Costs Considerations When Buying a Wine Refrigerator

In general, the costs of a wine cellar, per bottle, may be nominal. For example, the cost differential between a 300-bottle cellar and a 400-bottle cellar may be about $200.

The costs of construction materials and labor among reliable U.S. manufacturers are basically equal. The final costs depend on the type of cooling system and racking. Redwood is best for racks and allows the storage of standard formats. Metal racks can conduct vibrations and often hold only limited types of formats. If bottles are fitted tightly together, labels may be damaged.

Breezaire is an industry standard in mechanical cooling systems. It offers a 20-year service history and comprehensive warranties. This system is used by mainstream cabinetmakers, such as ChateauCraft, Le Cache, Vinocraft, Impressions, and others.

Vinotheque, a quality company, manufactures Whisperkool, or the “QT.” They install their system in their own cabinets. Both are of superior, solid design.

Highly reliable exports such as Eurocave, Transtherm, and Cavavin use a “cold wall” or static cooling system, as opposed to the forced-air air machines made in the U.S. Neither system appears to work better than the other.

When buying a mechanical cooling system, be sure it has a warranty of at least six years. Some companies also provide extended warranties with no extra fees or deposits.

Reprinted with permission of www.galtwine.com

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