Good Looking and Cool - Too Cool?
Pros:
Great looking; Slide out wine trays
Cons:
Limited temperature adjustment with analog version
The Bottom Line:
I would recommend the digital version of this product. Model ZDBR240 with the digital controls. They are about the same price.
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Overall Rating:
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Author's Review
OVERVIEW
I had a wine grotto built into my new home so it had to have a new wine cooler to complete it, particularly since my old one went out during the move. My builder recommended the GE Monogram beverage center so that’s what I ended up with. Only problem is that there are two models with ever so slightly different model number. I got the wrong one and I’ll tell you why it’s wrong.
PROBLEM:
‘Why it’s wrong’ is because my model ZDBC240 does not have a digital control display and temperature adjustment. This model only has a rotating knob from Hi to Lo or actually, Coldest to Cool and then Off. Another model, ZDBR240 has an LED display and a digital adjustment for setting its temperature. The problem is with the non-digital, the ‘warmest’ setting (Cool) only allows the temperature to get up to around 50 degrees. So its range is around 38 to 50 degrees. The digital model will let you set higher temperatures.
I wanted to store some decent red wines that I’ve had for a couple of years and as mentioned, in the move, my older wine cooler quit working. That’s when I discovered the problem with the temp. I like to keep reds around 60 to 65 degrees for the ones I’m drinking and about 60 for storage. Most wine coolers can be set for around 62 or so and the top shelf runs around 65 while the bottom shelf runs around 60. But with this model, I’m having to keep wines about 10 to 15 degrees colder than I want.
Anyway, to the point, I think this unit is fine as a “Beverage Center” as it is so named (now I get it!). And it’s fine for white wines – I don’t have a problem there. But for reds, it’s just not the right cooler – get the other model.
REVIEW:
That aside, the Monogram series is a very attractive stainless and glass under-counter unit. It has two slide-out shelves on the bottom with a light cherry wood drawer front that really looks sharp. Each of these shelves is partitioned with dividers to lay a standard size bottle of wine horizontally and each shelf holds 7 bottles.
It has 3 tempered glass shelves with taller spacing to accommodate canned drinks standing vertically, two-liter bottles (on their side) and of course 1.5 liter bottles of wine. You can double layer standard wine bottles and get 12 per shelf. So if used solely for standard wine bottles, you could get around 57 bottles of wine in this unit. The shelves are removable but not adjustable.
Listed capacity is 5 cubic feet. Overall dimensions are: 34 1/8 in x 24 1/8 in x 23 7/8 in. The unit has an interior light that comes on when the door is opened or you can set it to be on all the time.
