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As much as I would love to have a charming, ancient wine cellar to call my own, for most urban dwellers and those with limited space, that’s not a possibility. However, for us wine connoisseurs in smaller spaces, there is a great alternative: the wine fridge.
Meeting form with function, these compact beauties offer precise temperature control designed to cater to the discerning palate.
There are tons of different options and designs out there, so I’ve gone ahead and made things easier by reviewing the 7 top mini wine fridges currently on the market. Let’s dive right in!
Wine Enthusiast Countertop Wine Refrigerator at a Glance:
Capacity: 6 bottles
Size: 9.75″ x 20″ x 15″
Color: Black and Silver
Controls: Touchscreen
Whether you’re a wine enthusiast like me or simply enjoy having an array of bottles to offer your guests when they come over, this first product is an excellent option. It’s sleek, modern, looks professional, yet boasts a compact footprint for smaller homes and apartments and easy-to-use features that anyone can understand. If that sounds like something up your alley, take a good look at the Wine Enthusiast 6-Bottle Countertop Wine Refrigerator! Contrary to what many many think, you actually don’t need a lot of space to have a solid wine collection – you just need to be smart about it! This sleek fridge is just a bit wider than a foot and weighs only 8 pounds, which makes it super easy and convenient to move around your kitchen or apartment. I actually ended up putting this one on my kitchen counter as it didn’t take up much more space than my Ninja and was so nice to have my wine easy to reach. The temperature control is all digital and touchscreen, so simply press to move the temperature up or down – it’s that easy. With three shelves that fit 2 bottles each, it’s simple to fit 6 bottles and is a great value for what you receive!
If the previous fridge sounded interesting to you but you’re looking for something with a bigger capacity, look no further than this next one! The Koolatron 12 Bottle Dual Zone Wine Fridge definitely steps things up a notch in every way, making it perfect for condos and apartments to game rooms and RVs. It comes in a couple of different applications, from a vertical tower of 7 bottles to a bigger fridge of up to 24 bottles. I purchased the regular 12-bottle fridge, which comes with dual-zone cooling: the upper and lower zones each hold 6 regular bottles at the best storage temperature for them. Similar to the first fridge, it also comes with intuitive touch screen controls so you can change the temperature and also turn the interior light on or off without needing to open the door. I also love that it has a UV protective glass door, so I can place it near my balcony without worrying about the sun harming my wine. The cooling is very efficient and has ended up being one of the quietest wine fridges I’ve had the pleasure of keeping in my home. With removable racks, I’ve actually started customizing it a bit to my needs, keeping some soda waters and mixers underneath my wine bottles to double its functionality.
Perhaps you’re living with someone who loves their beer, or maybe you’re someone who loves a good wine just as much as cracking open a can of beer. Whatever the case may be, I know that you’re going to appreciate this next refrigerator. The Antarctic Star 12 Bottle 48 Can Wine Cooler is straightforward and one of the best value products I’ve seen of its kind, but still comes with premium features that you’d see in higher-end coolers. I’ll start out by saying that given its larger capacity it is more difficult to move around and not ideal for placing on a countertop – rather it needs a dedicated spot on the floor. However, it’s perfect if you have a more extensive wine collection or want to keep your beer cool, as well. The touchscreen is easy to use, the soft blue LED interior lighting shows your drinks off in a wonderful way without risking damage, and the air tight seal helps to keep things at the right temperature and humidity level. The all-black design is sleek and goes with literally anything, while the horizontal racking makes things even more space-efficient and looks well-kept. Oh, and if you’d like, you have an interchangeable right and left door configuration opens up your storage options.
