Introduction

There comes a point in time where many of us start to wonder whether we should splurge money on a wine fridge. In the back of your mind though, you’re asking yourself if you really need one, and will you benefit from it. Well, you’ll benefit if the wine benefits from it!

If you want to store wine for investment purposes, you’re better of keeping it ‘Off Site’ at a specially design facility made for wine storage purposely. Otherwise, if you’re looking to keep your wine at a consistent temperature, you will benefit from a top-rated wine refrigerator.

Keeping wine in cupboards or cabinets are fine if you’re going to drink it in the very near future but for long term, you really need to keep the temperature constant. Factors such as cold and humidity can affect how the wine will taste when you finally get to opening it.

Normal fridges are too cold, and cabinets can get too warm, so a wine refrigerator is an ideal solution. Before purchasing one though, I’d suggest having a read through our buying guide below. We’ll advise you what to look for.

Wine Refrigerator Buying Guide

So, you think this is going to be an easy decision, do you? Well, I’ll give you a few things to think about before you go and buy a wine fridge. I don’t intend to put doubt in your mind, just offer some friendly advice so you choose wisely.

Size to Fit

Wine fridges vary in shape and size, although they are nearly all square or rectangular. Consider firstly how much wine you currently own but also how much you plan to acquire in the future. Even though this wine fridge is for now, there’s no point in paying out hundreds of dollars on a product that only benefits you for a few months. If you plan on accumulating more bottles in the foreseeable future, you may want to think about a larger fridge.

On the other hand, you may live in an apartment and only require a wine fridge for a few special wine bottles you’ve put aside. This is also great as there are some very good 8 bottle wine fridges.

You may want to keep an eye out for wine fridges that feature a reversible door. Meaning you can place the door on the opposite side. This can be very handy if you only have one location that the fridge can go but the door swing would be impeded.

Wine Glass Shelves can also be a nice storage option.

Noise and Proximity

As with all fridges, they make a noise when in operation. It’s not normally heard through the day but at night when everything is quiet, you certainly will hear the noise of the fridge working. Even though this may be better than some alternative noises you may hear at night from another room, it’s still an annoyance! So, think about where the wine fridge will be placed, especially if you’re in a smallish apartment.

Controls for Perfection

All wine chillers come with some type of thermostat option, you need to decide which is right for you. Manual would be my suggestion but depending on the brand and style, it can sometimes take a bit of trial and error until you find the correct setting. Some others are much easier.

You may choose an automatic one-touch model, this may be better if purchasing your first wine fridge. The downside to this type of fridge is that, although you have pre-determined settings, you are limited on ONLY those settings. In saying that, most people would be fine with the fixed settings offered.

Temperature to Suit

Heat and humidity are not going to help keep your wine at the desired level so firstly, don’t keep your fridge near a heat exposed window. Secondly, many of these fridges come with an internal light. Make sure it’s a LED light as it won’t raise the temperature inside the fridge significantly.

Honestly, LED lights look so much better and can showcase your wine bottles nicely. Oh, and you can read your labels whilst the bottles are still in the fridge, bonus!

Keep Thieves Out, And the Kids!

Another feature to keep an eye out for is a door lock. You don’t need to come home to young Billy passed out on the sofa with your best scotch having only a dribble left! Many wine fridges come with a lock & key.

I hope this advice has given you something to contemplate. We’re here to help you make the correct decision when purchasing. The following is our list of the top-rated wine refrigerators currently on offer.

Perfect for those living in a smaller abode such as an apartment or villa. In fact, you may not have a huge amount of wine but what you do have is worth savouring. So, a 6-bottle wine chiller is an ideal fridge for this environment.

With compactness and energy efficiency in mind, you’ll love the cabinet with it’s sleek black effect and transparent glass door. It uses low energy consumption, has low sound and low vibration. Superb for a small area.

It can hold up to 6 standard wine bottles and has removable shelves constructed from steel. This is handy if the shelves require cleaning.

The controller is an electronic touchpad which has an LED temperature display. The thermostatic technology will allow you to serve chilled wine to your guests every time. You can set the temperature between 8℃ to 18℃ depending on the type of wine you’re storing.

Even the cheaper models like this can make you feel like you’ve bought something expensive. It looks amazing. This is also due to the interior light that can be switched on to showcase your beverages.

Weighing only 18lbs, it’s nice and easy to transport if needed.

Cool features include:

• LED temperature control
• See-through glass door
• Up to 6 bottles
• Interior light

Unfortunately, there is a downside when buying a cheaper model, but it may not affect you. The wine refrigerator does not come with a locking facility so little fingers can get in there. The other thing is that the door can only be placed on one side. It cannot be unhinged and attached to the other side.

Customers rate this 4.6 out of 5, very nice for a lower end wine fridge.

Moving up slightly and able to accommodate up to 8 bottles of your favourite wine, this fridge will ensure a constant temperature for you to enjoy. A similar advantage to the above model, it is freestanding and portable. The net weight is 20.9lbs (9.5kg) so you can shift this to another location with ease.

