Ryan, Author at CoolerVino

Haier 6-Bottle Wine Cellar Review

Wine coolers can be handy to have, whether you want to keep your bottles at an optimal temperature or you’re simply looking to prolong the life of extra wine in your stash. A potential problem, however, is that the vast majority of wine coolers are large and don’t fit easily into modestly sized kitchens.

For those who would like a counter top storage option, the number of suitable models available is small. The Haier 6-Bottle Wine Cellar is the ideal solution for those who want a wine chiller but have limited space. It also includes many handy features and electronic controls.

Details

Once this cooler is delivered, you’ll notice how light it is compared to other models that hold the same amount of wine. Don’t be fooled by its size, though, as the Haier 6-Bottle Wine Cellar is a well rounded machine. The temperature inside of the chiller is controlled by a blue LCD display, and inside is a thermoelectric cooling system that’s pleasantly quiet. If you’ve ever heard the loud hum of larger coolers, you’ll be able to appreciate how quietly this one runs.

Because this model is so compact, you can put it almost anywhere—on the counter, under the counter, by your pantry, on a pantry shelf—the options are just about endless. It’s even possible to take it with you in an RV because its dimensions are small: 9.9 inches wide, 20.3 inches in depth, and 14.1 inches high.

The fridge has three shelves that each hold two bottles of wine, and it’s suitable whether you need to store red or white varieties. Aside from its great function and practicality, this model is notable because of its aesthetics. It has a very sleek, modern, and stylish look and is well worth considering if appearance is important to you. To put it plainly, you’ll have no problems putting this machine on display, and you’ll probably even get compliments on it.

Pros

Though this wine cellar is relatively small, it packs a lot of benefits:

It can easily fit on most counter tops, or even under the counter.
The interior lighting is soft and not harsh.
The door’s design is curved, which looks nice and is practical.
You can very easily adjust the thermostat on this chiller with the touch of a button.
Red and white wines are suitable for this Haier model.

Cons

There are few drawbacks to this wine fridge, but here are some things to consider:

You can only hold six bottles of wine in this model, so it’s not ideal if you want to start a sizable collection.
The design is modern and largely comprised of black. And while it looks attractive, this chiller definitely won’t fit into every kitchen decor style.
The temperature display isn’t precisely accurate, although it’s not usually far off the mark.

Summary

Though this wine cooler won’t meet everyone’s needs, for those who have a smaller collection of vintages or the causal wine drinker who wants an effective storage solution, the Haier 6-Bottle Wine Cellar is a good pick. It’s price makes it even more of a value, and the well built chiller will give you many years of use.

Kalamera 30-Bottle Built-in or Freestanding Wine Refrigerator Review

The aroma and flavor of wine is way more enhanced when it’s served chilled properly. The trick, however, is in achieving the right temperature. Before I knew any better, I used to put all my wines in an ordinary refrigerator—and the results were always disastrous. Either the wine was too cold or too warm.

I realized I needed more precise control—to find that threshold where the temperature is just perfect, so I decided to buy a wine refrigerator. A wine refrigerator is not like an ordinary refrigerator—it’s specifically designed to store wine. Not only does it keep your wine cool but it also ages it to bring out its true characteristic and full flavor potential.

After reading a few reviews online, I decided to purchase the Kalamera 30-Bottle Built-in Wine Refrigerator as my first wine fridge.

Kalamera 30-Bottle Wine Fridge

This is a versatile unit that you can set up in any activity area in your home such as the living room as a freestanding wine cooler. It is also designed so that it can be used under the counter as a built-in refrigerator. It keeps your wine perfectly chilled to your desired temperature thanks to a proficient single-zone system. The product has an elegant look what with the interior being illuminated by a soft blue light and a gleaming stainless steel frame. This wine cooler basically has everything you need to benefit from the best, perfectly chilled wine.

Features

The refrigerator can hold up to 30 bottles of wine on slotted beech wood shelves. It’s made of a stainless steel frame and it has two layers of tempered glass. This ensures that the temperature inside doesn’t fluctuate and it also prevents fogging.