NewAir Compact Wine Cooler Refrigerator at a Glance:
Capacity: 16 bottles
Size: 1.6 cu ft
Color: Black and Stainless Steel
Controls: Digital Thermostat
I love this fridge so much in every way, but mostly in the way that it will instantly elevate the way your bar or kitchen looks. It’s simple yet elegant, efficient yet still listed at an affordable price for what you get in return. The NewAir Compact Wine Cooler Refrigerator is everything you could want in a wine fridge and more! Coming in a sophisticated black-and-stainless-steel design, it will go with any existing decor while making things look upscale and well-organized. The sleek black wine racks are almost unnoticeable with the soft illumination, and the configuration makes them easy to remove and load up. The insulated, double-pane, UV-protected glass door looks almost a bit tinted, keeping beverages protected from harmful UV rays. This is the heaviest of the bunch, but it’s very durable and an excellent semi-permanent addition to any wine connoisseur’s collection. However, I like that the built-in fan makes it easy to regulate the temperature, however, the easy-touch digital thermostat is also straightforward to use. Installation is a breeze as well – simply plug it in and that’s it!
In the past, it was not exactly easy being able to store 18 bottles of wine at home without a proper cellar dedicated to it. However, there are luckily fridges like the Mojgar Freestanding Wine Fridge with Digital Temperature Control today that allow you to do exactly that – perfect for the wine lover! You don’t have to worry about your wine going bad after entertaining, and you’re no longer restricted to a small selection thanks to this ample space. I feel like 18 bottles of wine allows you to have a selection of everything: roses, champagne, reds, whites, and even beer and mixers! It’s large enough that you really do have quite a bit of versatility here, along with adjustable shelves and high-quality metal racks that accommodate different bottle sizes and make them all easily accessible. You can configure your fridge in exactly the way that works best for you and your needs. The external controls and digital thermostat make things easy to read and adjust to your liking, along with an interior light that can be turned on and off without having to open the door. The air circulation system is also very convenient, keeping wine at the ideal temperature without the guesswork – oh, and it’s super quiet! The dual-pane glass door also does a great job at protecting delicate wine from harmful UV rays, and the soft interior lighting shows off your collection while offering an upscale appearance.
Ivation Thermoelectric Wine Cooler Fridge at a Glance:
Capacity: 8 bottles
Size: 0.8 cu ft
Color: Stainless Steel or Black
Controls: Digital Thermostat
Experience the epitome of elegant wine storage at a great deal with the Ivation 8-Bottle Thermoelectric Wine Cooler! Made for the modern wine enthusiast, this freestanding fridge seamlessly combines cutting-edge tech with aesthetic appeal. As the name suggests, it’s made to accommodate up to 8 standard wine bottles in a visually-appealing and convenient way. Featuring thermoelectric cooling, it’s nearly silent when plugged in, and offers vibration-free storage that’s ideal for preserving the delicate flavors and aromas of your curated collection. The sleek exterior is accented with a sophisticated black finish and softly-glowing interior LED lighting that enhances any living space. Adjustable temperature controls allow for precise settings, making storage of both reds and whites a breeze. The compact footprint of this fridge makes it perfect for any household, including apartments and other limited spaces, while the UV-resistant glass door protects your collection from harmful light exposure. It’s a wonderful combination of quality, functionality, and innovation while instantly elevating your home bar or kitchen with a hint of luxury.
Schmécké Thermoelectric Wine Refrigerator at a Glance:
Capacity: 12 bottles
Size: 13.6″ W x 20.3″ D x 18.9″ H
Color: Black and Silver
Controls: Digital Thermostat
The thing I don’t like about so many wine fridges out there, is that they aren’t convenient. Perhaps they’re just too bulky, the shelves don’t make sense, the capacity isn’t what I want, and it’s noisy to operate or install. However, the Schmecke Bottle Thermoelectric Wine Cooler Refrigerator is none of that, and all of the good! I love entertaining guests, and I tend to find that they enjoy coming over and letting me pick a new wine out for them that they otherwise may not have tried on their own. This fridge makes all that so much more convenient, holding up to 12 bottles for me to offer a nice array of different wines. The black and silver design with the tinted, UV-protection windows make for a very elegant appearance while doubling its functionality to keep wine safe from the sun. I love the soft light that I can easily turn on or off without opening the door, and it isn’t so bright that it blinds me if I get up in the middle of the night to get some water from the kitchen. It’s also very quiet to operate, so I don’t have to worry about it bothering someone if they decide to sleep on the couch instead of driving home after a couple of glasses of my rotating selection.
