Ryan, Author at CoolerVino

Best Wine Coolers at 18 Inches Wide

Many people in the market to buy a new wine cooler already have a specific spot in the kitchen in mind where they want to put it. They are often looking for a wine cooler with an exact size to match the space available in their home. Often they’re interested in finding a mini wine fridge that will fit in a space no more than 18 inches wide. Several companies have models meeting this specification, so let’s compare a few of the best wine coolers of 18 inches wide size in this review.

The three models we’ll look at today are the Danby DWC032A2BDB 36 Bottle Wine Cooler, the Whynter WC28S SNO 28 Bottle Wine Cooler, and the Kalamera KR-28AJP 28 Bottle Wine Cooler.

Danby DWC032A2BDB 36 Bottle Wine Cooler

The Danby DWC032A2BDB model has the largest capacity of the three wine coolers that we’re going to compare. It has 8 shelves stacked up vertically, with each one able to hold 4 standard-sized Bordeaux wine bottles. Obviously this also makes it slightly taller than the other two models, so if your vertical space is restricted, this might not be the one to consider.

As could be expected with the slightly larger size, this wine cooler is also the most expensive of the three. (Check the current selling price on Amazon)

As for looks, this one comes in a choice of black or stainless steel. I’m a bit partial to the black color version. I think it looks a little more slick. It’s lit inside by a cool blue LED light and has a darkened glass door. The door has handles on both the left and right sides, which allows you to fix the hinge to the side of your choice. This is kind of a handy feature when you consider that fitting the wine cooler into a tight area might require either a door that swings either to the left or the right.

This Danby wine fridge is a compressor cooling unit. This means it will be able to cool down as low as 43°F (6°C) with no trouble. The highest temperature it will allow while running is going to be around 55°F (13°C). As a compressor model, it’s also going to be able to hold a steady temperature, without fluctuations. On the downside, the temperature control is a simple dial. So it will require a little extra work on your part to find the exact dial setting needed for the temperature you desire. This will also require you to use your own thermometer. On the bright side, once you find the temp you want, this little wine fridge will hold it reliably.

It should be noted, though, that there can be a difference of about 5 degrees F from the top shelf to the bottom shelf, with the bottom getting cooler than the top. Therefore, if you’re storing both red and white wines, you might want to keep the whites on the lowest shelves.

Another potential issue with this wine fridge is that the highest temperature setting may be too cool for some wine collectors. Although it can be a good temperature for wine storage and aging, it’s going to be slightly cooler than an ideal red wine serving temperature. So if you decide to buy this unit, keep in mind that you might want to remove a bottle of red wine 20 minutes or so before you plan on serving it depending on the variety.

Pros

Powerful compressor cooling ability
36 bottle storage
Looks good
Good value for this size and performance
Consistent temperature once set

Cons

Basic temperature dial
Top shelf to bottom shelf temperature difference
Highest temperature might be too cool for some

Whynter WC28S SNO 28 Bottle Wine Cooler

Next, let’s look at the Whynter WC28S SNO Wine Cooler with 28 bottle capacity. This one is a solid-state thermoelectric cooling model. It has precise digital temperature control shown with an LCD display. The available temperature range is going to be warmer than the Danby compressor fridge model. In this case, 52°F to 65°F will be possible. This makes it a good wine cooler for anyone who wants to keep bottles of red wine at drinking temperature.

This Whynter wine cooler features a platinum finish and towel-bar door handle, although it’s actually a platinum colored plastic. Depending on your personal taste, you may prefer the appearance of this model over a black one.

As a freestanding thermoelectric cooler, some clearance will be required. In particular, you’d want to make sure it has several inches of empty space in back in order for the cooling to work effectively. You might have to actually keep it a full foot from the wall to get the best results. The depth without the handle is 20.5 inches, however, the interior depth may not be adequate for tall bottles such as Riesling.

Thermoelectric coolers are always going to be limited in their cooling ability due to the ambient temperature of the room. They’re usually limited to cooling no more than 25 degrees F below room temp. So if you live in a hot climate or don’t have air conditioning in your home, keep this in mind.

Pros

Digital temperature setting
52°F – 65°F range
Affordable price
Door lock with 2 keys

Cons

Limited low range of thermoelectric cooling
Plastic door handle can look cheap

Kalamera KR-28AJP 28 Bottle Wine Cooler

The Kalamera KR-28AJP 28 Bottle Wine Cooler is another thermoelectric model. The digital temperature control can be set to a range of 54°F to 66°F. As with all thermo-coolers, your environment may limit the actual lowest temp that is achievable.

As for appearances, this model has a simple black exterior. It should look good in anyone’s home.

