Wine Fridge Buying Guide Australia — Temperature, Zones & Sizing
A kitchen fridge is too cold, too dry, and too vibration-heavy for wine. A proper wine fridge maintains the exact temperature, humidity, and stillness your bottles need — whether you're storing a Tuesday Shiraz or ageing a cellar-worthy Barossa vintage.
This guide covers everything from temperature settings to sizing, so you buy the right wine fridge the first time.
What Temperature Should Your Wine Fridge Be?
This is the most important decision. Get the temperature wrong and you're either dulling the flavour (too cold) or accelerating ageing (too warm).
| Wine Style | Ideal Storage Temp | Ideal Serving Temp |
|---|---|---|
| Full-bodied reds (Shiraz, Cab Sav) | 15–18°C | 16–18°C |
| Medium reds (Pinot Noir, Merlot) | 13–16°C | 14–16°C |
| Full-bodied whites (Chardonnay) | 10–13°C | 10–12°C |
| Light whites (Sauv Blanc, Riesling) | 8–12°C | 8–10°C |
| Sparkling & Champagne | 5–8°C | 6–8°C |
| Rosé | 8–12°C | 8–10°C |
The takeaway: Reds want 13–18°C. Whites and sparkling want 5–12°C. If you drink both, you need dual zone.
Single Zone vs Dual Zone: Which Do You Need?
Single zone wine fridges have one temperature throughout. Set it to 12–14°C and it'll handle most wines reasonably well. Best if you mainly drink one style — all reds or all whites.
Dual zone wine fridges have two independently controlled compartments. The upper zone typically runs cooler for whites (5–12°C) and the lower zone runs warmer for reds (14–18°C). You can serve both at their ideal temperature from the same fridge.
Our recommendation: If your collection includes both red and white, go dual zone. The Schmick JC165B ($1,410) is the most popular dual zone model — 165L, fits under a bench, and runs quietly. For a larger collection, the Schmick SK168D ($2,265) holds significantly more in a slim upright form factor.
How Many Bottles Will It Hold?
Wine fridge capacity is measured in litres, but what matters is bottles. Here's a realistic guide (standard 750ml Bordeaux bottles):
| Model | Litres | Approx. Bottles | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Schmick JC95B | 95L | 25–30 | Under-bench, single zone |
| Schmick JC165B | 165L | 40–50 | Under-bench, dual zone |
| Schmick JC190-GG | 190L | 50–60 | Under-bench, dual zone, heated glass |
| Schmick SK168D | 209L | 55–70 | Tall upright, dual zone |
| Schmick BD425D-B | 405L | 100–120 | Tall upright, large collection |
Burgundy and Champagne bottles are wider — reduce the count by about 20% if you store these regularly. Most shelves can be adjusted or removed to accommodate different bottle shapes.
Slim and Shallow: Wine Fridges for Tight Spaces
Space is often the constraint. Wine fridges come in surprisingly slim profiles:
Ultra-slim upright: The Schmick SK168D is just 595mm wide × 395mm deep — slim enough to fit in a pantry gap or beside cabinetry. At 1,820mm tall, it stores a serious collection in a tiny footprint.
Under-bench compact: The JC95B is 595mm wide × 590mm deep × 830mm high — fits under a standard bench and holds 25–30 bottles.
Matching combos: The SK168-Combo pairs a wine fridge with a matching beer fridge side-by-side at 1,200mm total width — a stunning setup that gives you dedicated zones for both.
Key Features Worth Paying For
UV-protected glass — UV light damages wine over time. All our wine fridges use UV-filtering glass to block harmful light while still displaying your collection.
Low vibration — Vibration disturbs sediment and can accelerate chemical reactions in wine. Quality compressor-mounted wine fridges use anti-vibration dampening to minimise this. For long-term cellaring of premium bottles, this matters.
Wooden shelves — Absorb micro-vibrations better than wire shelves and cradle bottles more gently. Premium models include beechwood or oak-finished shelving.
Humidity control — Wine corks dry out in low humidity, letting air into the bottle. Quality wine fridges maintain 50–70% relative humidity. This is automatic in most modern units.
Front venting — Critical if you're building the fridge into cabinetry. Allows the fridge to exhaust heat through the front without needing rear clearance.
Our Top Wine Fridge Picks
Best under-bench dual zone: Schmick JC165B ($1,410) — Our best-seller. 165L, beer and wine zones, heated glass, front-venting.
Best premium upright: Schmick SK168D ($2,265) — 209L, dual zone, ultra-slim at 395mm deep. For serious collections.
Best heated glass: Schmick JC190-GG ($2,040) — 190L, dual zone, heated glass on both doors. Designed to eliminate condensation in humid conditions.
Best large capacity: Schmick BD425D-B ($2,577 RRP) — 405L for collections of 100+ bottles. Tall upright with glass door.
Best matching combo: SK168-Combo ($4,977 RRP) — Side-by-side wine and beer fridge pair. The ultimate home bar centrepiece.
What to Expect to Pay
Wine fridges range from around $925 for a compact single-zone to $4,977 for a premium matching combo:
- $925–$1,300: Compact single zone and entry dual zone
- $1,300–$2,300: Premium dual zone with heated glass — the sweet spot
- $2,300–$5,000: Large capacity, matching combos, commercial units
All include a 2-year parts and labour warranty. Delivery Australia-wide with tracking.
Browse our wine fridge collection or explore beer and wine combo fridges for the best of both worlds.
