it can free up space in your fridge.

Although to prevent flavour loss, it is recommended to store your beer between 10-13 ̊ C- the same 'cellar' temperature as red wine to achieve the best taste possible when it comes to drinking.