Although it has identical capacity and similar features to the Whynter model, this Kalamera cooler is the less-expensive of the two. (Check the current selling price on Amazon)

Pros

Good value
Simple, clean styling
Digital temperature control

Cons

Limited low range of thermoelectric cooling

Buying Recommendation

My recommendation for the best 18-inch wide wine cooler to buy is going to depend on your needs and intended use. If you want strong cooling power that is pretty much guaranteed to never fluctuate, then by all means go with the Danby compressor model. However, if your goal is to simply keep red wine stored at a good temperature, ready for drinking at a moment’s notice, and if you’ll be keeping the unit in an area without wide temperature swings (such as an air-conditioned apartment), then I’d recommend a thermoelectric model. Of these two, I like the Kalamera cooler the best. Not only does it look more sharp (in my opinion), but it is also the better value.

If your avialable space is slightly more limited, check out these 15-inch wine coolers.

10 Best Christmas Gifts for Wine Lovers 2019

If you’ve got a wine lover on your Christmas gift list this year, consider yourself lucky. Holiday shopping can be very stressful for a lot of people, but it doesn’t need to be. If you already know that your friend or family member loves wine, choosing the best gift for them is much easier. You also have options in lots of price ranges when thinking about gift ideas for wine lovers—everything from small wine accessory stocking-stuffers for your work colleagues on up to a wine fridge for your spouse.

Of course, you could always buy some nice wine as a holiday present for your wine-loving friend or family member, but then your gift would disappear as soon as the bottle is empty. On the other hand, there are many practical and useful wine-drinking accessories that any wine lover on your wishlist would be sure to enjoy.

It’s never too early (or late) to shop for gifts because you can find good deals online if you pay attention.

So without further introduction, here’s my list of the 10 best Christmas gifts for a wine-lover this year.

Cooko Rabbit Wine Opener Set

Any wine aficionado would love to have an elegant wine opener set such this deluxe 9-piece wine opener set by Cooko. The high-quality metal tools and accessories come in a beautiful wooden box. It’s the perfect present for a wine-lover without blowing your holiday shopping budget.

The set includes:

Rabbit-style lever corkscrew wine opener
Foil cutter
Pourer
Aerator
Collar
Stopper
Thermometer
Two extra screws

This set is presented nicely in a classy wood box. The rabbit corkscrew opener makes opening bottles a piece of cake. Any wine drinking friend is going to get a lot of use out of this set.

Oster Cordless Electric Wine Bottle Opener

Oster makes the best-selling electric wine bottle opener. It’s super easy to use. First, cut the label using the foil cutter and remove any part of the label covering up the cork. Then simply insert the top of the bottle into the opener in an upright position, press the switch, and the bottle opener does the rest. The corkscrew will screw into place and then pull the cork up effortlessly. Afterwards, the screw reverses direction and it spits the cork right out.

No more straining any muscles or popping anyone’s eyes out with wayward corks. Opening the bottle just got a lot more fun with this little guy. It’s cordless, rechargeable, looks slick, and works great. What’s not to love?

Vacu Vin Wine Saver

As much as we all love drinking our wine, there are times when we just can’t finish an entire bottle. Wine drinkers who live alone know what I’m talking about. The good news is that an opened bottle of wine can still be good for a few days, but during that time it’s a race against oxidation. The Vacu Vin Wine Saver really helps preserve opened bottles by sucking out excess air to keep the precious wine inside from going bad too quickly. It’s a great, affordable gift for any wine lover, and the small size also makes it a perfect stocking-stuffer.

Vintorio Wine Aerator Pourer

I don’t know why, but wine is always a little messy to pour straight from the bottle. It’s also pretty good at leaving stains on tabletops, so any tool to help your wine buddy pour better will be much appreciated.

Most casual wine drinkers don’t take any steps to help aerate their wine, and by neglecting this point, they’re missing out on getting the best flavor. The Vintorio Aerator Pourer makes it easy to aerate wine right as it’s poured from the bottle. This will help the wine “open up” right away, so it tastes great from the first glass.

RÖD Wine Red Wine Glasses

Speaking of glasses, did you know that the right shape of wine glass can actually help improve the taste of wine? The first time I ever ordered red wine in a restaurant I wondered why they served it in such a huge glass and didn’t fill it up close to the top. But now I know that this is done to maximize the surface area, putting the wine in contact with more air to open up the flavor.

A set of proper red wine glasses will greatly enhance the drinking experience for any wine lover you know. These RÖD Wine Red Wine Glasses are the best I’ve found for giving away as a gift. Not only is the quality of the glasses excellent, but the packaging is top notch. The glasses are well-protected from damage and the box looks fantastic. If you want to give wine glasses that will impress, these are the ones to choose.

Le Chateau Wine Decanter

The old-fashioned method of aerating wine is to pour the contents of the bottle out into a decanter. This specially designed wide-bottomed glass vessel is the perfect shape for allowing oxygen to mix with the wine. Most wine will taste noticeably better after it has been given a chance to “breathe”. This decanter by Le Chateau is a lovely piece of glasswork. It’s both beautiful and functional, with a shape that allows maximum wine aeration, is easy to pour, easy to wash, and dries quickly.

