Summer is once again underway and it’s a time of year when you want to ensure you have a continuous supply of chilled drinks.
Unfortunately, storing drinks – especially wine – in the kitchen refrigerator is not a wise idea. A regular fridge chills ats temperatures too cold for storing wine at its best. Beyond this, storing wine bottles upright cause the cork to dry out since it will not contact the liquid. Humidity levels in a kitchen refrigerator are also too dry for wine storage.
If you plan to store lots of canned beverages like beer, soda, or water, you’ll soon find the kitchen refrigerator gets crowded out with cans.
Instead, investing in a wine and beverage cooler will allow you to keep all your favorite drinks at the right temperature and humidity levels. If you opt for a twin-zone cooler, you’ll find you can store all your bottles and cans at the optimum serving temperatures without needing more than one cooler.
While choosing the best cooler is not the most challenging buying decision you’ll face, you should nevertheless focus on these pointers before pulling out your credit card:
- Overall dimensions: The first thing to establish is that you have enough space in the kitchen or man cave to accommodate the coolers on your shortlist. Many wine and beverage coolers are quite bulky, so always check on the width and overall dimensions before proceeding with your cooler comparison.
- Number of cooling zones: If you plan to store bottles of wine or canned beverages at a single temperature, one of the cheaper basic coolers with a single zone will suffice. If you want to store mixed wines or wines and canned drinks, though, a dual zone cooler is the best bet. We review models of both types today.
- Capacity: We quote the capacity of each cooler on our shortlist in terms of both bottles and cans. Bear in mind that the quoted capacity is a maximum rather than a comfortable working capacity. When considering capacity, think not just about your current drinks collection, but also think about how you see your collection developing over time. If in doubt, size up.
- Installation: Wine and beverage coolers can be left freestanding or built into your existing cabinets for a more streamlined look. Some built-in wine coolers also allow for freestanding installation, maximizing your placement options.
- Noise and vibration: Look for wine and beverage coolers that run quietly and with minimal vibration. Compressor-based cooling is a quieter option than thermoelectric cooling.
- Shelves: Removable shelving gives you more latitude with configuring the storage environment. If you aim to store mainly wine bottles in your cooler, look for wooden shelving. This will prevent the labels on your wine bottles from being scuffed and scraped.
If you bear these elements in mind when comparing our reviews of all the best wine and beverage coolers out there, you should easily pick one in line with your needs. Enjoy!
The 15 Best Wine and Beverage Coolers
1. Our Pick: Kalamera Under-Counter Wine and Beverage Cooler
- Cooling zones: Dual zone
- Width: 24 inches
- Capacity: 20 bottles, 78 cans
Our favorite wine and beverage cooler from today’s comprehensive selection comes from Kalamera, a highly reputable brand with affordable pricing.
This cooler is one of the most versatile in this market segment. Firstly, you can choose to install this unit under the counter in an existing cabinet or to leave it freestanding if that makes more sense in your kitchen or man cave.
Flexibility extends to the storage environment. The dual zones allow you to keep both wine and beer or soda at the optimum temperatures. The left-hand side of the unit lets you chill up to 20 bottles of wine at temperatures from 40F to 66F. While this is ideal for both red and white wine, you won’t be able to keep both at different temperatures. The right-hand side of the cooler is intended for up to 78 cans. You can chill these at temperatures from 38F to 50F, a great fit for beer, soda, water, and just about any other canned drinks.
Despite the spacious interior capacity, this cooler won’t dominate the kitchen. Although the cooler measures just 24 inches across, it stands quite tall, so make sure you have the space to accommodate this adaptable cooler from Kalamera before committing to purchase.
Although most user reviews of this model are pretty positive, we encountered a handful of complaints about the noise kicked out. Consider where you intend to place the cooler and decide whether or not this is a deal-breaker for you.
Overall, you’ll get a rugged refrigerator ideal for storing a variety of canned and bottled beverages. Even better, this model is priced keenly, too. What are you waiting for?
