Dual-zone small wine coolers: are they really effective / worth ?

14 years ago

Hi,

I have been adding space in my kitchen redesign for a 24" undercounter wine cooler. It is easy to find models that either have a single temperature and more space (e.g. the Vinotemp VT 52-SN, or some with dual zone and slightly less space (e.g. the VT 45R), though I suspect in the case of my examples most of the lost space is lost to the "display shelf."

Is any single enclosure to be effective (and if possible efficient) at keeping the top and bottom of the cooler at different temperatures? It seems to me that this is not very probable, but what do I know? We're only talking a few degrees of difference here, and actually red and white could happily be stored together at 50 F. But if those are effective, then it might be nice to keep each kind of wine closer to its serving temperature, since the wine cooler will be used just for that (and my crawl space, which is single temperature of course, for long term storage).

Opinions or experiences?

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (8)

skali
14 years ago
We have a small Sub Zero dual zone wine cooler (model 424 -- the one that fits in the same slot as a dishwasher). We LOVE it!

We keep the white zone (16-bottle upper section) at 41 degrees F and the red zone (30-bottle lower section) at 63 degrees F -- so quite a few degrees difference.

We have had it for 6-7 years now and can't imagine being without it.

Here is a link that might be useful: Our wine cooler
frenchman
Original Author
14 years ago
Skali,

Are the bottles actually at those temperatures (obviously I am no fridge engineer)? Have you tested the contents at some point? (I look your cooler: nicely streamlined.)

Also... I've always wondered why the lowest temps go on top (seen in displays etc.) when cold air is denser than hot and will want to go down. Maybe part of the whole refrigeration loop?

YA
Related Discussions
Beverage Cooler for Wine and Beer/Sodas?
Q
Comments (10)
Mine was installed in May of last year, and we're very happy with it. We shopped for it for several months until we finally chose this one. It had *just* come out, lucky for us. The only thing I wish was different was that the beer zone was about a 1/2" taller...if it were we'd have more options for configuring the adjustable shelf in that zone. Aren't appliance salesmen the best? Our salesmen told us we were stupid for wanting a 2-zone wine fridge! He said it was best to use a 1-zone and follow the rule of 20: Chill whites for 20 minutes in your regular fridge before drinking, and put the red on the counter for 20 minutes brfore drinking. 20 Minutes?? Doesn't that defeat the purpose of a wine fridge for the typical consumer? Sure if I were a connessoir and was stashing valuable bottles in there, but my two-buck chuck isn't worth waiting 20 minutes for. Anyway... The LCD temperature display isn't a setting, it's a real time temperature. When you adjust the temperature setting, it takes a little while for the dislayed temp to change. The LCD temperature reading for the beer section is dead on. I measured it with a thermometer to be sure it was food safe. I didn't measure the other two zones, but I have no reason to believe those temps are off. The white wine is chilled but not overly so like you get from storing it in the fridge. The red wine is cool to the touch, but not cold enough to get a mist of condensation on your glass. We're not wine collectors though. We just enjoy drinking wine. For the most part, our fridge holds a selection of
...See More
Help me decide where to put the wine cooler!
Q
Comments (9)
oldbat-Thank you for your reply and I agree that it can be some nice eye candy in the fridge. My everyday dishes will go in the 2 lower drawers on the left side of the cooktop. I generally unload onto the counter on top or behind dishwasher, then will open drawers and place inside. The seldom used dishes will go in drawers on the other side of the island than the dishwashers. Homechef--you are basically seeing the area...to the left of kitchen is a great room flanked by built ins and TV on either side of fireplace. The area to the left of the dining room is the entry. Then, it's private areas after that. I do love the idea of a bar type area and Mamagoose's idea has sparked how to do that. I think I will place the wine cooler to the right of the fridge and create a "bar" type beverage area above that with glassware, liquor, etc, as well as the coffee maker and vitamix, that can be relocated to pantry when we are entertaining. Thank you for your comment! Annette--I'm not familiar with opened leftover bottles of wine? :) Kidding aside, good point to consider! Thank you for your comment.
...See More
Adjusting temps on dual zone system
Q
Comments (11)
Ok I guess I misunderstood what you were saying. During heat season I would say not so much, run each level at the temperature you want. Heat will rise so if you're comfortable on the upper level with just the one system running, then no harm or foul during 'heat' season. The reason is: Heat rises. If you run the upstairs unit you may have to set it higher to get it to turn on anyway. Obviously this depends on the load of the structure... because as you know cool air falls. So if it is really cold out, you run the upstairs unit mostly to reduce the load on the down stairs unit... cool air falls... if the upstairs unit is off there is more cold air falling on the downstairs system... which contributes to the load on the system. I would say under most scenarios this event would happen at night... so if you're asleep it likely wouldn't become noticeable until you woke up. During cooling season this changes... because heat continues to rise... and there are only so many clothes that you can reasonably 'take off'... and the heat load happens when you are 'typically' awake. So under cooling season you run the down stairs unit to reduce the load on the upstairs system. I usually see a few calls every so often on this where the home owner tells me: The upstairs system just runs and runs and it doesn't get cool. I get there to find out the down stairs system is off. Some events this can be reversed it really depends on the home not to mention the load being put on it. IE: record heat wave and you have 20 guests come over, thinking that magic box on the side of your house is going to take everything you can give it. Now if it's heating season and you have 20 guests come over, you may be able to shut both systems off. Yeah, you and the likes of you are little heat pumps of your own design.
...See More
Thoughts on adding a wine cooler for remodel and eventual resale
Q
Comments (16)
Depends on how much of a wine person you want to prepare for. Someone very serious about a wine and likes a variety will want a large storage cellar at about 55-60°f and then a dual zone cooler to chill whites to proper serving temp. Someone else is happy to store their wine at whatever temp and then stick whites in the frig to cool them to whatever temp they are when removed. Then there are folks in the middle. We'll have a storage cellar that I hope will be about 60°f. Reds will be served right out of the cellar. Whites will go in the top of an under counter Perlick beverage cooler so they'll be about 50°f for serving. I might shove whatever cans are in the bottom to the side to stick a lighter white on the bottom to get a little cooler. Not perfect but good enough and cost effective.
...See More
skali
14 years ago
I haven't tested the contents of the bottles (except with my taste buds) but I am sure they are very close to the temperatures on the display. When we have to put an open bottle in our big fridge, we notice the temperature difference.

