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A killer chiller.
As someone who reviews and spends a lot of time in the world of consumer tech, there are products that have so many similarities across a specified range that it's often hard to tell them apart. Compact wine coolers are like toaster ovens in this regard. Most compact wine coolers, the ones that fit on the counter for quick access to your everyday wine, mostly offer the same features.
They are almost always single-zone—meaning they don't regulate the temperatures for red and white wines. And they generally hold about 8 to 12 bottles, which is enough for even the most stressful week. They all also have temperature controls and aim to be fairly quiet appliances. So you have to consider how it's going to look on your counter and price as the biggest buying factors.
Also like toaster ovens, most compact wine coolers have a similar look and feel. Tempered glass to keep out the light, a stainless steel door and LCD controls are the general hallmarks of most compact wine coolers. So what do you look for when looking for a compact wine cooler that stands out?
Let's uncork some answers:
NutriChef 12 Bottle Thermoelectric Wine Cooler
NutriChef 12 Bottle Thermoelectric Wine Cooler
The NutriChef 12 Bottle Thermoelectric Wine Cooler holds, you guessed it, 12 bottles. What makes this wine cooler stand out from the others on this list? Well, you'll it's got steel shelving, glass door that seals in humidity and an ultra-quiet cooling system. But his one is vertical rather than horizontal, so it's got that going for it. It's also around $197.67, which is a small price to pay to properly store your wine.
NewAir AW-121E 12 Bottle Thermoelectric Wine Cooler
NewAir AW-121E 12 Bottle Thermoelectric Wine Cooler
With a horizontal, squat microwave-like design, the NewAir AW-121E 12-Bottle Thermoelectric Wine Cooler kind of looks like a rotisserie oven. This brand comes in a few different sizes, but the 12-bottle design is only $120 and comes in black if you want the 28-bottle version. The LCD controls are on the outside of the unit, which is helpful for when you need to modify temperature without opening the unit.
Wine Enthusiast Silent 18 Bottle Wine Refrigerator
Wine Enthusiast Silent 18 Bottle Wine Refrigerator
I'd say this is the best compact wine cooler on this list, but you are welcome to keep reading. The Wine Enthusiast Silent 18-Bottle Wine Refrigerator is a vertical cooler with energy efficient thermoelectric cooling. It's meant to hold Bordeaux-size bottles, but you can remove the shelves if you want to stick different size bottles in there. The bonus here is that it's a dual-zone wine cooler for under $200, so you can keep both reds and whites in the same compact wine cooler.
Wine Enthusiast 12 Bottle Touchscreen Wine Cooler
Wine Enthusiast 12 Bottle Touchscreen Wine Cooler
The second Wine Enthusiast compact wine cooler on this list appears for reason. It's got something the other compact wine coolers don't have, something that actually makes it stand out and not just look like a black microwave on the counter. It has wooden racks. Sure, it's just a wood facade on the front of wire racks, but it looks elegant. Because isn't that what having a compact wine cooler on your counter is all about? The Wine Enthusiast 12-Bottle Touchscreen Wine Cooler also has the standard thermoelectric cooling, adjustable temperature and for some reason, does not ship to California.
EdgeStar 6-Inch 7 Bottle Built-In Wine Cooler
EdgeStar 6-Inch 7 Bottle Built-In Wine Cooler
Finally, we have the most expensive, yet most compact wine cooler on this list, which is a contradiction in and of itself. At $399, the EdgeStar 6-Inch 7-Bottle Built-In Wine Cooler will basically fit anywhere. So it's perfect for apartments, cramped kitchens or that wine nook opposite the book nook opposite the Precious Moments nook. I'm going to guess the price point of the EdgeStar is due to the high-capacity compressor placed into a unit with a very small footprint. It also has a reversible door, which can be handy when trying to find a place to put it. And it has front venting and UV-resistant glass, so is up to the general standard of compact wine coolers. You are paying a premium here for the compressor and ability to fit it anywhere. Perhaps that's exactly what you need. You know, besides the wine.