- Install under counter or leave freestanding
- Split-zone cooling for storing wine and canned beverages
- Fairly compact footprint considering capacity
Things We Dislike
- Makes a lot of noise
2. Phiestina Wine and Beverage Cooler
- Cooling zones: Dual zone
- Width: 24 inches
- Capacity: 20 bottles, 72 cans
Phiestina has a deep bench of wine and beverage coolers, so how does this dual-zone unit shape up?
The first thing that strikes you is the minimalist design. While you are unlikely to be buying a wine and beverage cooler based mainly on its looks, this model combines form and function in one sleek form.
Unlike some less effective coolers in this class, the Phiestina delivers a quiet and vibration-free cooling environment. This ensures that the sediment in your red wine doesn’t get disturbed, keeping your wine at its finest.
A slimline cooler at just 24 inches across, capacity is nevertheless decent. You can fit up to 20 bottles of wine in the left-hand side of the cooler, while the other side of the fridge has space for up to 72 canned beverages. This model comes equipped with metal racks, but the manufacturer offers two smaller models, each featuring wooden shelves. These will better preserve the labels on your wine bottles.
As with many coolers, you can opt for either freestanding or built-in installation depending on the configuration of your kitchen. If you choose to build the cooler into a cabinet over the counter, the integrated venting eliminates the risk of overheating. Given its ability to accommodate wine, beer, soda, and champagne, this cooler would also make a neat addition to any man cave.
Although the construction of this cooler seems solid enough, we came across a few complains about build quality issues manifesting over time. Overall, though, you’re getting plenty of bang for your buck here from a brand you can trust.
- Sleek, functional design
- Minimal noise and vibration
- Twin cooling zones for bottles and cans
Things We Dislike
- Build quality issues reported
3. AAOBOSI Wine and Beverage Cooler
- Cooling zones: Dual zone
- Width: 24 inches
- Capacity: 18 bottles, 57 cans
AAOBOSI is one of the better-known brands in this crowded vertical, so what do you get for your money with this wine and beverage cooler?
Off the bat, the mixed storage capacity makes a great bet for anyone looking to keep both canned drinks and bottled drinks in a single compact cooler.
Each zone of this wine and beverage cooler is independently controlled, offering you complete control and the ability to chill wines and beers or sodas at different temperatures without needing two coolers. You can chill up to 18 bottles of wine in the right-hand side of the cooler at temperatures from 41F to 64F. The left-hand side of the cooler is intended for up to 57 canned drinks. The temperature range in this section of the refrigerator is 35F to 50F, ideal for aggressively chilling beer, soda, and water.
The lack of noise and vibration means this cooler lives up to the claims made by most manufacturers, claims that are seldom realized.
Whether you build the cooler into your kitchen cabinets or leave it freestanding in your man cave, you’ll enjoy an energy-efficient and consistent storage environment for a mixed drink collection. The best thing? You won’t need to bankrupt yourself to grab a bargain either – this is one of the most cost-effective wine and beverage coolers out there.
Most feedback from consumers is positive, but we found many complaints about issues with customer service and the warranty coverage on this model. Do your due diligence.
- Great price/performance ratio
- Runs quietly and with little vibration
- Built-in or freestanding installation
Things We Dislike
- Customer service issues raised
4. Kalamera Wine and Beverage Cooler
- Cooling zones: Single zone
- Width: 24 inches
- Capacity: 16 bottles, 120 cans
Of the many wine and beverage refrigerators in the Kalamera stable, this model is one of the most popular, and with just cause.
We’ll lead off with the main drawback: this is a single-zone cooler. If you’re looking to store both red and white wines for regular consumption, this is not the smoothest fit. You should also avoid this Kalamera if you have a medium-sized or larger wine collection. You can only fit 16 bottles inside the wine section of this unit.
For those looking to store primarily canned beverages, though, you’ll have space for up to 120 regular cans in the lower part of the cooler. The compressor-based cooling is reasonably quiet. You can chill your drinks at temperatures from 38F to 50F, so make sure this meshes with your needs and bear in mind that this model offers only a single cooling zone.