It’s not as noisy as an ordinary refrigerator and the vibration levels are very low thanks to the pre-installed advanced compressor technology.

The LED control display lets you set the temperature very easily so you can always rest easy knowing that your wine is cooling at the perfect temperature at all times.

You can install it anywhere. It does not take up a lot of space so you can store it in the bar or kitchen area.

Pros

First, it’s very easy to install and easy to use. Installing the door handle was a breeze. All I had to do was peel back the seal on the interior side of the door to reveal two screw holes.
Also, I like how the compressor is very quiet and cools very fast. I thought the reviews online had exaggerated this feature but it appears that this wine refrigerator is actually very reliable. I still bought the four year extended warranty even though it appears to be a far much more reliable unit than most of the other wine coolers. Many other inferior models seem to fail after one or two years.
Another wonderful feature is that this unit will cool all the way down to 40 degrees F. I personally don’t set it that low since I mainly drink red wines. However, if you’re a big fan of whites you should be happy to know that this model will chill your vino down much cooler than thermoelectric models typically can.

Cons

It’s a little more expensive than some other models with a similar capacity. However, as with all things, you usually get what you pay for. The quality in this unit is really top notch.
One thing I noticed when the unit arrived was that the glass door was cracked. it must have gotten damaged during shipping. That said, the company sent me a replacement door immediately, and the Kalamera representative was very helpful and friendly.

Summary

Overall, this wine cooler is really well made. It’s not noisy, it cools wine very fast and the temperature inside remains constant at all times. It’s solid and a little hefty at 72 lbs, but doesn’t take up much floor space and can practically fit anywhere. I’d say it’s rather attractive and provides good value. I would definitely recommend this unit to anyone looking for a mid-sized wine cooler who plans on storing more than 20 bottles.

NewAir 28-Bottle Freestanding Wine Cooler Review

If you are a wine lover, then you know there is nothing better than enjoying a nicely chilled glass of wine after a long day. We know that improper wine storage can have negative effects to your expensive bottle of wine. That is why it is wise to invest in top notch wine cooler. The NewAir 28-Bottle Freestanding Wine Cooler will chill your wine to perfection, allowing you enjoy your favorite vintage just as it was meant to be.

NewAir 28-Bottle Cooler Key Features

The Exterior

This freestanding model has a very sleek and modern finished look that fits perfectly with any kitchen décor. It has a sleek black cabinet exterior that is framed beautifully with stainless steel. Its tinted glass double-paned door gives off a contemporary yet modern look.

The NewAir 28-Bottle Cooler comes inclusive of a blue LED light that can be switched on and off. You can also opt to leave it on, giving your wine bottles a beautiful blue haze that will undoubtedly catch your guests’ attention. Finally, this model comprises of a sturdy, non-slip stainless steel bar handle that allows you to open and access your wine with little to no effort from your end.

This single-zone wine fridge has digital controls that are located on the top door frame. This allows you to set the temperatures to chill your wine to your heart’s desire.

The Interior

Next comes its removable slide-out metal racks that can hold up to 28 bottles of your favorite vintage. There are 6 pull-out shelves in total, each holding a capacity of four bottles. You can store an additional four bottles on the bottom of your cabinet, adding to a grand total of 28.

This model has plastic clips that ensure your bottles are intact and safe at all times. Keep in mind that this wine cooler can hold only 750ml bottles of your favorite red or white wines such as a Moscato, a Sauvignon Blanc, Gamay, Malbec, Merlot, etc. but cannot accommodate champagne bottles that are wider. However, you can opt to pull out a few shelves to make more room for wider bottles—this however will reduce the number of bottles you can chill. This model can accommodate longer bottles that are within 12″ to 13″ long.

Setup and Maintenance

The NewAir Wine Cooler will be delivered to you near full assembly. All you have to do is use the provided manual instructions and fit the door handle.

When stacking up your wines, be wary of blocking the air ventilation, which is located at the back as this can cause your cooler to overheat or not chill your wines.