Vacu Vin Prestige Stainless Steel Tabletop Wine Cooler

White wine should be served ideally between 45-50 degrees Fahrenheit. You can store your bottles in a wine fridge or cooler to get down to this temperature, but what happens after you pop the cork. If you’re the type who enjoys a bottle of white wine in the summer while sitting out on the patio, you’re only too well aware of how quickly the bottle will warm up once it’s no longer in the fridge. Vacu Vin’s Tabletop Wine Cooler is the perfect solution to this problem.

This single-bottle wine chiller is as simple and effective as they come. No electricity or moving parts, and no ice or water mess to deal with. Rather the Vacu Vin cooler has a gel-filled insert that you store in the freezer prior to use. When you want to enjoy your wine, you simply insert the cold gel core inside the stainless steel shell. After popping the cork, slip your wine bottle inside, and it will stay nice and cool for hours.

So sit back, relax, and sip your wine slowly as it was meant to be enjoyed.

Magic Chef 6 Bottle Countertop Wine Cooler

An excellent mid-priced gift for a casual wine drinking friend or relative is this small, countertop wine cooler by Magic Chef. It holds up to 6 bottles without taking up much space. They’ll love how it cools their bottles down to a nice storage and serving temperature.

Avanti 12 Bottle Countertop Wine Cooler

If you think your wine loving gift recipient would appreciate room for storing up to 12 bottles, then the Avanti Countertop Wine Cooler is one of the best you can buy. The intelligent design of this model has space for 2 bottles to be stored in upright position, making it perfect for those who often end up with unfinished bottles.

Kalamera 18 Bottle Wine Refrigerator

For more serious wine cooling and storage, your wine-drinking loved one will really enjoy the Kalamera 18 Bottle Wine Refrigerator. This unit uses compressor cooling that enables it to powerfully chill down to the set temperature and hold it steady regardless of ambient room temperature fluctuations in the outside environment. It has a width of just 12 inches, and can be used as either a stand-alone or built-in wine fridge.

It looks especially slick when placed under the countertop and with the blue LED light glowing inside. This is an awesome gift to get for your husband or wife when you can plan out the exact spot in the kitchen where it should go.

Yes, it’s more pricey than the thermoelectric coolers above, but it’s also bound to impress that special someone in your life who enjoys wine.

Can Drinking Old Wine Make You Sick?

It is said that wine can still taste OK 3-5 days after opening the bottle if kept refrigerated. But is it bad for your health? Can drinking old wine make you sick?

Well, you aren’t the only one asking this.

It’s one of the first questions that come from people who don’t really know the finer aspects of wine making, the storage of wine, and preservation. It is very often that people come across an opened bottle of wine that has not been consumed in some days and the natural question arises: is it safe to consume old wine?

The straight answer is yes, it is considerably safe to consume wine that has been unused. The first logic behind this answer is that wine is a preservative itself and some wines like port taste better as they age. However, there are a few pointers you can keep in mind to check before consuming old wine.

How to check if old wine is still OK to drink

It is really easy to check if the old wine you’ve been slow to finish is actually OK for drinking. Here is what you can do.

Firstly, check the smell of the wine. If an old wine has gone bad and is no longer fit for consumption, it will have a peculiar, funny smell to it. This rancid odor, akin to what you would expect to come off a wet cardboard, is easily detectable and if you do not smell any of the odd smells from your wine, you are good to go and the wine is really fine.

Another pointer to check before consuming old wine is to anylize the wine in a clear glass. An uncharacteristic coloring of the wine indicates that it has been exposed to too much air for too much time and as such, you should refrain from consuming it. In particular, red wine will turn more of a brownish color.

Additionally, check for bubbles in the wine. If the wine is not meant to be a bubbly wine, the presence of bubbles as you pour out the wine is a cause for concern and you should not consume that wine.

Consuming old wine does not necessarily make you sick. Oxidized wine might taste off and have too much of a sour character, but it shouldn’t actually make you sick unless it’s very old. Still, you’ll want to test your wine on these pointers before consuming old wine.

To prevent your wine from going off in the first place, it is best to store it in a proper wine refrigerator.

What’s the Best 15-Inch Wide Wine Fridge? – Wine Cooler Reviews

best-15-inches-wide-wine-cooler

Looking for the best wine fridge to fit into a 15-inch wide space under your counter top? Let’s review all the top 15-inch width wine cooler models.

Often it’s easy to narrow down your home appliance choices simply based on the amount of room you have available. A wine fridge is a great addition to any kitchen, especially when you install a built-in model under your counter top to fit seamlessly with your cabinets. When remodeling your kitchen, you might decide to remove an old trash compactor unit, for example, and find yourself left with exactly 15 inches of horizontal space to fill. Naturally you’re only going to focus on the wine refrigerators that fit to your specific size requirements.

Luckily for you, fifteen inches is a popular size for wine fridge manufacturers to use, and there are a number of quality models available. These range in capacity from 23-30 bottles and include both single-zone and dual-zone configurations.

(If you’ve got slightly more space, check out these 18-inch wine fridges.)

The 6 models that we’ll review here all belong to the compressor cooling technology group of wine coolers. As opposed to thermoelectric coolers, these compressor models can reliably chill down to temperatures as low as 40 degrees F without any risk of fluctuations due to increases in ambient room temperature.