Wine Fridge Buying Guide Australia — Temperature, Zones & Sizing
A kitchen fridge is too cold, too dry, and too vibration-heavy for wine. A proper wine fridge maintains the exact temperature, humidity, and stillness your bottles need — whether you're storing a Tuesday Shiraz or ageing a cellar-worthy Barossa vintage.
This guide covers everything from temperature settings to sizing, so you buy the right wine fridge the first time.
What Temperature Should Your Wine Fridge Be?
This is the most important decision. Get the temperature wrong and you're either dulling the flavour (too cold) or accelerating ageing (too warm).
| Wine Style | Ideal Storage Temp | Ideal Serving Temp |
|---|---|---|
| Full-bodied reds (Shiraz, Cab Sav) | 15–18°C | 16–18°C |
| Medium reds (Pinot Noir, Merlot) | 13–16°C | 14–16°C |
| Full-bodied whites (Chardonnay) | 10–13°C | 10–12°C |
| Light whites (Sauv Blanc, Riesling) | 8–12°C | 8–10°C |
| Sparkling & Champagne | 5–8°C | 6–8°C |
| Rosé | 8–12°C | 8–10°C |
The takeaway: Reds want 13–18°C. Whites and sparkling want 5–12°C. If you drink both, you need dual zone.
Single Zone vs Dual Zone: Which Do You Need?
Single zone wine fridges have one temperature throughout. Set it to 12–14°C and it'll handle most wines reasonably well. Best if you mainly drink one style — all reds or all whites.
Dual zone wine fridges have two independently controlled compartments. The upper zone typically runs cooler for whites (5–12°C) and the lower zone runs warmer for reds (14–18°C). You can serve both at their ideal temperature from the same fridge.
Our recommendation: If your collection includes both red and white, go dual zone. The Schmick JC165B ($1,410) is the most popular dual zone model — 165L, fits under a bench, and runs quietly. For a larger collection, the Schmick SK168D ($2,265) holds significantly more in a slim upright form factor.
How Many Bottles Will It Hold?
Wine fridge capacity is measured in litres, but what matters is bottles. Here's a realistic guide (standard 750ml Bordeaux bottles):
| Model | Litres | Approx. Bottles | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Schmick JC95B | 95L | 25–30 | Under-bench, single zone |
| Schmick JC165B | 165L | 40–50 | Under-bench, dual zone |
| Schmick JC190-GG | 190L | 50–60 | Under-bench, dual zone, heated glass |
| Schmick SK168D | 209L | 55–70 | Tall upright, dual zone |
| Schmick BD425D-B | 405L | 100–120 | Tall upright, large collection |
Burgundy and Champagne bottles are wider — reduce the count by about 20% if you store these regularly. Most shelves can be adjusted or removed to accommodate different bottle shapes.
Slim and Shallow: Wine Fridges for Tight Spaces
Space is often the constraint. Wine fridges come in surprisingly slim profiles:
Ultra-slim upright: The Schmick SK168D is just 595mm wide × 395mm deep — slim enough to fit in a pantry gap or beside cabinetry. At 1,820mm tall, it stores a serious collection in a tiny footprint.
Under-bench compact: The JC95B is 595mm wide × 590mm deep × 830mm high — fits under a standard bench and holds 25–30 bottles.
Matching combos: The SK168-Combo pairs a wine fridge with a matching beer fridge side-by-side at 1,200mm total width — a stunning setup that gives you dedicated zones for both.
Key Features Worth Paying For
UV-protected glass — UV light damages wine over time. All our wine fridges use UV-filtering glass to block harmful light while still displaying your collection.
Low vibration — Vibration disturbs sediment and can accelerate chemical reactions in wine. Quality compressor-mounted wine fridges use anti-vibration dampening to minimise this. For long-term cellaring of premium bottles, this matters.
Wooden shelves — Absorb micro-vibrations better than wire shelves and cradle bottles more gently. Premium models include beechwood or oak-finished shelving.
Humidity control — Wine corks dry out in low humidity, letting air into the bottle. Quality wine fridges maintain 50–70% relative humidity. This is automatic in most modern units.
Front venting — Critical if you're building the fridge into cabinetry. Allows the fridge to exhaust heat through the front without needing rear clearance.
Our Top Wine Fridge Picks
Best under-bench dual zone: Schmick JC165B ($1,410) — Our best-seller. 165L, beer and wine zones, heated glass, front-venting.
Best premium upright: Schmick SK168D ($2,265) — 209L, dual zone, ultra-slim at 395mm deep. For serious collections.
Best heated glass: Schmick JC190-GG ($2,040) — 190L, dual zone, heated glass on both doors. Designed to eliminate condensation in humid conditions.
Best large capacity: Schmick BD425D-B ($2,577 RRP) — 405L for collections of 100+ bottles. Tall upright with glass door.
Best matching combo: SK168-Combo ($4,977 RRP) — Side-by-side wine and beer fridge pair. The ultimate home bar centrepiece.
What to Expect to Pay
Wine fridges range from around $925 for a compact single-zone to $4,977 for a premium matching combo:
- $925–$1,300: Compact single zone and entry dual zone
- $1,300–$2,300: Premium dual zone with heated glass — the sweet spot
- $2,300–$5,000: Large capacity, matching combos, commercial units
All include a 2-year parts and labour warranty. Delivery Australia-wide with tracking.
Browse our wine fridge collection or explore beer and wine combo fridges for the best of both worlds.