Pros

It holds temperature very well and will keep your bottles nice and chilled to your specified temperature settings, which preserves full flavor and aroma.
It has an elegant modern finish that will undoubtedly merge beautifully with your kitchen décor.
You will surprised at how easy it is to set up and operate.
Thanks to its adjustable interior, you will be able to remove and adjust your shelves to fit wider bottles such as magnums or champagnes.
This compact and very handy little device is perfect for your home bar, game room, dining room, or kitchen area.

Cons

It can be a bit noisy if you a first time user but you will eventually get used to the fairly quiet soothing sound
Its temperatures range from 54-66 degrees F (12-19 degrees C), which can be a bit restrictive when you are dealing with sweet wines.

Conclusion

Overall, the NewAir 28-Bottle Wine Cooler offers great value for your buck. It is spacious, elegant, very sturdy, has adjustable shelves, and holds temperature to ensure your wine is perfectly chilled at all times.

Yes, it does tend to make a little noise and has limited cold temperature settings, but aside from these tiny setbacks, this is a good value cooler with above average storage capacity at an affordable price.

Koldfront 18-Bottle Freestanding Dual-Zone Wine Cooler Review

Freestanding wine coolers are super convenient. You don’t have to worry about building out special areas for them and can simply plug yours in and let it do its thing. With the number of electric wine cellars available these days, it can be tough figuring out which one will not only work well, but be spacious enough and look decent enough to put on display. And if you fancy both red and white wines, there’s also the issue of finding a cooler that will somehow keep both at their respective optimal temperatures.

The Koldfront 18-Bottle Freestanding Dual-Zone Wine Cooler not only holds enough bottles to store most people’s wine collections, it works incredibly well and sports an attractive facade. Should you splurge and get one? Here’s more information about the model and whether it will fit your needs.

Product Details

Unlike most wine coolers, this Koldfront model has two temperature zones: the top chills wine from 46 to 66 degrees Fahrenheit, and the bottom of the cooler chills it between 54 and 66 degrees. This feature makes the chiller suitable for storing reds and whites at the same time and getting each to the right temperature. Imagine being able to grab two bottles of red and white wine, opening them, and finding that both could be enjoyed without additional chilling—that’s the type of advantage that comes with owning this fridge.

It also has wooden shelving, which is a break from the norm. As opposed to the metal shelves that are inside most wine coolers, the wood does a much better job at protecting bottles from cracking or breaking, and it provides a more stable surface. The motor inside this model is thermoelectric and runs fairly quietly. Plus, the doors of the fridge are tempered and also has a safety lock, which is a good feature for those who have children or pets.

Pros

You’ll find that this Koldfront cooler has tons of benefits:

It has two zones so you can keep different types of wine at their proper temperatures.
Though it stores 18 bottles, this cooler isn’t imposing and can fit into most average sized kitchen areas.
The wine cooler has wooden shelving, which is not only best for bottles to lay on but looks great.
It’s a freestanding model.
This fridge has a safety lock and tempered glass doors.

Cons

There are a few drawbacks to the fridge, but most aren’t dealbreakers:

The cooler has a slim design, but it isn’t small enough to fit on counter tops or really small spaces.
If you only drink one type of wine, the dual zone temperature feature may be a moot point.
Those with smaller wine collections may feel they’re paying for storage space that they don’t need.

Summary

This Koldfront wine cooler is awesome if you have a modest number of bottles to store or you have both reds and whites in your collection. The dual zone temperature feature works well, and let’s not forget that the cooler itself is attractive.

All in all, this is a great value wine fridge for under $200. Its reasonable price point and wealth of excellent features makes this chiller a smart investment if you often drink wine or keep it around for entertaining.

Kalamera 12-Bottle Thermoelectric Wine Cooler Review

The Kalamera 12-Bottle Thermoelectric Wine Cooler is designed to keep your wines at the perfect temperature. It perfectly fits on the kitchen counter, and I love the fact that does not make any noise like a regular fridge does. I like the fact that it is lightweight and compact, which makes it ideal when you want to conserve space in the kitchen.

