January 2008
Wine chillers
What's best for the long- and short-term
It's not essential to have a special chiller for your wine. A basement or other cool, constant-temperature space can work
for storage of whites and reds--55° F is optimum--and a fridge is fine for chilling prior to serving. But a wine chiller is
useful if you don't have a basement, entertain a lot, or want optimal serving temperatures without the fussy timing required
of a fridge.
Wine chillers are becoming more affordable and flexible. Brands such as GE, Jenn-Air, and KitchenAid are selling units that fit under a counter for $1,000 and up, and Kenmore and others are offering small, freestanding units for $300 or so. Premium manufacturer Sub-Zero sells small chillers, too, as well as refrigerator-sized units for deep-pocketed wine buffs.
In our tests of 13 small chillers, those that controlled temperatures best and were most energy-efficient and least noisy cost $1,400 or more. But other fine models cost far less.
Wine chillers are becoming more affordable and flexible. Brands such as GE, Jenn-Air, and KitchenAid are selling units that fit under a counter for $1,000 and up, and Kenmore and others are offering small, freestanding units for $300 or so. Premium manufacturer Sub-Zero sells small chillers, too, as well as refrigerator-sized units for deep-pocketed wine buffs.
In our tests of 13 small chillers, those that controlled temperatures best and were most energy-efficient and least noisy cost $1,400 or more. But other fine models cost far less.
