The best wine coolers come in all shapes and sizes. From table-top thermal chillers to freestanding wine fridges, there's a cool solution to serving bubbles at the perfect temperature. Like an ice bucket for Champagne, some wine coolers keep a bottle chilled for the duration of a dinner party. Also, there are electric wine coolers; appliances that maintain wine at an optimum temperature for serving. Finally, there are wine fridges, like having your very own wine cellar. Preserve your collection in terms of temperature, light control and humidity. Choose from single zone or dual zone appliances for the ultimate connoisseur.
As an alternative to serving Prosecco on ice and keeping vintages well preserved, there are lots of wine coolers to consider. First, there are tabletop options in the form of double-insulated stainless steel sleeves and buckets. Then, there are electric fridges with an enormous range of capacities – from seven to over 150 bottles. Choose from freestanding, slimline and integrated models. Electric wine coolers have a glass door and are lit inside; so your guests can admire your curated collection of Grand Cru. Wine lovers will enjoy displaying their collection in an illuminated chiller.
Best wine coolers at a glance
• Best all-round wine cooler: Baridi 28 Bottle Wine Cooler Fridge with Digital Touch Screen – View on Amazon UK
• Best small wine cooler: electriQ 18 Bottle Capacity Single Zone Freestanding Wine Cooler – View on Appliances Direct
• Best wine cooler for adjustable layout: Hoover HWCB30UK/N Built In Wine Cooler – View on AO.com
Wine coolers are available at a range of price points making it an ideal gift for a wine lover. Other features include: LED display, adjustable temperature, open door alert, adjustable shelves, telescopic runners, and reversible door. No one wants their Shiraz shaken, so look for wine coolers that have an anti-vibration compressor. This prevents wine from being affected by tremors.
It's important to know that wine is affected by light, humidity and temperature. Therefore, wine coolers have doors that reflect UV rays, caused by sunlight and incandescent light. The temperature in a wine cooler is adjustable between 7°C and 20°C, so it's warmer than a standard fridge. Generally, red wine should be stored at 15-18°C and white wines at 7-10°C. Finally, storing wine at the right humidity level is essential for its preservation; below 50 per cent humidity causes corks to dry out and above 70 per cent humidity can cause mould.
Best wine coolers
Best all-round wine cooler
Ideal for party season, the Baridi 28 Bottle Wine Cooler Fridge with Digital Touch Screen is a sleek undercounter chiller that costs just £45 a year to run. Energy efficient and quiet, it also features waved metal shelves to keep up to 28 wine bottles in place. It's sleek and stylish with digital touch screen controls and a tempered glass door to reflect UV light. If you've filled up the car boot in Calais or are an avid collector from local wineries and need a larger capacity, the baridi store offers lots of other styles.
Customer review: "When you need some additional room in your fridge, this is an ideal drinks cabinet. Big enough to store sufficient wine for most needs as well as bottles/cans of beer. Ideal size and fairly quiet if you place the bottles in sensibly and don't overload the shelves."
Pros
- Low energy rating and noise output
- Popular on Amazon
- Compact and stylish
- Adjustable temperature
Cons
- Soft drink cans can fall through the racking
Best small wine cooler
www.appliancesdirect.co.uk
Keep your Pinot Grigio and Chardonnay just white in this single zone electriQ 18 Bottle Capacity Single Zone Freestanding Wine Cooler. That said, you can adjust the temperature to suit red whites too if a Malbec is your top-tipple. For the price, this appliance has great premium features, including cool blue ambient lighting, an active charcoal filter to prevent contamination, and humidity control to prevent corks from drying out.
Customer review: "Searched online for replacement cooler and by far this was best value and designed to hold more than most. Well impressed."
Pros
- Value for money
- Five wooden shelves
- Stylish soft blue LED lights
- Premium features
Cons
- Noisy
Best dual zone wine cooler
www.appliancesdirect.co.uk
A must for wine connoisseurs, this electriQ 36 Bottle Dual Zone Freestanding Wine Cooler is a 50/50 fridge that holds 36 bottles of wine. Adjust each side of the cooler, so you can have red and white white stored at their optimum temperatures. This freestanding appliance has sliding wooden shelves and cool blue ambient light, making it the height of sophistication. Humidity control to stop corks from drying out and mould building up. It's thoughtfully designed, with an extra spacious bottom shelf for larger bottles. Finally, vintage wines are kept in perfect conditions and locked away.
Customer review: "Looks far more expensive. Everyone who has seen it has been impressed by it."