As with many similar coolers, you can install this unit under the counter or leave it in a freestanding capacity to suit. Considering the spacious capacity, the overall dimensions are relatively compact, making this a great refrigerator for cramped kitchens or man caves.
Inside the cooler, muted LED lighting gives you the chance to monitor the beverages inside without needing to continually open and close the doors.
If you are not planning to build up a collection of mixed wine and you keep more canned beverages than bottles on hand, this Kalamera is well worth a place on your shortlist. Give the kitchen refrigerator a miss and keep all your beverages at the optimum storage temperatures in this dedicated wine and can cooler.
- Generous capacity for mixed beverages
- Relatively compact build
- Under-counter or freestanding set-up
Things We Dislike
- Single zone limiting for storing beer and red wine together
5. TYLZA Wine and Beverage Cooler
- Cooling zones: Dual zone
- Width: 24 inches
- Capacity: 18 bottles, 57 cans
TYLZA might not be the first name you think of when shopping for wine and beverage coolers, so what do you get if you take a chance on a lesser-known brand?
Build quality is rugged, with a stainless steel finish coordinating perfectly with minimalist or modernist kitchens. This cooler would also make a great addition to your office or man cave.
You’ll notice immediately that this cooler comes equipped with two independent cooling zones. With space for 57 cans in the left-hand side, you can manipulate the temperature from 35F to 50F. Whether you want to keep beer, soda, or water on hand – or all three – you can chill the cans to your preferred level with ease.
Wine lovers will appreciate the 18-bottle capacity on the right-hand side of the cooler. With a broad temperature band spanning 41F to 64F, you can chill both red and white wines appropriately. That said, this unit doesn’t work well for collectors of mixed wines intending to drink both reds and whites on the regular.
If you have kids or teens in the house, you’ll appreciate the dual safety locks. Keep your wine collection safe and keep prying hands out.
Aside from some minor complaints about the integrity of the door fittings, we found little but praise in user reviews of this affordable and long-lasting beverage cooler.
- Perfect cooler for a man cave
- Quiet and energy-efficient cooling
- Twin safety locks
Things We Dislike
- Issues flagged with door alignment
6. Bodega Wine and Beverage Cooler
- Cooling zones: Dual zone
- Width: 24 inches
- Capacity: 19 bottles, 57 cans
Bodega produces a wide selection of wine and beverage coolers that are neatly designed without ever compromising function for form.
To lead off with a minor flaw, the interior LED lighting needs to be manually activated. The lights will not come on automatically when you open the door. That said, you’ll benefit from muted and energy-efficient lighting that stops you from needing to continually open the cooler door when monitoring your collection.
In line with most coolers in this class, the Bodega measures 24 inches across, making it a neat fit in most kitchens.
The freedom to leave the cooler freestanding or to install it under the counter means you’re spoiled for choice of placement, even if you have space constraints in the kitchen.
You can store both cans and bottles of wine in this unit and it is optimized for both. Wire shelves are ideal for canned beverages, while the wooden shelves in the wine compartment will protect the labels on your wine bottles from damage.
This model runs quietly compared to much of the opposition thanks to the compressor-based cooling. There is also very little vibration created – that’s good news for your red wine as the sediment in the bottles won’t be disturbed.
Chill your wines at temperatures from 41F to 68F in the left-hand compartment. Chill canned drinks even more aggressively from 38F to 50F and keep all your favorite drinks at serving temperature and ready to grab.
This 24-inch cooler from Bodega is one of the most versatile options at your disposal and it’s also built to last – what are you waiting for?
- Versatile installation
- Reasonably quiet in operation
- Subtle interior LEDs
Things We Dislike
- Lights need manually activating
7. Antarctic Star Wine Cooler
- Cooling zones: Single zone
- Width: 24 inches
- Capacity: 36 bottles or cans
For anyone shopping for wine and beverage coolers based mainly on appearance, this compact unit from Antarctic Star is a standout winner. Luckily, it’s not a case of style over substance either.
