The best way to store wine at an optimal temperature without getting spoiled for many years is with the help of a wine cooler. Choosing an ideal wine refrigerator is not an easy choice, and could indeed be overwhelming owing to the many types, options, and features of wine coolers that are available to us.
Of all the wine cooler options that are available, buyers have to make a clear distinction between single and dual-zone wine coolers. The dual-zone wine coolers render an option of keeping the red and the white wine at different temperatures. These wine coolers maintain white wine at an optimal temperature of 45 to 52 degrees Fahrenheit and red wine will be stored at 53 to 57 degrees Fahrenheit. And the single zone wine coolers stock red, white, sparkling, and fortified wine bottles together. Both these wine coolers are beneficial in stocking wine at an ideal temperature of 53 to 57 degrees Fahrenheit, thus helping wine to evolve and age.
Let us discuss the other factors that differentiate the single-zone wine refrigerator from the dual-zone refrigerator. But before getting into those details, let us discuss what these refrigerators are all about.
Single Zone Wine Coolers
The single-zone refrigerators are pretty common to find and they are equipped in both built-in and freestanding style to find the needs of the kitchen. The single zone wine coolers can be set to one cooling temperature and that temperature will be maintained throughout the appliance. These coolers are great for aging wine and are preferred by those who buy only a single type of wine as they can be maintained at an optimal temperature easily.
For instance, if a person buys only white wine, then this refrigerator can be a great choice for them as they can maintain all of them at 52 degrees. Similarly, if your preference is only red wine, you can store all of them at an ideal temperature of 60 degrees. The single zone wine cooler is easily maintainable and adjustable.
Check out: Best Single Zone Wine Coolers & Fridges
Dual-Zone Wine Coolers
The dual-zone wine coolers have two separate spaces within the appliance and both the zones can be set at different temperatures. This option is great for storing different types of wines and other sparkling beverages. Most dual-zone wine coolers feature a freestanding and a built-in design and can cost more than single-zone coolers. But they render the freedom to store different types of wines at the same time.
Check out: Best Dual Zone Wine Coolers & Fridges
Single Zone vs Dual Zone Wine Coolers
In the single zone wine cooler, it is possible to store the stock at the same temperature. If you have both red and wine coolers and if your collection keeps growing, then it is beneficial to go for a dual-zone cooler. If you have your own business that sells wine and if you have an expensive collection, then it is optimal to choose a dual-zone cooler. And as both the red and white wine collections do not go easily with each other, if you have both the wine collection, then it is better to go for a dual-zone cooler. The clear difference between the single and dual-zone wine cooler is as follows.
| S. No | Parameter | Single zone wine cooler | Dual-zone wine cooler |
| 1. | Wine Varieties | Ideal to store only one variety of wine, such as white wine. | Ideal to store two varieties of wine. Red wines need to be stored at a higher temperature and should not be stored with white wine. The dual cooler is optimal to store red wine. |
| 2. | Temperature differences | Single zone wine cooler maintains a constant temperature in its compartments and this temperature can be customized. | The dual-zone wine coolers maintain a temperature difference of at least 5 degrees in two of their zones to improve the cooler performance in both zones |
| 3. | Taking care of vintages | These coolers are capable of maintaining a single temperature at high accuracy. They are capable of storing wine at a consistent temperature range. | These coolers offer exceptional temperature accuracy and ensure that the wines are kept in good shape. They maintain two different temperature zones to store white and red wine at an optimal temperature. |
| 4. | Opening the cooler often | Opening the cooler often puts the workload on the cooler and exposes the wine to stay at a sub-optimal temperature. The cooler has to work hard to equalize the temperature. As the single zone cooler is not quite accessible, the pressure on the cooler is escalated. | These coolers hold the wine bottles for easy access and have precise temperature controls. Thus even if the cooler is opened often, the time duration at which the wine is kept is sub-optimal temperature is reduced |
| 5. | Design Preference | Single-zone coolers are compact and have functional illumination. That is, this interior lighting is spread in such a way that we can read the labels of the wine bottles easily. | Illumination in the dual-zone cooler is only to enhance its design and looks |
| 6. | Temperature controls | These coolers have single temperature control and the space to store wine remains undivided. The entire appliance is set to the same temperature. | Have two different temperature controls and their storage space is divided into sections with different operating temperatures. |
FAQs
Can I use my wine coolers to store other beverages?
The wine coolers, be it the single or dual door will not offer any temperature below 46 degrees Fahrenheit. Owing to this limitation, there is no possibility to store beverages other than wine in these coolers.
What conditions does my wine cooler offer for my beverage?
The wine cooler maintains a stable temperature of 55 degrees Fahrenheit and relative humidity of 70% along with protection from direct light for the wine bottles. It creates a condition like that of a cellar to age wine gracefully.
Can I store red and white wine in the same cooler?
The best way to accommodate both the type of wine in the same cooler is with the help of a dual-zone cooler. Do not stock the red wine on top and white wine at the bottom of the single zone cooler, as you will be exposing red wine to the warmest section of the cooler.
What type of wine cooler is right for me? thermoelectric or compressor wine cooler?
If you keep the wine cooler in a place that doesn’t get too warm, then the thermoelectric wine cooler is probably a good choice. If the cooler is placed in a warm room and if you have a large collection of wine, then the wine should be served in a compressor-based cooler.
Bottom Line
When it comes to serving wine, the rule of thumb is that the lighter the wine colder it should be served, and the bigger the wine, the warmer it should be served. So the type of wine cooler that you choose should answer an important question, are you using the wine cooler for service, for storage, or both? If your answer is both, then a dual-zone wine cooler should be your choice. And if you are looking for a wine cellar to store the wine bottles, then the single zone wine cooler should be your choice.
