Left image: Photography: Kate Enno / Styling: Annalese Hay
As any true wine connoisseur knows, there are a few important elements to consider as your beloved collection grows – storage being the standout. While home entertainers don’t want to be trekking up and down stairs between bottles, wine requires a cool, dark and slightly humid atmosphere to be kept at its best.
That’s where the wine fridge comes in. A wine fridge is more than an accessory – it’s essential to keep your collection perfectly preserved. And while they do tend to take up a fair amount of space, a wine fridge – or cabinet – is an affordable alternative to traditional wine cellars that are bound to restaurant basements or the full-on grandiose collector – where every bottle is catalogued like a museum piece.
If you’re considering purchasing a wine fridge for your home collection, we’ve put together this handy guide which includes the best wine fridges in Australia, plus some honest truths about why a wine fridge is the best investment. As wine lovers say, in vino veritas.
WINE FRIDGE BUYING GUIDE TABLE OF CONTENTS:
The best wine fridge and coolers in Australia
01
Fisher & Paykel Series 9 integrated 35 bottle dual zone wine cabinet
$5499 , Appliances Online
Best for: Integrated storage
Having a well-organised space is key to entertaining, and the Fisher & Paykel Series 9 ensures seamless integration into your kitchen. The under-counter cabinet features two independent temperature zones and four specialised wine mode to keep wine at the perfect temperature, no matter your drink choice. All that’s left to do is open your favourite bottle!
Capacity: up to 35 bottles (standard-sized 750mL)
Key features:
- Best quiet wine fridge with low-vibration compressor
- Wi-fi connectivity available
- Design fits flush with cabinetry
- External door panels are not included
02
Devanti 18 bottle wine fridge cooler
$239.95 , Big W
Best for: small spaces and a beginner-friendly option
For those who are just starting out on their wine journey, or can’t afford to sacrifice any more space in their home: the Devanti 18 bottle wine fridge cooler is compact, reliable and ensures your favourite bottles are kept at their prescribed temperatures. The touch control panel allows for easy temperature adjustments, while the double-glazed and UV-resistant doors ensure excellent insulation for your precious vintages.
Capacity: up to 18 bottles
Key features:
- Thermo-electric cooling technology with adjustable temperature control
- UV-resistant and see-through glass door
- Silent operation
03
Vintec 198 bottle wine storage cabinet
$4478 (usually $5499), Appliances Online
Best for: reason Function and style
Wine aficionados will appreciate the functional and stylish design of this elegant Vintec Storage Cabinet. This top rated wine refrigerator is equipped with anti-UV and double-glazed glass, a thermal recycling pump, and flexible cooling options, preserving your wine collection is easier than ever.
Capacity: 198 bottle capacity
Key features:
- Crystal white LED lights
- Humidity control
- Adjustable wooden shelves
04
Smeg Dolce Stil Novo reversible built-in wine cooler
$5690, Designer Appliances
Best for: A minimalist aesthetic
Incorporating classic Italian style with modern technology, the Smeg Dolce Stil Novo Wine Cabinet seamlessly melds into the kitchen. Its sleek design, complemented by soft close hinges and luxe detailing, offers a stylish solution without sacrificing functionality. With precise temperature and humidity controls, your wine collection is always perfectly preserved.
Capacity: up to 29 bottles
Key features:
- Ergonomic structure
- Touch control
- LED display
05
Devanti 154 bottle compressor wine cooler
$1369.95 , Big W
Best for: Flexible temperature control
Whether you enjoy a chilled white or a rich red, the Devanti Wine Cooler offers optimal temperature control with a circulating cooling fan, UV-resistant glass for light protection, and separate zones that can be set between five and 18 degrees.
Size: 154 bottle capacity
Colour: Black
Key features:
- UV-resistant glass door
- Circulating cooling fan
- Digital control panel
06
LeCavist Cuvee Rothschild 303 bottle dual zone wine fridge
$3502 (usually $3899), Appliances Online
Best for: Long-term wine storage
Looking to expand your wine collection? The LeCavist Cuvee Rothschild wine fridge has everything needed for stability, including a charcoal filter to help prevent bad odours and mould, dual zone system for varying temperatures, an anti-vibration system for mature wine and a double layer tempered glass to protect from UV rays. With room for over 300 bottles, your collection will be safe and secure.
Capacity: 303 bottles capacity
Key features:
- 9 shelves with wood trim
- Charcoal filter to prevent odour and mould
- Lock and key for safe keeping
07
Vintec 50 bottle dual zone wine storage cabinet
$2330 (usually $3199), Appliances Online
Best for: Curated cellaring
Whether you’re looking to preserve or serve, the dual zones in this Vintec Storage Cabinet cater to both needs. With an external compressor to minimise vibration, triple-glazed glass, a thermal recycling pump, and anti-UV glass, you’ll be well-equipped to enjoy red, white, and sparkling varieties.
Capacity: 50 bottles
Key features:
- Reversible door
- Two separate zones
- Digital temperature display
What is a wine fridge
While it’s easy enough to throw your wines into the fridge and hope for the best, your bottles would actually benefit from a consistent temperature, especially for long-term wine storage. For both red and white wine, the optimal temperature is between 12–18°C.
Are wine fridges worth it?
Wine fridges are well worth the investment, offering numerous benefits. Here’s why storing your wine in a wine fridge or cooler makes sense:
Taste and longevity: Whether you are an aficionado or a casual drinker on a budget, wine is temperamental and will go bad in the wrong environment, but finding prime wine-storage real estate in your own home is a challenge in its self. Anywhere too hot will spoil the taste but even if your home is cool, temperature fluctuation affects the flavour just as much. By providing optimal and consistent temperatures, a wine cooler keeps your vino tasting good and lasting longer.
Aesthetics: Looks might not be everything, but they definitely count for something and a sleek, shiny and stocked up wine fridge in your entertaining area is sure to impress.
Easy access: A good host is always well prepared, whether or not your guests are actually expected. A dual-zone wine fridge means you’ve always got perfectly chilled whites and ageing reds at the ready. You also have the flexibility to keep them wherever is most convenient by choosing exactly where to sit the fridge – whether it’s near the kitchen, in the dining room or elsewhere.
Humidity: While your hair might not enjoy humidity, your wine does. Or at least, the cork certainly does. Have you ever gone to open a bottle of red wine only for the cork to crumble or break? This is most often the result of a dehydrated cork, which is difficult to remove and prone to causing oxidation and ruining your wine. A mild and consistent level of moisture in the air is essential for storing and ageing corked wine – but it’s not easily achieved. A humidity-controlled wine fridge does all the hard work for you.
How to choose the best wine fridge
The best wine fridge for your home entirely depends on the purpose of its use. Most people buy wine fridges for long-term cellaring. In this case, a single-zone wine fridge could work. However, if you also plan to serve wine directly from the fridge or enjoy different types of wine (such as reds and whites, which have different ideal serving temperatures), a dual-zone or adjustable temperature zone model is a more versatile option.
While you will need to find the perfect place for your wine fridge, it means you have a designated storage system for your collection, clearing up space in your pantry, bar or garage. If you’re on a renovation journey, consider if you would like the wine fridge to be stored in cabinetry for a seamless and integrated look. Big collector? No need to fret, there are models on the market with a capacity to store 150 bottles and beyond – but in contrast, there is also conveniently sized 18-bottle fridges that can fit neatly under a bench or shelf.
