I found this wine cellar at a local department store and bought it to take the place of storing/chilling wine in the refrigerator.A standard fridge might be ok for whites, which should be served colder, but not so for reds.When reds are too cold, the subtle flavors become "squashed" for lack of a better term.However, my standard fridge accomodates a standing opened bottle of wine awkwardly at best.Also the frequent knocks and vibrations of the standard fridge, as well as light exposure as said to be bad for wine preservation by those in the know.I'm mainly interested in the convenience of having wine-on-demand at the appropriate serving temperature, as I tend to drink mostly budget wines ($10 and under).
This unit is a single cooling chamber (as opposed to some dual-chamber models I've seen, which allow independent temperatures in the two chambers).It has presets corresponding to certain temperatures, which are inconveniently not listed in the manual. However these can be determined easily enough by dialing in a preset program and checking the temperature the following day. (I haven't bothered to do this) The manual does offer you which presets are best for the various varietals of wine (1 through 8, with 8 being the coldest).You can also set the temperature manually if you do not wish to follow the preset programs.There is a digital temperature readout visible through the door when it's closed - clever design, but very difficult to see if the unit is on the floor (where I have mine).True to claim, there is essentially no vibration when the cooling compressor/fan are engaged.The front door has a large window (see picture above) which is dark-tinted to keep the evil humours out whilst you gaze upon your vino.There is an interior light which comes on when you open the door, and can be switched to continuous ON position if desired.As to the previous reviewers comment about the compressor running a lot, it does run more in the first 24hrs than afterwards, but not excessively so.Mine slips neatly right under my home-office desk (close at hand for those bad days!).Actually, this is the coolest room in the house and so the unit runs less in that ambient temp, and hence consumes less electricity.You should be aware that it has exhaust vents to the right of the door handle that need several inches of clearance, so plan accordingly for your physical layout.
I give this model 4-1/2 stars for price & convenience.I have to withhold a 1/2-star simply because the digital readout window is hard to see from a high angle.If I get into white wines at some point, I like this unit well enough to consider purchasing a second one - and at this price, it's at least equal in total price (for two units) as some of the dual-chamber models I've seen, if not a little cheaper.
UPDATE 2/17/07
Well, as some others have reported, the unit developed a problem after about 11 months of service wherein it was running continuously without cooling at all.I called the Cuisinart company, and to my surprise they acknowledged an engineering defect and offered to exchange the unit at no charge for a new one with the defect corrected.There were some logistical trials and tribulations involved in the return, but finally the new replacement unit arrived yesterday and now I'm "chillin' like a villain" once again.
The dimensions of the unit by my own measurement are W 17-1/8" (43.5cm) H 16-3/8" (41.5cm) D 16-7/8" (43.8cm), and the door handle adds about 1-1/2" depth.
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Cuisinart CWC-900 Private Reserve 11-Bottle Stainless-Steel Countertop Wine CellarProduct Description: A nice alternative to expensive, full-size wine cellars, this elegant countertop unit beautifully displays up to 11 bottles of wines and champagnes. Three removable chrome racks are designed to hold 750 ml or 1500 ml bottles, while the unit's soft interior lighting includes a permanent "on" option for showcasing the collection. The cellar's patented temperature control with eight presets ensures that different varieties are stored at ideal serving temperatures. By using thermoelectric, compressor-less cooling technology, the appliance is lightweight, easy to carry, and able to chill wines without noise or vibration. The unit also comes equipped with an electronic thermostat with Centigrade and Fahrenheit settings, manual temperature adjustment, and LED read out for added convenience. Housed in traditional stainless-steel styling with a double-pane tinted viewing window, stainless-steel door, and chrome handle, the wine cellar measures 20-1/8 by 18-8/9 by 18 inches and carries a three-year limited warranty.
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When the item first arrived it was very poorly packed and damaged.Amazon was very good about getting me a replacement.The second package looked much better but I had to search around for all of the screws and hardware as they were loose in the box.The instructions for assembly were not clear and the parts did not fit together easily.After assembling the item I noticed that there was some residue or glue on the top of the cabinet.I do not want to have to disassemble the item and return it again so I have kept it.Overall, for the price I paid I was very dissapointed in the quality of the product.It solved my storage problem but caused more trouble than I had ever anticipated.
