I have been getting into wine for the past few years, but have recently decided to get more serious and purchase a wine refrigerator. I've spent the past couple days researching units, but I am no closer today to finding the right fit. I will be storing only reds, so I don't think I need a dual unit (although, is it correct that certain reds should be stored at different temps?). Cost is important, but not the most important criteria. I want a unit that is reliable, quiet and most importantly, will ensure pleasurable drinking for many many years to come. Please help!

The forums help those who help themselves. The search function is a terrible thing to waste. Try different search terms as well to find other useful threads.

Also, don't worry about dual zone cooling.

I was not aware of the search function (this was my first post and my first day as a registered forum member) but will check it out. Any other recommendations very much appreciated.

Yes. Buy a unit that holds more than 500 bottles.

No need to thank me now. You can thank me later.

I should have mentioned that I live in a medium-sized apartment. Thanks everyone!

quote:

Originally posted by Jminzey:
I should have mentioned that I live in a medium-sized apartment. Thanks everyone!

Then definitely go for a 1,000 bottle unit. GA's advice was for people with small apartments.

PH

hahaha.... i love PurpleHaze's medium sized apartment well then go for the 1000 bottle unit comment... love it..

well.. not too long ago i purchased a danby 30 bottle wine cooler and it is exactly what i was looking for.. at least it has been so far... it might break down tomorrow for all i know and/or destroy the wine's i have been storing in it... can't see into the future you know... : )

a few thoughts about the danby i purchased.. it has dual zones but because i store mostly reds, i just keep the 'white' zone as 'warm' as it allows 51... and the other 'red zone' at a nice 56...

here is a link to the cooler i purchased - http://danby.com/en/productDetails.asp?model_no=DWC283BLS&dept=0010

it was $299 at best buy and i had a 10% off coupon... my wife and i are having our house knocked down and are building a new one... this wine cooler is to help us get through the limbo-like construction phase we are expecting to encounter... we have just begun to "appreciate" wines so our cellar collection is small...

if you are looking at fridges/coolers like this and not the more sophisticated (read more expensive) solutions.. keep a few things in mind...

1 - you will fill up a 30 bottle cooler quite quickly... faster than you think

2 - bring at least 1 atypically sized bottle of wine (meaning bring a big bottle or two) to look at the cooler in the showroom.. do these big bottles fit in all the shelves? the capacity on alot of these coolers is based on a "standard" sized bottle of wine... for better or worse, most of the bottles i have been buying these days are NOT standard sized...

i can already say i should have bought something with a larger capacity BUT for $270 this little danby looks great and seems to be doing a nice job... i've already seen the same fridge in other stores price as high as $395... crazy...

Thanks for your replies. I have read every thread about wine storage on this site and others, and it seems like the theme is go big and expensive or go home. I understand that no matter what size I buy, it will not be big enough. But from my reading today, I am starting to wonder whether the answer is:if I am looking to store reds for many years and grow my cellar, the only option that makes sense is a big Eurocave wine cellar or an equivalent. For those more savvy and experienced wine lovers, please tell me if you disagree. It sounds like the less expensive wine coolers (not wine cellars) are great for short time storage/white/champagne storage. Thanks everyone, and thanks for your patience with these questions.

For an apartment for small to medium storage the coolers will work pretty well. You might consider getting a small one for whites and a larger one for reds. The thermoelectric coolers work well I have found, they are quiet and don't vibrate. Good tip on watching shelf size, many bottles today seem to be odd and large sizes that don't always fit in the standard shelves. I haven't found the interior light to be a particularly necessary item. The tinted glass door is probably a good idea. If you live in a dry climate like I do a small plastic dish of water inside keeps the humidity up, particularly if the unit has a circulating fan. A $15 battery-operated temp/humidity meter from Home Depot fits nicely inside if your unit does not have a temp/humidity read-out. Good luck and enjoy!

I understand that no matter what size I buy, it will not be big enough. But from my reading today, I am starting to wonder whether the answer is:if I am looking to store reds for many years and grow my cellar, the only option that makes sense is a big Eurocave wine cellar or an equivalent.

Jminzey
"for many years"
Don't forget about off-site storage. Bang for the buck, it is not bad. I started with a 52 bottle cooler and an offsite locker. When I built my in home cellar, I had 2 full lockers and some overflow.

I bought my two cabinets on craigslist. New they would have cost a total of about nine thousand bucks.

I paid $2,600 total for both. Even if I have to replace both cooling units, I'm still ahead about five grand.

Shop for a used one.

I'm also assuming that since you live in an apartment that your living situation is not a long term and you might be moving in the near future. These things are a pain in the rear to move. You need two or three very strong people to move any cellar over 100 bottles.

Also, cellar companies when they deliver, charge extra when they have to bring it upstairs in an apartment.

My recommendation is to buy something no bigger than 200 bottles. When you find a more permanent living situation, you can use this initial cellar as extra storage space.