When it comes to creating the perfect bar or entertainment setup, choosing the right appliance can make just as much of a difference as picking the right paint color.
Both wine cellars and beverage centers are designed to keep your drinks chilled and ready, but they serve distinct purposes.
Of course, it’s understood that a refrigerator is a cooling solution for your meats, produce, and dairy items; however, the choice between a wine cooler or beverage center is not as clear-cut, especially when considering your specific needs.
So how do you know which one will be perfect for your exact space? Let’s break it down.
Wine Cellars vs. Beverage Centers: Key Differences Explained
While both wine cellars and beverage centers are designed to keep drinks perfectly chilled, they serve different purposes. Wine cellars are for long-term preservation, offering precise temperature control to protect delicate flavor profiles. On the other hand, beverage centers prioritize versatility, featuring flexible shelving and wider temperature ranges that make them ideal for storing sodas, beers, and a variety of refreshments best enjoyed cold.
Two Big Differences:
Temperature Control
Beverage centers typically operate between 36°F and 43°F, the perfect range for serving various drinks chilled and cold. Wine cellars may be single, dual, or even triple zone. Single-zone models generally cover 41°F to 68°F, ideal for overall wine storage but not as cold as a beverage center. Dual-zone units allow one section for white and sparkling wines (41°F–54°F) and another for reds (54°F–68°F), while triple zones provide even more flexibility.
Shelving Design
Beverage refrigerators often use glass, chrome, or wire shelving, best suited for standing cans and bottles upright. Wine coolers are usually equipped with slotted wood shelving, designed to hold bottles horizontally. This helps prevent bottles from rolling, ensuring wines stay secure, well-preserved, and can also be properly displayed and showcased.
Which Appliance Fits Your Entertainment Needs?
Ultimately, your decision will be determined based on how you plan to entertain and your day-to-day lifestyle. Here are a few examples to help you picture the right fit:
The Avid Collector – Focused on showcasing red wine, white wine, and their cherished rosés in an elegant presentation, you would benefit from a full-height wine cellar that elevates both style and convenience while keeping vintages properly stored.
The Urbanite – Living in a city apartment with limited space doesn’t mean compromising on home entertainment or chilling your favorite vinos. A slim-fitting 6” wide or ADA-compliant wine cellar provides proper storage in a compact footprint.
The Game Day Host – With friends and family gathered year-round for sporting or entertainment events, a panel-ready beverage center seamlessly blends into existing cabinetry while keeping drinks cold and accessible.
The Store Owner – Looking to attract customers and boost sales, a commercially approved, glass door beverage center provides visibility and reliable refrigeration, combining an attractive display with everyday practicality.
The Mixologist – For those who want to level up their bar game, a combination wine cellar/beverage center keeps your wines at their ideal temperature while chilling mixers and beverages to ensure you can always craft the perfect cocktail.
Designer Note:
In addition to combination wine & beverage centers, many of our beverage refrigerators and wine cellars can be combined for a perfectly matched set.
Think about your lifestyle: do you want to preserve wine for years to come, or are you more focused on everyday entertaining?
Appliance Talk Next Steps: Go With Summit
Whether you’re upgrading your home bar or elevating your commercial space with premium beverage centers, Summit’s extensive beverage refrigeration selection offers innovative solutions for keeping every beverage at its best:
Wine Cellars - Starting at just 6 inches wide, our line includes a wide range of budget-friendly and deluxe options to best suit your needs
Beverage Centers - We’re one of the only manufacturers with commercial approval on both undercounter and full-size wine beverage coolers
Combination Models - Featuring two distinct temperature zones to best store beverages and wine at their proper temperatures
Beer Dispensers - 15” to 30” wide full-sized kegerators in a variety of styles for indoor, outdoor, residential, & commercial use.
Back Bar Storage - Countertop sizes ideal for back bars, convenience stores, and similar commercial environments
Uniquely styled and fully featured, Summit’s wine cellars and beverage centers bring true convenience to home bars, commercial kitchens, restaurants, cafes, and hospitality spaces.
