Wine Coolers: Freestanding vs Integrated

When it comes to deciding which wine cooler is best, knowing what you need is key. There are dozens of brands, offering a huge range of available sizes, styles, colours, designs, add-ons and more! So, it’s safe to say that picking the right model may not be as easy as it sounds and can take quite a while unless you already know exactly what it is you want.

The biggest choice you will have to make is whether you want to opt for a freestanding wine cooler, or an integrated wine cooler. This decision is the first and most important thing to consider. We’re going to discuss both options and look at the factors which make them a great choice. We can’t tell you which model is best for you, but with the information below you will be able to determine which model fits your needs the most.

Freestanding

So, what is a freestanding wine cooler? Well, this design stands freely from other units and appliances in your room. The freestanding wine cooler is most common in larger rooms such as big kitchens and garages. We’re going to discuss some of the key features of a freestanding unit below, with a focus on possible designs, positioning opportunities, and internal capacity.

Designs

The most common design found with freestanding wine coolers is a glass door style with internal shelves. The main difference across different models is how many shelves the unit has. Tall wine fridges are some of the best wine coolers because they have so much storage potential. Some offer three or four shelves in order to allow the bottles to stand up upright, and others offer over ten shelves to maximise their storage capability. A tall wine fridge is great for storage.

The freestanding model is also available in both upright and under-counter variations, which makes it perfect for those with available floor space and those without.

Other available design styles for freestanding models include a wine cooler with refrigerator drawers, this allows for the cooling of more permanent items that don’t require shelf space, and wine coolers with opaque doors as opposed to the standard transparent glass.

Positioning

Being able to position your wine cooler where you like is one of the defining features of a freestanding model. This style of wine cooler is often located within alcoves to provide a discreet look. However, if you redecorate or redesign your kitchen, utility room, or garage then you can simply relocate your wine cooler wherever it looks best. A great perk of having a freestanding wine cooler.

It is possible for a freestanding wine cooler to be built in between various other cabinets and appliances. This is a great choice if you want to have your model in a subtle location but would like to have the option to move it in the future. A small wine fridge often gives you more than enough storage space as most people’s wine collections don’t warrant a 200-bottle capacity fridge so something like a slimline wine cooler that’s placed inside your cabinets is a great option.

Being able to reposition your cooler allows it to be easily transferred between rooms. This gives you the freedom to position it in your garage to create space, to move it to the kitchen for parties or to place it in the utility room with other appliances. The choice is yours!

Browse from our selection of Wine Coolers to get a fantastic bit of kit in your home. Competitive prices and free delivery is available when you buy online today!

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Capacity

Let’s look at the internal bottle capacity that can be found within both upright and undercounter freestanding wine coolers. We’re going to look at both the 60cm and 70cm width sizes for the upright models, and the 15cm, 30cm, 50cm, and 60cm width sizes for the undercounter models.

Red, White and Champagne Bottles

Upright

The 60cm model offers the following capacities:

  • 127 bottles
  • 132 bottles
  • 144 bottles
  • 200 bottles

The 70cm model offers the following capacities:

  • 178 bottles
  • 201 bottles
  • 211 bottles
  • 253 bottles

Undercounter

  • The 15cm model offers a seven-bottle capacity
  • The 30cm model provides a 19-bottle capacity.
  • The 50cm unit affords you a 33-bottle capacity.
  • The 60cm size provides a 46-bottle capacity.

These figures are the approximate bottle capacity per size. However, this is subject to change per model so please check before purchasing.

Integrated

What is an integrated wine cooler, then? The integrated wine cooler is a built-in model that can be discreetly built into existing cabinets and under counters. Similarly to the freestanding model, knowing how to choose a wine cooler in an integrated style that’s suitable for your needs depends on what you require. Let’s look at the same key variants from before.

An integrated wine cooler made by Caple

Designs

This is one factor in which the integrated model vastly differs from the freestanding model. Being an integrated model allows you to disguise the cooler behind a cabinet door that matches your existing cabinet and room style. This is a great option if you have the available space to accommodate the integrated wine cooler of your choice within your cabinets. The actual wine cooler itself can be found available with a glass door as well as an opaque door.

In terms of the model itself; there are many different options available. One of these is a wine cooler with an attached cabinet door. This allows it to be built in without having to match the exact cabinet doors used elsewhere in the kitchen. And a built in wine fridge offers many positives. You only have to consider whether the style fits what you require. If you’re not sure how to install an under counter wine cooler or how to install a wine cooler in a cabinet, then make sure to consult a professional.

Positioning

The integrated model is a great option for positioning under counters. However, it is far more difficult to reposition this model should you need to. Although, if you are seeking a model to fit in with a large cabinet structure, which is common within many kitchens, or under counter within a garage (or office) space that will not require repositioning, then the integrated option is a great choice.

If you’re clever about you positioning too, having an integrated wine cooler shouldn’t matter at all.

Glasses of white and red wine

Capacity

Let’s look at the internal bottle capacity for both in column and under counter integrated wine coolers:

In Column

  • The 45cm model holds 24 bottles.
  • The 88cm model offers space for 55 bottles.
  • The 179cm unit can hold up to 89 bottles.

Under Counter

  • The 15cm model has a seven-bottle capacity
  • The 30cm model holds 19 bottles.
  • The 60cm models can house roughly 46 bottles.

Please note that the capacity figures above are approximates and it is best to check with your model of choice before purchasing.Using the information above, you should be able to decide which style is best for you. Unfortunately, we can’t tell you which wine cooler you should buy, what the best freestanding wine cooler is, or what built-in wine cooler fits your needs the best. Not to worry though, as choosing the perfect model is part of the fun! The more models you see, the more ideas you get, and soon you will have a checklist for what your perfect wine cooler must have. Make sure that you measure your available space, note down what you want your model to have, and allow yourself to be inspired!

On our website, you’ll find a vast array of wine coolers within our Refrigeration section. There, you’ll find Wine Coolers in different designs, styles, colours and sizes. We’ve got some excellent units from the market-leading and Nottinghamshire-based CDA, as well as top brands like AEG, Liebherr, Miele, Smeg and many more.