Powerful cooling doesn’t exactly come cheap. It’s worth a small investment for something you can trust your precious wine collection to. The least expensive of these models comes in at just under $600, and the priciest is a bit over $900. Is the most expensive one worth the extra $300? Or would you be better off going with the cheapest of these 15-inch wide options? Let’s look at these 6 cooling units in detail so that you’re informed and better equipped to make a purchasing decision.

Allavino VSWR30-2SSRN 30 Bottle Dual-Zone Wine Refrigerator w/ Towel Bar Handle

Allavino VSWR30-2SSRN 30 Bottle Dual-Zone Wine Refrigerator w_ Towel Bar Handle

Product Details

Allavino gives us the most expensive of the 15-inch wide wine fridges, but it’s also possibly the most attractive of the lot. It features a 30 bottle capacity with special shelving that is designed to achieve this amount of storage while accommodating a wide range of wine bottle shapes. Only larger Pinot Noir and Champagne bottles are going to cause you to lose out on storage capacity.

Dual-zone cooling compartments allow temperature ranges of 41-60 degrees Fahrenheit for the upper zone and 45-64 degrees Fahrenheit for the lower zone. Unlike some other dual-zone coolers, the two zones can’t be set to the same temperature in this model. Rather the lower zone must be at least 4 degrees warmer.

Aesthetically, the Allavino looks good in stainless steel with a towel bar style handle. To be perfectly honest, all of the wine fridge models that we’re looking at here have a similar appearance with stainless steel and black exteriors to be par for the course. It’s mostly the style of the handle and details of the shelving that set them apart from each other.

The main advantage of this model is the flexibility of bottle shapes and sizes that the shelving can accommodate without sacrificing storage capacity. On the other hand, the fact that the lower temperature zone must be set warmer than the top zone can prove limiting. This is especially true when you consider that the shelf intended to hold champagne sized bottles is in the bottom zone. One would think that you’d want to chill these to a cooler temperature, so I would call this a major design flaw that could probably have been avoided with a little bit more thought.

allavino-wine-fridge-details

allavino-wine-cooler-different-bottles

Pros and Cons

Accommodates many bottle shapes/sizes
Stylish handle
Dual-zone cooling
Lower zone must be warmer than upper zone
Most expensive model

Avallon 23 Bottle 15″ Dual Zone Built-In Wine Cooler

avallon-wine-cooler

Product Details

The Avallon 15-inch wide dual-zone cooler is also a bit more on the expensive side. You can see from the construction of the shelving where some of the extra cost is factored in. The wooden shelves have stainless steel trim and smoothly roll out supported by telescoping braces.

The manufacturer only claims that it has a 23 bottle capacity. This is the smallest amount of all of the models here, but in fairness some of the other wine fridges can only get their advertised 30 bottle capacity when using all regular Bordeaux shaped wine bottles.

The upper cooling zone has a temperature range of 54 – 65°F, while the lower zone can be set to 40 – 54°F. This configuration makes a little bit more sense than the Allavino unit because the lowest shelf, which can accommodate wider bottles, is in the cooler zone, where you’d naturally store champagne. And if you are the type to drink only reds, you can still set both zones at the same temperature of 54 degrees.

If you want the two zones set to different temperatures, then keep in mind that the upper (red wine) zone can only hold a maximum 8 bottles.

avalon-wine-refrigerator-shelf-detail

Pros and Cons

Available in Left or Right hinge model variations
Smallest capacity at 23 bottles max
Dual-zone cooling
Roll-out stainless steel trimmed wooden shelves
Upper zone 54 – 65°F, lower zone 40 – 54°F

EdgeStar 30 Bottle Stainless Steel Built-In Wine Cooler

Product Details

This is the first single-zone cooler that we’ll look at. These are generally nice to have if you’re the type of person who predominantly drinks only red or white wine, but usually not both.

The temperature can be set within a range of 40-65 degrees F. With this model, though, you will usually need to set the temperature to 2 degrees lower than the actual temperature you want to achieve or it will never get down that low. This seems to me to be an engineering flaw. If the device consistently fails to reach the desired temperature then the manufacturer should have calibrated the difference into the temperature controls to eliminate confusion.

This is the lest expensive of the six models that we’re looking at. The wooden shelves simply slide out, rather than rolling out like on the Avallon model. If you have any wider than normal bottles, you’ll need to remove shelves to accommodate them, and this will reduce the fridges total capacity. If you’re not using all standard Bordeaux bottles then 26 would probably be a more realistic capacity, assuming none of the bottles are wide enough to warrant removing a shelf.

The bigger issue is with the quality of the product. Some users have reported that the compressor begins to fail after 8-12 months of use. Repairing it typically entails a bill nearly equal to the price of the fridge. So remember that when you buy the cheapest model, you’re not always getting the best value. If it needs replacing after a year, then it suddenly becomes the most expensive model in relative terms.

