As the days continue to get warmer, many of us will want to spend more time BBQing ribs and burgers in our outdoor kitchens. But before you start inviting friends, family, and neighbors over for the cookouts, have you ever felt your outdoor kitchen is missing something? If so, it might be time to upgrade your outdoor living space and become the new family lounge spot. And we know exactly what you need to turn your space into a chic patio — an outdoor wine cooler!
Take a peek at a guide filled with backyard bar ideas for a luxury backyard hangout experience with friends, family, and your wine club members. You'll also get an in-depth breakdown of everything related to outdoor wine coolers and some of our top choices to chill your reds, whites, and rosés.
At a Glance:
What is an Outdoor Wine Cooler?
Wine Cooler vs Wine Cooler Fridge
If you have invested so much time and money into your wine collection, of course, you will want to protect it. An outdoor wine cooler is a worthwhile buy, whether you are accumulating more bottles than you can drink from your wine-of-the-month club or just want to age your wines to perfection. Next to wine fridges, outdoor wine coolers are excellent luxury gifts for wine lovers wishing to put their collections on display for guests to see and enjoy. An outdoor wine cooler is stylish with multiple conveniences like adjustable racks, glass doors, grade-A storage capacity, and a wide range of temperature settings to accommodate your wines. And while you enjoy those earthy notes in your wine with a hint of pear, you can read more about why you should store your favorite wines in an outdoor wine cooler.
What is an Outdoor Wine Cooler?
You've probably wondered why you can't just use a beverage cooler or an outdoor refrigerator? They do the same thing, right? Wrong. Since decadent vinos and champagnes are temperamental and fragile, temperature fluctuations can negatively affect taste and odor. But an outdoor wine cooler can prevent that, providing your favorite wines with a perfect environment for short periods. These refrigeration units are specifically designed to store your wines at their optimal temperature and humidity with single or dual-zone temperature controls to maintain their delectable flavors and scents. And with most models featuring a glass door finish, you can show off your rosé and white wine collection while also keeping an eye on them.
Wine Cooler vs Wine Cooler Fridge
If you are torn between which is better for your outdoor kitchen and your backyard soirées, struggle no more! Our Friedmans refrigeration experts have handled the extensive research for you — take a look below.
|
Models: |
Winer Cooler |
Wine Refrigerator |
|
Capacity |
10–18 bottles |
30+ wine bottles |
|
Cooling Technology |
Thermoelectric cooling: quiet, compact, long-lasting, and leak-resistant |
Compression cooling: noisy and less power-efficient |
|
Temperature Controls |
45 degrees Fahrenheit and up |
45 degrees Fahrenheit and below |
|
Design |
Small and portable, suitable for limited space |
Larger than a cooler but smaller than a standard refrigerator |
Shop Outdoor Wine Coolers
Discover luxury outdoor wine coolers at Friedmans Appliance.
Outdoor Wine CoolersOutdoor Wine Cooler Spotlight
Stock up on your beloved wines for outdoor fun and store them in some of the best outdoor wine coolers!
Best Panel Ready Wine Cooler: Perlick® Signature Series 2.8 Cu. Ft. Panel Ready Frame Outdoor Wine Cooler (HP15WO-4-4L)
Protect your favorite fruity and woodsy flavors by investing in this gorgeous under-counter Perlick wine fridge for your outdoor kitchen. Experience this panel-ready refrigeration on the same level as commercial bars, offering a refined and modern look for your outdoor space. This model is equipped for the outdoors with a Perlick Anti-Condensation system to eliminate humidity changes and a dual-pane, Low-E glass door with UV-resistant coating to shield your wine from light strikes, which can alter your wine's taste. Additionally, with a cooling system that chills your bottles 70 percent faster than other wine coolers, you can quickly enjoy a nice glass of vino on a hot spring day with friends.
Features:
- 2.8 cu. ft. capacity
- Perlick anti-condensation system
- Full-extension shelving
Best Stainless Steel Wine Cooler: LYNX® Professional 2.73 Cu. Ft. Stainless Steel Outdoor Right Hinge Wine Cellar (LN15WINER)
Read and sip outdoors on your patio lounge chair with your beautiful pink rosés housed in a Lynx outdoor wine cooler. This spacious 2.73 cu. ft. capacity wine cooler is designed with a blue interior light that adds to the dramatic effect as you present your collection on one of the four full-extension gliding racks that cradle your wine in stainless steel. Best of all, the quiet cooling system keeps the humming to a minimum, so you and your friends can gab without shouting during wine club on Friday evenings.
