“The correct temperature for wine (especially red) is not the same as your fridge or your room, so having a designated fridge for wine makes sure you can enjoy the proper flavors,” says Julie Sanfilippo of Cedar House Design Collective. “I also love that wine fridges mean the space in my regular fridge isn’t being taken up, leaving room for plenty of food.” To find the best wine fridges, we researched a variety of picks, keeping in mind each wine fridge’s size, capacity, temperature range, and price point. With those factors in mind, our top pick is the NewAir Freestanding Wine Cooler and Refrigerator, which features dual temperature zones and an extremely quiet compressor fan. Here are the best water filter pitchers. Keep in Mind: It might hold less than the 28-bottle capacity depending on the specific sizes. The interior comes with room for up to 28 wine bottles and features shelves that are both adjustable and removable, making it easy to organize your wine collection. This is a simple, plug-and-play solution to give any growing wine collection a well-deserved upgrade. The dual-zone cooling system allows you to individually adjust the temperatures on the top/bottom racks. The upper zone ranges from 40 to 55°F for white wine, while the lower zones will keep reds between 50 to 65°F. This wine fridge also comes with a built-in fan to help keep the temperature consistent. While some refrigerator fans can be quite noisy, we appreciate that the compressor on this wine fridge is extremely quiet, which gives you the flexibility to set it up anywhere in your home without worrying about disturbing others with noise. Other things to love about this wine fridge include an insulated glass door that not only keeps outside moisture from sneaking into the unit but also has a protective coating to block UV rays that can be harmful to your wine’s flavor profile. A soft LED light inside the unit beautifully illuminates your collection without emitting heat that can further compromise the wine’s flavor profile. Price at the time of publish: $345 Dimensions: 16.93 x 18.90 x 33.46 inches | Capacity: 28 bottles | Zones: Dual zone | Temperature Range: 40 to 55°F (upper zone); 50 to 66°F(lower zone) | Energy Star Certified: No Keep in Mind: When stocking this fridge with warm bottles, it will take some time for them to cool down to your desired temperature. The NutriChef Electric Wine Cooler is a freestanding unit that can be used either on the floor or countertop. Inside, you get four polished chrome wine racks and one bottom-standing rack that can collectively store up to 15 bottles. There’s also an adjustable temperature setting that allows you to chill your wines anywhere between 41 to 64°F. Some users mentioned that it can take bottles a bit of time to get down to their desired temperature, so you will want to make sure you’re giving your bottles plenty of time to cool inside your wine fridge before you pour yourself a glass. One of our favorite features of this wine fridge is the child safety auto-lock, which automatically locks itself 20 seconds after the last time a button is pressed. This offers great peace of mind if you have little ones in the house. From the digital soft-touch control panel, you can also adjust the temperature for the unit, and control the interior LED brightness. Keep in mind that this wine fridge only offers one temperature zone (instead of two like some of the other options on the list), so you may want to use it for only reds or whites. Price at the time of publish: $237 Dimensions: 13.6 x 17.7 x 27.2 inches | Capacity: 15 bottles | Zones: Single zone | Temperature Range: 41 to 64°F | Energy Star Certified: Yes Keep in Mind: Blue LED lights are installed on the wine fridge ceiling, so you won’t get that pretty illumination when the top racks are full. Modeled after the temperature and humidity of the original underground wine cellar design, this wine fridge features two, insulated UV-resistant glass doors, an interior temperature range that can be adjusted between 41-72°F, and auto humidity control that keeps levels between 50-80%. This range of features allows you to customize the perfect environment for your reds and whites, whether you are planning for quick serving or long-term aging. The grooved shelves are adjustable and removable, while a uniquely designed compressor features vibration absorption to minimize any movement due to noise or tremors that can accelerate wine aging or otherwise damage your bottles. To complement its sleek and modern design, this wine fridge also features one-touch digital controls to adjust the temperature, and lighting, or to turn it on and off the unit. Keep in