Best wine bucket: Oggi Insulated Ice BucketBest wine sleeve: Vinglacé Original Wine ChillerBest thermoelectric wine cooler: TOOCA 28 Wine Mini RefrigeratorBest dual-zone wine cooler: NewAir Compressor Wine RefrigeratorBest wine chiller on a budget: Oggi Wine Cooler, Stainless Steel
What to consider when shopping for the best wine cooler
Every imbiber is different. Perhaps you’re an oenophile with an extensive collection but no cellar space, so you’re in the market for a dual-temp fridge for your reds and whites. Or maybe you just prefer to relax when you sit down for pizza night and want an insulated bucket to keep on the table. Whatever your wine needs, there’s a chiller option that’s right for you—and your wallet.
Do you want a wine fridge?
Thermoelectric and compressor wine coolers are fancy ways to say “refrigerator.” By drawing in and dispersing warm air, a thermoelectric style ensures your wine stays at the perfect temperature and features slates and shelves specifically made to fit bottles. Compression options are cheaper and noisier, but typically get colder than thermoelectric wine coolers. Both options include dual-zone wine coolers, meaning you can store bottles in the same fridge at two different temps (so you won’t need separate coolers for your reds and whites).
Are you looking for something small and portable?
If so, then simplicity is the name of the game. Look for classic wine buckets and wine chiller sleeves, like the kind you see in restaurants, to keep your vino close and cold. Fortunately, there’s a wide range of functionality and price points to choose from. You can get a standard stainless bucket that gets the job done for under 10 bucks, or spring for a vacuum-insulated design-forward style that doesn’t require the addition of ice for close to $100. Put it this way: If you have wine that needs chilling, there’s an option for you.
Is money no object?
So, you don’t have a wine cave or cellar—that doesn’t mean you can’t be a fancypants. If you want to spend a bundle on a wine chiller, you can! Shelling out a few grand can get you extras like a third temperature zone (hello, prosecco and champs), a display rack, drawers for non-alcoholic beverages like water and soda, and a special chip to guarantee temperature stability.
Best wine bucket: Oggi Insulated Ice Bucket
A convenient, soft-grip handle makes this wine bucket easy to transport from kitchen to backyard to dining room. Polypropylene not only keeps contents chilly but also reduces condensation buildup, so you won’t have to worry about unsightly sweat.
Best wine-chiller sleeve: Vinglacé Original Wine Chiller
First and foremost, this one looks super cool! More importantly, it comes with an adjustable screw top that fits most bottles, making it perfect for picnics in the park and other wine-fueled day trips. (It’s also less than three pounds empty, so it’s nice and light.)
Best thermoelectric wine cooler: TOOCA Wine Mini Refrigerator
A semiconductor model promises low vibration and noise (just 38 dB), as well as an adjustable-light feature. Compared with compressor wine coolers, thermoelectric models are quieter and more environmentally friendly. However, they’re typically more expensive and don’t get as cold. At 20 inches by 18 inches by 29 inches, this thermoelectric wine cooler features seven removable racks, which can each support up to 137 pounds. Note: This model was not designed to be built-in, so only choose this one if you have room for a standalone wine fridge.
Best dual-zone wine cooler: NewAir Compressor Wine Refrigerator
This one comes in multiple sizes, so if you’re a serious collector and not averse to dropping some dough, you can go all the way up to 98-bottle capacity for a cool thousand bucks. A convenient touch screen, slide-out racks, double-pane UV-resistant glass doors, and an LED light to look inside the fridde without disturbing the inside climate make this one a top pick. (The racks are removable, in case you’ve got a jeroboam or two you need extra room for.) Store your whites from 40 degrees to 55 Fahrenheit and your reds at 50 degrees to 66 degrees Fahrenheit. Or, you know, do whatever you want—it’s your wine!
Best wine cooler on a budget: Oggi Wine Cooler
If all you need is a place to store a 750 mL bottle during a long lunch or dinner party, this wine bottle chiller gets the job done. It’s sleek-looking (especially considering the price tag). And Oggi makes coordinating accessories (shakers, stirrers, strainers) easy if you want to add a few more mixology tools to your home bar.
The final word on shopping for the best wine cooler
Choosing the best wine cooler comes down to what you want to accomplish. If you’re trying to temperature-control a large collection of bottles, a wine fridge is perfect. If you’re more concerned about a tableside bottle not getting warm or sweating, an old-fashioned bucket will do just fine. And if you want to take your vino on the go, a vacuum-sealed option is perfect. Maybe you’re all of the above, in which case you may want one of each!
