Sub-Zero Wine Fridge [REVIEW]: Best-in-Class Wine Coolers for Showcasing & Preserving Your Prized Bottles

The Sub-Zero wine fridge will not only keep your bottles cool but also contribute to the decor of your home in a meaningful manner. We love the zero clearance design, streamlined to the cabinet base, with articulating hinges and a flush finish that pulls us into modernity. It is reassuring to peek through the glass door and know that our wine collection is stored at the perfect temperature while our other refrigerator silently hums along as best-in-class food storage.

Over the years, Sub-Zero has proven to be at the forefront of the under-counter appliances and refrigeration. They have maintained unbeatable product quality, reliability, and customer satisfaction; in such a way that leaves all other competitors in its wake.

We've written this article to provide information on why Sub-Zero wine coolers and niche refrigeration line is so highly regarded and what the benefits are of storing wine and food separately. After this, you'll understand what it is about Sub-Zero that has everyone singing their praises.

Overview of Sub-Zero Wine Fridge & Undercounter Refrigeration

There is no better way to quantify value without considering the cost. Sub-Zero refrigerators have proven to offer value for the cost. The brand skips the usual "good, better, or best" retail selection formula and offers the best product possible. This unique practice of offering top-notch quality and service gives Sub-Zero brand a leading edge in the refrigeration niche.

Lets look at the best Sub-Zero product models in each category.

1) Sub-Zero Wine Refrigerator, UW-24/S

Why We Like It:
While other companies may stand up to Sub-Zero in other categories, Sub-Zero is unrivaled in wine refrigeration and storage units. This is because the company takes the business of protecting wines seriously.

Over the years, Sub-Zero became the number one choice of "wine enthusiast" around the world due to its ability to handle ambient UV light, vibration, humidity, and temperature expertly.

The UW-24/S has all the impressive Sub-Zero features. The 46-bottle capacity, independent storage zone (a.k.a. dual-zone) for both red bottles and white bottles, the UV-resistant glass door, the home security system integration, and the smart inventory tile system.

Key Features and Benefits:

All Sub-Zero wine fridges come preset at 45F (7C) for whites and 55F (13C) for reds. You can adjust these temperatures based on your preferences. The Sub-Zero wine refrigerator has dual evaporators that help maintain constant humidity within the machine, customized for each zone.

Sub-Zero recognizes that most refrigerators lose their effectiveness right at their doors. Door seals crack or simply stop sealing. Therefore, the company makes magnetic door seals to lock in cold air and maintain freshness.

The interior lighting adds a dramatic flair that keeps your bottles beautifully displayed. However, the warm temperature emitted by lights can be harmful if you intend to keep your wine for longer periods. Therefore, Sub-Zero uses specially engineered soft LED lights inside the wine refrigerators.

A good wine refrigerator is supposed to efficiently keep out sunlight. Sub-Zero offers wine coolers with UV-resistant glass. The UV-resistant glass prevents sunlight from degrading your wine or making them age prematurely.

Serious "wine enthusiasts" would like to keep things organized. Using the optional inventory system, you can identify your bottles with metal ID tiles.

Sub-Zero provides access links and programming to home security system providers to help monitor your wine refrigerator. Thanks to this integration, you will not only get an alert when there is unauthorized use but also know at the time of sudden temperature fluctuation, compressor problem, and so forth.

Additional Design Considerations:

You can customize the outer bezel around the glass to match your kitchen cabinets. Either the two-handle, thin tubular handle or professional handle styles, matches Wolf ranges and other Sub-Zero appliances with the same handle style.

The extension racks provide easy access to bottles. They are designed with anti-vibration attachments to avoid throwing off things on the other racks within your wine cooler. If you want to store magnums, simply remove the rack above, and youre all good. The sub-zero design allows for natural cherrywood face on wire racks to be tainted or replaced with cabinet wood.
You can place your Sub-Zero wine cooler next to the undercounter beverage center or refrigerator for an integrated look.