Features of the Kalamera 12-Bottle Wine Cooler

Silent Operation

Unlike regular refrigerators, this thermoelectric wine cooler does not have a compressor. It, therefore, runs almost silent. There are just a few small fans to help circulate the cold air inside to cool it evenly.

Low Vibration

Unlike the refrigerators that experience vibrations when the compressor runs, this thermoelectric wine cooler has zero vibrations. The wine stored inside therefore stays undisturbed. The wine’s sediments are therefore able to settle down, allowing you to enjoy a crisp fruity taste of your wine.

Upgraded Appearance

The stainless steel door frame, glass door, and the steel side give this wine cooler an elegant look. The sleek beach wood shelves can be seen through the glass, giving it a combination of classy and modern look. It gives the kitchen an additional decoration with its cool blue LED lights.

Compact Size

The compact size comes from its thermoelectric cooling design. Without the compressor to take much space, its design is compact enough not to be wasteful of space. I love that I can put it on the counter top if I want and not feel that it is taking too much space.

Temperature Controls

The temperature controls of this thermoelectric wine cooler make it one of the best wine coolers. The controls use microcontroller chips that continuously check the interior temperature of the wine cooler. They make sure it does not fall or rise above what I have set on the temperature control panel. It is that easy to manage its temperature.

Efficient

A fridge’s compressor motor takes a lot of power compared to this Wine Cooler’s thermoelectric cooling system. That is why it can run with as little wattage as 70W. Keeping in mind that I rarely open it, it ends up using much less power after the initial temperature stabilization.

Environment Friendly

A refrigerator uses Freon in their compressors as a coolant, which is a known pollutant. The Kalamera Thermoelectric Wine Cooler does not have a compressor neither does it use Freon as a coolant. It is, therefore, environment-friendly.

Pros

I find its compact size to be perfect for kitchen storage of wines.
The temperature can drop to 53 degrees Fahrenheit, which makes it perfect for wine storage.
I love that I cannot hear any sound while it is running. It is just the kind of cooler you want around the house if you enjoy silence at night.
Beautiful Design. Not many other small models come with beech wood shelving.

Cons

It might have trouble cooling to below 52 degrees Fahrenheit. So it is fine for red and white wine storage, but you may need extra chilling to bring white wine bottles to ideal serving temperature.
I always find it impossible to pull out the shelves without opening the door at least 90 degrees.

Red wines are what I mostly enjoy, and I do not need to chill them down below about 55 degrees to store and serve. That is why I find this model to be just perfect. Its ability to run silently is a blessing, especially at night.

Perfect for the casual red wine drinker looking for a compact, yet efficient cooler for under $150. I would recommend it to a friend. It would also make an excellent gift.

AKDY 32-Bottle Single-Zone Wine Cooler Review

What happens when you want to enjoy the silky taste and authentic aroma of your favorite wine beverages? Well, a worthwhile choice for you would be to keep the wine at the appropriate temperatures. Serving your vino too cold may cause it to lose its consistent taste while warm temperatures might speed up the aging process. Nonetheless, whether you are an aspiring wine connoisseur or an experienced wine taster, you don’t have to spend a significant amount of money to develop a property with a wine cellar underground. Instead, an excellent investment would be to get the AKDY 32-Bottle Single-Zone Wine Cooler, which is designed to provide solid performance at impressive affordability.

Product Details

Double Transparent Glass Window and Environmentally friendly design

This wine cooler features a sleek and contemporary design tailor made for people who appreciate quality products in life. To be specific, it comes with a double transparent glass window that lets you view your wine bottles without the necessarily having to open the cooler itself. By the same token, this particular design makes it stand out from the conventional wine coolers that are available on the consumer market today. Users will also appreciate the environmentally friendly design that is intended to mitigate the effects of harmful CFCs and with low energy consumption and efficient heat dissipation.

Electronic touch-pad control provides precise temperature adjustments.

