The Manager’s Pick for February is Ideal Wine Coolers Danby 34 Bottle Stainless Trim Locking Wine Cooler.

This wine cooler has a classic black cabinet with stainless steel door trim.  This wine cooler regularly sells for $873.00 but is currently on SALE for more than 20 percent off at $679.00.   This wine refrigerator would be an excellent addition to anyone’s home decor either using it in a free standing or under counter application.   We currently have other Danby products on sale as well.  Check out the bargains!

Our Danby 34 Bottle Stainless Trim Locking Wine Cooler can be used for either freestanding or under counter applications. This built in locking wine chiller has a black cabinet and stainless steel door trim. This wine cooler is popular replacement for that old trash compactor, making it fit perfectly in nearly every kitchen. With stainless trimmed metal sliding shelves, digital controls, locking glass door, reversible door hinge, frost free mode and interior lighting, this wine refrigerator will operate hassle free. This compact wine cooler is wonderful for those who are beginning their wine collection. Make this appliance the focal point in your home’s decor. Look no further for superior wine storage.

FEATURES:
* Electronic Thermostat with LED Display
* Temperature Range from 39.2 Degrees F. and 64.4 Degrees F.
* Frost Free Operation
* Cool Blue LED Track Lighting System Illuminates Interior without the heat of an incandescent bulb
* Integrated Application (Intended for 15″ Cabinet openings)
* Stainless Steel Trimmed Shelves
* Elegant Tempered Glass Door with Stainless Steel Trim
* Reversible Hinge for Left or Right Hand opening
* Safety Lock with Key

CAPACITY:
* 34 Wine Bottles

DIMENSIONS:
* Width15 Inches x Depth 24 12/16 Inches x Height 34 1/16 Inches

SHIPPING UPS:
* Calculated Based on Weight & Zip Code

WARRANTY:
* 24 months parts and labor

Check out our selection of free-standing and undercounter wine coolers

Author: Ronald Senn, Vice-president, Ideal Wine Coolers

Ideal Wine Coolers receives many questions concerning our products and policies.  I wanted to share some of this Frequently Asked Questions with all by blog readers.  Remember, there are no stupid questions.  I only hope that my answers do not approach the stupid zone. 

1.  I am remodeling my kitchen.  What products are appropriate for under counter use?

Built-in wine coolers  are specifically designed to sit flush with the rest of your kitchen cabinetry.  These specific units are front-vented and are designed to allow the unit to be pushed flat against the wall and the surrounding cabinets without over heating.  Built-in wine coolers are slightly more expensive, but do have the advantage of saving floor space.  Built-in units can also be used in freestanding applications.  Freestanding wine coolers should never be used for an under counter application as the units will over heat and eventually fail.

2.  I live in an apartment and have limited space for a wine cooler.  What would you suggest?

Our counter-top wine coolers are designed to deal with limited space applications.  Measure the specific space dimensions that are available for a wine cooler.  Each of our counter-top models will have their respective dimensions clearly displayed.  Select a wine cooler that will fit your needs and space limitations.

3.  I just got my compressor-designed wine cooler; can I plug it in right away?

No, the new wine cooler should stand a minimum 2 hour period before plugging it in.  There is oil in the compressor that may have

moved up into the sealed system while being shipped.  Letting the unit stand allows the oil time to settle.  Plugging it in immediately could result in damage to the unit.  Consult your products factory supplied information package for more information.  If you purchased a thermoelectric type wine cooler, it can be used immediately.

4.  Can I run a small appliance on top of my wine cooler?

No, you should not operate any appliance from on top of your wine cooler, unless it has a designed in work top, or run any appliance from the same circuit as the cooler. 

 5.  Are there wine coolers that can accommodate cans and other beverages?

We have several products that store wine as well as canned beverages.  These products are in the Beverage Cooler category.  We alsocarry several products that will keep mini, pony and full-sized kegs of beer.

6.  Do you have any wine coolers that have locks?

Yes, we have several models that have locks.  Look at the specifications for each product under the “Features” text.  The Freestanding, Built-in and Beverage Cooler categories all show products with locks.  We have also set up a product category exclusively showing Locking Wine Coolers.

