A good bottle of wine consists of what? There are varying opinions about what causes wine to age well, from the soil to the grapes to the barrels. No matter how important soil, grapes, and barrels are, the temperature is the most important factor. Temperature determines how fast a wine will mature and whether its flavors will be well-balanced.
Wine coolers can provide your entire collection with a stable and reliable environment to preserve wine. However, knowing the best temperature to store your wines at will allow your guests to have the best experience and save you money. Wine coolers come in different temperature zones, so you can choose the right one for your wine.
Single Zone Wine Coolers
In both built-in and freestanding models, the majority of temperature zones are single zones. Single zone wine coolers maintain the same temperature throughout the entire appliance, even when set to one specific temperature.
Choosing single zone wine coolers is ideal for consumers who buy only certain kinds of wine. The coldest temperature for white wines is 8°C to 13°C; if red wines are more your style, set your collection at 15°C to 20°C. Regardless of your preferences, a single zone wine cooler is easy to adjust and maintain, so you don't have to store everything in the refrigerator.
Dual Zone Wine Coolers
Dual-zone wine coolers allow you to set two separate temperatures for the different zones of the appliance. If you enjoy different types of wine or sparkling beverages, this option is perfect for you. You can store champagne at 7°C to 8°C in the bottom half of the unit and at 15°C to 18°C in the top half. Dual-zone wine coolers offer so much versatility, and the best part is that many of them come with two zones. While a dual-zone wine cooler does cost more than a single-zone one, the convenience of trying different wines makes the cost difference worth it.
Multiple Zone Wine Coolers
For wine enthusiasts with various interests, this is the best option since different varietals can be stored at different temperatures throughout the unit, thanks to the multiple zones. Think about a wine cooler where Pinot Noir, Riesling, and Prosecco can be stored in their respective regions without worrying about their structure being ruined.
Compared to a single or dual zone unit, multiple zone appliances are typically much larger, taking up more space and costing more money to install. Multiple zones are more common with larger units, so if you have a small area under the counter and want multiple zones, you may need to buy a dual-zone unit until your interests move you up to the next level of equipment.
Buying an Ideal Wine Cooler: What to consider?
Depending on the location of your unit, you can decide which type of temperature zones is most suitable for your needs. Location determines how big your unit will be, and size dictates how many zones it will have. Smaller appliances typically have a single or dual-zone capability, while larger appliances often have dual or multiple zones.
Once you determine the location of the cooler, the size, the number of zones, and your budget, you can narrow down your choices. Regardless of whether you're a wine novice or expert, there are many different brands to choose from at prices that suit your budget.