My wife and I have been really getting into drinking wine in these past few years. We have been looking for a wine cooler/frige for the past month. Is there some advice out there for us. We would like for it to be quiet, as it will be in the dining room of our moderately sized apt. It should also hold around 50 bottles. Your help is greatly appreciated.

When I first joined the forum i asked the same question. Someone reccomended Avanti as a good brand and I bought it. It is a small 16 bottle capacity fridge but the temp is steady. Someone else who has one said the humidity is also right where it should be.

Check out this link for some ideas, But I would not order the shipping would be a small fortune. You should be able to find something in the bay area.

Here is a link.

It has Avanti and other brands.

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It should also hold around 50 bottles.

Go larger if you can. Trust me on this. Just trust me. You want quiet? Eurocave.

PH

I wouldn't stress too much about the humidity - in the Bay area it's naturally about 50%. I had a Haier that was reasonable - made less noise than our fridge. Do bear in mind that small coolers aren't intended for storing things for long term cellaring, just keeping your decent stuff from getting damaged by heat.

As a previous posted alluded...get as big of one (capacity-wise) as you can afford and hold in your apartment even if you think it ridiculous. You will be surprised how soon you fill it. I am speaking experience as far as how naieve I was .

This is a difficult question to answer without knowing your budget.

I have a 24 bottle Sanyo fridge that is nice and fairly quiet. Of course less than a year after I bought it I bought a 100 bottle fridge that is now my main storage and I use the 25 bottle for overflow and white wines.

I would recommend you check out http://www.beveragefactory.com to get an idea for the types of products that are out there.

Finally, stay away from Danby as I have heard they are not reliable. Avanti is OK. Haier makes some nice stuff that also looks decorative. Marvel and VinoTemp are excellent.

Good luck, and go big!

Haier's smaller units are better than their larger ones. The 42 Btl being the best IMO. Very quiet and very nice looking.

Wasn't it not too long ago (I think it was Baird's post) that a Vino-temp exec was saying that wine refrigerators are pretty useless for long-term storage due to the excessive temperature variation, and that they were pretty much just mini-friges?

I haven't had a chance yet to check the temp. variation (if any) in my Sanyo SR-4700..

Thanks for all the wonderful suggestions. We will keep looking.

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Wasn't it not too long ago (I think it was Baird's post) that a Vino-temp exec was saying that wine refrigerators are pretty useless for long-term storage due to the excessive temperature variation, and that they were pretty much just mini-friges?

What is "excessive temperature fluctuation"? There are temp. fluctuations anywhere you store wine. A 5 degree change (normal for these units)would occur in any environment (basement cellars included). The liquid itself does not fluctuate like the air.

Also, Go in most retail store in the summer vs. the winter. It can feel like 55 degrees or 75 degrees. I have been in stores that have been down right HOT. The main thing you lose in some of these units is the humidity control. At least I know it will never be 75 degrees - unless I lose power.

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What is "excessive temperature fluctuation"?

Beat's me, man..

But that's what was said, and that's why the exec said it wasn't suitable for "long-term" storage..

And I'm assuming everyone in the business pretty knows more than I do about wine, so..

Again, what constitutes "long-term" is debatable..

But the consensus as I recall was longer than a year..

I'm not throwing my Sanyo in the garbage just yet, mind you..

They're certainly not perfect and I wouldn't store wine for 15 years in them, but unless you have a very well insulated basement cellar (floor and walls) with good air units blowing and the humidity controls going - nothing is going to be ideal or you get one of those good 200-500+ cabinet units, which are supposed to be very good.

I have a Haier 42-bottle unit and it's working fine. Though I definitely filled it up faster than I thought I would.

Oh well, one day I'll get a house and actually have space for a larger unit.

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Originally posted by cawineluvers07:
My wife and I have been really getting into drinking wine in these past few years. We have been looking for a wine cooler/frige for the past month. Is there some advice out there for us. We would like for it to be quiet, as it will be in the dining room of our moderately sized apt. It should also hold around 50 bottles. Your help is greatly appreciated.

Costco has a Vinotemp Stainless Steel that holds 54 bottes. Price is $399.99. Item #643987.

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Costco has a Vinotemp Stainless Steel

Yup, that's where I got my Sanyo..

The most cost effective solution, considering I could pick it up, and didn't have to get it shipped anywhere..

I do kinda wish they had had a better quality one at my location, but $300 is $300.. Not the best, not the worst..

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Originally posted by B Squad:
I have a Haier 42-bottle unit and it's working fine. Though I definitely filled it up faster than I thought I would.

Oh well, one day I'll get a house and actually have space for a larger unit.

How is the noise levels with your unit? I was looking at that as well.

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Originally posted by cawineluvers07:
How is the noise levels with your unit? I was looking at that as well.

While I have read reviews mentioning the noise as a possible issue, I can't say that I agree. Yes, there is some noise when the cooler kicks in to regulate the temperature, but it's not enough to bother me. So unless you are very sensitive to sound, I don't think it should be a worry.

Overall it has been a great purchase. Does exactly what it's meant to do. The temperature stays in a 5-degree window. Perfect size for an apartment.

Hi everyone,

I'm sorry if this question has been asked and answered... please bear with me as I am new here.

Regarding wine storage coolers for small apartments: What do you all think about those units that use thermoelectric (Peltier) cooling units? Supposedly zero vibration and zero sound, but it looks like their storage temps are dependent on ambient temperature. Are they any good? The fact that there's no compressor hum is a big plus in my small apartment. Any comments would be appreciated.

I am fairly new to wine, and needed somewhere to keep my bottles. I picked up a 60-bottle Haier at Lowe's, on sale for around $178. It may not be the best, but seeing as how I am in my beginning stages of learning, I didn't go all out...... Seems to work well though........

quote:

Originally posted by karloa_sj:
Hi everyone,

I'm sorry if this question has been asked and answered... please bear with me as I am new here.

Regarding wine storage coolers for small apartments: What do you all think about those units that use thermoelectric (Peltier) cooling units? Supposedly zero vibration and zero sound, but it looks like their storage temps are dependent on ambient temperature. Are they any good? The fact that there's no compressor hum is a big plus in my small apartment. Any comments would be appreciated.

I too am interested in opinions on the Avanti 12 Bottle Thermoelectric Wine Cooler. if anyone has experience with it or other thermoelectric coolers.
Also how is their energy consumption? minimal or excessive? thank you

Yes, I am trying to find a wine cooler as well for my husband and was interested in the Avanti 12 bottle thermoelectric but didn't know how good the thermoelectrics were. Please reply with any info!!

Thanks