7.  What does “dual-zone” mean in some product descriptions?

Some wine coolers are designed with two separate compartments, each with their own temperature controls.  This dual-zone storage feature allows storage of your wine collection at different temperatures; for example, red as opposed to white wine.

 8.  What are the power requirements for my new wine cooler or beverage center?All of the products we sell require a standard 110 Volt, 15-amp outlet just like a standard refrigerator.  Some single bottle server and chillers may have AC adapters that allow them to run on a 12-volt current like in your car or recreational vehicle.

9.  I have a single zone wine cooler.  What is the best temperature for keeping red and white wines?

If one had to choose just one temperature to store both red and white wines, the temperature setting should be at 55 degrees F.  This temperature is slightly colder than the best one for reds and slightly warmer than the best one for whites.  You can compensate somewhat for this by storing your reds on the top shelves of your wine cooler and the whites on the bottom shelves.  Warmer air will rise to the top and colder air will settle to the bottom.

10. My thermoelectric wine cooler fan seems to run all of the time.  Is something wrong with it?The fan must run continuously to move the air within your wine cooler.  This enables the thermoelectric wine refrigerator to cool your stored wines  equally.   A compressor based wine cooler, which is designed similar to your basic refrigerator, will cycle on and off based on the inside temperature as it relates to your desired temperature setting.  Both of these operating conditions are considered normal.

11. My wine cooler is making weird noises.  What is wrong?

Expansion and contraction of the interior walls of your wine cooler may make a popping or cracking noise.  This is normal behavior.

 13. I bought a portable icemaker but I cannot find where to hook up a drain.  Can you help?

The portable icemakers we carry at Ideal Wine Coolers do not need a drain hook up.  Any ice you do not use melted and recycled into

more fresh ice.  It is important to keep the interior strainer clean because a clogged strainer will affect the efficient operation of the icemaker.

14. I know wine should be stored with relative humidity near 70 percent.  What can I get to monitor  humidity levels in my wine cooler?

Several portable devices are available that can monitor humidity and/or temperature in your wine cooler.  Ideal Wine Coolers has a temperature/humidity gauge available in our Wine Accessory Collection.

15. After I submit my order, how long does it take to get it delivered?

We ship products from warehouses in California, Arizona and Texas.  Order processing usually takes 1 to 2 days before the order is

shipped.  Products purchased that are more than 150 pounds must be shipped via freight carrier.  Depending on where you live, delivery time may approach a week.  Normally items will be shipped using standard UPS ground shipping that may take 3 to 5 days after your order is processed.  For wine accessory items, allow 5 to 7 days before shipping.  We normally notify everyone as soon as an item ships by e-mail with all pertinent delivery information.  See our website section on “Policies” for customer responsibilies.

 Author: Ronald Senn, Vice-president, Ideal Wine Coolers

For those of us that really enjoy wine, there is always the question of how best to store it properly.  If your home has lots of space, the options for wine storage are nearly unlimited.  However, in some homes, finding space for a wine cooler to store your best vintages is a challenge.  Many people reside in apartments, condominiums, and other small homes that require a real sensitivity to space-saving opportunities.  There are solutions to this very dilemma by purchasing a countertop wine cooler.

Kitchen countertops usually vary between 24 and 26 inches in depth.  Overhead cabinets in kitchens are usually between 16 and 24 inches above the base cabinet countertop.  Another critical dimension of concern is the width of the product you purchase as it relates to area you have available on your countertop.  Of course, if you have some extra floor space but no countertop space, your small space-saving wine cooler can be placed on a small table.  Again, the dimensions of the wine cooler you purchase are still critical to consider.

Countertop wine coolers are normally 10 to 19 inches wide, 19 to 25 inches deep and 11 to 21 inches in height.  A few “tower” type wine coolers will be 6 to 11 inches wide, 20 to 22 inches deep and 20 to 26 inches in height.