EdgeStar 30 Bottle Stainless Steel Built-In Wine Cooler-door-open

Pros and Cons

Can run noisy
Single-zone cooling
30 Bottle capacity
Least expensive model
Compressor durability issues

EdgeStar Dual-Zone Stainless Steel Built-In Wine Cooler

Product Details

EdgeStar has a second wine cooler model that fits the same 15-inch wide size category. The main difference between this one and the previous model is the dual-zone cooling configuration. Two separate refrigeration compartments allow you to chill various wines to different temperatures. The obvious use for this type of model is in order to cool red wines to a modest 54-65 degrees F while chilling white wines down to the 40-54 degrees F range.

The ability to control temperatures in two different cooling zones comes with a small price to pay. The overall cost of the unit comes out to approximately $100 more expensive than EdgeStar’s single-zone model. In addition to this, the divider between the two cooling zones takes up the same height as one row of shelving. This leaves you with space for six fewer bottles, so that the total maximum capacity is 26 standard sized wine bottles compared to 30 bottles in the single-zone model.

edgestar-wine-cooler-shelf-detail

One limitation of this model when compared to other dual-zone wine fridges is the relatively small capacity of the upper storage zone. The configuration of this EdgeStar dual-zone fridge is such that the upper zone can hold a maximum 8 bottles, and that may be generous. Five bottles in the upper zone is more likely based on the design.

If you tend to drink white wine more frequently, then this might work out well for you. But many wine collectors will feel that this model doesn’t provide ample space for their red wine.

Pros and Cons

Runs on the louder side
Reversible door
Dual-zone cooling
8 bottle upper zone, 18 bottle lower zone
More expensive than the single-zone model

Kalamera 15″ Wide 30 Bottle Built-In Wine Cooler

Kalamera 15" Wide 30 Bottle Built-In Wine Cooler

Product Details

Kalamera makes a number of great wine refrigerators, and this 15-inch wide model with a 30 bottle capacity is no exception. Like the others here, this unit features a stainless steel and black exterior look. Inside, we have 6 slide-out beech wood shelves. There’s a bit of extra space on the bottom row for wider bottles if you choose.

The shelves seem a little lightweight, but the overall operation of this wine fridge is quite reliable.

Like many wine refrigerators, you are only going to reach the maximum bottle capacity under ideal conditions—using all standard sized Bordeaux shaped bottles. Using bottles with a mix of shapes and sizes will cause you to fall short of the 30 bottle maximum, but you should still have enough space in this unit for a modest collection. The fact that this is a single-zone cooler means you get a little extra space too.

One really helpful feature of this model is a temperature memory function. This means that, in the case of a power outage, the wine fridge can return to the temperature you had it set to rather than a default temperature. With many other wine fridges, people have run into trouble because the fridge defaults to a factory-set temperature after a brief power outage rather than the cooler temperature that the owner had it set to. In some cases it has caused people’s wine collections to get ruined. But you won’t have that problem with this Kalamera model.

kalamera-15-inch-wide-wine-fridge-door-open

kalamera-15-inches-width-wine-cooler-shelving-detail

Pros and Cons

Temperature memory protects wine after a power outage
Single-zone cooling
30 bottle max capacity
Reliable cooling
Slide-out wooden shelves slightly flimsy

NewAir AWR-290DB 29 Bottle Compressor Wine Cooler

Product Details

The last model that we’ll look at is another dual-zone cooler. In this case, NewAir has put the section intended for white wine on the top. The upper section can be set to 40-50 degrees Fahrenheit. It can hold a maximum of 10 bottles with 5 on each of two shelves. The nice thing about the design of this model is that there is extra space above the top shelf, so that it would be able to accommodate wide bottles for Champagne or Chardonnay, etc.

Meanwhile, the lower section can be set to 50-66 degrees Fahrenheit. It is a little larger with regular sized selves and a third shelf on the bottom with enough vertical space to stack up two rows of bottles on top of each other. You could also use this lowest shelf for wide Pinot Noir bottles, etc. At most, you could fit about 19 bottles in the lower zone.

I think this configuration is one of the best in a dual-zone wine fridge as it gives more space for your red wines, which you’d typically want to collect more of.

newair-wine-fridge-in-kitchen

Pros and Cons

Dual-zone cooling
Most logical dual-zone arrangement
Least expensive dual-zone model
Reliable compressor
Runs very quietly

Summary

My overall recommendation depends on whether you want a single-zone or dual-zone cooler. If you’re in the market for a single-zone wine fridge, then I recommend buying the Kalamera 15″ Wine Cooler. It’s attractive, reliable, and rather affordable at under $600 currently.

If you’re looking for a dual-zone cooler, I think the best value is with the NewAir AWR-290DB Wine Cooler. Not only is it the least expensive of the dual-zone coolers, but it also runs quietly and reliably, and the two cooling zones are arranged in the most logical manner.

On the other hand, if you want something a little more fancy looking, the Avallon Dual-Zone Wine Cooler has slick roll-out shelves with stainless steel trimming. If the relatively small red wine zone is not an issue for you, then you just have to determine if the extra cost for the fancier shelves is worth it to you.

