Wine Cooler Terminology   

This page provides some insight to the terminology one could run into when shopping for wine coolers.

Ambient Temperature:   the temperature of the room where the wine cooler is in use. 

Beverage Center:  a cooling product that can store beverage cans as well as wine bottles, dual purpose storage. 

Bottle Capacity:  the number of wine bottles a particular wine cooler can hold. 

Color Options:  several available products have different options to match the decor and color where your wine cooler will be used. 

Dimensions:  the product width, depth and height as shown in each product specification description. 

Door Lock:  some wine coolers come with door locks to protect your wine collection, especially from children. 

Dual Zone:  wine coolers with two compartments and independent temperature controls for storing white and red wines at their ideal temperatures.  White wine is generally stored at colder temperatures than red wine. 

Dual-paned Thermal Glass & UV Glass:  specially made glass that provides better insulation and UV protection. 

Front-vented Wine Coolers:  especially designed wine coolers for use under the counter where zero-clearance installation is required. 

Humidity Control:  keeps the cork from drying and minimizes evaporation;  industry standards say around 70% humidity is ideal (humidity higher that 70% may encourage mold growth). 

Integrated Application:  wine coolers with this classification can be used for both freestanding and built-in applications. 

Keg Beer Dispenser:  products specially designed to keep pressurized and non-pressurized mini keg beer cool. 

Keg Cooler:  product specifically designed to keep full or pony sized kegs cool.  Comes with 1 or 2 beer dispensing taps. 

LED Interior Light:  provides soft lighting without the heat of an incandescent bulb. 

LED Controls:  shows interior temperature; some coolers will also show have separate read-outs for dual zone coolers. 

Rear-vented Wine Coolers:  wine coolers used ONLY on countertops or in a freestanding application (should be placed 6 inches from the back wall, 12-inch clearance on the top and 12-inch clearance on each side to avoid over heating). 

Reversible Door Hinge:  a product that can be set-up to have the door open to the left or to the right. 

Roller Glide Shelving:  shelves that pull in and out on rollers instead of slide guides, roller shelves reduce wine agitation.

Sliding Racks:   racks that pull in and out of the wine cooler for easy access to the wine.  Wine cooler racks can be chrome, vinyl coated steel or wood. 

Temperature Controls:  adjust the interior temperature (some controls will be simple knobs or push buttons, some electronic displays). 

Thermoelectric:   technology that uses no ozone-depleting chemicals such as CFCs or HCFCs and has very few moving parts to protect the wine from vibrations; energy efficient.  Wine coolers in this category are eco-friendly. 

Trash Compactor Size:  some units are specifically sized to replace the old under counter trash compactors. 

Worktop:  a few products are designed with a worktop that can be used as additional counter space.  Check the product's specification description.