One new product now available is a wall-mounted wine cooler that is 18 inches wide, 19 inches deep and 30 inches tall.  This wall-mounted wine cooler can easily be mounted on any wall where you might have space.

The countertop wine cooler class has a broad array of wine bottle capacities.  Wine coolers are available to store 4, 6, 8, 12, 16 or 17 bottles of your favorite vintages.  Almost all of the wine coolers in this class feature thermoelectric cooling systems that use no compressor chemicals.  Wine cooling results from using thermal coupling technology.  Generally, the only moving part to one of these wine coolers is the fan that circulates the air within the interior of the product.

Most of the countertop wine refrigerators come in classic black.  Several models sport a black cabinet but will have silver, platinum or stainless steel door trim.  There is a wide range of temperature controls, door handles, and shelving styles to fit any body’s needs.

Do not let limited space in your home keep you from investing in a wine cooler that will provide the preferred storage for all your best vintages.  For more information see:  http://idealwinecoolers.com/page/countertop_wine_coolers.html.

Author: Ronald Senn, Vice-President, Ideal Wine Coolers 1/2010

Ideal Wine Cooler’s EdgeStar 30 Bottle Built-in Wine Cooler is designed for either free-standing or undercounter applications. The wine refrigerator comes with a classic black cabinet and stainless steel trimmed glass door and venting grate. You can store either red or white wines, because this wine refrigerator has a temperature range of between 40 degrees F. to 65 degrees F. This premium wine cabinet offers 6 slide-out shelves holding a total of 30 bottles in “reversed rack” style. The digital temperature controls, auto defrost, security lock, blue interior lighting and stainless steel towel bar handle will make owning this wine cooler a real pleasure. The powerful compressor based cooling will keep all your wines stored at just the right temperature. Look no further for superior wine storage.

FEATURES:
* Use in Free-standing or Built-in Applications
* Black Cabinet with Stainless Trimmed Door
* Digital Temperature Controls
* Stainless Steel Trimmed Wood Shelves
* Slide-out Shelf Configuration
* Stainless Towel Bar Style Door Handle
* Door Locks
* Auto Defrost
* Single Temperature Zone
* Blue LED Interior Lighting

CAPACITY:
* 30 Wine Bottles

DIMENSIONS:
* Width 15.0 Inches x Depth 23.25 Inches x Height 32.0 Inches
* Depth Included Door Handle 24.5 Inches

SHIPPING:
* $0.00

WARRANTY:
* 90 Days Labor/1 Year Parts

Check out our selection of free-standing and undercounter wine coolers

All EdgeStar Wine Coolers are shipped free within continental United States.  See our EdgeStar Product Line Today.

Other Edgestar Wine Coolers are pictured below:

16 Bottle Capacity

21 Bottle Capacity

Ideal Wine Coolers in celebration of a great Holiday period is pleased to announce a sale on a great selection of Vinotemp Wine Coolers.  Savings of 15% off and more can be realized if you purchase one of the featured Vinotemp Wine Refrigerators.  The Vinotemp Wine Coolers featured include models that will store from 21 to 160 bottles of your favorite vintages.  This sale will be over at the end of January so you need to act now to get one of the finest wine coolers manufactured today.  Each of the featured models has lots of favorite “bells and whistles” that will add to your enjoyment of this product line.  GO TO OUR “MONTHLY SALE ITEM” PAGE ABOVE. 

We also feature a great line of EdgeStar Wine Coolers for which we offer FREE SHIPPING!   Check out our web site at http://idealwinecoolers.com/page/home/index.html.

Author: Ronald Senn, VP Ideal Wine Coolers, Jan 2010

Environmental discussions of late have focused a lot of time on the “global warming” dilemma that we all face.  Of course, local and worldwide politics seems to be taking an ever-increasing role in defining and resolving the impact of global warming on our future.  I do not believe this issue will be resolved in the political arena any time soon, but I do believe we all can do our part in contributing to a preferred result.  My mother always told me “little things always seem to add up to big things”.  One little thing we can do with regard to wine and beverage cooling is the use of thermoelectric technology.

