Le Cache Contemp 1400 Driftwood #36425

When a collection has outgrown a kitchen cooler and deserves something that will actually protect it for the long term, the Le Cache Contemporary 1400 in Driftwood is the kind of cabinet that earns its floor space. At 72 inches tall and just 31 inches wide, it holds 172 bottles — 160 in individually racked slots sized for oversized bottles — while fitting comfortably in a dining room alcove, a finished basement or a second-home bar area. The weathered Driftwood finish on cherry wood veneer reads distinctly contemporary without demanding a particular aesthetic, and the gently arched double-pane tinted glass window lets the collection be seen without compromising thermal or UV protection.

What separates this cabinet from a wine cooler is its engineering for long-term aging. The CellarPro 1800-series cooling unit — made in the USA and available in three configurations — manages both temperature and humidity with a digital thermostat, adjustable humidity control and audible and visual alarms if conditions drift. Foil-backed polyisocyanurate insulation and sealed seams hold a stable environment even in warmer ambient spaces. The SB/0 design places the top-vent exhaust at the roof, meaning the cabinet can sit flush against a wall without clearance gaps on the sides or rear. For a collection built on Bordeaux, Burgundy or Napa reds that need years to develop, these are the conditions that matter.

Best For

• Storing 100–170 bottles in a dining room, finished basement or second home where floor space is limited but conditions must meet cellar standards
• Aging structured reds — Bordeaux, Napa Cabernet, Northern Rhône — that need consistent temperature and humidity over several years
• Collectors who want a freestanding cabinet that reads like furniture rather than an appliance in a visible living space
• Transitioning a growing collection off a kitchen cooler and into a unit with genuine long-term storage credentials

• CellarPro cooling unit options: Choose between the 1800QT-HE and 1800XT-HE based on the room's thermal load. The 1800QT-HE is the quietest option. Review the Cooling Unit Selection Guide before ordering.
• Foil-backed polyisocyanurate insulation: Higher R-value per inch than standard foam, which reduces thermal load on the compressor and helps stabilize internal temperature when the cabinet is opened frequently or placed in a warm room.
• SB/0 (zero-clearance) placement: The top-vent exhaust design means heat exits upward rather than out the back — the cabinet can sit flush against a wall with no rear gap required. Relevant for dining rooms, built-in alcoves or anywhere wall clearance is limited.
• Universal all-wood interlocking racks with 3.8” slots: The slot width accommodates oversized Burgundy, Champagne and heavy Napa bottles that standard coolers cannot rack. Double-deep configuration stores 160 bottles in racked slots plus approximately 12 in bulk space, totaling 172 bottles in a 31” x 29” footprint.
• Energy-Saver and Quick-Chill modes: Energy-Saver reduces compressor cycling during periods of infrequent access; Quick-Chill accelerates temperature recovery after a significant thermal event or when adding a large number of room-temperature bottles at once.
• Audible and visual alarms: Alert on temperature or humidity excursions outside set parameters — useful for unattended installations in basements or secondary homes.
• Optional bottle probe: Measures actual wine temperature inside the bottle rather than ambient cabinet air — useful when dialing in set points for cellaring versus near-term service.
• 5-year warranty on the cooling unit; 2-year warranty on the full cabinet; optional extended warranty available.

Pairs Well With

• The optional bottle probe accessory — lets you verify actual wine temperature independent of cabinet air temperature, which can differ meaningfully during compressor cycles.

Brand: Le Cache

UPC: 077757364259

Size: 31w x 29d x 72h (in)

Weight: 320 lbs

Capacity: 172 bottles
Double-Deep Storage
Racked Slots: 160 bottles (3 3/4-inch Slots)
Bulk Space: approximately 12 bottles (stacked)

Material: Cherry

Power/Rating:
115V AC / 60 Hz
Running / Startup Amps (compressor)
- CellarPro 1800QT-HE: 2.9 Amps / 20.1 Amps
- CellarPro 1800XT-HE: 3.0 Amps / 20.1 Amps
Thermal Load Calculations

Warranty:
2 Years (Cabinet) / 5 Years (Cooling Unit)
Optional Extended Warranty

What These Specs Mean

• Running vs. Startup Amps: Running amps reflect the unit's electrical draw during normal operation. Startup amps reflect the brief increase in current when the compressor starts. Refer to the cooling unit installation instructions for circuit requirements.
• Cooling Unit Options: The CellarPro 1800QT-HE is the quietest available option. Other compatible models provide additional cooling capacity for installations with higher thermal loads. Use the Cooling Unit Selection Guide to identify the correct model for the installation conditions.