Interior capacity is spacious at a full 4.5 cubic feet. In real terms, this gives you the room to house up to 36 bottles or canned beverages to suit.
Now, this is a single zone cooler, although the wide band of temperatures at your fingertips (40F to 61F) gives you the ability to chill both red and white wines at serving temperature. If you’re looking to keep mixed wines to drink on the regular, you should consider a dual zone cooler instead.
Equipped with horizontal racking, capacity is maximized and the integrity of the corks in your wine bottles will be maintained.
You won’t need to concern yourself with defrosting this unit either as it takes care of that automatically.
You’ll need to establish that you have the room to leave this cooler freestanding. This model is unsuitable for built-in use and would be liable to overheat.
The strongly reinforced tempered glass door ensures that the sun’s UV rays do not penetrate the cooler and impair your wine. The blue LEDs are designed to help you see your drink collection at a glance without compromising the storage environment.
Backed by a standard one-year warranty, you can buy this wine and beverage cooler from Antarctic Star with complete confidence and for far less than you might imagine.
- Commanding design
- Auto defrosting
- Store wine, canned beverages, or both
Things We Dislike
- Not suitable for built-in use
8. Vremi Beverage Cooler
- Cooling zones: Single zone
- Width: 16 inches
- Capacity: 100 to 120 cans
Vremi may not be the most hyped brand, but what can you get if you take a chance on an unknown?
The first thing that stands out is the space-saving form factor. Compact and squat, you’ll nevertheless have space inside the cooler for over 100 canned beverages.
The freestanding installation gives you the ability to position the cooler almost anywhere. Alternatively, you could build the cooler into your existing kitchen cabinets for an even more streamlined look.
The single cooling zone has a broad temperature range, spanning from 34F to 50F. If you are looking to store mixed collections of wine for regular consumption, you’ll find this model lacking. Also, while you can store wine bottles upright in the bottom section of the cooler, this could potentially dry out the corks. For anyone needing a storage solution for lots of canned beverages, though, this is one of the most effective coolers out there.
A mini convection fan circulates air around this unit efficiently. You won’t be menaced by too much noise or vibration either.
Although the vast bulk of user reviews sing the praises of this multipurpose wine and beverage cooler, we encountered a handful of complaints about unresponsive and unhelpful customer care agents.
Whether you want to stock up the man cave with beers or the kitchen with canned soda for the kids this summer, investing in this small but spacious cooler might be the smartest move you make this summer.
- Perfect for large families
- Generous can capacity
- Space for some bottles below
Things We Dislike
- Customer care issues reported
9. hOmeLabs Wine and Beverage Cooler
- Cooling zones: Single zone
- Width: 18 inches
- Capacity: 120 cans
Next up in our collection of the best wine and beverage coolers comes an entry from the inimitable hOmeLabs. How does this unit shape up, then?
Choosing a suitable wine cooler involves ensuring you find one suitable for storing the drinks you most consume. For wine collectors, this cooler doesn’t make the smoothest fit. If you want a robust collection of canned beverages on hand, though, you’re in luck.
The chrome shelving is ideal for canned drinks, and you won’t need to worry about any damage being inflicted – metal shelves are not ideal for wine bottles as the labels get scuffed. You can adjust the shelves to create the storage environment you desire, and the shelving is also completely removable to streamline cleaning and access both.
You’ll have space inside this cooler for up to 120 cans. This is considered the absolute maximum capacity so size up if you need a cooler for a commercial outlet or an especially high-demand home.
The temperature chills to a super-cool 34F, allowing you to enjoy iced canned drinks any time without needing to pop them in the kitchen refrigerator.
A combination of compressor-based cooling and a small convection fan provides you with an impeccable climate zone, but without the drawbacks of too much noise or vibration. While this unit is not whisper-quiet – no wine cooler is – you won’t find the hum disturbing.
As an added kicker, an auto defrosting function takes the sting out of upkeep and maintenance. A temperature memory feature also comes in handy if you live somewhere with frequent power outages. When power is restored, the temperature settings revert to the preset.