In the 1800’s, a French Scientist named Peltier discovered that when electric current goes through two different metals, (semi-conductors), a temperature difference occurs.  The semi-conductors, working like heat pumps, drive heat from one surface to another.  By adding a circulating fan to the “heat pump” process discovered by Peltier, you could design and build a “thermoelectric wine cooler”.

Thermoelectric cooling technology does not use chlorofluorocarbons like CFCs and HCFCs.  These chemicals are known to be partly responsible for the thinning in the stratosphere of the protective ozone layer.  There are laws now that control the use of these chemicals, but leaks in a cooling system using these chemicals could be a problem.  Additionally, these eco-friendly wine coolers generally are more energy efficient than compressor designed models.

Another advantage of using this cooling technology is these wine refrigerators operate with no noise and are vibration free.  If you have an older refrigerator, you can hear the distinctive hum of a compressor based cooling system.  When compressors kick on and off when needed, there is a vibration naturally attached to that process.  However, some compressor wine cooler models do come with a “damping system” that virtually eliminates the vibration issue.

When storing wines for more than 2 years with the intent of aging them properly, keeping vibration of the wine sediments to a minimum can be critical to success.  For short-term storage (less than 2 years), there is little noticeable difference between compressor and thermoelectric cooling systems.  A good case can be made that a dual zone thermoelectric wine cooler for simultaneously aging red and white wines would be an excellent choice for aging your wine collection.

Thermoelectric wine coolers are not without a major disadvantage that you must be aware of that affects their cooling efficiency.  When the ambient temperature of the room where your wine cooler will be operated exceeds approximately 77 degrees F., the cooling effectiveness of a thermoelectric wine cooler declines.  Additionally, the difference between the ambient room temperature and the “set” cooling temperature should not be higher than about 13 degrees F.  Some people like their homes cool and some like them warmer, but it is a consideration if you opt for a thermoelectric wine refrigerator.  Generally they will operate more efficiently in a home when ambient temperatures are relatively stable and on the cool side of the spectrum.

In the right situation, going eco-friendly with your wine cooler purchase is a good choice for the environment.  At a minimum, this one small choice, when added to other people’s choices, will be a step in the right direction.

For more information on thermoelectric product choices go to:  http://idealwinecoolers.com/page/thermoelectric_wine_coolers.html

Author: Ronald Senn, VP Ideal Wine Coolers, Dec. 2009

THIS WINE FRIGE HAS EVERYTHING NEEDED TO KEEP YOUR RED AND WHITE WINE READY FOR YOUR ENJOYMENT AND IT IS ON SALE UNTIL DECEMBER 31, 2009.

You can compare this product to our other dual zone wine coolers on our web site.

Ideal Wine Cooler’s Vinotemp 21 Bottle Thermoelectric Dual Zone Wine Cooler gives you the opportunity to control the temperature of your wine with two zones for red and white wine than can be individually set. This wine cooler has an energy-efficient, quiet operating thermoelectric cooling system that makes your wine storage vibration-free and good for the environment. Using no ozone-depleting chemicals such as CFCs or HCFCs in this cooling system, you will be sure you are doing your part to preserve the environment. The wine refrigerator should only be used in freestanding applications. This wine cellar has a black cabinet with stainless steel trim. The dual paned glass windows that have better insulating properties, better UV protection and are easier to clean. This wine cooler has a digital display with push button controls, interior lighting and classy wood pull out shelves. This wine chiller would compliment any home’s decor. Look no further for superior wine storage.

FEATURES:
* Dual-zone Wine Cooler provides Storage for Red and White Wines simultaneously at Temperatures you select
* Free Standing Wine Cellar with Dual-paned Thermal Glass Door
* Stainless Steel Ttrim with Black Body
* Ultra-quiet, Energy-efficient Thermoelectric Cooling
* Two Independent Temperature Controlled Zones
* 6 Sliding Wood Shelves for easy Storage and Access
* Digital Display with Push Button Operation
* Interior Lighting

CAPACITY:
* 21 Wine Bottles

DIMENSIONS:
* Width 13.5 Inches x Depth 21.5 Inches x H 32.13 Inches

SHIPPING & HANDLING:
* $99.00

LIMITED WARRANTY:
* 90 Days Parts and Labor

Check out our selection of free-standing and undercounter wine coolers

Author: Ronald Senn, VP Ideal Wine Coolers, Dec 09

Wines are unique beverages in that their taste can vary dramatically from one vintner to the next and from one type of grape to another. This very fact is what makes wine interesting for us to drink, compare and enjoy. However, these same variations also tend to complicate their respective wine storage and aging processes.