One Bottle of Red Wine a Day – Are You Drinking Too Much Wine Every Night?

After a long day at work or watching over a toddler, a bottle of wine will do the trick. You know the feeling—all you want to do is clear your head from the day’s worries while drinking from a bottle of red wine. However, have you ever wondered if you are drinking too much wine every day? And if so what are the effects of doing so? If you are that kind of person who averages one bottle of red wine a day, then keep reading.

Back in the old days, before the onset of sanitary water, beverages with alcohol content were the only way to go. They had numerous benefits such as preventing different types of infections and diseases. If you lived in the Roman Empire, it was pretty easy to drink a bottle’s worth of wine per day. But was it all healthy?

Researchers have found many health benefits to drinking red wine in moderation. The anti-oxidants are said to help prevent cancer, for example. But usually 2 glasses per day is the amount these studies are based on. By drinking in larger volumes are you compromising your health?

Everyone has different alcohol limits

Everyone knows that drinking in excess is bad for your health, but the exact amount that becomes too much can depend on many factors such as your weight, age, and genetic disposition for breaking down alcohol. Over one third of East Asians experience alcohol flush syndrome, which is an indication that their bodies can’t handle almost any amount of alcohol. If you experience similar effects, then one bottle of wine in a day is definitely too much, and even one glass may be pushing your luck.

For others, the World Health Organization has an online test you can take to see if you drink too much. The factors this test mostly considers is not the absolute amount that you drink, but rather the effect it has on your life and actions.

Is one bottle of wine too much?

For most people, consuming a full bottle of red wine on their own each night is going to be too much. Splitting a bottle with family and friends, or finishing off a bottle on your own on occasion isn’t necessarily so bad. But a whole bottle for yourself each and every day could be going overboard. Look carefully at how the rest of your life is being affected.

That being said, a moderate amount of red wine a day is not bad for you. Apart from preventing infections, red wine is famous for its antioxidants which are good for the heart. It prevents the formation of blood clots which are the number one cause of heart attacks and also helps in cholesterol reduction. Besides, it keeps you at lower risk of getting chronic diseases such as diabetes and even tuberculosis.

Just make sure you don’t go overboard since too much of something can be poison, and in this case, too much wine is not good for your liver and your health in general. Moreover, a dependence on alcohol can negatively affect your work and relationships.

If you live alone and still want to enjoy bottles of your favorite red or white wine, I recommend you get a good, small wine refrigerator with space for an opened bottle to be placed vertically. Then you can drink a couple glasses and re-cork the bottle to enjoy more the next evening. Most wines will do fine if refrigerated for 2-3 days after opening.

The key to enjoying wine—as in many things—is to practice moderation.

NutriChef 12 Bottle Thermoelectric Wine Cooler

In today’s wine fridge review we’ll check out the NutriChef 12 Bottle Thermoelectric Wine Cooler. This a modest sized thermoelectric style cooler that will work as either a freestanding or countertop unit. It has a lot of great features and is a popular buy at the moment, so let’s dive right into the details to see if this might be the right wine cooler for you.

Product Details

Let’s start by looking at the size. This wine cooler is 9.9 inches wide, 19.7 inches deep, and 25 inches tall. This means it doesn’t take up a whole lot of horizontal space, whether on your countertop or free-standing on the floor. Remember that you’ll want to have a bit of buffer room between the rear of the fridge and the wall in order to get the most effective cooling from the thermoelectric unit.

This model has precise digital temperature control. Unlike some models, the controls are on the exterior so there is no need to open the door and let cool air escape if you want to adjust the temperature.

The 12 bottle capacity is achieved with 8 bottles positioned horizontally on racks and 4 bottles standing upright. This configuration makes it a little easier to store the occasional odd-shaped bottle. It also allows you to easily keep opened bottles cool.

The manufacturer backs their product with a one-year warranty. This is always a good sign because it allows you to buy with confidence.

Pros and Cons

You can adjust the temperature between a range of 50-64° Fahrenheit (10-18°C). So long as you don’t allow the ambient room temperature in your home float up above 75 degrees you can expect this unit to reliably cool down to whichever temperature you choose in this range. This will allow you to keep wine at the optimal temperature for long-term storage. You can also keep your red wines at your preferred ready-to-drink temperature. Furthermore, the cooling power is effective enough to even keep full-bodied white wines, such as Chardonnay, at a good serving temperature.

This model looks great with a genuine stainless steel door and interior LED lighting. Some coolers made by other brands go a little cheap by using metallic colored plastic on the door and handle instead of real stainless steel like we have here.

The fan runs quietly enough that you’ll probably never notice it. And the temperature inside really holds nicely and doesn’t jump around. This is the whole point with getting a wine cooler fridge in the first place, so this is really a strong point.

The only real downside I can see for this model is that it might not be large enough for some potential buyers. This really will depend on you and your wine-drinking habits.

If you are the type who collects a few bottles here and there, buys a few bottles when you visit the supermarket, but also tends to drink a couple bottles per week, then a 12-bottle capacity cooler will probably be plenty.