- Chrome shelving adjustable and removable
- Large can capacity
- Seamless temperature controls
Things We Dislike
- Rack design is lacking
10. Euhomy Beverage Cooler
- Cooling zones: Single zone
- Width: 16 inches
- Capacity: 120 cans
Euhomy focuses on producing keenly-priced appliances that won’t let you down in terms of performance or build quality.
As with many of the best coolers in this class, you’ll have the option of both freestanding and built-in installation. The feet are adjustable, and you can reverse the door for even greater flexibility.
Three shelves are all entirely removable. This allows you to configure a cooling environment to suit your beverage collection and also simplifies cleaning the cooler.
You can accommodate up to 100 cans of beer or soda in the cooler. You could also pop some wine bottles inside, but the cooler is not designed with wine in mind. If you mainly drink vino, we recommend exploring some of the dedicated wine coolers on our shortlist.
The cooling zone has a temperature range from 34F to 50F, providing you with a super-cool chilling environment for canned beverages. Temperature is automatically controlled and digitally displayed. You also benefit from an auto defrost function, giving you a frictionless experience.
The utilitarian stainless steel build is softened by an attractive silver finish, meaning this cooler will enhance your kitchen rather than making it look uglier like most appliances.
A triple layer of insulation on the doors ensures that the storage environment remains tightly sealed and stops any harmful UV light from penetrating the cooler. You’ll also appreciate the interior LEDs. These will bathe your beverages in a muted light, meaning you won’t need to keep opening and closing the door of the cooler.
- Install undercounter or leave freestanding
- Stainless steel finished in silver
- Trio of removable shelves
Things We Dislike
- Not a good fit for wine collections
11. Phiestina Wine and Beverage Cooler
- Cooling zones: Dual zone
- Width: 30 inches
- Capacity: 33 bottles, 100 cans
As we near the end of our wine and beverage cooler reviews, we have another entry from the ever-reliable Phiestina stable. How does this model stand and fall, then?
Well, before anything else, you should make certain you have the space for this colossus. Measuring fully 30 inches across, you’ll need plenty of room in the kitchen or man cave for this cooler.
In return, you’ll get a spacious interior capacity allowing you to store both canned beverages and bottles of wine. See our FAQs below for advice on storing wine and beer in the same cooler.
Equipped with a dozen removable shelves, you can pop over 30 bottles of wine in the left-hand side of the cooler. On the other side, you can fit in over 100 cans of soda, beer, or water. The cooling zone spans 40F to 66F but does not make the best choice for collectors of mixed wines.
If you have teens or kids at home and you want to keep your drinks collection safe, you’ll appreciate the secure lock, ideal for keeping prying hands away.
The tempered glass doors keep harmful UV rays from degrading your wine, while the standard LED lighting lets you see your drinks without needing to keep opening or closing the door.
Surprisingly for a Phiestina cooler, this model attracts some negative reviews when it comes to build quality over time. Despite the rugged appearance, some consumers report build issues cropping up sooner than expected, so do your due diligence.
- Double tempered glass doors
- Large capacity for cans and bottles
- Effective door lock protects your collection
Things We Dislike
- Build problems flagged
12. Danby Can Beverage Center
- Cooling zones: Single zone
- Width: 17 inches
- Capacity: 117 cans
If you are looking for a beverage cooler designed to store and display a large stash of canned drinks, Danby’s Can Beverage Center is perfect for that purpose.
You get a single cooling zone that can chill canned drinks to a very cold 34F and up to a maximum of 50F. This allows you to chill all types of beers, soda, and water at the optimum temperature. Three adjustable shelves allow for easy access and cleaning.
This is the largest of the three coolers in the Danby line with a maximum capacity of 117 cans. This model is the standard beverage center. You can also pick up variants featuring a tray and a thermometer. The thermometer would come in handy due to the mechanical temperature control this unit features.
When it comes to installation, you can leave the unit freestanding, simplifying installation and giving you a drink storage solution that’s good to go right out the box. The reversible door hinge gives you even greater flexibility when it comes to placement.
