A wine cooler, also referred to as a wine refrigerator, is a shorter term wine storage appliance. A wine cooler keeps wine at appropriate storage and serving temperatures, which range from 45 degrees Fahrenheit to 65 degrees Fahrenheit, or about 4 degrees Celsius to 18 degrees Celsius, depending on the type of wine that is being stored.

In contrast, a wine cellar, or wine storage cabinet, is intended for longer term wine storage and is designed to keep wine at its most advantageous aging temperature which, for most wines, is 55 degrees Fahrenheit, or about 13 degrees Celsius. Wine cellars must also minimize temperature fluctuations, create a relative humidity of about 70% and guard against ultraviolet light and vibrations. Wine cellars also tend to be substantially larger storage devices, versus wine coolers, and can fill up a room of a house.

Wine coolers are excellent for shorter term storage and aging of wines and should be used to store ready to drink wines at their proper serving temperatures. Wine coolers are generally not intended to age wine for multiple years.

Published 7/16/2009 12:00:00 AM

Tags: Humidity, Temperature