UW24 replaces the legacy 424 models with an updated compressor, internal rack system, and lights. Sub-Zero also makes full-size wine refrigerators built-in or freestanding.

2) Sub-Zero Beverage Center, UC-24BG

Why We Like It:
Beverage Centers are trendy because they can hold just about anything. The UC-24BG is built to handle your wines, cold drinks, beverages, fruits, veggies, and just about anything. The temperature control is designed to keep even dairy products at an optimal temperature of 38F (3C) and within one degree of set-point. Just like the wine refrigerator, it has a UV-resistant glass door and magnetic door seals to lock in cold air.

Key Features and Benefits:
Sub-Zero beverage centers are some of the best in the industry and are equipped with certain unique features.

Just like the wine coolers, top Sub-Zero beverage centers have panel-ready designs. They are manufactured to accept custom panels to match your kitchen cabinetry, giving your kitchen a streamlined look.

The UC24BGSTHRH, our top Sub-Zero beverage center, has a bright interior LED light that adds color and elegance to your kitchen. The brilliant lighting keeps the interior of your beverage center brightly illuminated, allowing you to find objects quickly.

Sub-Zero beverage centers are equipped with adjustable spill-proof glass shelves. This allows you to clean the glass shelves easily.

The crisper bin found in the UC24BGSTHRH is a feature that is rarely seen in most beverage centers. They allow for more natural and better storage of your fruits and vegetables. The bin also has a seal that keeps these fruits and veggies fresh always.

3) Sub-Zero Ice Maker, UC-15i

Why We Like It:
Sub-Zero ice makers stand out as one of the best in the industry when it comes to producing pure, clear ice. With proper design, reliability, and a 2-year warranty, Sub-Zero ice makers offer optimum convenience and low cost of maintenance. Sadly, at this time, Sub-Zero does not manufacture crescent or nugget ice machines.

Key Features:
Ice makers produce clear ice by spraying water unto a metal grid at 32F. Because only water can freeze at that temperature, the impurities are left behind. But Sub-Zero ice makers have an extra filtration system that ensures the ice is super pure.

The water is first passed through a metal filter to remove oxygen bubbles and toxins before the water is sent to the ice maker. When you use both a refrigerator and an ice maker, you will easily see the difference in their ice production.

Refrigerators make ice from top to down, unlike ice makers; this means small bubbles of air (and impurities) can get trapped in the ice, making it cloudy and sticky over time.

The UC-15i produces as much as 50 lbs of pure, clear ice per day and can store up to 25 lbs at a time, so you dont run out of quality ice.

The UC-15i also features a two-hour, four-hour, and eight-hour delay option, which pauses ice production temporarily. You can use this auto-delay function to stop production at a set time each day.

The bonus of this delay function is that it ensures you have ice only when you need it while also extending the life of your machine. The temporary delay also limits the noise the machine generates. So you don't go deaf from the machine's operation noise if your ice maker is located near your living room.

The UC-15i has a built-in ice scoop which is placed by the door for easy accessibility. The door also has magnetic seals for securing cold air.

Design Flexibility: Just like other Sub-Zero home refrigeration products, Sub-Zero ice makers come in exotic styles to complement your kitchen cabinetry.

They come in sleek and classic styles to achieve an integrated and seamless look in your kitchen, as they are built to accept custom panels. The exterior has a sleek and elegant stainless-steel finish, while the interior is made of durable and thick plastic.

Just in case you're wondering if there is an outdoor product, yea there is. The UC-15i has an outdoor model, the UC-15i(P)O.

While the indoor model has multiple door panel options (including the custom wood panel), the outdoor model has only one door panel option; the stainless-steel panel with pro handle. Exterior parts of the outdoor model are made with weather-resistant materials, and the model itself is approved for outdoor use.

Besides choosing between the outdoor model and the indoor model, you also need to pick a model with a suitable drain option. Ice makers are usually of two types (drain option) the gravity type and the pump type. If you have a gravity drain under the unit, then the gravity drain is right for you; otherwise, the pump type is needed to discharge water from the unit.

