In a Hurry ? Quick Look at our Top Picks:
It doesn’t matter whether you’re just a casual wine drinker, an esteemed collector, or a diehard aficionado – a wine cooler is designed for just about everyone in mind.
Regardless of where you sit on the spectrum of wine lovers, having a good cooler goes a long way in ensuring that your wine lasts for as long as possible and tastes as best as it possibly can. Trying to store your wine bottles without a proper cooler is a recipe for disaster that can lead to spoilage and will undeniably be a money sink.
Now one misconception commonly spread and held amongst many is that wine coolers are both expensive and unwieldy. This couldn’t be further from the truth. They are hugely affordable and come in a variety of shapes and sizes that’ll accommodate just about any household.
So, if you’re in the market for a decent small sized wine cooler, read on below to check our take on the hottest options out there.
Contents
- Best 12 Bottle Wine Cooler
- NutriChef 12 Bottle Wine Cooler Refrigerator
- Koolatron WC12 Thermoelectric 12-bottle Slim Countertop Wine Cellar
- Wine Enthusiast 12-Bottle Compact Wine Cooler
- Koolatron WC12-35D Black 12 Bottle Deluxe Wine Cellar
- CHENJIU 12 Bottle Thermoelectric Wine Cooler/Chiller
- CHENJIU 12 Bottle Dual Zone Thermoelectric Red & White Wine Cooler
- NewAir NWC023SS00 Single Zone Freestanding Wine Cooler
- NutriChef 18 Bottle Wine Cooler Refrigerator
- STAIGIS Wine Cooler – 15 Inch Wine Fridge for 30 Bottles
- Whynter BWR-171DS
- Best 12 Bottle Wine Cooler Buying Guide
- Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Best 12 Bottle Wine Cooler
NutriChef 12 Bottle Wine Cooler Refrigerator
Standing by far as one of the best coolers in the industry, NutriChef’s mini wine fridge offers a great blend between stylishness and functionality.
Equipped to store up to 12 bottles of either red or white wines, behind its reinforced glass door, your bottles will be securely stored in its airtight environment.
With its LED lighting system and fully controllable temperature settings, you can also adapt the fridge for either whites or reds exclusively as well. Don’t worry about it being an annoyance to the ears too.
It operates on almost silent levels thanks to its compressor cooling system. And if all this wasn’t enough, note that it comes with a full 1 year warranty so not only will your bottles be safe, but your cooler as well.
Koolatron WC12 Thermoelectric 12-bottle Slim Countertop Wine Cellar
Built with the latest thermoelectric technology and combined with both a slick yet durable design, this cooler will store and protect up to 12 bottles of wine without issue.
You’ll also find the shelves totally adjustable to your preferences as they feature removable wire shelves – those of you with more unorthodox collections will stand to benefit here.
Temperature control is made a breeze with its intuitive knob that’ll let you set temperatures from as low as 46 degrees F to as high as 66 degrees F and don’t worry about your collection going unnoticed. With its soft inner lighting system, it will be visible to any passing eye.
Wine Enthusiast 12-Bottle Compact Wine Cooler
Easily capable of carrying up to 12 Bordeaux-sized wine bottles and ideal for those who aren’t too fussed about getting a glass door, the Wine Enthusiast Cooler will be great for you.
Sure, on one front you may be giving up a tiny bit of aesthetic utility with its lack of a see-through door, but you’ll be getting a far more protective product as a result.
Its metal racks on the inside are also extremely sturdy and will hold any bottle securely and with its effective yet energy efficient cooling system, your bottles will be brought out to their best possible states. It’s not big at all too, measuring out at 19 x 14 x 20 inches so even in the more economically sized of rooms, this cooler should have no problem fitting in.
Using it is super easy as well thanks to its digital touchscreen interface and should you run into any severe problems, note that its fully backed with 1 year of warranty as well.
Koolatron WC12-35D Black 12 Bottle Deluxe Wine Cellar
If you’re looking for something aesthetically pleasing to the eye yet flexible enough to match any room’s interior decor, Koolaton’s 12 Bottle Cellar is right for you.
With its double tempered glass door, you can view and store your bottles even under sunshine and not have to worry about both heat and UV rays from causing any spoilage. You’ll also find a pretty good looking design on the inside thanks to its lighting system and wooden shelves that brings out the best in any bottle’s visual appeal.
Its cooling system is fantastic too – being both near silent and vibration free – and with its temperature range spanning from 46 F to 66 F, you shouldn’t have no problem storing reds, whites, or anything else for that matter like beer and soft drinks.
CHENJIU 12 Bottle Thermoelectric Wine Cooler/Chiller
Though ChenJiu may be a relative newcomer to the wine cooler market and you might not have heard of them before, you can rest assured that they produce quality products for those looking for it.
Coming with a 33 liter capacity that’ll accommodate 12 bottles without breaking a sweat, this slick yet compact cooler will fit in just about any room. It also is relatively short and accordingly, compared to other taller variants so storage is made easy here.
You’ll find that its glass door features double glazing. This means that not only will it ward off the occasional bump, but it’ll also eliminate the threats of UV rays which will pay dividends in wine quality over the long run.
