There’s nothing quite like a glass of wine, properly chilled. However, most people don’t drink enough wine to justify a full-sized wine cooler. A small cooler can keep a few of your favorites ready to drink at the drop of a hat, without wasting space or energy.
I wanted to learn more about why wine coolers are considered important by aficionados – this is what I learned:
Wine coolers are different from standard refrigerators. The average refrigerator remains around 40 degrees Fahrenheit to keep food from going bad. Wine coolers, on the other hand, rest anywhere between 45 and 60 degrees Fahrenheit. Wine coolers are also designed to minimize vibration because this can degrade wine over time.
Finding the best mini wine cooler for you can be difficult since not many manufacturers make small coolers. I went searching and found the five best six-bottle wine coolers on the market. Afterward, I also covered:
- What Makes a Good Wine Cooler
- What’s the Ideal Temperature for a Wine Cooler
- Can You Use a Wine Cooler for Beer?
- Can You Use a Wine Cooler as a Refrigerator?
Ready? Then let’s dive in.
The Five Best Small Wine Coolers
It’s hard to go wrong with a Frigidaire. This brand is known for its high-quality refrigerators, and this wine cooler is similarly top-notch. The black and stainless steel finish is sleek, and the internal LED light just looks sharp! With a clear front panel, the cooler lets you check which wines you have cooling without having to open the door.
The Frigidaire 6 bottle wine cooler has adjustable temperature controls ranging from 45 to 65 degrees Fahrenheit, making it the perfect choice for any type of wine. The cooler uses a thermoelectric cooling system, making this cooler impressively quiet and a great accent to any home.
It’s easy to set up this cooler, too. All you need to do is plug it in and insert your wine, and the bottles will be perfectly chilled in no time. Best of all, the cooler itself maintains a small footprint that’s perfect for home bars. The entire cooler is only 10 inches wide and 20 inches deep, fitting into the narrowest of spaces.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Clear door to check your wines | No handle |
| Easy temperature controls to adjust depending on the wine | Only 6 bottle capacity |
| Quiet running without vibration |
Our Verdict
If you want a sleek, quiet wine cooler from a trusted brand, you can’t go wrong with the Frigidaire 6 Bottle wine cooler.
Getting a wine cooler doesn’t have to be expensive. In fact, the Magic Chef wine cooler is perfect for any wine aficionado working on a budget. This cooler does what it needs to do efficiently and without frills.
The Magic Chef wine cooler has an adjustable thermostat that lets you set a temperature between 46 and 64 degrees Fahrenheit. This is more than enough to keep your favorite wines appropriately cool. The fans in the cooler are quiet and unobtrusive, so it won’t add a lot of racket to your kitchen.
The smooth black face and recessed side handle help keep the Magic Chef wine cooler looking sleek and easy to clean. The slightly reflective surface might show fingerprints, but it’s just as easily wiped down.
Finally, the removable wire racks give you options when it comes to the bottles you store. There’s no need to worry about a bottle being too large for your cooler. It’s a great choice for any size wine bottle.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Best value for price | Often sold out |
| Wide temperature range | No fancy features |
Our Verdict
Anyone who wants to keep their wine cool without breaking the bank should strongly consider the Magic Chef wine cooler.
If you’re interested in an attractive wine cooler, you can’t go wrong with the Koolatron Thermoelectric cooler. The reflective black finish and the mirrored glass door make this cooler the perfect match for any décor.
The digital temperature controls help you keep your wine at the perfect temperature without being overly complex. If you change your wines, you can change the temperature at the touch of a button. As an added bonus, the front-facing temperature display will help you guarantee what your wines are experiencing at any time.
This is a truly compact cooler, too. At only ten inches wide, twenty inches deep, and less than 15 inches tall, it’s an easy appliance to fit in any space. Whether you want it on top of or underneath your counters, it will match the space you have.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Short enough to fit under any counter or cabinet | A little more expensive than other options |
| Attractive, sleek style to match your current décor | Not a lot of room to store non-standard sized wine bottles. |
| Easy temperature controls to keep your wine at the perfect temperature |
Our Verdict
The Koolatron Thermoelectric wine cooler is the best choice for people who want form and function in a small package
If you want a little more room than a simple 6-bottle wine cooler, Koolatron also makes a sleek 8-bottle model. This smooth, classic wine cooler gives you the chance to cool a wine bottle for every day of the week, plus an extra just in case.