Features:
- 2.73 cu. ft. capacity
- Blue interior lighting
- Quiet cooling
Best Dual Zone Wine Cooler: Hestan Professional 24" Steeletto Outdoor Dual Zone Refrigerator (GRWGL24)
Upgrade your outdoor kitchen and impress your friends and family with this Hestan refrigerator at the next cookout. This professional-style outdoor wine cooler has a 5.0 cu. ft. capacity to accommodate your sparkling and dessert wine collections on the three full-extension pullout shelves to give your guests a better look at your drink selection. Enclosed behind your choice of a stainless-steel or a glass Low-E, UV-coated door, your whites and reds will be safeguarded from the outdoor elements while being chilled within dual temperature-controlled zones. The cherry on top of this sleek model is the door lock system that'll keep your wine chill and secure in your outdoor kitchen after you turn in for the night.
Features:
- 5.0 cu. ft. capacity
- Dual temperature zones
- Door lock
Learn More About Outdoor Wine Coolers
How to Store Wine
After bringing home your new outdoor wine cooler to kick off the beginning of backyard hangouts, our experts have a few tips about how to store your wines.
- If you bought a single-zone wine cooler for your whites and reds, it would be best to set it to 54 degrees. This is the best temperature to prevent your wine from being affected and slow down the aging process. But the best way to be sure of the ideal temperature for your model is to check your wine cooler's manual.
- With a dual-zone outdoor wine cooler, you can store two different types of wine at separate temperatures. You can set one compartment between 50–65 degrees for your reds, and the whites can be set between 45–50 degrees.
- When needed, adjust the temperature gradually to prevent premature aging from temperature fluctuations, air in your bottles from a temperature drop, and wine being forced through the cork because of increased heat.
- When storing open bottles of white wine, it would be best to replace the cork as tightly as possible before putting it back in your wine cooler. These wines can be preserved for up to five days. On the other hand, opened red wine doesn't need to be refrigerated and should be drunk within two days.
- Lastly, avoid any movement in your outdoor wine cooler since constant motion and vibration can agitate your wines and affect the quality of their taste.
Outdoor Wine Cooler FAQ
If you are tempted to upgrade your backyard with an outdoor wine cooler but still have questions, we have the answers you need to confidently checkout your cart.
Q: What is the difference between a wine cooler and a beverage cooler?
A: A wine cooler will only offer settings appropriate for wine. Thus, most wine coolers will not allow for temperatures to drop below 46 degrees. If you want to know more about the difference between beverage coolers, wine coolers, and under-counter fridges, look at our blog by our Friedmans experts.
Q: What are some alternative uses for an outdoor wine cooler?
A: Since most wine coolers range from 45–65 degrees, you can make your wine cooler family-friendly and store non-alcoholic drinks like soda, bottled water, iced tea, or lemonade for the backyard BBQs or your kids' hangouts. You can also store chocolates and everything you need for a cheese and fruit charcuterie board for Friday night get-togethers with the gals.
Why Trust Friedmans Appliance?
Established in 1922, Friedmans Appliance has been the most trusted name in the Bay Area for over 100 years. What started as a small appliance store in Oakland has expanded to include every appliance you need for your home. Our commitment to value, inspiration, and character has only grown, creating an unbeatable reputation for top-notch appliances. At Friedmans, we strive to give our customers the best of the best, including our selection of top appliance brands and our exceptional customer service. Speaking of which, we offer a 100-day price guarantee on all our products — the longest in the industry!
Our wide selection of appliances is just one of the reasons we're the best Bay Area appliance store. We carry refrigerators in every style, every cooking appliance to show off your chef skills, and every dish care and laundry appliance you need for cleanup.
Shop Outdoor Wine Coolers at Friedmans
See for yourself why Friedmans is a trusted name in the Bay Area and shop outdoor wine coolers online. While we are located in Pleasant Hill, we deliver to all of Northern California — even Reno! If you have any questions, our team is always happy to help you discover your ideal outdoor wine cooler, whether you call us at 925-808-2950, email us, or use our online chat feature. Better yet, stop by our appliance store in Pleasant Hill to experience the quality in person. Visit us today!
Learn More: 5 Wine Coolers to Step Up Your Sommelier Game