Unlike the above model, this cooler was built with zero vibration in mind, so the wine can be stored and aged accordingly. After all, you want your wines kept with its delicious flavor and aromas.

Set your fridge to the perfect temperature giving the ideal climate your wines require to age. Your temperature range of 8℃ to 18℃ (46° – 64°F) is fine to create the desired climate. The exterior digital touch controls will impress, as will the LCD temperature display.

To ensure an interior odour free environment, the fridge is insulated with solid polyurethane and sealed with a smoked Thermopane door. This will prevent the cork from drying out, thus stopping air to come in contact with the wine.

You’ll love the soft interior lighting which is controlled with a simple On/Off switch.

Enjoy funny wine statements with these hilarious wine glass sayings

You can use all these wine fridges for red or white wine giving them a much better aging process than general storage.

Features include:

• Zero vibration
• LCD display
• Touch controls
• Tempered smoked glass door
• Holds up to 8 bottles

f you want to prevent the wine cooler from a shorter lifespan, don’t place it in a garage. There’s a larger range of temperature changes which makes the wine fridge run too often.

Unfortunately, no lock is included with this fridge.

There’s many complementary reviews for this fridge. Click on the image to check them out. Customers have given this an average rating of 4.2 stars.

This is it, the time has come. You’ve been a wine enthusiast for a fair time now and your elite wine collection has really started to grow to the extent that you call it a portfolio! Extra room is not only required to fill these exemplary bottles but you no longer just want them stored in a general wine rack or liquor cabinet in the corner of the room.

You will love the storage capacity which can handle up to 124 standard 750ml bottles of your best vintage. That’s a lot of storage that will benefit from your new chiller!

Your wines require the right conditioning, constant temperature at exactly the right level. The strong fan-circulated cooling system allows for temperatures ranging from 5ºC – 18ºC (40ºF – 65ºF). You’ll notice this can chill the wine slightly more that the smaller units reviewed.

The soft touch digital control panel displays your desired thermal reading in bright LED figures. You can also remove the 4 shelves when cleaning time comes around.

As this is a free standing unit, you can maneuver this to various locations. Just make sure the fridge is empty when you attempt to do this! It is weighted at 128lbs (58kg) when empty so is fairly lightweight for its size.

Made from stainless steel, the style and sleek look of this wine chiller will really please. It’s a lovely piece of furniture.

Wonderful features include:

• Holds 124 wine bottles (750ml)
• Lockable
• Freestanding
• Digital display
• Compressor cooled

Another great factor this wine fridge encompasses is the locking facility. No more teenagers swiping your favorite vintage in the early hours of the morning!

I understand it’s also possible to purchase additional shelves which could be a great asset.

There’s only a few reviews but most are extremely happy with this wine fridge. Check them out for yourself.

Haven’t got quite enough wine bottles for a large storage fridge, but too many for a smaller one? Why not go for the in-between model that stores 28 bottles. In fact, this is one of my favorite wine chillers in terms of aesthetics. It looks marvelous and is lighter in color compared to the previous models on offer. And we all know looks is everything!

It also has a slightly larger temperature range than all others which you can vary between 39.2℉ – 64.4℉ (4° – 18 °C). The long life of the compression cooling certainly packs a punch with this one.

Too much excessive light can harm your wines, but the optimum amount desirable is achieved here. The LED display light enhances your exhibition of vintage vino.

As far as noise goes, you will be comfortable with the lack of it. It outputs 39db which is quiet for a fridge. Anything quieter than 40db is considered great. The quiet humming from this wine fridge will not keep you awake at night. The hangover will!

You will be the envy of your friend when you show off this gem of a wine chiller. The stylish stainless-steel design works really will with the glass door, allowing wonderful presentation of your collection.

Features:

• Quiet at 39db
• Stores up to 28 bottles
• Stylish sleek design
• 4° – 18 °C temperature range

Other notable features include removable/adjustable shelves, adjustable thermostat and has very high efficiency.

Note that some larger Pinot bottles are a tight squeeze between the wine racks. Not a problem if you don’t drink ‘my’ favorite Pinot!

This new model has only had 3 reviews as of writing this article, with two 5 stars & one 4-star rating. The only knock on it, is the Pinot issue. Go ahead and check out the reviews, click on the ‘Check it Out’ button.

Here it is, your entry level wine chiller offering the perfect amount of bottle storage to get you started. Not everyone needs a whopping 128 bottle wine fridge, those just starting to appreciate vino also require a great storage fridge.

Here you’ll get room for up to 12, 750ml bottles of your preferred wine to keep preserved. This version of wine fridge is equipped with a thermoelectric cooler giving precision climate conditions all day long. You’ll have an adjustable temperature control with built-in fan for circulation and ventilation grill. There’s also an LED light integrated into the unit. You’ve gotta have some lighting to show off your new display!

The polished chrome wine racks are removable and are presented in a wonderful way with vertical and horizontal storage. This is a nice idea, as it adds a little variety to your display. It’s also great for when you have an opened bottle. Simply place it back in the fridge upright, ready to use the next day.