FYI, the two compartment can be set to any temperature within the range. You aren't obligated to put the lower temp wines (the whites) on top.

I can't actually get at the fridge at the moment (we're mid way through our kitchen reno and the wine fridge, alas, is being stored in the back of our sewing room). However, I'm quite certain the two compartments are completely sealed from each other so the physics of hot air rising/cold air sinking isn't really an issue.
bigdrew
14 years ago
Frenchman,

The whole 2 zone thing is actually a trick. Manufacturers use natural air stratification (hot air rising)to say that they have zones. Most manufacturers of under counter units only show the set temperature not the actual temperature in the cabinet.

If you are really concerned with knowing the actual temperature in the cabinet I would go with a Perlick wine storage. Even though they do not have a 'dual zone' unit. They display both the set temperature and actual temperature in the cabinet. The also offer forced air refrigeration which keeps the cabinet within a 1 degree variance of your set temperature. SubZ and Perlick are the only manufacturers that offer forced air refrigeration in an under counter unit to my knowledge.
frenchman
Original Author
14 years ago
Bigdrew,

That's what I thought re: air stratification, but they always show the upper part set at a lower temp than the bottom one, which goes against that.

I called Vinotemp and they told me that the control panel separates two compartments, and that both sides get air at different temperature forced into their compartments. Top is for white (49 to 55 degrees adjustable) and bottom is for red (55 to 65). I could do without the "trophy wines display rack" at the bottom in exchange for more bottles but there's no real way around that.
skali
14 years ago
Our under-counter Sub Zero unit does not have the "trophy" rack, so it's all wine (46 bottles total). Both/Either the top and/or the bottom compartments can be set to any temperature between 38 and 65 degrees F.
segbrown
14 years ago
We have the three-zone KitchenAid beverage center, which keeps beer, white wine, and red wine all at the right temps. I think we're at 34, 45, and 56, or something like that. I haven't actually tested the contents, but they are always at the right chill when we drink. (I was surprised that it really works, to tell the truth.)
wa8b
14 years ago
The Sub-Zero under-counter wine coolers don't rely on air stratification. There is a physical barrier dividing the top and bottom sections. When the door is closed there is a gasket on the door that presses against the barrier.

I've checked the temperature settings on my unit with a thermometer. The settings were right on.

I don't use my unit for long-term storage. I move wine that I'll be drinking in the near term, up from basement storage, and use the wine cooler for convenience.

Dual-zone small wine coolers: are they really effective / worth ?

Comments (8)

skali

frenchman
Original Author

Related Discussions

skali

bigdrew

frenchman
Original Author

skali

segbrown

wa8b

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US

Dual-zone small wine coolers: are they really effective / worth ?

Comments (8)

skali

frenchmanOriginal Author

Related Discussions

skali

bigdrew

frenchmanOriginal Author

skali

segbrown

wa8b

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US

frenchman
Original Author

frenchman
Original Author