With fan-assisted cooling, the air will be circulated throughout the cooler, keeping all your canned drinks icy cold and ready to drink at their best.
While the majority of user feedback for this Danby cooler is positive, we unearthed a number of complaints about the fact this cooler is reported to overheat.
Despite the reasonably impressive interior capacity, the footprint of this cooler is quite compact, making it a good bet for anyone with space concerns in the kitchen.
- Form factor ideal for living room
- Mechanical thermostat for maximum control
- Reversible door hinge
Things We Dislike
- Tends to run hot
13. NewAir Beverage Cooler and Refrigerator
- Cooling zones: Single zone
- Width: 16.75 inches
- Capacity: 126 cans
NewAir wine and beverage coolers come in all shapes and sizes, and in a variety of configurations to suit most tastes. What do you get with this model, then?
Well, this is another refrigerator that is intended primarily for those who want a stash of canned drinks at home and on demand. You’ll cram well over 100 cans inside this cooler, perfect for large families. The cooler would also fit well into a man cave where you can load it with beers and soda. NewAir also offers both larger and smaller coolers if the capacity and footprint of this model doesn’t work in your home.
Take advantage of one of the seven temperature presets punched in to get going without tinkering around.
Installation is also straightforward. The freestanding appliance can be positioned almost anywhere – just do yourself a favor and keep it well away from direct sunlight, ideally on a level surface.
An inbuilt benefit of this cooler is the fact you could keep some food inside at a push. This does not apply to most wine coolers and can be a nice back-up if you want to keep some snacks in the office or man cave.
The only gripes we could find in a sea of positive reviews concerns the difficulty of contacting NewAir in the event of anything going wrong. Setting this aside, you’re getting one of the best wine and beverage coolers, and it won’t break the bank either.
- Seven temperature presets
- No installation required
- Doubles up as food storage
Things We Dislike
- Difficult to contact manufacturer
14. Colzer Wine and Beverage Cooler
- Cooling zones: Dual zone
- Width: 24 inches
- Capacity: 18 bottles, 57 cans
As we near the end of our showcase of the best wine and beverage coolers, we have a nifty dual zone unit from Colzer.
The twin cooling zones means this fridge would work well for anyone who collects both red and white wine for regular consumption. That said, you can only fit 18 bottles in the compartment intended for bottles. The cooling zone can chill red or white wine at temperatures from 41F to 64F.
The right-hand compartment of the cooler is perfect for canned drink storage. These drinks need chilling more aggressively than wine. You can alter the temperature of this climate zone from 35F to 50F.
Equipped with compressor-based cooling, the fridge is not as quiet as the manufacturer claims. While it doesn’t make a huge noise, you might want to rethink if you were planning to position your cooler near a living area or anywhere else that a background hum might disturb you.
You get both metal and wooden shelves inside, allowing you to keep your wine bottles safe from scratching thanks to the wood, with the metal offering sufficient support for heavier cans.
Although most consumers appear satisfied with this cooler once it’s up and running, we came across a variety of quality control complaints, so check the contents of your delivery closely.
For anyone who stores primarily cans but also likes the occasional bottle of wine on hand, this is a highly effective and versatile wine and beverage cooler well worth a place on your shortlist.
- Suitable for mixed wine collection
- Plenty of space for canned beverages
- Unbeatable brand image
Things We Dislike
- Quality control problems
15. Antarctic Star Wine and Beverage Cooler
- Cooling zones: Single zone
- Width: 24 inches
- Capacity: 46 bottles or 149 cans
Last but not least today is another offering from Antarctic Star, a reliable brand that also keeps price down without sacrificing quality or performance.
This single-zone unit gives you a generous storage capacity. The manufacturer states there is room for either 46 bottles or 149 cans. Most cooler capacity is quoted in terms of both bottles and cans, so decide whether this one provides you with the storage solution you need or whether it’s liable to leave you wanting.
Although you’ll find you have ample space for a mid-sized drinks collection, you can achieve this without buying a huge cooler that dominates the kitchen. This Antarctic Star model measures just 24 inches across, a fairly standard size for this class of wine and beverage cooler.