Pros
- Dual zones
- Spacious
- Lockable
- Stylish lighting
Cons
- Noisy
Best wine cooler for adjustable layout
ao.com
Sip, savour and celebrate with the Hoover HWCB30UK/N Built In Wine Cooler. We just love the stylish wooden shelves in this appliance which is a wonderful way to show off your wine collection. The glass door blocks UV rays whilst keeping your wine a feature. The LED display is easily adjustable with minimal controls. Store bottles on their sides, with limited exposure to light, in this simple appliance. Additionally, you can learn more about your wine collection with the hOn App powered by VIVINO.
Customer review: "It is much better than I thought, really quiet, like you can switch the light on full time, if required."
Pros
- Six wooden shelves
- Contemporary
- Reversible door to suit your kitchen layout
Cons
- An odd width to find a recess for, so may need professional installation
Best counter-top wine cooler
www.currys.co.uk
A way to expand your wine collection storage or a handy counter-top cooler for a party, this RUSSELL HOBBS RHGWC3SS-C-LCK Wine & Drinks Cooler is a single temperature zone appliance with adjustable shelves to fit different size bottles. Its flexible interior can accommodate beer cans and soft drinks too. Do bear in mind that it's not suitable for outbuildings, but with a reversible door there's bound to be the perfect nook for this pint-size wine cellar.
Customer review: "Good Points: Ease of use."
Pros
- Lock and key for added security
- Compact chiller solution
- Can fit cans too
Cons
- Not many reviews
Best slimline wine cooler
www.currys.co.uk
Wine and dine with this elegant RUSSELL HOBBS RHBI7WC1SS Wine Cooler. With six chrome shelves it's ideal for storing a few precious wines – ready for the next pop the cork for any reason and raise a glass. Your wine will be kept at the perfect temperature for serving; simply adjust the temperature at the control panel located in the middle of the cooler. This appliance can be freestanding or integrated for a high-end look.
Customer review: "Chills to perfection."
Pros
- Freestanding or integrated
- Streamlined
- Simple
Cons
- Customers comment that it's noisy
Best Bosch wine cooler
www.johnlewis.com
Make your prize vintage Beaujolais nouveau the star of the show with the Bosch Series 6 KUW20VHF0G Integrated 21-Bottle Wine Cooler. Your wine collection is beautifully lit with an LED light in presentation mode. When activated the light stays on even when the door is closed. This spacious wine cooler features adjustable temperature, four shelves and a reversible hinge. It's a built under appliance that's just 30cm wide so it integrates into your kitchen cabinets, without taking up too much space.
Customer review: "The fridge might be only small but it's fantastic. Fits 21 bottles of wine no problem and keeps them at the temperature you set. It only has a small motor but it cools itself brilliantly. Highly recommend to any wine lover who only has a small space."
Pros
- Awarded Quiet Mark
- Bosch quality
- Presentation mode
Cons
- Anything larger than a standard wine bottle is a tight fit
Best large, freestanding wine cooler
www.currys.co.uk
Store your wine in the same conditions as a professional wine cellar with the HAIER HWS84GNF Wine Cooler. This top-notch wine cooler has a Natural Airflow System which keeps wines at an ideal humidity of 50–70%. Your wines are in the spotlight with lateral and top lighting that illuminates the whole cabinet. There's an active carbon filter to eliminate odours and a locking system to keep your wine collection secure. Just plug it in, this freestanding appliance doesn't require professional installation. Additionally, paired with the hOn app and a partnership with Vivino, you can find out more about your wines by scanning their labels.
Customer review: "Excellent wine fridge; sleek, elegant, functional, quiet, great value for money."
Pros
- Awarded Quiet Mark
- Humidity control
- 3D lighting presentation
- Airflow system
Cons
- Rack gaps don't accommodate different size bottles
Best wine coolers for the table
A table-top wine cooler is a snug fit around a wine bottle. It's different to a Champagne bucket and doesn't necessarily require ice. A table-top cooler keeps wine at its optimum temperature, whereas an ice bucket is intended to rapidly cool sparkling wine before serving. Wine coolers come in a variety of materials – and whilst glass, wood, plastic and acrylic may look fabulous at the table – we recommend a stainless steel wine cooler for its excellent temperature retention.
Best portable wine cooler
The multi-award-winning Huski Wine Cooler is a stylish and portable solution to keeping wine cold at the table. No need to pre-chill, this double walled and vacuum insulated stainless steel flask keeps drinks cold for up to six hours. No ice is required, Simply pop a cold bottle into the Huski and replace the lid, and the Huski keeps the bottle cold. It features adjustable height with an expandable design that fimly holds a bottle in place. Alternatively, the low profile design showcases more of the bottle at the table.
