BODEGA JC-85A Wine Cooler Review: Stylish, Compact, and Reliable Wine Storage

Cons

• You can only connect to WiFi to enable the QZsmart app with 2.4GHz WiFi

We weren’t always wine drinkers (much less collectors), but the hobby kind of snuck up on us. It started with a local vineyard membership and me bringing home random bottles of red from work trips. Eventually, Kev transitioned from homebrewing to making his own wine. We stored our growing collection in racks and cabinets, but the lack of proper temperature control was less than ideal. We knew it was time to step up our game and store our growing collection as it deserved, so when the opportunity came to review the BODEGA JC-85A Wine Cooler, I was happy to oblige.

At home or when keeping wine in other areas where temperatures tend to fluctuate, especially in the summer, is where a reliable wine cooler can make all the difference. The BODEGA’s compressor cooling system ensures your wine is kept at a steady temperature between 41°F and 68°F (5°C – 20°C).

The wine cooler arrived well insulted and packed; the outer box had some minor damage, likely from handling as it weighs 70 pounds, but the appliance inside was just fine. An instruction manual and keys for locking the cooler are included.

The BODEGA JC-85A Wine Cooler offers installation options; it can be used as a built-in under a kitchen or bar counter, but that might not be practical unless you’re in the middle of a remodeling project.

Thankfully, the cooler’s stainless steel and black exterior is finished and attractive, so it can also be used as a free-standing appliance that can be placed just about anywhere. On top of that, the BODEGA cooler small wine fridge is quiet with minimal hum, so it won’t be distracting wherever it is placed.

After unpacking it and removing all of the tape that had been placed on it for shipping protection, we gently removed a portion of the gasket on the inner side of the door to expose the two screw holes for installing the handle.

After figuring out where to place the wine cooler and before plugging it in, we allowed it to stand upright for 24 hours. BODEGA explains that this reduces the possibility of a cooling system malfunction from handling during transportation.

This makes sense, as it is a common requirement for appliances containing refrigerant. We placed the wine cooler at the end of a countertop inside Kev’s workshop. You can adjust the front two feet on the underside if your floor isn’t completely level.

At 34.2″ tall by 14.9″ wide by 22.9″ deep, the BODEGA JC-85A Wine Cooler might seem to be on the smaller size, but its six eucalyptus shelves can hold up to 31 bottles—depending on the size and shape of the bottles, of course. With the door fully opened, you can extend each shelf for easier access.

With that said, wine bottles are notoriously varied in their designs, so the total you’ll be able to load will vary. While the BODEGA wine cooler is designed to fit standard Bordeaux-style bottles (11.8″ long by 2.75″ wide), the top and bottom shelves offer flexibility for those more creatively shaped bottles, as shelves can be removed when you need to stack larger bottles.

Due to the bottom shelf being slightly less deep than the other five, I can comfortably stack about 24 of our wine bottles on the shelves.

The control panel is located on the front top of the wine cooler. The buttons include a key lock function, which can be engaged or disengaged by pressing and holding the button for three seconds. Next is the power button; pressing it for three seconds will turn the cooler off when it is on.

The “+” and “-” buttons raise or lower the temperature (when you press and hold them at the same time, you’ll toggle between ºF and ºC), a small LCD that shows the set temperature (when you are changing it), and the current temperature.

If you plan on storing red, white, or sparkling wines, you can toggle the next button, which causes an LED to glow next to the listed type of wine being stored: red wine at 16ºC/60.8ºF, white wine at 10ºC/50ºF, and sparkling wine at 6ºC/42.8ºF. Pressing the light bulb button will turn the blue LED on or off.

Of course, you can also set the temperature manually to meet the needs of your particular wines. Here are BODEGA’s recommendations:

You won’t have to worry about losing your preferred settings during a power outage, as the BODEGA JC-85A Wine Cooler remembers the last temperature you set. This lets you focus on more important things—like enjoying a nice glass of wine at the perfect temperature.

The cooler also offers WiFi control through the QZsmart app so you can monitor and adjust the temperature remotely. I have to admit that it didn’t play nicely with our 2.4/5GHz WiFi “smart” router (even after a call to our provider asking them if there was a way to temporarily halt the 5GHz stream to only serve 2.4GHz, which is a rant for a different day), so I was unable to get it to pair the cooler properly with the app. Trust me; this isn’t the first time that this has been an issue, and I’m sure that it won’t be the last. 🙁

The WiFi/app functionality loss hasn’t been an issue in our case, and I don’t hold it against BODEGA; we’ve simply set the cooler for red wine and haven’t needed to adjust anything (remotely or in person) since.

If you keep the BODEGA JC-85A Wine Cooler near a window or door, you’ll appreciate that the door is double-layered tempered glass, which will protect your wine from UV light.

If you have kids, roommates, or office mates around, the lock on the bottom of the door is a plus; you won’t have to worry about anyone “accidentally” grabbing the bottle you’ve been saving for a special occasion.

I love that the BODEGA JC-85A Wine Cooler has removed any worries we had about whether we were keeping our reds at a proper storage temperature. When we’re ready to enjoy a bottle, Kev will simply pull one out and pour it into our decanter so the wine can fully open, releasing its aromas and flavors.

Whether you’re a casual wine enthusiast or an avid collector, the BODEGA JC-85A Wine Cooler ensures your wine is stored in optimal condition and ready to be enjoyed.

Source: Manufacturer supplied review sample

What I Like: Compact design fits easily in various spaces; Holds up to 31 bottles with flexible shelving for larger bottles; Quiet operation with minimal hum, suitable for home or office; Stainless steel and black exterior is attractive, whether built-in or free-standing; Precise temperature control, with memory function for power outages; LED lights for aesthetic appeal and wine storage settings; Double-layer tempered glass protects wine from UV rays; Locking mechanism for added security; WiFi control via the QZsmart app for remote temperature adjustments (if your router plays nice)

What Needs Improvement: You can only connect to WiFi to enable the QZsmart app with 2.4GHz WiFi

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