Red wine is fermented with the juices and solids (skins and pulp) mixed. On the other hand, grape juice that is separated from the solids is used to make white wine. Red wines are often improved by aging them from five to fifteen years. White wines generally are made to be consumed immediately and aging them beyond three years may actually be detrimental to their enjoyment.

Many wine information sites generalize that the optimal wine storage temperature is 55 degrees F. Some wine sites establish a range of temperatures for red wines at 50 to 64 degrees F., while the white wine range is from 41 to 50 degrees F. Because white wines generally age faster than red wines, storing them at a cooler temperature will slow their respective aging process and allow them to be stored longer than if at higher temperatures. Storing red wine at slightly higher temperatures than white wines will allow them to age within a reasonable period.

What is the best solution to wine storage when enjoyment of both red and wine wines is your desired goal? Investing in a wine refrigerator or wine chiller designed with two different storage zones is the best solution. Commonly called dual zone wine coolers, these appliances have two separate and independently controlled temperature environments: one for red wines and one for whites. This type of wine cellar allows the wine enthusiast to “enjoy the best of both worlds”.

Dual-zone wine coolers come in two basic configurations. The most common configuration is to have the two independent zones on top and bottom of your wine refrigerator. Each of these two compartments will have their own respective temperature controls. Another configuration you can purchase is the side-by-side configuration. This type of wine cooler commonly has what are often termed “French Doors”. Either configuration will enhance the look of your home and solve the problem of storing and aging different types of wine.

Storing and aging your red and wine wines at their best temperature will enhance your enjoyment of them. Being prepared to address all of the different wine choices of your guests will make you an entertainment professional.

See our entire line of dual zone wine coolers at:  http://idealwinecoolers.com/page/dual_zone_wine_coolers.html

Author: Ronald Senn, Vice-president of Ideal Wine Coolers, 11/27/2009

Ideal Wine Coolers’ Haier 42 Bottle Wine Cooler is for freestanding applications and includes a locking glass door.  This handsome wine cellar, with soft lighting and silver metal trim, allows you to display your finest wines in style.  The flat glass door has blue-gray tint with a heavy-duty towel bar style brushed metal handle.  This wine cooler is less than 20 inches wide making it slim enough to fit anywhere in your home.  A dual-function LED display monitors your temperature selection and the internal wine cooler temperature at the same time.  Special features include soft interior light, black matte worktop, door lock, and leveling legs. The black interior features sturdy wire metal shelving that will tenderly cradle your best vintages.  This wine cooler would be a classy addition to your home decor.  This wine cooler is one of our better selections in our Locking Wine Cooler category.

Features:

  *Flat Glass Door with Blue-Gray Tint and Graphite Trim
  *Heavy-duty Brushed Medal Handle
  *Adjustable Electronic Thermostat
  *Automatic setting for Red and White Wines
  *6 Flat Chrome Storage Racks and 2 half-depth Flat Racks
  *Dual-function LED Read-out
  *Lock and key
  *Graphite Matte Work Top
  *Soft Interior Lighting
  *Leveling Legs
  *Dimensions W 19 15/16″, D 21 3/4″, H 38 17/32″

Weight: 110.5 Lbs.

Warranty:  12 months parts and labor:  5 years on sealed system

For current price and shipping information go to: http://idealwinecoolers.com/product/HVF042BBG

Haier 42 Bottle Wine Cooler

This great product will add a touch of class to your home.  Let’s go SHOPPING now.

Author: Ronald Senn, VP Ideal Wine Coolers, 10/23/09