Another equally important feature on this AKDY freestanding wine refrigerator is that it comes with an electronic touch-pad. This allows for precise temperature adjustments for your unique needs. More so, the electronic touch-pad is well positioned for easy accessibility. It also comes with LED lighting to provide the ideal visibility levels especially in poorly lit conditions.

LED Lighting Inside and chrome-plated chrome

Further lending to the superior design of this wine cooler is that it comes with LED lighting on the interior. It attractively illuminates and displays your exclusive wine collection. Simply put, this wine cooler cannot only store your favorite wine beverages, but it also lets you do so with class and style. Furthermore, it also comes with eight full-width, chrome plated shelves and provides more than sufficient space to store 32 conventional bottles of wine.

Thermoelectric fan cooling system and sleek design

This medium capacity freestanding wine cellar makes use of a thermoelectric fan cooling system. The advantages are this is highly silent in operation and has a low vibration level as well. Moreover, this unit also comes with a sleek and contemporary design that makes it stand out from the conventional wine coolers. In particular, the wine cooler features a silver colored cabinet with stainless steel door trim. This makes it an excellent addition to any décor.

Pros

I like how this wine cooler comes with a chrome plated design and LED lighting inside
You will be surprised at a how silent this wine cooler is in operation
I also liked how this wine cooler can store as many as 32 bottles of wine. The average person won’t need more than this unless they’re a real serious collector.

Cons

It is a thermoelectric unit instead of a compressor thereby making it sensitive to the temperature of the room
I sometimes have to remove the shelving to accommodate my larger wine bottles, but at least they can be accommodated.

Summary

Given all these points, when it comes to storing your favorite wine beverages, then this model would be a solid choice. I would recommend it more for someone who wants to keep a large quantity of red wines at home. The thermoelectric style cooler is good for keeping wines at a fair storage temperature. Its also nice for keeping reds at an ideal serving temperature, but is probably not going to chill white wines to their best serving temp.

How to Choose the Right Wine Glasses

Do you know How to choose the right wine glasses? Studies show that wine glasses do indeed affect the taste of your wine. If all you want is to get tipsy, then the type of wine glass you use might not be of great concern. However, if you want to enjoy the wine’s aroma and taste, you will have to choose your wine glasses carefully.

Different Glass Shapes for Different Wines

The base, stem, and of course the bowl, will affect the aroma and taste of the wine as you swirl and sip it.

Red Wines

Red wine needs more exposure for it to release its full aroma. You will, therefore, find wines such as Merlot or Cabernet Sauvignon being taken in glasses with bigger bowls. If you are drinking a lighter style of red wines such as Pinot Noir and Tempranillo, drink them from a pear shaped glasses.

White Wines

White crispy wines are best if taken in glasses that are smaller and narrower. Such wines include Pinot Grigio and Chardonnay. That is because they do not require much air to release their aroma. However, if they are aged, then chemical compounds change and they may need wine glasses similar to those used for red wine.

Champagne

If you want to enjoy your champagne, experts recommend that you either use Chardonnay glasses or Pinot Noir glasses. The choice depends on the prominent variety in the champagne. However, you should feel free to take it in whatever will give you the most pleasure. That is what drinking champagne is all about.

Wine Glass Size

You may admire those small, chunky wine glasses, but they are not ideal for drinking wine. For one, you cannot swirl your wine freely, unless you want to wear it as well. The other thing is that a good wine glass is one whose bowl takes at least a third of the bottle. If it can take half, that is even better.

Stem

The stem is the part of the glass that lets you hold it comfortably. If you want your wine to maintain its temperature, you should avoid stemless glasses. If you also like swirling your wine, the stemless glass is not for you.

The stemless glass is however aesthetically pleasing sometimes. Except when you smudge its bowl with your fingerprints as you hold it. Let just say that you have to be very skilled at holding a stemless glass to enjoy drinking from it. Otherwise, you will smudge it with fingerprints.

