A countertop wine cooler is a great storage solution for those with smaller kitchens or dining rooms. These compact wine fridges allow you to maintain your favourite reds and whites at ideal temperature conditions, preserving flavours and aromas so you get the best possible results when it comes to tasting. You will find a wide variety of countertop wine fridges on the market today, ranging from compact coolers with minimal storage capacity to substantial larger models that are perfect for housing growing collections? Need a little inspiration to find the perfect one for your needs? We have put together a handy guide on what to look for when searching for the best countertop wine cooler on the market.
Dimensions
If you are interested in purchasing a countertop wine cooler, chances are you have limited space in your kitchen to house one. Even the smallest kitchen can still comfortably accommodate a wine cooler, however. You will find a variety of shapes and sizes available, ranging from compact cubes to narrow fridges that will house a respectable line-up of crisp whites and complex reds. Square-shaped coolers are the best option for those with limited counter space and units overhead, while narrow vertical fridges provide an ideal alternative.
How Many Bottles Can I Store?
Most countertop wine coolers are relatively limited when it comes to storage capacity. The average number of bottles you are likely to be able to store is around a dozen. However, you will also find countertop-friendly fridges that will house 18 bottles or more. Storage capacity will ultimately depend on the shape and size of the model you pick. Even smaller fridges will include removable racks that can be taken out to optimise storage capacity. This is not always advised with smaller fridges however, as it will compromise air circulation and limit the user-friendliness of your cooler.
Thermostats & Controls
Almost every countertop wine cooler on the market will only offer a single cooling zone, usually with a range of between 40 and 60 degrees Fahrenheit. However, some wine fridges will offer a much tighter range than this. The vast majority of countertop wine coolers should offer enough of a range in temperature to properly store red and white wines, although they are not the best solution fr those looking to preserve and mature wines for longer spells.
User-friendly controls are a standard feature to shop for. Touchscreen controls or soft-touch buttons will make adjusting your thermostat straightforward. An easy to read LCD display will also let you know the operating temperature of your wine cooler at any given moment. A thermostat with a memory function is also a must if you can find it, while auto-lock functionality will ensure your settings are never changed accidentally.
LED Lighting
A decent enough countertop wine fridge should include LED lighting as standard. Most compact countertop fridges will include internal lighting that is triggered whenever you open the door, but many models will allow you to keep the light on permanently for an eye-catching display of your collection.
Product Reviews
Looking to build an impressive wine collection in your kitchen? Read on for our pick of some of the best countertop wine coolers currently available on the market.
[easyazon_link identifier=”B07ZQLZQ2B” locale=”US” tag=”12×75-20″]15 Bottle Wine Cooler Refrigerator[/easyazon_link]
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This NutriChef wine cooler is a great option for those looking to keep a wine collection on their kitchen countertops. This compact wine chiller offers a generous 15-bottle capacity. Inside there are four individual wine racks that can be removed and reorganised at will. These chrome wine racks are also contoured for secure storage of your precious reds and whites, while the bottom standing shelf offers an easy way to showcase the very best vintages in your collection. This fridge offers a decent temperature range of 41 to 64 degrees Fahrenheit, which is sufficient to properly store and mature a good selection of reds and whites.
Digital soft-touch controls can be found on the outside of the fridge itself, allowing you to make quick adjustments to temperature. Your desired temperatures are clearly visible thanks to the bright LCD readings. As the soft-touch controls are on the outside of the fridge, you will not have to constantly open the door to access them, allowing you to main internal temperatures to ensure your wine is kept at ideal conditions. An interior LED light is also included, allowing you to see exactly what you have stored at any given time, even in the dark.
[easyazon_link identifier=”B085DX3RGH” locale=”US” tag=”12×75-20″]18 Bottle Wine Cooler Refrigerator[/easyazon_link]
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This NutriChef wine cooler is a great choice for those searching for a countertop model that still offers an impressive amount of storage capacity. This compact fridge offers storage for up to 18 individual bottles of wine, with four contoured shelves that can be readily removed and reorganised so you can store larger bottles if you wish. The bottom standing rack also provides you with a convenient way to showcase your favourite bottles. A built-in circulation fan and ventilation grill ensures your wines can be stored for as long as you wish. This is essential if you are looking to mature premium reds to develop flavours and intensify aromas.
Temperatures can be easily adjusted thanks to the touchscreen controls. A temperature range of 41 to 64 degrees Fahrenheit provides you with plenty of scope for storing a wide variety of reds and whites. You also have the option of displaying temperature in both Celsius and Fahrenheit. An integrated LED light can also be activated at will, allowing you to enjoy instant visibility of your entire collection. The freestanding design of this fridge allows it to be stored securely on any counter, while it can also be moved to the floor if you wish to reorganise your kitchen.
[easyazon_link identifier=”B001NQEZ2O” locale=”US” tag=”12×75-20″]16 Bottles Thermoelectric Wine Cooler[/easyazon_link]
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Looking for a simple and low-profile fridge for storing your wine collection? This thermoelectric model is definitely worth looking into. This compact wine cooler is a great choice for those with smaller kitchens and fewer free surfaces, with its smaller design allowing it to be stored just about anywhere. This wine cooler provides space for up to 16 individual bottles of your choice. This cooler includes three removable wine racks made from polished chrome, each featuring contours that ensure your bottles remain firmly in place at all times.
