Good... But I recommend the Slighter Larger Version
Written: Apr 10 '02 (Updated Apr 10 '02)
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Pros: Fairly inexpensive; attractive design; quiet operation.
Cons: Still uses electricity; glass door is attractive, but permits light into the storage area.
The Bottom Line: I needed a short-term wine storage solution. A second, energy-hogging refrigerator was not the answer. The 30-bottle Haier is too small; consider the 42-bottle unit for a start.
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| 4-1-1's Full Review: Haier 30 Bottle Wine Cooler BC112G |
Last week, I visited some wineries in California's Santa Ynez Valley (Santa Barbara area). I tried about three dozen different wines, and came home with about three dozen bottles.
Not really having a good storage solution, I decided that it was time to invest in a wine cooler. Just something to keep a small collection properly stored, if only for a month or two.
I don't collect wine or cellar for consumption at some advanced date. To do this properly, one would need a humidity and temperature controlled cellar, or pay monthly fees for wine storage at an out-of-the-way wine vault "warehousing" facility. Not for me! But, I did learn my lesson about wine storage in the past: about 18 years ago, when I first started drinking wine, I was pretty wreckless with my storage habits. I had a nice collection of wines. About 80 bottles, mostly late 1970's vintages of Napa Valley reds like: Charles Krug, Heitz Cellars "Martha's Vineyard" Cabernet Sauvignon, and Beaulieu Vineyard's Georges de Latour Private Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon. Sadly, due to my ignorance, the wine, improperly stored in a closet, all went to ruin.
Looking for a simple and economical solution, I evaluated the Haier BC112G. The unit retails at my local Fry's Electronics and Best Buy stores for about $350. Although this is one of the least expensive and feature-packed coolers on the market, I elected not to buy it. The one and only reason: storage capacity is too small at 30 bottles. Instead, I opted for the slightly larger HVF042ABL -- which does offer an extra case of storage capacity. In all other respects (except for height), the HVF042ABL is identical to the BC112G.
Haier Wine Coolers
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The unit I evaluated:
Model BC112G -- available at Best Buy for $400.
30 bottle storage capacity.
Unit Dimensions (WDH):
The unit I ended up buying:
Model HVF042ABL -- available at Fry's Electronics for $450.
42 bottle storage capacity.
Unit Dimensions for both are practically identical; the difference really is in how the shelves are arranged internally.
(Width x Depth x Height): 505 x 551 x 980 mm
(19-9/10" x 21-7/10" x 38-3/5")
Weight: 88 lbs. (40 Kg)
Both units are "environmentally friendly," operating without the use of CFC (Chlorofluorocarbon).
Features:
- Smoked Glass Door. (The door is dual glazed, with a smoked amber color. Personally, I don't find this feature so exciting as a glass door will allow some light to penetrate into the storage area.)
- Slide-Out Chrome Racks. (This feature I like; it allows for easy cleaning in case a bottle with a bad cork leaks its contents into the cooler.)
- Automatic Settings for Red and White Wines; and Adjustable Temperature Control from 45-65ºF. (This I like, too. There are two default settings: one for white wines -- 45ºF -- and one for reds -- 55ºF. I keep mostly reds in my cooler, but I set the temperature to 50. The cooler "cools" from the bottom up, so I keep some white wine in the lower racks and stack the top shelves with red wines.)
- Dual-Function LED Readout for Temperature Setting and Thermometer. (This is just a simple green LED read-out that displays the cooler's interior temperature.)
- Soft Interior Lighting. (Not really a necessary feature, but there's a button you can push if you want a small interior lamp turned on. I could do without this, but some people like to "highlight" their wine collections for some reason.)
- Locking Door with Key. (Not very useful, except it does keep the door sealed and prevents lookey-loos from opening your cooler and rummaging around your collection.)
- Recessed handle. (As opposed to an outwardly protruding, visible handle. Provides a clean look.)
According to the manufacturer: "Our wine cooler allows you to store your wine at the ideal temperature so you can enjoy the best possible flavor from your wine."
I've had this unit for about a week now, and I've been monitoring its operation on a daily basis. So far, everything seems fine. The temperature (I set it to 50ºF) will sometimes fluctuate between 46º at night to as high as 52ºF during the heat of the day. It's quiet (I have it in the dining room) and the thing that I like best about it is that I can allow my red wines to warm up from a cool room temperature ...rather than have them sit at warm room temperatures (70ºF and higher). The other nice thing: now I have a decent place to store some nice Belgian ales and know that they are ready to serve when I pull them out of the cooler.
Manufacturer:
Haier America Trading L.L.C.
New York, New York 10018
c/o D.F.L. Warehouse
20435 Business Parkway
Walnut, CA 91789
Price at Fry's Electronics: $449.99, plus tax.
Recommendations
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I rate the Haier BC112G as an affordable, 3-star wine cooler. But I don't particularly recommend its purchase. For about $75 more, I purchased (and recommend) the the Haier HVF042ABL -- the extra storage capacity is important. Already, I am thinking that it would have been nice to have the even larger, five case (60 bottle) setup... it was an extra $150, but it was a tad bit too tall.
Wine cellars are not very practical in Southern California (we have earthquakes here on a fairly regular basis.) Still, I doodle construction plans from time-to-time. I'm thinking, one day, of buying a 20-foot steel cargo container and burying it in the backyard. That would make a quick and easy cellar solution -- if buried deep enough -- and the steel construction should make it pretty sturdy. But at $3000 for the container, I may have to do without a cellar for a while... and just drink wine more often.
Other Alternatives:
Sanyo Wine Cooler (Model SR-2404)
Holds a maximum of 24 Bottles; has four wire racks
Price: $350. Might be nice if space is a consideration.
VinoTemp International
"Under Counter" models, hold from 24 to 100 bottles.
Model TC32G: 32 bottle capacity, $395.
Model WC52G: 52 bottle capacity, $445
(USA Freight: $99 to $125.)
Check out: http://www.vinotemp.com/underc.asp
One model that looks interesting to me is the Economy Model 400E: holds 380 bottles, looks like a storage cabinet, and has a current web price of $1295. Hmmm... the more I think about it, the more I am wanting one.
Cheers!
Recommended:
No
Amount Paid (US$): $350-$400
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Epinions.com ID:
4-1-1
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Member: Tom Carr
Location: Southern California
Reviews written: 1090
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