Number of bottles
The maximum number of standard wine bottles (straight, Bordeaux type) that the cooler is designed to store.
The increase in capacity affects the dimensions and price of the entire device. So for private home use, a
compact wine coolers of small capacity (up to 20 bottles) can be the best choice — especially since the height of such devices is usually small. However,
low wine coolers can store more contents —
24 – 25 bottles or more. Models with a capacity of
50 – 80 bottles are already designed mainly for bars and restaurants, but they can also be useful for enthusiastic wine collectors; and the most voluminous of modern wine coolers can hold
noticeably more than 80 bottles — in some units up to two or three hundred.
It is also worth noting that it is not recommended to fill wine coolers to their full capacity. The actual occupancy should be at least 30 percent lower than the maximum. So, when choosing, it is worth making an appropriate margin.
Total volume
The total volume of the wine cooler working chamber (chambers).
Although the main spec of such units is the number of bottles (see above), volume data can also be useful when evaluating and comparing different models. The fact is that with the same capacity, a larger volume means better air circulation and more efficient temperature distribution. On the other hand, an increase in volume also increases the price and dimensions — and there may simply not be free space for
a wide or
high wine cooler.
Number of shelves
The number of shelves provided in the design of the wine cabinet.
Such shelves are usually mounted on rails and can be removed if necessary. In some models, they can also be rearranged to another level. All this can be useful for organizing the space inside the cooler — for example, to accommodate large bottles of increased thickness, you can remove one of the shelves, providing the right amount of needed space. As for the quantity, it is selected by the manufacturer, taking into account the capacity, width and height of the working chamber, so this parameter is not that important when choosing.