Smart digital controls allow you to manipulate the temperature without requiring any tech skills.
Compressor-based cooling is reasonably quiet but not as noiseless as the manufacturer claims.
One of the major niggles with this model concerns changing the temperature. To do this, you’ll need to unplug the cooler. While his is not necessarily a deal-breaker, many users complain that this is an inconvenience.
Glass doors are tempered for extra strength and to prevent harmful bright light from spoiling your wine.
Overall, this an effective and efficient cooler ideal for storing a mixed drink collection, assuming the minor drawbacks don’t put you off.
- Small footprint but generous capacity
- Great brand image
- Versatile storage solution
Things We Dislike
- Need to unplug to change temperature
FAQs
1) Is it necessary to invest in a dual zone wine cooler?
If you want to store both red and white wines for regular consumption, you would benefit from the twin climate zones a dual zone wine cooler offers. If you are storing mixed wines long-term, this is not such a pressing issue, and you could get away with a single-zone unit. Many of the coolers we review today also offer you space to store canned beverages.
2) What temperatures does wine need to be chilled at?
You should chill white wine at temperatures from 46F to 53F. Red wine is best chilled from 53F to 66F. Champagne, by contrast, responds most favorably to aggressive chilling at temperatures from 41F to 46F. Chill canned drinks to 34F or above to suit.
3) Where should I position my freestanding wine and beverage cooler?
Freestanding wine and beverage coolers can be positioned almost anywhere as the name hints. Having said that, it is advisable to place the cooler away from direct sunlight. UV rays can penetrate the cooler and damage the wine over time. Always ensure that you leave some room around the cooler to prevent overheating. Stand the cooler clear of any objects that would cause vibration.
4) Why is vibration problematic for wine?
Any excessive vibration causes the sediment inside red wine bottles to become agitated. When this happens, the flavor of the wine can be impaired. Vibration can also trigger chemical reactions that are invisible to the naked eye but capable of degrading the quality of the wine. Do not subject wine – especially red wine – to vibration if you want to enjoy it at its finest.
5) What are the benefits of thermoelectric cooling systems?
A thermoelectric cooling system on a cooler involves fewer moving parts, meaning there is less to go wrong. Additionally, you should experience less noise and vibration with a thermoelectric cooler. As an extra bonus, you also get an eco-friendlier cooling solution with no vapor compression taking place.
6) Is it possible to store beer in a wine and beverage cooler?
Absolutely. Indeed, some lighter beers – wheat beer or pilsner, for instance – benefit from being chilled at temperatures from 40F to 50F. You should chill standard ales like stout or IPA at 50F to 55F, while darker beers should be chilled at temperatures from 55F to 60F. When storing mixed wines, opt for 50F, and when storing white wine, aim for temperatures between 46F and 53F. As such, you can easily chill some beers in the same cooler as your white wine.
7) Where should I locate a wine and beverage cooler?
Position your cooler somewhere with no temperature fluctuations and no vibrations. You should also ensure that you keep the cooler away from direct sunlight. Most people install a wine and beverage cooler in the kitchen. Where you locate the cooler will depend on whether you are opting for freestanding or built-in installation. Alternatively, keep your cooler in the man cave or garage if you don’t want it cluttering up the kitchen. The most crucial thing is to install the cooler somewhere meeting the above criteria so you guarantee a consistent cooling environment.
Conclusion
We hope you have found a suitable storage solution among our showcase of the best wine and beverage coolers out there.
The most crucial part of your buying decision concerns the most appropriate configuration for storage. Single cooling zones are ideal if you drink exclusively red or white wine. They also work well if you plan to store only canned beverages. Lovers of mixed wine looking to store bottles of both for short-term consumption should consider a dual-zone cooler.
Beyond this, ensure that you get a cooler with sufficient capacity in line with space constraints in your kitchen. There is no sense in buying a huge cooler if you don’t have the room to accommodate it.
Let us know in the comments if we missed out your favorite cooler and bookmark Slow Wine Magazine before you head off. See you soon!