Controlling the temperatures on the inside is made easy and effective to due to its interactive touch panel and modern in-built air circulation system.
So, if you’re looking for something stylish yet compact, you cannot go wrong with this pick.
CHENJIU 12 Bottle Dual Zone Thermoelectric Red & White Wine Cooler
If the craftmanship of ChenJiu appeals to you but the lack of advanced features doesn’t, consider getting their next-up-the-line wine cooler. Featuring a more vertical cooler, this slick looking option will make a fine addition to any household with its 12 bottle loadable capacity.
With its built-in LED lighting system along with double layered glass, aluminum door frame, and steel wire rack, not only will your bottles be out of harm’s away, they’ll also find themselves in the spotlight of any passing eyes. UV light is also made a non-issue thanks to its double glazing but best of all, its temperature controls allows you to not just optimize it for either whites or reds but both!
This is made easy thanks to its dual zone function which will allow you to set two different temperatures on two sections of the cooler, offering you a huge amount of flexibility when it comes to storage.
NewAir NWC023SS00 Single Zone Freestanding Wine Cooler
Featuring some of the best compressor cooling units in the market, the NewAir is built to absolutely preserve all the subtle flavors and smells that wine is often associated with.
In its more than adequately sized container, you can store up to 23 full sized Bordeaux bottles while keeping your mind at ease knowing that both the accidental knock and perils of sunlight are thwarted.
Reading the labels on the bottles is made easy too due to its soft internal illumination and with its freestanding design, storing this cooler will be a seamless experience in any room regardless of available space.
NutriChef 18 Bottle Wine Cooler Refrigerator
Boasting a very large capacity of 50.9 liters that will store up to 18 wine bottles, the NutriChef wine cooler is for anyone who is looking for something powerful and sizeable.
With its advanced circulation system powered by a powerful ventilation fan, your bottles will stay at their peak quality for the long years to come. Plus, it operates on ultra-quiet levels, so it won’t get in the way of daily life. Temperature is also easy to manipulate with its intuitive controls and better yet, you can set up to two separate temperature zones in this single cooler with its touch screen panel.
Note that it is freestanding in design so it will be great for either on the floor placement or even as a countertop feature. With its chrome wine racks and stainless steel door, with proper care, this cooler may even outlive your wine bottles!
STAIGIS Wine Cooler – 15 Inch Wine Fridge for 30 Bottles
If you’re in the market for a high-capacity cooler that can store up to 30 bottles with ease, look no further. The STAIGIS will keep just about any type of wine in an ideal environment with perfect humidity and temperature levels that are fully adjustable from 40 to 66 F with its digital control interface.
It’s still relatively compact despite its large capacity at 22.4 x 14.9 x 33.9 inches and with its sleek design and concealed handle, adding a drop of newfound elegance to any room is made easy here.
Whynter BWR-171DS
Measuring out at 23 x 12 x 34.5 inches, the Whynter stands as a great pick if you’re looking for a cooler that balances capacity and compatibility. Configurable to operate as either a free-standing or built-in installation, adapting this cooler to fit into any environment is a hugely straightforward process. It also features two separate temperature zones across its 17 bottle capacity allowing you to store both reds and whites simultaneously and with its door-opening warning system and stainless steel frame, this is a cooler that is truly built with the consumer in mind.
Best 12 Bottle Wine Cooler Buying Guide
Sunlight
One of the biggest dangers to wine are the sun’s UV rays. Not only is it a source of heat but it also causes a whole host of negative impacts on bottles of wine. This leads to spoilage and greatly reduces the taste and quality of the wine. Most coolers come with glass doors that specifically protect against this but not all – just ensure you keep this in mind before purchasing any cooler.
Size
There’s no point in getting a cooler if it doesn’t fit in your intended room! Thankfully, coolers come in all shapes and sizes. This means that though many will hold the same amount of wine, you’ll be able to find coolers that are wider yet shorter or the opposite depending on your preferences. Just don’t forget to make some accurate measurements prior.
Temperature Control
A good wine cooler is one that provides the temperature you want on a consistent basis. Now all the coolers on our list are guaranteed to do so with minimal temperature fluctuations but depending on the wine you store; you should always do your due diligence.
For instance, if you intend on storing whites and reds concurrently, looking for something that can provide dual temperature zones.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Are wine coolers better than fridges?
One common saying regarding wine goes as follows: wine is best served cooled, not chilled. This is the problem with fridges – they are often too cold. Any wine kept in such an environment risks losing its original flavor due to diverging from ideal temperatures.
This is to be expected after all as fridges are meant to store much more than just wine like meat and vegetables. A wine cooler on the other hand is not only dedicated to storing just wine bottles but is set to ideal temperatures and thus are always ready to serve whenever you fancy.
Do humidity levels matter when storing wine?
Absolutely! The ideal humidity level for wine is around fifty to seventy percent. This doesn’t mean that going outside this ideal will immediately destroy your wine. It just means that in the long run (i.e. over days), it risks ruining your bottles! Just stick to roughly this range and you should be fine.
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