What is a wine refrigerator called?

What is a wine refrigerator called?


Wine fridge, wine cooler, wine chiller; these are all interchangeable terms that apply to a wine refrigerator.

A wine refrigerator can be defined as a temperature-controlled appliance designed for the storage of wine. It is essentially the modern version of a wine cellar or cave, but with a more compact footprint. A wine fridge will provide a safe home for your wine at the proper temperature while showcasing your bottles.


There are many different categories of wine chillers. These categories include:

Small capacity wine fridges: room for 25 bottles or less and whose compact design makes it easy to install the cooler in just about any room.

Medium capacity wine fridges: houses 38-66 bottles, perfect for dedicated wine collectors who love to entertain.

Large capacity wine coolers: storage for greater than 66 bottles, but less than 300. Great for serious collectors with an ever-growing collection.

Dual-zone wine refrigerators: an appliance with multiple independent temperature zones. A worthy investment for those who love more than one varietal.

Freestanding: a wine refrigerator with rear exhaust. Freestanding units are easy to install.

Built-in or undercounter: a wine fridge with front exhaust that can be recessed into existing cabinetry or installed undercounter. There are also integrated, panel-ready wine coolers that allow your unit to blend in with its surroundings.

Left hinge and reversible coolers: refrigerators that are designed with a left side or reversible door hinge. This feature allows you to store two units side by side.

Commercial wine refrigerators: fridges crafted specifically for commercial use that make it easy to securely store and merchandise your wine stock.


Wine refrigerators have many features that are different than a standard food refrigerator.

Racking within each wine fridge is designed to securely hold each bottle of wine. The doors on a wine refrigerator are typically dual-paned or coated for UV protection. This helps with insulation and/or to block harmful UV rays. The compressor inside most wine coolers is made with an absorption system that lessens the vibration of the motor, reducing the impact on wine. A lock is typically built into the door, preventing any unwanted opening and closing of the door which can affect the temperature inside the cooler, not to mention cause unnecessary vibrations. Many digital temperature control panels also include an automatic lock to thwart temperature fluctuations. Finally, unlike food refrigerators that are typically one basic size and color, wine refrigerators are available in a variety of finishes, styles, and sizes.