Any true wine lover knows that serving your vino at the proper temperature is an essential component of any tasting experience. Once you've identified your favorite Pinot Noir or Lambrusco and started your collection, investing in a proper wine fridge is the next step to solidifying your status as a true wino adult.
If your collection is just getting started, it’s good to have a general idea of your household’s consumption levels. Lindsay Gabbard, sommelier and cofounder of Roscioli Wine Club, says that it’s mostly about the number. “The specs will largely be determined by the number of bottles you're looking to house,” she says. “Always remember to give yourself 20 to 30% of growing room, as nothing is worse than needing to buy an entirely new refrigerator to hold a few extra bottles that don’t fit,” she adds.
Madeline Muzzi, certified sommelier at Blue Apron, agrees. “Keeping bottles in a wine fridge allows you to store them at optimal temperatures, which will bring out their best flavors,” she says. “Many of us drink our red wine too warm and our white wine too cold. Look for a wine fridge with temperature zones — that way, you can keep both red and white wine close to their ideal serving temperatures,” she stresses.
As for how low we should we go? “40-50 degrees Fahrenheit for whites, and 50-66 degrees Fahrenheit for reds,” Gabbard says. “Champagne bottles, along with other various bottle formats, may reduce the number you can store.”
When shopping for the right wine fridge to fit your needs, you'll want to be mindful of your space constraints, budget, and chilling needs, as some fridges offer single or dual temperature zones. “Just keep your collection in mind as you make your decision. There is a huge variety on the market,” Gabbard says.
She also says to keep some important extra features in mind for a robust, well-researched purchase. Look for “double-paned thermopane glass to be sure it’s UV-resistant, [that the machine is] low or non-vibration, and that it has temperature memory in the event of power outages. From an aesthetic standpoint, wooden roll-out shelves are always a nicer feature than metal racks, and horizontal storage is critical for the long-term.”
We did the research for you to make your decision a bit easier. Organize and properly store your favorite bottles with these top-rated wine fridges.
This stainless steel, 38-bottle wine cooler from Frigidaire offers plenty of storage at a very reasonable price point. The interior temperature can be set to a range of 41 to 64 degrees Fahrenheit, which offers plenty of wiggle room for storing everything from bubbly to young reds.
This wine fridge is built with seven racks, and you can store your favorite bottles in one of two separate temperature zones.
If you're a wine enthusiast in the market for a luxe, dual-zone wine refrigerator, this model has all the bells and whistles. The shelves are made of beech wood and designed to help air circulate effectively. Temperatures can be customized, with the upper zone ranging from 40 to 50 degrees Fahrenheit and the lower zone ranging from 50 to 66 degrees Fahrenheit.
The unit itself can be built-in or left freestanding, and reviewers also love the fact that this unit is extremely quiet.
If you're equally fanatic about beer, you might want to invest in a wine fridge: This option from Antarctic features ample storage space for cans on the bottom shelf.
With a 24-bottle capacity and a temperature range of 40 to 61 degrees Fahrenheit, this versatile and affordable wine fridge is ideal for the home office or garage.
Perfect for recessed spaces or in-between counters
Easy installation
Limited storage
Key Specs
Dimensions: 20.38x5.81x34.31 inches
Capacity: 7 bottles
Temperature Zones: 1
If you're working with some serious space limitations (hi, New Yorkers!) or are just looking for a small, super compact wine fridge to keep a few bottles chilling in style, this seven-bottle wine cooler is ideal. At only 6 inches wide, this single-zone wine cooler can be maneuvered into tight corners or existing cabinets without a hitch.
With ample space for 34 bottles, this single-zone wine cooler is about as compact as it gets, thanks to its 17-inch size. Great either freestanding or for building into kitchen cabinets, this wine fridge is sleek and minimalist, with a simple, LED-lit temperature display screen and a sexy, UV-resistant, double-paned black glass door.
Danielle St. PierreSenior Food & Drink EditorDanielle is the former food & drink editor for BestProducts.com, where she put her knowledge as a cocktail consultant and connoisseur to use; her work can also be spotted on Thrillist, Food & Wine, and Delish.
Eunice Lucero-LeeSenior EditorEunice Lucero-Lee is the Senior Editor for Best Products, and is a beauty, astrology, and pop culture obsessive whose work has been featured in publications such as Cosmopolitan, Esquire, The Numinous, and woman&home, among many others.
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