The reinforced glass door ensures an air-tight seal trapping the air out and keeping all the goodness in!

Great starter features:

• Storage for 12 bottles
• Integrated LED light
• Air-tight glass door
• Thermo-Electric Cooling Technology
• Ultra-quiet operation

Some have noted that the temperature does not go below 50dF (10dC). It’s recommended some wines such as Pinot Gris and Italian whites get stored at approx. 8dC, but this may not be an issue for many.

The wine fridge has had a great response from customers with 80% giving a 5-star rating. Check the reviews out for yourself.

You’ve gone past the beginner and intermediate stage, you’re now looking at the ‘Mercedes Benz’ of wine storage coolers. Be prepared to get your credit card burning as this is going to cost you a small fortune. Then again, if you own this many exquisite vintage wines, the cost is probably just pocket change!

With storage space for 344 vino bottles you will be in your element. Wine means the world to you and what better way to display it off than in this multi zone stunner. That’s correct, you will get 4 separate cooling zones to allow different temperatures in each zone according to the wines requirements. The internal fans direct the cool air where it’s needed.

You’ll love the class of this fridge with its durable wooden shelves, all 28 of them! With 14 shelves on each side of the fridge, you’ll have friends visiting to taste your wines all the time. Each shelf (except the bottom) is constructed on telescoping roller assemblies allowing you to extend the shelves out for easy access to view or choose your next wine.

The fridge can be built into cabinetry for a seamless look if that is your preferred option. The venting at the front of the fridge is designed for this purpose in mind. Clever! However, it’s not necessary as the sleek design is gorgeous to look at and would be a great addition to any home.

You’ll be able to manage each zone of the fridge easily with the push-button controls. Be as precise as you like with the digital temperature control with increments of one degree. The display will show the current temperature once the pre-set temp has been set, allowing you to keep track of performance even easier.

So what else does the best wine fridge require? Yep, display lighting and you have that here in an exotic cool blue color. They look awesome behind the UV protected glass doors.

Special features include:

• 4 cooling zones
• 28 durable shelves
• 344 bottle capacities
• High performance
• LED Temp. display
• Front venting

You’ll also benefit from the security lock, so those pesky teenagers don’t get in.

We haven’t found a downside to this lovely wine fridge but please take note. It’s made up of 2 separate unites that are placed adjacent to each other. Each unit has 2 cooling zones, and each has its own power code. So, you will 2 power sockets.

Here’s a video showing the above & below Allavino FlexCount range.

A smaller version of the above wine fridge, this fridge holds up to 56 bottles of your favourite wine. It’s a great size for many that haven’t yet reached the great heights to use the 344-bottle model. With 5 shelves each accommodating up to 9 bottles each (reversed next to each other), and a bottom shelf that can hold 11 bottles, it would suit many a wine enthusiast.

If you decide that you want to use one of the shelves for Pinot or Champagne bottles, the capacity will be reduced due to the slightly larger bottle shape. The shelves themselves though are ingenious. Strong enough to support bulk storage without sagging, but thin enough to maximize space. They also slide out gracefully on ball-bearing tracks, giving you easy access to your collection. You’ll also like the wooden slats that cradle your bottles.

It features dual zones which you will really benefit from if you want to store red & white wine in the same fridge. The display features ‘red’, ‘white’ or ‘sparkling’ light for indication of each zone. What a clever idea.

If you’re an environmentalist, you will love the energy efficiency of this wine fridge. The state-of-the-art technology allows for 25% more energy efficient cooling and reduces noise and vibration. It uses fan-force to circulate the cooled air throughout the cabinet. A front ventilation is also a huge bonus if you intend to have this in-built into a cabinet.

The other thing I like about this wine fridge is, that if you leave it free standing, the top of the fridge is large enough to use as a serving area. Keep your scotch glasses & decanter here for display. Maybe even a few ornaments.

Nice features include:

• Dual zone
• Innovative shelf design
• 25% more energy efficient
• Front ventilation

Even though this fridge has had many great reviews in the past, there’s been a couple recently stating that the dual zone is not working as expected. Maybe they just received a faulty unit.

It’s also suggested that the bottom zone be slightly warmer than the top zone. The bottom shelves accommodate larger bottles, so they must assume this will suit your Pinot bottles. However, what about your Champagne bottles!

For all specifications and reviews, simply click on the image or the ‘Check it Out’ button.

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It won’t cost you anything extra.

Conclusion

So where are you placed when it comes to your wine portfolio? Do you require a smaller 8 or 12 bottle chillers, or are you more advanced and need the 124 or even the 344 cooler? These are questions only you can answer. All these wine fridges above have very good ratings, some have minor flaws but in generate they are our top-rated wine refrigerators for this year.

Decide your needs and wants, review how many wine bottles you have and are likely to acquire in the future and whether they all need storage in a wine fridge. Then go from there.

I hope you’ve benefited from our guide and reviews and happy fridge hunting.

If you’d like to share your favorite with us, please feel free to add to the discussion below.