In our opinion, the thermoelectric wine cooler is one of the best options when it comes to storing wine for the enthusiast wine connoisseur. These coolers are usually not all that expensive, they come in different shapes and designs, and they get the job done.
Thermoelectric wine coolers work pretty fast, and they are fairly accurate, energy-efficient, and more. If you are thinking about a thermoelectric wine refrigerator, you probably want to know all about it.
How does the thermoelectric wine fridge work? How cold does it get? What are their advantages and disadvantages?
These are all questions that we will answer in the following paragraphs, plus a whole lot more. So, let’s talk about getting the full benefit of your thermoelectric wine cooler.
What are the benefits of a wine cooler in the first place?
Every household has a refrigerator where it can store wine bottles. But is this optimal for a wine lover?
With the refrigerator’s frequent opening, the temperature inside will vary, and thus cannot maintain a preferred temperature for your type of wine. Besides that, your household refrigerator will probably not have enough room to store all your wine bottles.
Last but not least, wine in the refrigerator will be exposed to vibrations and different humidity, which all will affect the quality of your wine.
All the above disadvantages of the home refrigerator eliminate a wine cooler. And if you are a casual wine lover or start collecting wines, you should first consider buying a thermoelectric wine fridge.
Thermoelectric Wine Cooler: How Cold Does a Wine Cooler Get?
An average thermoelectric wine cooler will not cool below 50°F though you will find a thermoelectric wine fridge, usually a more expensive unit, which can cool wine close to 44°F. As a thumb of the rule, thermoelectric wine can lower the temperature by a maximum of 20°F relative to the ambient temperature.
The second constraint is that the thermoelectric wine cooler must be placed in a not too hot or too cold room. The thermoelectric cooler works by dissipating heat from the fridge, therefore not cooling the air as compressor refrigerators. This means that if the ambient temperature is over 80°F, the refrigerator will be unable to remove excess temperature. Similarly, if the room temperature is below 40°F, the cooler will not add the heat into the wine fridge.
It is important to note that different types of wine require different temperatures for storing. But most wine refrigerators will accommodate the temperature range for any type of wine.
Ideal storing temperature wine is around 55 F. This applies if you are going to store for more than six months. But for a shorter period, you can store wine closer to the temperature for serving. e.g., 40 F – 50 F for white wines and sparkling wine, 50 F- 60 F for full-bodied white wines and light fruity red wines, and 60 F – 65 F for red wine.
Thermoelectric Wine Cooler benefits
Maine benefits of thermoelectric wine cooler are:
Quieter operation – the thermoelectric fridge has few moving parts for cooling; thus, it will operate almost silently and
Vibration-free – is the second advantage of fewer moving parts, which affects fewer sediments within wine bottles, which can potentially ruin the wine’s flavor.
Environmentally safe – because they do not use refrigerants which have an impact on ozone depletion
The cheaper option for chilling your wine – if you are still thinking about whether buying a wine cooler is the right decision, you should try first with small wine coolers with thermoelectric cooling. That way, you will check firsthand what it is like to have chilled wine right at hand.
Since thermoelectric cooling is not so powerful, it is more suitable for wine fridges with smaller capacity. They require some free space (around 5″) at the rear for venting.
If they don’t have proper venting space, they can overheat, potentially putting your wine at risk. For that reason, do not install a thermoelectric fridge under a cabinet.
If you need a wine fridge that suits under the cabinet, then you should check for a built-in wine cooler.
Because of all of the above, a thermoelectric wine fridge is a perfect solution for smaller living areas or short-term wine storage.
So which Thermoelectric Wine Cooler should you choose?
Basically, you have to decide whether you want a single or dual-zone wine cooler. In both cases, you can choose in freestanding or countertop unit with the capacity of 2 to 12 bottles.
If you go with a dual-zone wine cooler, you will have the option to have one compartment for red wines and another for white wines. But if you prefer just one type of wine (red or white), then a single-zone fridge will suffice.
To make your decision easier, we have found five suitable thermoelectric wine coolers that would suit beginners needs:
| Image | Title | Prime | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|
Top TopTop | Koolatron Urban Series 12-Bottle Wine Cooler for White or Red Wine in Small Kitchen, Apartment, Condo, Cottage, RV | PrimeEligible | Check Price Here |
 TopTop | NutriChef PKTEWC120 Nutrichef 12 Bottle Wine Cooler Refrigerator | Red, White, Champagne Chiller | Counter Top Wine Fridge | Quiet Operation | Touch Temperature Control | Prime | Check Price Here |
 TopTop | Koolatron Urban Series 8-Bottle Wine Refrigerator | Free-Standing or Countertop Wine Cooler for Red or White Wine | For Small Kitchen, Apartment, Condo, Cottage, RV | PrimeEligible | Check Price Here |
 TopTop | Ivation Premium Stainless Steel 18 Bottle Wine Cellar | Counter Top Fridge for Red & White Wine | Digital Temperature, Freestanding Refrigerator, Glass Door, Quiet Operation | PrimeEligible | Check Price Here |
 | Koldfront 7 Series 14 Inch 18 Bottle Dual Zone Wine Cooler | Free Standing | Dual Zone Temperature | Prime | Check Price Here |
Final thoughts
There you have it, more or less everything you need to know about thermoelectric wine coolers and how to get the best from them. Follow the tips we have outlined above if you want the best possible results.