If you think you might want a little more space, NutriChef also makes an 18-Bottle Wine Cooler that is worth checking out. Aside from the larger capacity, the main difference with the 18-bottle model is that all of the bottles sit inside laying horizontally.

Buying Recommendation

Obviously, if you want a large wine fridge or a dual-zone cooler than this isn’t the one for you. Otherwise, if you are looking for a super-dependable wine cooler with a 12 bottle capacity, this one should do the trick.

This is also a great wine cooler if you’re shopping for a gift for either the holidays or someone’s birthday. It’s not so expensive as to break your budget, and yet they’ll be very impressed with its looks and functioning. Also, the size really fits into that sweet spot where it doesn’t seem like you’re just getting the smallest or cheapest cooler and yet it isn’t so large that they would have trouble finding a place to put it in their kitchen or living room.

Wine Enthusiast 21-Bottle Dual-Zone Curved-Door Wine Cooler

I’m really liking the Wine Enthusiast 21-Bottle Dual-Zone Curved-Door Wine Cooler. Today I’m going to review this model, looking at the features that distinguish it from competing products, the pros and cons of this unit, and finally give you my recommendation as an item to consider purchasing or not.

Product Features

First of all, I’d generally categorize this cooler as a highly versatile medium-sized wine fridge. It has a maximum capacity of 21 regular sized wine bottles, which probably puts it in the smaller range for medium-sized coolers. It’s versatile due to different shelving options and the dual cooling zones, which allow for wine to be stored at different temperatures.

This model uses solid-state thermoelectric cooling technology. The upper zone can be set to 46-65 degrees F, while the lower zone can be set to 52-65 degrees F.

The top zone holds 2 racks of 3 bottles each for a total of 6 bottles. The lower cooling zone has 2 different shelf configurations. For maximum capacity, you can use the normal horizontal racks to create 5 standard rows of 3 bottles. This would make 15 bottles in the bottom and 21 bottles total for the entire cooler.

The other option is to use the special standing rack for the 4 lowest rows. With this rack, 4 bottles can be stored on their sides and another 4 bottles can stand upright. In this configuration, the fridge can hold a total of 17 bottles. While the total capacity is reduced, this allows for the storage of odd shaped bottles and also bottles that have been opened already.

There are independent digital temperature controls for each cooling zone. Interior blue LED lights, a smooth black exterior, and curved front doors all contribute to give it a highly modern look.

Pros and Cons

One of the strong points for this cooler is obviously the ability to adjust the interior of the bottom zone to a configuration that suits your needs. For many wine drinkers a capacity of 17-21 bottles is more than enough to keep them happy. Tall bottles such as German Rieslings and wide bottles such as Pinot Noir can be accommodated when not using the maximum capacity setup. Also, when in the max capacity configuration you can easily fit 21 standard sized bottles without having to stuff them in ridiculously.

If you’re worried about the effects of low humidity for long-term storage, there is a water tray you can fill to add moisture to the cooler’s interior air.

Temperature controls are straight-forward and easy to use. And the actual cooling power is reliable.

The fans can sometimes make a bit of noise, but nothing to really complain about. As with all thermoelectric coolers, ambient room temperature and placement of the unit will have an effect on the maximum cooling achievable. If the air temperature in your home is 75 degrees, nothing you do will be able to help a thermoelectric cooler chill your wine below 50 F.

Buying Recommendation

I highly recommend this model if you’re looking for a reliable dual-zone cooler and don’t require super large capacity. A very serious wine collector might find the 21 bottle maximum capacity to be less than they need. But I think many individuals will find it to be more than plenty of space, especially if you’re the type to replace bottles at the same rate that you drink them.

On the other hand, for the type of person who drinks red wine exclusively, there isn’t any particular need for a dual-zone cooler, and you may be better of choosing one of the single-zone cooler models. If, however, you quite like the appearance of this Wine Enthusiast curved door cooler, you can always simply set the temperature for both zones to a suitable setting for red wines.

Igloo 6-Bottle Wine Cooler Review

In today’s review, we’re gong to look at the highly-popular Igloo 6-Bottle Wine Cooler. This is a nifty little countertop model that looks slick, gets tons of positive reviews, and has the backing of a well-known appliance brand.

If you happen to be reading this and it’s still before the holidays, you also might want to consider this small wine cellar as a potential gift for those on your Christmas shopping list.

Product Details

Igloo makes wine refrigerators in a number of sizes, but this particular model is built for 6 bottles and sized to fit on your countertop. The arrangement is 3 vertical rows of 2 bottles each, which is a logical design that minimizes the appliance’s footprint.

It features a double-layer glass door, black exterior, interior LED light, and wire shelving. The cooling is accomplished with a thermoelectric cooling unit, which is most typical for wine coolers in this size range. The temperature can be adjusted to a range of about 46 to 64 degrees F.