This thermoelectric wine cooler is surprisingly efficient, meaning it will consume less electricity than larger models and produce less operational noise. The thermostat can be adjusted from 52 to 64 degrees Fahrenheit via the touch-sensitive controls at the top of the unit. This range should provide you with ideal conditions for storing a good variety of red wines, although if your collection contains a significant amount of whites or sparkling wines, you should look for a fridge that offers a lower temperature range.
[easyazon_link identifier=”B001VKY8H4″ locale=”US” tag=”12×75-20″]Koolatron WC08 Thermoelectric 8-Bottle Countertop Wine Cellar[/easyazon_link]
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This Koolatron WC08 wine cooler is one of the smallest options in this list, but offers some impressive technical spec that sets it apart from the competition. The compact nature of this wine fridge makes it an appealing choice for those with considerably smaller kitchens. It will sit neatly in small nooks and crannies and will sit comfortably alongside other appliances without you having you to sacrifice essential counter space. This small wine cooler offers enough space for you to store up to eight bottles of your favourite wine. Three wire wine racks are included for more secure storage of your bottles, while each one can be easily removed if you want to reorganise the interior your fridge.
Thermoelectric cooling technology ensures optimal temperature conditions are maintained at all times. This cooling system also makes this fridge a very energy-efficient option, while also ensuring minimal vibration and operational noise. A double-paned glass door provides superior insulation and ensures external heat sources do not penetrate through into the interior of your fridge. User-friendly digital controls on the outside of the fridge also allow you to make quick adjustments, without having to open the fridge and disturb your wine collection.
[easyazon_link identifier=”B00QETWTLE” locale=”US” tag=”12×75-20″]Dometic MF-6W Silver 6-Bottle Wine Cooler[/easyazon_link]
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This Dometic RV wine chiller from Waeco is the way to go if you have very little available space in your kitchen. However, despite its small stature, this wine cooler certainly delivers when it comes to reliable temperature control and first-rate functionality. This fridge offers space for up to six individual bottles of wine, with three removable wine racks with contours to ensure your bottles remain firmly in place once stored away. Each of these shelves can be easily removed, allowing you to reorganise your fridge and provide additional space for larger bottles when the ned arises. This fridge also offers an impressive temperature range that actually exceeds some of the spec of more expensive models. You can adjust the thermostat from 41 to 68 degrees Fahrenheit, which will prove sufficient for most varieties of red and white wine.
This compact wine cooler is an energy-efficient option. Not only will temperatures remain consistent for optimal storage conditions, you will minimal noise and no vibrations. This is perfect for those with tiny kitchens looking for a low-profile and discreet storage solution for a small wine collection. This chiller is also very user-friendly, with soft-touch button controls and a highly-visible LCD screen on hand for when it comes to adjusting the thermostat. A powerful internal light also allows you to show off your wine collection in style.
[easyazon_link identifier=”B087WN54RR” locale=”US” tag=”12×75-20″]24 Bottle Wine Cooler Refrigerator[/easyazon_link]
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Those with a little more space to work with in their kitchen might want to look into this double wine fridge from NutriChef. Provided you have the surface area to accommodate it, this wine fridge is the way to go for those with a broader range of wines. This fridge offers space for up to 24 individual bottles of wine, with contoured wire racks on hand to ensure secure storage. These racks can also be removed whenever you wish, allowing you to reorganise your fridge to provide space for larger bottles. Compressor fan cooling technology ensures temperatures remain consistent throughout the fridge interior. An integrated circulation fan also helps in this regard, making this fridge a good bet for those who want to store certain vintages for many years.
Temperatures can be easily adjusted via the touchscreen controls, with an LCD display giving you exact readings of chosen settings. The thermostat offers a temperature range of 41 to 64 degrees Celsius, making this fridge ideal for storing white and red wines alike. You can also choose to display temperature in Celsius if you prefer. The robust freestanding design o this fridge makes it suitable for any kitchen, while also allowing you to move it and place it on the floor if you ever wish to rearrange your kitchen. Although a little more expensive than other options in this list, this is definitely worth considering if you are a true wine lover looking to expand their collection.
[easyazon_link identifier=”B07ZQHCPNX” locale=”US” tag=”12×75-20″]12 Bottle Wine Cooler Refrigerator[/easyazon_link]
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This tall and narrow wine cooler from NutriChef is worth looking into if you have less counter space to work with. Offering space to store up to 12 bottles of your favourite wine, this fridge is both functional and stylish. Advanced compressor cooling technology makes this cooler a particularly efficient choice, maintaining optimal conditions for storing and maturing your selection of wines. A built-in circulation fan and ventilation grill further ensure consistent storage conditions, while also eliminating the chance of your fridge overheating. This fridge features five individual contoured storage racks that can all be removed if you wish to reorganise, while the bottom standing rack allows you to display your favourite vintages with the label showing.
This NutriChef fridge also provides you with a broad temperature range of 41 to 64 degrees Fahrenheit. This more than sufficient for storing an assortment of red and white wine varieties. If you prefer sparkling wine, you may wish to take out your bottles and chill at a lower temperature in a conventional refrigerator prior to serving. The touch-button controls and LCD display are particularly user-friendly, allowing quick and simple adjustments in moments. A definite contender for the most stylish fridge in this list, this NutriChef wine cooler will make a fine addition to any contemporary kitchen.