mind that while interior LED lights offer gorgeous illumination, the placement of the lights (interior ceiling) causes them to be blocked if your fridge is full to capacity, thus blocking illumination. Price at the time of publish: $1,299 Dimensions: 23.5 x 27.2 x 50 inches | Capacity: 110 bottles | Zones: Single | Temperature Range: 41-78°F | Energy Star Certified: No Keep in Mind: It’s a little on the noisy side. The space-saving design fits well into any kitchen or dining room aesthetic, with modern black trim and chrome racks. The clear triple-pane glass door keeps interior temperature and humidity at optimal levels, while a digital control panel on the exterior of the unit lets you adjust the thermostat without having to open your wine fridge. While this wine fridge is small, the compressor is a little on the noisy side. You’ll want to keep this in mind when deciding where to place it in your home. Price at the time of publish: $168 Dimensions: 21.8 x10.2 x18.5 inches | Capacity: Eight bottles | Zones: Single | Temperature Range: 45-65 °F | Energy Star Certified: Yes Keep in Mind: The wine rack cannot be adjusted, only removed, which may limit the number of bottles that can be stored at one time. This pick from Colzer features a sleek stainless steel-trimmed design that will match any set of modern appliances. The size is also compact enough to fit into most kitchens. Inside, there’s room for up to 30 bottles of wine, along with a wide temperature adjustable range between 41-72°F, and precise humidity control. Like Colzer’s larger 110-bottle model, this wine fridge also features a vibration absorption system that reduces the impact of tremors and noise in the surrounding environment, which can accelerate the wine aging process, causing acuity and impacts on flavor. The digital touch controls are also easy to operate, allowing you to seamlessly adjust settings or reset temperatures after unexpected power outages. Price at time of publish: $600 Dimensions: 15 x 22 x 32 inches | Capacity: 30 bottles | Zones: Single | Temperature Range: 41-72°F | Energy Star Certified: No Keep in Mind: Space for champagne or rosé bottles is limited to the very bottom rack. This pick by Kalamera offers space for up to 46 bottles, along with two individually controlled temperature zones. The upper zone is ideal for chilling white wines, ranging from 40-50°F, while the lower zone will keep your favorite reds between 50-60°F. To set your desired temperature, simply use the LED control display on the outside of the fridge. We also love that this fridge has a temperature memory function that will restore the previously set temperature in the event of a power failure. To ensure your wine is safe and secure, this wine fridge is outfitted with wooden shelves flanked with removable stoppers that will keep bottles from falling. Other things to love about this wine fridge: a two-layer tempered glass door to keep inside temperatures stable. There is also an automatic defrosting function that kicks in every six hours. Keep in mind that if you’re a fan of champagne or rosé, you may find this fridge lacks adequate space for these bottles, which tend to be wider than your standard wine bottle. Price at time of publish: $959 Dimensions: 22.4 x 23.8 x 33.2 inches | Capacity: 46 bottles | Zones: Dual | Temperature Range: Upper zone 40-50°F. Lower zone 50-66°F | Energy Star Certified: N/A Keep in Mind: You’ll want to maintain the doors locked to ensure the fridge is closed properly. This pick by Lanbo is the perfect addition to any home bar, family room, or game room, measuring just 33 inches high and 23 inches wide. Inside, there’s room for 18 bottles and 55 cans so you’ll always be stocked with drink options for your friends and family. There are also two temperature zones for added convenience. The left zone ranges from 41-64°F, while the right zone ranges from 39-50°F. The powerful compressor keeps the inside of this wine and beverage fridge at optimal temperatures while preventing hot spots and uneven cooling. Keep in mind that for best performance, you’ll want to keep the doors locked to ensure the inside of the fridge maintains ideal temperatures. When it comes to ease of use, this wine fridge doesn’t disappoint. Simply set and monitor your temperature via the touch control panel and digital display. The two-door design also makes it convenient to access your favorite drink without having to open the entire fridge. Price at time of publish: $849 Dimensions: 23.6 x 23.4 x 33.9 inches | Capacity: 18 bottles and 55 cans | Zones: Dual | Temperature Range: Left zone 41-64°F. Right zone 39-50°F | Energy Star Certified: No Keep in Mind: This fridge