Are wine cabinets just as effective as wine cellars in terms of storage?

In terms of effective storage the answer is yes. In terms of long term storage the answer is no. Wine cabinets are excellent short-term storage units. Typically they are no larger than a microwave oven. The basic purpose of the wine cabinet is to serve as a waiting room before the wine is served. The wine cabinet can only hold a limited amount of bottles. Wine cabinets are great if you are preparing for a party or something of that nature. But typically the wine cabinet works in conjunction with the wine cellar.