Customer review: "Amazing product – keeps wine cold for ages and saves you having to keep going back to the fridge when entertaining."
Pros
- Premium quality stainless steel
- No ice
- Portable
- Stylish
Cons
- Larger Champagne bottles will not fit
Best table-top wine cooler for entertaining
www.wayfair.co.uk
We all need a Riesling to celebrate from time-to-time. And this table-top wine cooler will bring a sparkle to any occasion. Available in gold or silver and finished in a satin brush effect this Barware Wine Cooler Double Wall adds a touch of luxury to the table. It's mirror polished interior showcases your bottle, while the insulated stainless steel keeps it cooler for longer. With this cooler you can pop some ice in the bottom, which will improve some white wine and rosé.
Customer review: "Lovely colour, looks stylish."
Pros
- Looks luxurious
- Good value
- Durable
Cons
- Customer comments they received a dented product
FAQs
What temperature should I serve wine?
In general, serve red wine between 12–18°C, white and rosé wine between 7–13°C, and sparkling wine between 3-7°C. There are variations to this, depending on whether a wine is light, medium or full-bodied. Broadly speaking, a wine that's too warm dulls the flavours and if it's too cold the flavours are suppressed. Laithwaites has an easy to follow wine temperature serving guide that refers to specific types of wine.
Invest in a wine bottle collar thermometer to show you the temperature of the wine bottle. This is handy if your wine cooler doesn't have an accurate thermometer, if you're outdoors, or at a food and wine pairing event.
For picnics, a wine cooler sleeve will keep a bottle chilled; the Huski Wine Cooler is a stylish and effective option. Use with a collar thermometer to serve a fine white wine – such as a Chablis – at the ideal 8–11°C.
To serve Champagne chilled, a simple Rapid Ice Wine Bottle Cooler will chill your bubbly in just five minutes.
What makes the best wine coolers?
Whether you're opening the bubbles to toast an occasion, or enjoying a chilled glass of Chardonnay all to yourself – serving wine that's perfection is easy with a wine cooler. In addition, it's a convenient storage solution that organises your wine and provides easy access. Set a budget, choose reputable brands and read reviews, also bear in mind these features when buying a wine cooler:
Consider capacity and choose a wine cooler that accommodates your current wine collection. Plus a space or two for future additions.
Adjustable temperature controls allow you to set the optimum conditions for either red or white wine. Generally, red wines benefit from warmer temperatures (15-18°C) to enhance flavours. While white wines are best stored cooler (7-10°C) to maintain their crispness and acidity. Proper storage ensures optimal taste and ageing conditions.
Multiple temperature zones is a key feature to store red and white wine in a single wine cooler. Split the cooler into a slightly warmer zone for reds and a cooler zone for whites.
High spec wine coolers have humidity control to preserve corks and prevent wine oxidation.
Anti-vibration compressors minimise vibrations to protect wine sediment and flavour.
Choose a cooler with UV-resistant glass or solid doors to protect your wines – UV rays can degrade wine quality.
An energy-efficient model will reduce long-term operating costs.
Size and design are all-important. Consider the available space in your home and choose a design that complements your aesthetic.
Some wine coolers can be noisy. Select one with quiet operation, especially if it's positioned in a living area. Look for the Quiet Mark award.
Some coolers come with extra features such as digital displays, interior lighting and alarms.
Why do UV rays harm wine?
It's true, light can effect wine. UV rays from sunlight and incandescent light (such as fluorescent lighting) create an unwanted chemical reaction. UV rays react with compounds in the wine and alter the taste and aroma. Elite Wine Refrigeration explains: "The ultraviolet rays affect the wine's naturally occurring riboflavin and pantothenic acid, causing unwanted reactions with the amino acids in the wine. This results in the release of sulphur, which is part of the reason for the unpleasant taste and aroma of wine after sunlight exposure."
LED light emits negligible UV rays and is low heat, so it doesn't effect wine.
What's the difference between a wine cooler and a wine fridge?
A wine cooler and a wine fridge are terms often used interchangeably. Both appliances are designed to store and cool wine. However, "wine fridge" tends to imply larger, freestanding units, while "wine cooler" generally refers to smaller, countertop or built-in models.
Natalie Knowles is a Homes & Garden Product Writer for Yours, specialising in home appliances. When she's not testing sparkling water makers, she flexes her creative flair as an artist.