does not have a thermostat. In addition to chilling your wine, a handy little wine fridge like this pick from Magic Chef also keeps your wine in sight, so you can display your hobby with all your houseguests. This single-zone wine cooler offers space for up to six bottles and features removable chrome racks designed to hold bottles securely and prevent them from rolling. Interior temperature can be adjusted between 46-64°F via the electronic control panel. Keep in mind this unit doesn’t display the current temperature, so you’ll have to use a separate thermometer to ensure the fridge is maintaining your desired temperature. We love that this fridge is small enough to fit on most countertops, so apartment dwellers can still enjoy the benefits of a bigger wine fridge. It also features adjustable leveling legs for staying balanced on uneven surfaces. Price at time of publish: $77 Dimensions: 20.1 x 10.9 x15 inches | Capacity: Six bottles | Zones: Single | Temperature Range: 46-64°F | Energy Star Certified: No
What to Know About Wine Fridges Before Shopping
Size & Capacity
Wine fridges are available in a variety of different sizes. “They are generally compact, however, you can get any size that fits your desired space,” says Hailey Bohlman, founder and CEO of Cork & Fizz. “Some can hold up to 1,000 bottles, while others are small enough to fit on your countertop.” Deciding what size is right for you will depend on the size of your personal wine collection and how much available space you have in your home. “Consider, do you have a collection or just a few bottles?” Sanfillippo says. Most fridges give you a bottle count of how many they hold, but Sanfilippo notes that for comfortable use it’s probably half of that number. Sanfilippo is also a fan of wine fridges you can keep outside your kitchen. “When they are set up in a different area, people don’t have to come into the kitchen to get a drink while you are prepping other food, allowing for better flow for gatherings.”
Temperature
According to Bohlman, you should be storing your wine between 45 and 65°F. If you are storing a variety of reds and whites, you may want to consider a wine fridge with dual zones, which offer two independently controlled temperature areas for different types of wine. “A wine fridge also keeps in the humidity which helps keep the cork from dying out,” Bohlman says. “If the cork gets too dry, it shrinks and lets oxygen into the bottle which destroys the wine.”
Energy Star Certification
Like standard refrigerators and other large household appliances, wine fridges can consume a lot of energy. Look for an Energy Star product, which has the same performance as other standard products, only they use less energy. To earn Energy Star status, a product must meet strict criteria set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency or the U.S. Department of Energy.
Your Questions, Answered
How much does a wine fridge cost?
Wine fridges typically range in cost from $200 to $1,000 for a refrigerator that holds under 100 bottles. Small countertop wine fridges that hold 6-8 bottles may be less expensive, sometimes costing under $100, whereas large models with greater capacity than 100 bottles will be much more expensive, sometimes costing over $10,000.
What is the standard size of a wine fridge?
Under-cabinet wine fridges are typically 24 inches deep (the depth of your counter) and come in a variety of widths and heights. “The most common is 24 inches wide, but you can find them in 15 inches, 18 inches, and even wider 30 inches options,” says Sanfilippo. You can expect the room to store anywhere from 20-30 bottles in this size wine fridge. Smaller wine fridges that hold about 12 bottles are roughly 10 x 20 x 25 inches.
Do wine fridges use a lot of electricity?
Depending on the size of the wine fridge you purchase this will vary. Some wine fridges are labeled as energy efficient, so this is something you’ll want to consider if you’re concerned about the amount of energy your wine fridge will consume. “Being aware of fridge placement can also help reduce costs,” says Bohlman. “Keep your wine fridge in a cooler place out of direct sunlight, and do not push it flush to the wall (this allows airflow). Other things like keeping the door closed and maintaining the appropriate amount of bottles inside can help reduce the cost to run the fridge.”
Who We Are
This article was written by Adria Greenhauff, who has been writing about food and lifestyle topics for over a decade. To come up with this list, she researched various wine fridges and interviewed Julie Sanfilippo of Cedar House Design Collective and Hailey Bohlman, founder and CEO of Cork & Fizz.
