Investing in the best wine fridge will keep your favourite tipples cool and ready for your shindigs. After all, no dinner party is complete without a bottle of wine, whether it's a chilled rosé, white, or full-bodied warming red - and a regular fridge freezer may not cut it. If you take wining and dining seriously and have quite the collection, a wine fridge will be a welcome addition to your home.
If you regularly host, an under-counter fridge for wine frees up space in your main fridge freezer and ensures that you have a well-stocked supply of perfectly chilled wines or any other bottled beverage that you choose to store. There are many types of wine fridges and coolers available, from a seven to 21-bottle capacity - coming as either freestanding or an integrated fridge. There are thermoelectric, or compression run units to choose from.
Best Wine Fridges At A Glance
• Best overall wine fridge: Subcold Viva16 Table-Top Wine Fridge - View on Amazon UK
• Best wine fridge on a budget: Russell Hobbs Single Zone Wine Cooler - View on Appliances Direct
• Best wine fridge for storing a lot of wine: Cookology CWC601BK Wine Cooler - View on OnBuy
For ease, we have broken down all the essentials. Firstly - are wine fridges worth it? Wine fridges are designed to hold several bottles of wine and prevent humidity or other environmental factors from spoiling or affecting your product. Temperatures change when regularly opening and closing the fridge, therefore not keeping them at optimal quality.
If you're a true wine fan and require several bottles to be stored, or your palate can easily differentiate between different tastes, we recommend investing in one. After all, the space in your American-style fridge freezer may not be large enough for your collection. Without further ado, here are the best wine fridges on the market for all budgets and sizes.
The Best Wine Fridges And Coolers
Best overall wine fridge
This Subcold Viva16 Table-Top Wine Fridge has advanced compressor technology that ensures a temperature range of 3-18°C, adjustable via a digital thermostat, making it perfect for wine, beer, and more. Crafted with a high-density foam injection cabinet and frameless black safety glass door, it boasts a 48L capacity and 16-bottle storage. With low energy consumption (133kWh/year) and minimal noise (39dB), this cooler offers convenience in any room.
Customer Review: "I only had a small space available in my kitchen, but this fits perfectly on top of a sturdy chest of drawers, barely makes any noise at all and keeps beers and other drinks at a perfect temperature, ie very cold! It looks great, the reflective glass and internal light really looks smart and it looks much more expensive than it actually is! It has freed up my normal fridge for food and keeps our drinks perfectly chilled, which our normal fridge struggled to do when full of food as well. An excellent drinks fridge, that looks good and is a great price! Great buy!"
Pros
- Compact
- Runs quietly
- Great value
Cons
- Some reviewers found it difficult to fit five wine bottles on the top shelf
- Better suited to four bottles or smaller bottles
Best wine fridge on a budget
www.appliancesdirect.co.uk
If you are looking for a compact wine fridge at an affordable price, then the Russell Hobbs Single Zone Wine Cooler would be an excellent choice. This wine cooler's technology can adjust to store your drinks at any temperature between 5 - 18°C. This wine fridge is perfect for smaller kitchens or anyone who wants a smaller wine fridge that's sleek and discreet. Plus, we love how quietly it runs at 39 dB.
Customer Review: "Perfect size and build with indoor light and digital temperature gauge. It holds the perfect number of bottles. However, it can be loud when cooling to temperature and fits only standard-size bottles fit... any other sizes will be too big!"
Pros
- Quiet and compact
- A sleek addition to a kitchen
- Built-in or freestanding
Cons
- Only standard bottles fit
Best wine fridge for storing a lot of wine
www.onbuy.com
If you have an impressive wine collection, consider this Cookology CWC601BK Wine Cooler. The wine cooler can house an impressive 54 bottles. The door is UV-resistant, and the shelves are made from beechwood, which helps prevent any condensation. You can check the cooler's temperature using the red digital display, which allows you to change between Celcius and Fahrenheit and turn the key lock on or off.
Pros
- Can fit easily beneath kitchen counters
- Stylish and operates smoothly
Cons
- Some reviewers found it quite noisy
Best slim under-the-counter wine fridge
This Cookology 15cm Wine Cooler is simple, discreet, and fits under the counter. The cooler can store only seven bottles stacked on chrome racks but will be ideal for dinner parties. Despite using a compressor to offer a vast temperature range, the unit is very quiet and vibration-free. There is a touchscreen thermostat, and the lights are controlled internally, allowing it to blend in your kitchen without any flashy lighting. Another nice touch is that the door is reversible to fit your kitchen's layout.
