Now that we are clear on the proper tactics for wine cellaring, let’s move on to the real question at hand: which wine storage and cooling unit should I buy?

As I said before, there are several criteria to consider when choosing your unit. Some considerations are very personal and will reflect your needs or the design of your home, while others are across-the-board necessities.

Storage Design
The only must-have for the storage design of your unit is that it stores the wine at no greater than a 45 degree angle. The preferred angle is zero degrees (horizontal) but anything between 0 and 20 degrees is perfect.

Another potential must-have is the way the bottles are compartmentalized. Are they resting individually or piled on top of one another? The latter style accommodates more bottles, but makes it very difficult to locate an individual bottle of wine.

Bottle Capacity
How many bottles do you anticipate storing in your unit today and how large do you intend to grow your collection? Many people use a wine storage unit in their kitchen or bar in addition to their main wine cellar, while others only plan to own between 20 and 100 bottles of wine at any given time. Which type of wino are you? In general, wine storage and cooling units can hold as few as 6 bottles, and as many as 166+ bottles.

Bottle Size
Depending on your preferences, you may want to check if your unit can store both 750ml and 1.5L bottles. Another size consideration is that today’s 750ml wine bottles come in a variety of heights and diameters, including the larger-diameter bottle of Port or taller Riesling or Gewurztraminer bottles. Can your unit accommodate these fatter or taller bottles?

Ease of Reading Labels
If you have a larger capacity unit, it is going to be difficult to mentally keep track of the wines you have in inventory (of course, you’ll be using WineLog to track your new cellar!). Even with a great inventory system, you may want to consider a unit with shelves that pull out. This way, you will be able to easily read the labels of the wines in the rack, without having to pull out each bottle. Ease of reading labels is also enhanced when the unit features an interior light - more on that later…

Other Uses
A few years down the road, you may choose to upgrade to a larger unit or build a wine cellar in your home. If so, can this unit be used to store other beverages? If you make the investment in this unit today, make sure you will have a place for it in the future (or can at least re-sell it on Craig’s List!)

Stability
Other than the storage design, you must check out the stability of the unit. Unlike a martini, the last thing that your wine needs is to be shaken. Most wine coolers use thermo-electric cooling, which, unlike the cooling unit in your refrigerator, does not cause vibrations or make noise.

Convenience
Convenience should always be considered with any purchase for your home. You will (hopefully) be using this new wine cooler several times a week, so you better love it! Here are some questions to consider:

• How much space does it take up? If you are planning to place this in the corner of a room or under a counter or bar, make sure it will fit! The dimensions of the unit will be listed in the description.
• How easy is it to adjust the temperature? Is the temperature reading in Fahrenheit, Celsius or both? Most units have a digital temperature readout on the front panel. Some have completely manual temperature adjusting or a combination of preset levels (red wine, white wine, sparkling wine, etc) and manual adjustment. My previous article on Wine Cellaring includes the suggested temperatures for storing wine.
• Could it be installed under the your kitchen counter or bar? If you would like to install it under-counter, you will need to check both the height of the unit, as well as if it features front exhaust/front venting. Units with rear exhaust are not recommended for under-counter installation.

Other Considerations
Below are even more personal preference questions to consider.

• Does the exterior of the cabinet match your home?
• Does the door(s) open in a convenient way for the space you will put it in? Can you switch the side of the hinge?
• Do the lights only go on when opened, can you switch the light on or off, or is the light always on? Being able to light the interior without opening the door will help you to select bottles without opening the door, causing fluctuations in the temperature. Also, if the light is always on, make sure the door is tinted so that it doesn’t annoy you if you are watching a movie or sleeping on the sofa nearby!
• Another issue with lighting: how do you replace the bulbs? Where do you get replacement bulbs?
• Is the motor noisy? Even if the motor doesn’t cause vibrations, it may be loud. Make sure you can tolerate this extra bit of ‘white noise’ in your room.
• Does the door(s) lock? A locking door is important for storing alcohol in homes with children or teens (and more importantly, your grown-up children who like to get a five-finger-discount on your wine!)

Well that’s all my advice for “Selecting a Wine Cooler/Wine Storage Unit.” It may seem like a lot to take in, but you will definitely appreciate having put in a little extra research time before making the investment.

Below are a few select units you might consider. While they might not be the best options, the list should give you an idea of what’s out there in terms of price, capacity, look and operability.

Cuisinart CWC-900 Private Reserve 11-Bottle Stainless-Steel Countertop Wine Cellar, $199.99

• Stainless Steel Look
• Digital Temperature display with 8 presets or manual adjustment
• Uses thermoelectric cooling technology (no noise or vibration)
• Three removable racks hold up to 11 bottles (750ml or 1.5 L)
• Interior light is always on
• Door features double pane, tinted glass
• Dimensions: 20 1/8″D x 18 9/10″H x 17 9/10″W
• For more information, visit www.cuisinart.com
• Also available in a 6-bottle version for $149.99

Vinotemp Freestanding 34-Bottle Wine Cellar - Black (VT34BLK), $279

• Available in black and stainless steel finishes
• Holds 24 bottles
• Thermostatic temperature control
• Shelf racking for individual bottle storage
• Dimensions: 19 1/4″W x 20 1/2″D x 33 3/4″ H
• For more information, visit www.vinotemp.com
• Also available in a 24-bottle version for $259.99

Franklin Chef 36-Bottle Wine Cellar - FWC36BL, $699.99

• Black finish with Stainless steel handles
• Holds 36 bottles
• Digital temperature display
• 2 separate compartments with two different temperature controls (ideal conditions for red and white wines).
• Chrome shelves hold bottles individually and slide out for easy browsing
• Independent lock and key for each door
• Dimensions: 23.5″W x 23.5″D x 33.4″H
• For more information, visit www.franklinchef.com
• Also available in a 100-bottle version for $999.99

Avanti® 54-Bottle Built-in Wine Cooler (Model WC5100BG), $855

• Freestanding or built-in to a kitchen or bar
• Holds 54 bottles
• One Touch Display for Monitoring Temperature in Fº or /Cº
• One Touch Digital Presets for Red, White, or Sparkling Wine
• Interior light can be on or off
• Slide-out wooden shelves
• Dimensions: 33.75″H x 23.75″W x 23″D
• For more information, visit www.avantiproducts.com
• Also available in a 28-bottle, Freestanding Dual Zone version for $479.99