What you need to consider when buying a wine refrigerator
8/12/2025
Translation: machine translated
A wine refrigerator has several functions. It should store wine ideally, create space in the kitchen fridge and often also look presentable. What you need to consider when buying.
Admittedly, I store my wine in the cellar in the boxes I bought it in. It doesn't seem too cold there in winter, not too warm in summer and there are no major temperature fluctuations either. I never measured the humidity or temperature - until I spoke to Miele product expert Markus Hauser about wine fridges.
Why do I need a wine fridge?
«Wine fridges are primarily designed to store wine at constant conditions over long periods of time», explains the expert. In addition to the temperature, the humidity should also be as constant as possible. In addition, the wine bottles should not be exposed to UV rays and the refrigerator must be free from vibrations. A cooling compressor causes vibrations and most wine fridges have a glass front so that I can see which wines I'm storing from the outside.
Why are there big differences in the price of wine fridges?
Cheaper wine fridges usually offer less protection against UV rays or vibrations, have no app control or wooden shelves and are less solidly built. An investment is worthwhile, as the wine refrigerator should last for decades as a storage cabinet. With cheap appliances, there's a good chance that they will break down before then.
Do I need several zones?
If you only store red or white wine, two zones make little sense. The idea of the zones is that you always have chilled white wine to hand, for example, or can cool down a zone if necessary, for example if you're expecting guests who are keen drinkers. But be careful! Wine fridges take longer to change temperature so that the wine is not affected when the temperature changes. If you only have red wines, a second zone is less worthwhile.
Refrigerators without a zone
Refrigerators with zones
Why should a wine refrigerator have as little vibration as possible?
Vibrations can change the structure of the wine and lead to sediment. This is the unpleasant, crystalline deposit at the bottom of the bottle. If you store the wine for longer, the flavour of the wine can also change due to the vibrations. In the case of sparkling wines, the vibrations can lead to a coarser perlage or even cause the carbon dioxide to rock out of the bottle.
Why do wine fridges have a glass front?
On the one hand, the glass front gives you a direct overview; if the wine fridge is in the living room or dining room, the glass front also has a representative purpose: guests can see the expensive Bordeaux immediately. But: light is poison for wine. Even a short time in the sun can change the taste of the wine from fruity and flowery to wet dog with tyre rubber, especially in transparent glass bottles. This is why good UV protection is so important for glass doors.
Source: Simon Balissat
How important is humidity in the refrigerator?
In addition to the temperature, humidity is crucial to prevent the natural cork from drying out. In a normal refrigerator, the air is notoriously too dry. Miele wine fridges solve the problem with a trick: «If the air is too dry, a fan blows over the condensation on the compressor to regulate the humidity», reveals expert Markus Hauser.
Why does the volume of the refrigerator matter?
The noise level of a refrigerator is particularly important if it is located in the kitchen or living room. As the compressor switches on from time to time, this should be done as quietly as possible. Most freestanding wine fridges in the range are just under 40 decibels. This is comparable to a quiet whisper at the same table and should not be disturbing. If you have the wine fridge in the cellar, the thing can hum to itself.
Do I really need this?
If your wine cellar only contains bottles that you received as a gift or Christmas present at the office, then you don't need a wine fridge. Even if you have a cellar with a reasonably constant temperature and humidity, it's better to spend your money elsewhere. But if you're hauling in wine by the crate and storing it in a warm flat, then it's high time for a wine fridge.
Header image: Shutterstock
Simon Balissat
Teamleader Editorial
Simon.Balissat@digitecgalaxus.chWhen I flew the family nest over 15 years ago, I suddenly had to cook for myself. But it wasn’t long until this necessity became a virtue. Today, rattling those pots and pans is a fundamental part of my life. I’m a true foodie and devour everything from junk food to star-awarded cuisine. Literally. I eat way too fast.
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