A beautiful red wine needs to be stored properly to maintain its quality. To prevent wine deteriorating due to improper storage, a wine cellar is an essential item for wine lovers. But with the wide choice available on the market, which one is the best one for you?

Types of wine cellars

There are two types of wine cellars: compressor wine cellars and semiconductor/thermoelectric wine cellars. The difference is in the way they use refrigeration. Compressor wine cellars use a refrigerant to continuously dissipate heat from the air to maintain a stable temperature. Semiconductor/thermoelectric wine cellars allow an electric current to pass through a thermoelectric node to create cold air.

Type	Advantages	Disadvantages
Compressor wine cellars	High cooling capacity Technology is relatively mature and stable Long service life	Some operating noise More expensive
Semiconductor/ thermoelectric wine cellars	More compact No refrigerant is used so they are considered more environmentally friendly No machine operation sounds, less noise Lower price	Short service life Cooling performance affected by the surrounding environment

Structure of a wine cellar

Wine cellars divided mainly into single temperature or independent temperature structures. Single temperature models are generally used to store one type of wine such as a red wine or white wine. While independent temperature models let you adjust the temperature in multiple sections separately so you can store different types of wine at the appropriate temperatures.

Factors to consider when shopping for a wine cellar

 

1. Pricing

This is directly proportional to performance. Compressor and independent temperature wine cellars are suitable for more affluent consumers who are wine collectors looking to store wine for the long term to improve its quality and aging process. If you are storing wine for the short term and require a wine cellar just for basic storage, choose a semiconductor/thermoelectric or single temperature model.

2. Quality of wine stored

If you are storing more premium wines, choose a compressor wine cellar to help improve the quality and value of your wine collection. If you are storing ordinary wines, choose a semiconductor/thermoelectric wine cellar.

3. Capacity

Generally speaking, choose a cellar a capacity of 25-50% more than your current collection. Because in addition to storing what you currently own, you should save some space for new wines you are going to buy.

4. Location

If you want to place your wine cellar in a prominent location that also blends in with your home décor, a built-in wine cellar is your best choice because you can modify it according to your own personal style and taste. If you plan to put your cellar in a small area or inside a bedroom, say, the semiconductor/thermoelectric wine cellar is more suitable because it hardly vibrates and generally runs quietly. Without a large refrigeration system inside, there is more space in the wine cellar for your wine. You can store more bottles of wine and so this is an ideal solution for those who want to make good use of every inch of space.