Pros and Cons

Igloo’s 6-Bottle cooler has a sleek, modern black design and looks great in any kitchen. The size is perfect for someone who just wants to keep a few bottles of wine cooled to a good storage and serving temperature. The target customer is probably someone who enjoys wine but isn’t a hardcore collector or connoisseur. It’s also ideal for a grad student or young professional living in a smallish apartment without lots of room to spare for a bulky wine fridge.

The price of under $70 (at the time of writing) also makes this the perfect first wine cooler or gift item for a wine-loving friend.

It cools well, but you have to remember how thermoelectric coolers function in order to get the best performance. As a general rule, solid-state thermoelectric wine coolers can only achieve a difference in interior-to-exterior temperature of about 25 degrees F. So if it’s 85 degrees in your kitchen, you’ll have a hard time getting the cooler to chill down any lower than 60.

Furthermore, thermoelectric coolers need some space to function properly. They work by transferring heat to the outside air, and in order for the outside air to not remain too warm you’ve got to keep the back side of the cooler spaced away from a wall. One foot of space will provide for enough air circulation to do the trick.

Buying Recommendation

I’d recommend getting this model if you are a casual wine drinker who just needs to keep several bottles at a good temperature. If should hold enough wine to last you between trips to the supermarket. This is also a great product to give as a gift for a novice wine lover. The slick design will look great in most anybody’s home, and they’ll love the experience of popping open a bottle of properly cooled red wine vs one that has been sitting around at full room temperature.

If you are really serious about establishing a wine collection, then of course you’ll want to purchase a larger model for your home, perhaps a 28-30 bottle capacity wine cooler.

Does Wine Go Bad in the Fridge?

You know that an unopened wine bottle can be stored for years, but what about after you pop the cork? Does wine go bad in the fridge? Or can you just keep it there for a while until you have the urge to drink more?

Let’s take a look at the best wine storage practices, and answer whether wine storage in the fridge is actually a good way to go about it.

Don’t Let It Remain Open!

Wine coming in contact with too much air is bad news for the wine. Oxidation of the elements of the wine, drastically interfere with the chemical makeup of the wine and as a result, render it discolored, smelly and unfit for consumption. Oxidized wine will turn brown and sharply acidic after sufficient time.

Therefore, always re-cork a wine bottle when putting it in the fridge to finish later.

Is Refrigeration the Right Answer?

While refrigeration of opened wine is a nice idea, one has to be really careful in its handling. White wine and sparkling wine, like champagne, is often recommended to be chilled in a fridge. However, red wine can be chilled only after it has been opened. The ideal temperature to store any wine is between 40 to 55 degrees Fahrenheit.

Opened wine once stored in the fridge is prevented from decaying rapidly, thereby successively preserving the taste and flavor of the wine for a few days. For this to work, the wine should be tightly corked in order to prevent more air from entering the bottle.

How Long is OK to Keep Wine in the Fridge?

So once placed in the fridge, how long can it be stored before the wine is unfit for consumption?

The answer depends on the type, but a good rule of thumb is three days. Once a bottle of wine has been opened, it is imperative that you consume it within the next three days.

It’s true that there are special inserts available that once fixed into the stopper, remove the air from the bottle to a large extent. These are great for making sure wine doesn’t go bad quickly during the first few days after opening, but it can’t return your wine to an un-corked condition, because oxygen has already been mixed in when you first popped the cork.

Therefore, it is just best for you and the wine that you use it up within a couple of days at the most. This way, you will be able to make the best of the freshness of the wine, without which, all flavor is lost to oxidation.

Bottom Line

The three day limit is the rule to live by for storing and consuming wine from the fridge. Moreover, opened wine should be safeguarded from light, strong smells and unnecessary movement, just like unopened wine is.

Drinking 2 Glasses of Red Wine a Day – Latest Health Research

Over-consumption of any alcohol can be dangerous to the body. Even with that warning, there is a still a bright side to drinking red wine. For some time, there has been a debate about the health benefits of wine to humans when taken moderately. While many people think that drinking two glasses of red wine a day is an important part of staying healthy, others think otherwise. Below is what researchers have found out about red wine.

Reduces heart disease risk

According to recent health studies, drinking small amounts of wine, one or two glasses in a day, may lower the risk of having heart diseases as well as stroke. This does not mean drinking high amounts of wine, as that may instead increase your risk.

Lower dementia risk

Researchers have found that moderate drinking of red wine can reduce your risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease and dementia by 23%. However, this does not mean that non-drinkers should start drinking. For those who drink, moderate consumption is beneficial for their health.

Prevention of type 2 diabetes

Drinking two glasses of red wine has been found to have health benefits especially when it comes to the prevention of diabetes. Type 2 diabetes is common in women. Red wine increases insulin sensitivity and thus lowers your risk of developing type 2 diabetes.

Lowers the risk of depression

The latest health research has revealed that red wine consumption in moderation can help to reduce the possibility of depression. A study conducted on the elderly and middle-aged people revealed that those who drank two glasses of wine in a day were less prone to depression.

Conclusion

It is now evident from the latest health research that moderate drinking of red wine has more health benefits. However, you could put your health at risk if you habitually drink wine or any alcohol in larger amounts.