Customer Review: "Searched high and low for a seven-bottle wine cooler that had capacity for a prosecco bottle too. This was the only one I found, but I'm not disappointed in it so far. Yes, you can get a prosecco bottle on the bottom shelf."
Pros
- Can accommodate all different bottle sizes
- Smart looking and great for compact fits
Cons
- Some found it a little tricky to install
Best wine cooler for versatility
This wine and drinks cooler has removable chrome shelves, giving you the option of the whole open space to stand taller objects. You could also split the unit into two or three levels. The thermoelectric wine fridge has chrome shelves, one chrome rack, and a 46-litre bottle capacity, perfect for storing those extra essential beverages. Compact yet contemporary, this Russell Hobbs RHGWC1B Table Top Wine/Drinks Cooler can fit neatly on your countertop without looking too clunky.
Customer Review: "This is a really stylish and practical wine/drinks cooler which we have 'installed' underneath a table in our living room. You hardly know it's there as it's almost silent. It holds the perfect combination of wine, beer and other drinks. Good value - and we're looking forward to making full use of it this summer."
Pros
- Easy to lift and manoeuvre
- Versatile shelves and good value
Cons
- G energy rating
Best thermoelectric wine cooler
This LED-lit wine cooler makes it easy to see what beverages you've got in your fridge while also being more energy-efficient than standard bulbs. You can manage the unit's temperature by keeping your white wines cool or your reds warmer. Just turn the thermostat dial to suit your needs. Plus, you can store up to 21 bottles of wine.
Customer Review: "This is my purchase of the year I'm thrilled with this wine cooler. It holds numerous bottles of wine or beers. I did quite a bit of research before buying this and definitely feel I made the right choice. It's great value for money."
Pros
- Decent size
- Can fit bottles at different angles
- Good temperature control
Cons
- Little noisier than expected
Best high-end wine cooler
www.johnlewis.com
A dinner party wouldn't be complete without a nice bottle of wine. This Neff N70 KU9202HF0G Integrated 21-Bottle Wine Cooler has four sustainable bamboo shelves holding up to 21 bottles. It also features adjustable temperature controls, LED lighting, and a door alarm. Plus, if you are a little stuck for space in the kitchen, it has reversible doors, so it will look great wherever it is placed.
Customer Review: "Lovely 300mm wine cooler. I had bought a couple of cheaper units but was unhappy with the quality. The Neff cooler looks much better, and the construction quality is great."
Pros
- Works well
- Stylish design
- Excellent temperature range
Cons
- F energy rating is poor
OUR VERDICT: Which Is The Best Wine Fridge?
If you are serious about wine and have plenty of bottles to keep chilled, then our top wine fridge pick is the Cookology CWC601BK. It not only chills up to 54 bottles at a time but has an impressive design that will compliment your kitchen without being ostentatious.
In terms of wine coolers, the Inventor Vino Wine Cooler is our top pick. It is compact, sleek, reliable, has a reversible door, and maintains the ideal temperature and humidity levels to give you the ultimate wine experience. Get the wine glasses out!
FAQs
Thermoelectric Vs Compression
The main difference between the two is that a thermoelectric generator is a device that converts heat fluctuations into energy. They have no moving parts, making them very quiet. However, they are not as powerful as compression units, resulting in smaller and warmer temperature ranges.
A compression unit reduces the volume of gas to increase its pressure. This function uses the laws of thermodynamics to turn gases into liquids - cooling a refrigerator's internal space. These units have moving parts and can vibrate when working, making them a bit louder. However, they can achieve lower temperatures than a thermoelectric generator.
What Temperature Should Wine Be Stored At?
White wine should be stored between 7-13°C
Rosé wine should be stored between 5-12°C
Red wine should be stored between 12-18°C
Champagne should be stored between 7-10°C
What do I need to know about energy efficiency?
For a clear indicator of how energy-efficient your fridge is, look for its energy rating. The higher the better. The energy ratings were revised in 2021 to ensure there was space left on the scale for improvement. On the old energy efficiency scale, appliances were rated between A+++ to D. But with modern technology, most appliances were maxing out the scale.
The new energy ratings now go from A to G and are much less confusing.
You’ll find now that there are much fewer A and B-rated appliances. Those that were previously A+++ may now be an F. This is to give the opportunity for higher ratings in the future and encourage manufacturers to make their machines even more sustainable.
Energy-efficient appliances can help you save money in the long run.
Ellen Kinsey is a Senior Health & Wellness Product Writer for A Modern Kitchen, specialising in sustainable living and healthy cooking. She lives and breathes all things food, travel and wellness.