Resources

• Owner's Manual
• Cooling Unit Selection Guide
• Placement Requirements
• Wine Cabinet Delivery & Inspection Instructions
• Wine Cabinet Filter: Top View
• Top View Drawings
• Adjustable Humidity Performance Chart
• Wine Cabinet Monthly Operating Cost
• Cooling Unit Sound Performance
• Interactive Product Demo
• Watch Product Video

PLACEMENT & VENTILATION

Before choosing a location for your Le Cache wine cabinet, make sure the installation meets the following requirements.

BASIC PLACEMENT REQUIREMENTS

• Power: Standard grounded outlet on a dedicated circuit
• Room Temperature: 50–95°F
• Floor: Hard, level surface capable of supporting the fully loaded cabinet
• Door Clearance: Allow approximately 1 inch of additional width in front of the cabinet for the doors to open 90°
• Ventilation: Requirements vary depending on the cabinet and cooling configuration

VENTILATION REQUIREMENTS

Proper ventilation is essential. The cooling unit exhausts warm air, which must be able to dissipate without being drawn back into the unit. Poor ventilation can prevent the cabinet from reaching the desired temperature and may cause the cooling unit to overheat or run continuously.

SUMMARY

1. UPRIGHT CABINET / TOP-VENTED

Our upright wine cabinets with top-vented cooling are designed so the cabinet can be placed directly against the rear wall.

Warm air exhausts through the top of the cabinet, while return air enters from above. Sufficient clearance above and around the cabinet is therefore required.

Minimum clearance above the cabinet:

• 18 inches: Contemporary, Carolina, Loft, Vault and Semi-Custom wine cabinets
• 12 inches: European Country, Mission and Gallery wine cabinets

Important: The sides of the cabinet must remain open so that warm air can dissipate. Top-vented upright cabinets should not be placed in a corner, enclosed space, alcove or closet unless a Front-Vent Hood is used.

2. UPRIGHT CABINET / REAR-VENTED

Upright wine cabinets can also be configured with rear-vented cooling, with return air entering from behind the cabinet. This configuration is useful when sufficient clearance above the cabinet is not available.

Requirements:

• The cabinet must be positioned 3–4 inches away from the rear wall.
• If the rear of the cabinet is not accessible, allow at least 7 1/2 inches above the cabinet so the cooling-unit air filter can be removed and replaced.
• If the rear of the cabinet is accessible, allow at least 3 inches above the cabinet for airflow. We also recommend an air deflector to direct warm exhaust air to the left of the cabinet.

Important: The sides of the cabinet must remain open. Rear-vented upright cabinets should not be placed in a corner, enclosed space, alcove or closet unless a Front-Vent Hood is used.

3. UPRIGHT CABINET / TOP-VENTED + FRONT-VENT HOOD

A Front-Vent Hood can be added to a top-vented upright cabinet when:

• The cabinet will be placed flush against the rear wall but does not have the required clearance above for a standard top-vented installation
• The cabinet will be installed in an alcove, closet or other enclosed space

Allow at least 7 1/2 inches above the cabinet for removal of the hood and air filter.

Compatibility:

• Contemporary, Loft and Vault: The Front-Vent Hood may be used with or without the decorative grille.
• European Country, Mission, Carolina and Gallery: The Front-Vent Hood may be used without the decorative grille. The grille will not fit with the crown moldings.

4. CREDENZA

Credenzas do not require clearance above the cabinet; however, because both intake and exhaust ventilation occur behind the cabinet, credenzas require 3–4 inches of clearance behind the cabinet, and the sides must remain open for proper ventilation.

POWER REQUIREMENTS

The cooling unit plugs into a standard grounded wall outlet. The power cord extends approximately 6 1/2 feet from the rear of the cabinet.