Glass Color

It could be possible that you love colored or glasses decorated with patterns. Well, you should avoid those when drinking wine. That is because wine is best enjoyed in its full natural color. Wines do change their color over time; you should be able to see and enjoy that as well.

Glass or Crystal?

If you like your wine chilled, then you should go for crystal glasses. Their stems are thin meaning your hand will not warm the wine glass easily. Crystal glasses are however easier to break because they have been spun thinner than glass. You should also be aware that crystal glasses may contain lead.

The lead is supposed to make the wine stick to the glass as you swirl to bring out its aroma. Wine glass companies such as Riedel say that the lead is perfectly contained within the crystal structure, and their crystal glasses are perfectly safe. Still, it is better to be aware of that fact.

There are also lead-free crystal wine glasses one can find on the market.

The glass or crystal does not change the chemical composition of the wine. It simply helps you to enjoy the aroma before you taste the wine as well as preserve the wine’s characteristics while you enjoy it. You are therefore best placed to decide how you want to enjoy your wine. However, if you are serving others, it is worth considering the above factors.

Wine & Food Pairing Guide

From salmon steaks to ceviche, your next meal deserves to be paired with the best choice when it comes to wine. Yet, selecting which one goes with a certain meal can sometimes feel like a guessing game.

Does that Bordeaux go with the shrimp? Can you even pair Merlot with a burger?

You might be surprised to find out how many people wonder these exact same things. And really, these are some great questions, and today, we’re going to dispel some of the myths behind wine pairing. This way, whether you’re out with friends or eating in, you’ll know exactly which bottle goes best with any meal.

Chardonnay

A popular white wine choice with a full body, Chardonnay is somewhat dry. It’s flavor can range from full on oak-flavor to even lighter crisper citrus notes. When pairing this one, great choices include chicken dishes and meals with a cream base to them. To mix things up, you can try sushi as well.

Cabernet Sauvignon

Another popular selection, but this time in red, this wine is also a full bodied choice. With a great mouthfeel and strong tannins, it’s often best paired with beef and lamb. For something more casual, try it with some BBQ short ribs.

Sauvignon Blanc

This white wine is much lighter than our previous two choices and often has citrus notes. While it’s also a dry choice, it remains a very flexible wine. From pork and fish to fresh salads and pastas, you almost can’t go wrong with this one.

Pinot Grigio

Light, crisp, and fruity, the Pinot Grigio goes best with lighter fares. While there are some tart notes to this one, the apple and pear flavors it often exudes are just right for mild fish and cheese, but also a smaller, less-rich salad.

Pinot Noir

This lighter red is a good contrast to our other reds here. It’s cherry and cranberry are evenly matched when paired with more exotic meats like veal or duck. At the same time, it also goes well with pork or chicken and is excellent with firmer, but not hard, cheeses.

Zinfandel

The Zinfandel is a sweet classic. Encompassing nearly every tasty fruit you can imagine, it’s medium to heavy body is rightly paired with more spicy foods, especially BBQ. But two uncommon pairings to try are with a great curry dish or some Thai food.

Merlot

Another ever-popular wine that brings with it plum and deep cherry flavors. Almost any tomato-based meal will work perfectly with Merlot. Red meats are also another choice as are chocolatey desserts.

Chianti

Hands down, you’re going to love pairing this Italian classic with pizza. It’s also true that Chianti goes well with hearty spaghetti dishes and lasagna as well. And if you’re looking for a meat to add, you can’t go wrong with lamb here.

Sangiovese

Our next wine choice is also an Italian classic, but isn’t as well known. But it can be a great casual wine with a delicious burger. The acidity, with it’s light grape, really cuts through a grease burger in just the right way.

Malbec

Our finally selection is also known for its versatility. This red wine from Argentina is soft and sleek in its presentation. For this one, go with lean meats or lighter pasta fares. For example, a beef tenderloin steak will be absolutely excellent.

Just remember, wine is an experience that begs for experimentation and discovery. Always be willing to go out on a limb and try new things. And with our guide here, you have the perfect launching point for that journey.