Chances are, this is your first time buying a wine fridge (yay!), and even if it’s not, there are constantly new features being rolled out that can be hard to stay on top of. Wine fridges are an amazing thing to have, but they’re definitely not a one-size-fits-all piece of equipment. Just like you’re selective about your wine, you should be selective about the appliance it’s stored in. I’m here to make sure you pick the best one for you, taking you step-by-step through every consideration to make.
Fridge Size
All of the refrigerators on this guide are freestanding, which means they’re not built in as part of your kitchen. All you have to do is plug it in, which leaves us to then focus on the size. First, consider how many bottles of wine you plan on storing, on average. It wouldn’t be a bad idea to add a few bottles on to that number, just in case. After that, measure the width of the desired spot you plan on placing your wine fridge. Consider where you’re placing it – under the counter? On the counter? Somewhere in your living room? Measure that space first, so we can decide if you need a more vertical configuration or if a regular rectangle format is okay. For under-counter fridges, the height and depth are both extremely crucial. Also consider how much space you require to open the fridge. For example, I had a kitchen island that I didn’t think about, and my wine fridge ended up being the perfect size, but the space wasn’t substantial enough for me to open – made it kind of hard to get my wine out!
Storage Capacity
This goes hand-in-hand with my last point. Aside from the size in terms of dimensions, you also need a fridge that fits your wine collection. Most are based on the standard wine bottle size of 750 ml, so check to see if yours are bigger or smaller than that. Most small fridges I’ve detailed on this guide hold less than 20 bottles, which is actually more than enough for the vast majority of wine enthusiasts.
Configuration
You may have noticed that many of the fridges I’ve reviewed come with adjustable shelves, which are a huge help! The ones on this guide stay in very well, so you don’t have to worry about adjustable shelves coming loose, sliding around, etc., which can potentially end in a big mess! The main benefit is that you can obviously set your shelves up in a way that makes sense for you. Perhaps you have bigger or smaller bottles, you want to also store beer cans or White Claws, some mixers, and so on. It’s much easier to do so if your shelves adjust.
Temperature Zones
You may see that wine refrigerators come with either a single-zone, dual-zone, or triple-zone temperature zone format. This will vary depending on the wine you prefer. For example, if you’re a fan of white wines like I am, you’ll need to keep them between 40 and 55 degrees Fahrenheit to keep it tasting its best. However, red wines need to be a bit warmer, from 55 to 65 degrees Fahrenheit. What do you do in this case, if your fridge only has one temperature zone option like the single-zone? You instead opt for a dual or triple-zone! Single-Zone: These are best for wine drinkers who prefer one type of wine. Dual-Zone: These are for more serious enthusiasts, letting you store both reds and whites in their ideal temperature zones. For example, you can store whites at a cooler temperature and reds at a warmer temperature. This is perfect for people who entertain guests often! Triple-Zone: These come with 3 temperature zones, ideal for the wine connoisseur who has a collection of a wide variety of wines.
Door
I highly recommend getting a fridge that’s double-paned and comes with a tint or UV light protection with a glass door to keep the wine from oxidizing and spoiling the flavor.
Noise
Make sure to select a wine fridge that makes minimal noise when plugged in, as some can get quite noisy. The ones I’ve selected for this guide are all quiet, and many come with anti-vibration technology to keep the wine’s chemical structure and flavor safe.
Effectiveness
Ease Of Use
Value
The Wine Enthusiast 6-Bottle Countertop Wine Refrigerator is our Editors Choice for the best small wine fridge
Katarina Jelks is a professionally trained sommelier from Hawaii. She received her Wine & Management Diploma from Le Cordon Bleu in Paris. Her experience working across the wine industry, in locations all around the world (France, Australia, New Zealand, the US & more), has resulted in a global perspective. She loves sharing her passion with others and helping them to chase their thirst for interesting wine and great food.