The outlet must be on a dedicated circuit. The cooling unit components draw 3 amps, and the electrical outlet on the side of the cooling unit is also rated for 3 amps.

Do not share the circuit with another motor- or compressor-driven appliance such as a refrigerator, wine cooler, air conditioner or garage door opener.

We recommend using a surge protector rated for at least 15 amps to protect the cooling unit from power surges.

If an extension cord is necessary, use a grounded cord with 14-gauge wire or heavier, and keep it as short as possible.

FLOOR & WEIGHT REQUIREMENTS

A fully loaded wine cabinet is extremely heavy. Make sure the floor can support the combined weight of the cabinet and wine.

The cabinet should also be placed on a hard, level surface. On thick carpeting, the cabinet may settle unevenly over time, which can affect door alignment.

If installing on thick carpet, place a carpet board beneath the cabinet. You may purchase one from Le Cache or have a local hardware store cut a 3/4-inch plywood board to the width x depth of the cabinet.

DOOR SWING CLEARANCE

When opened to 90 degrees, the doors extend approximately 1 inch beyond the width of the cabinet.

For cabinets without moldings, allow for this additional space when planning the installation. The extra clearance is required in front of the cabinet for the doors to open fully.

Can the Le Cache 1400 go flush against a wall, or does it need clearance on the sides and back?

A: The 1400 uses Le Cache’s SB/0 Technology with top-vent exhaust, which means it exhausts heat through the top of the cabinet rather than the rear or sides. That design allows it to sit completely flush against a wall with no side or rear clearance required — making it a practical choice for apartments, dining rooms or any space where you can’t recess a unit into cabinetry. It is a freestanding cabinet, not a true built-in, but the top-vent configuration removes the ventilation constraints that limit most freestanding coolers.

What are the electrical requirements, and will it run on a standard household circuit?

A: The 1400 runs on 115V AC / 60 Hz, which is a standard North American outlet. Startup amp draw depends on which CellarPro 1800-series cooling unit is installed: the 1800QTL-ECX draws 2.4A running / 14.2A at startup, the 1800QT-ECX draws 2.9A running / 20.1A at startup, and the 1800XT-ECX draws 3.0A running / 20.1A at startup. The high startup draw is typical of compressor-based systems — a dedicated 20-amp circuit is the safest approach to avoid tripping a shared breaker, particularly with the QT or XT units.

Does the 1400 actually control humidity, or just temperature?

A: It controls both. The cabinet includes adjustable humidity control managed through the CellarPro cooling unit — a meaningful distinction from wine coolers and standard refrigerators, which only regulate temperature and allow humidity to fluctuate in ways that dry out corks over time. For collections intended for long-term aging, humidity management is what separates a true wine cabinet from a beverage refrigerator.

Will the racking fit oversized bottles like large-format Burgundy or heavier Napa Cabernets?

A: The all-wood interlock racks are universal by design and accommodate oversized bottles. Racked slots are spaced at 3.8 inches and the double-deep configuration provides 160 individual racked slots plus bulk space for approximately 12 additional bottles stacked. Heavy-shouldered Bordeaux-style bottles and wider Burgundy shapes fit without modification — no need to remove or swap shelving.

What warranty does the 1400 come with, and what does it actually cover?

A: Le Cache provides a 2-year warranty on the entire cabinet and a separate 5-year warranty specifically on the CellarPro cooling unit. The longer coverage on the cooling system reflects that the compressor and electronics are the most mechanically demanding components. An optional extended warranty is also available for buyers who want longer-term coverage beyond the standard terms.

What cooling unit options are available, and how do they differ?

A: The 1400 is available with three CellarPro 1800-series ECX cooling units: the 1800QTL-ECX (lowest running amperage at 2.4A, quietest option), the 1800QT-ECX (2.9A running), and the 1800XT-ECX (3.0A running, highest cooling capacity). All three are made in the USA and include digital temperature and humidity control, Energy-Saver and Quick-Chill modes and audible and visual alarms. The QTL is the right choice for most living space installations where noise is a concern; the XT suits warmer ambient environments where greater thermal load capacity is needed.