4) Sub-Zero Undercounter Refrigerator, UC-24R

Why We Like It:
Sub-Zero has always had that extra leg up against other refrigerator brands. Thanks to the companys best-in-class componentry and uncompromising attention to detail, Sub-Zero fridges preserve food far better than others. An effective vacuum seal, air purification system, and a microprocessor-controlled temperature control system are the key differentiators.

Besides being the hallmark of luxury for distinguished chefs and upscale homes, Sub-Zero under-counter fridges have some strong points that are worthy of note.

Key Features:

Sub-Zero undercounter combination units have separate temperature controls for refrigerator and freezer. The temperatures are preset at 38F (3C) and 0F (-18C). You can opt for a model with ice maker, like the UC-24Ci, or one without (if you have an ice maker already). Having a stand-alone Sub-Zero ice maker is preferable if you want steady clear ice production.

Sub-Zero fridges have various design options. You could have stainless-door finishes, cabinet doors, glass doors, and even an outdoor fridge design like the UC-24RO. These fridges also offer flush installation to create a streamlined look.

5) Sub-Zero Refrigerator Drawers, ID-24R

Just like other Sub-Zero home refrigeration products, the ID-24R has a temperature control feature that keeps the interior within one degree of set-point. The doors have magnetic seals that lock in cold air to ensure freshness. Its high-humidity and low-temperature crisper and deli drawers also ensure maximum freshness.

Besides the refrigeration features, the ID-24R has the door soft-close technology, accepts custom panel.

The Sub-Zero refrigerator drawers come with a rich selection in widths 24-inch, 30-inch, and 36-inch as an all fridge, all freezer, or fridge/freezer combination.

Cleaning and Maintenance

To keep your unit working properly, you need to clean the condenser every 6 to 9 months. Remove the toe kick in the bottom and carefully vacuum.

For proper cleaning, use a mild solution of water, soap, and baking soda only. Ensure you dont get water on the control panel and lights. For the UV-resistant glass, we recommend you use a standard glass cleaner.

Sub-Zero Warranty

Sub-Zero has the best warranty on the market a 12-year repair/replacement warranty on product parts. This is besides the full 2-year warranty on the product and a 5-year warranty on parts and labor.

The generous warranty offers point to the care taken in manufacturing the products. The fridges were put to rigorous testing, and are built to last for 20 years. The craftsmanship and quality are second to none within the industry.

So Then, Is Sub-Zero Wine Fridge a Good Choice?

Finally, heres why you should go for Sub-Zero wine fridges and undercounter selection.

• You get task-specific uncompromising best-in-class design

• Temperature controls are built to perfectly suit the required task (ice maker or beverage center or wine refrigerator)

• Generous (industry-leading) warranty offer

• Superior testing that guarantees longevity

With Sub-Zero under-counter kitchen appliances, you are sure of the best the industry has to offer. Superior technology, unrivaled craftsmanship, excellent durability, and industry-best warranty are some of the features which make Sub-Zero the gold standard in undercounter refrigeration.

Be sure to check out our stand-alone guides on Sub-Zero wine coolers, beverage centers, and ice makers for detailed information on our list of Sub-Zero products.

FAQs

What is the main difference between a wine cooler and a beverage center?
The wine cooler is used for storing and maintaining wine bottles only at the desired temperature (45F (7C) for whites and 55F (13C) for reds). But beverage centers can be used for storing wine fruits and any other beverage or drink (typically at 38F (3C).

What is the difference between wine coolers and wine refrigerators?
Wine coolers operate at higher (but cold) temperatures than wine refrigerators.

What makes Sub-Zero wine cooler a choice brand, among others?
Unrivaled craftsmanship, innovative technology, and true value for money have gotten Sub-zero appliance worldwide acceptance over the years in the wine cooler and refrigerator space.

Are Sub-Zero refrigerator/wine coolers really worth the extra boxes?
Sure! Sub-Zero appliances are designed and built with utmost perfection and standards second to none in the industry. Youll be happy with your appliance investment in Sub-Zero in the long-run.