The Koolatron Countertop Wine Cellar maintains the small size of the 6-bottle model, at 21.5” deep by 12” wide by 19” high. Those dimensions fit under just about any bar or counter, or settle nicely onto your kitchen countertop. However, the additional height may make it difficult to fit in a space designed for a 6-bottle cooler.
The Koolatron 8-bottle Wine Cellar also has the sleek digital thermostat. It also offers a simple button to turn on the interior light or switch the display to Celsius from Fahrenheit. Combined with the mirrored glass door, this model offers a futuristic look that’s easy to use.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| More space than standard 6-bottle coolers without a larger footprint | Taller than other coolers, so it may not fit in quite as many spaces |
| Quiet operation | May be more than you need if you're new to wine |
Our Verdict
If you want a little more space than a 6-bottle wine cooler, Koolatron’s 8-bottle Wine Cellar fits the bill just right.
Sometimes you want to stand out from the crowd and do something different. Unlike every other wine cooler on this list, NewAir’s 7 bottle wine fridge is only as wide as a single bottle. That makes it the perfect choice to fit in kitchens or bars where counter space is at a premium.
The stainless steel design matches most kitchens, and the raised handle makes this model easier to use than other with recessed designs. The clear glass door makes it easy to check what you are cooling with a glance.
Unlike other models on this list, the NewAir wine fridge uses a compressor to cool your wine. While this may be more efficient, it also may add vibration to the fridge. However, the beechwood interior shelves help mitigate that by absorbing rather than amplifying any movements. If you want a truly unique wine cooler, the NewAir wine fridge is an interesting option.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Stainless steel cleans easily and resists smudges | Pricier than other options on the list |
| Narrow footprint fits just about anywhere | Runs on a compressor, so there is a potential for vibration |
| Wider temperature range than other models |
Our Verdict
If you need a narrow, stylish wine cooler, the NewAir wine fridge might be your perfect choice.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Makes a Good Wine Cooler?
A good wine cooler can do three things:
- Maintain a steady temperature
- Cool your wine without vibrations
- Insulate your wine from unpleasant odors
A good wine cooler can do all of these things with ease.
Maintaining a steady temperature is important because fluctuations can damage your wine. Changing temperatures can degrade the subtle flavors that make different wines unique. Keeping the temperature consistent keeps your wine at its best.
Meanwhile, vibration can kill a wine’s flavor faster than temperature fluctuations. Most wines have sediment in them that settles to the bottom over time. This sediment carries bitter, unpleasant flavors, so it’s best to allow it to remain settled. Vibrations like those caused by fridge compressors stir up this sediment and help release the bitterness back into the wine, potentially ruining it. Thermoelectric coolers, which don’t include vibrations, are therefore some of the best wine coolers on the market.
Finally, most wines worth cooling use traditional cork stoppers. Corks are great because they allow the wine to “breathe,” which helps prevent it from spoiling or turning to vinegar. On the other hand, corks can also absorb smells from other food nearby. Keeping your wine from absorbing the smell from your nightly dinners is an important part of keeping it ready to drink, and a sealed wine cooler can help.
What’s the Ideal Temperature for a Wine Cooler?
Can You Use a Wine Cooler for Beer?
Yes, you can use a wine cooler for beer. In fact, wine coolers are a great option to chill just about any beverage. From water and juice to beer to hard liquor, a wine cooler can bring anything down to a refreshing temperature.
Can You Use a Wine Cooler as a Refrigerator
You shouldn’t use a wine cooler to store food, usually. Standard refrigerators keep food around 40 degrees Fahrenheit to help prevent it from spoiling. At their coolest, wine coolers only get down to about 45 degrees Fahrenheit. So, if you have food that needs to be kept cool to avoid spoilage, keep it somewhere else.
Conclusion
Whether you’re just getting into wine or you’re expanding your long-standing home bar, getting a small wine cooler is a great investment. These flexible appliances can help you preserve your wine, chill your beer, or simply keep cool water on hand without risking a brain freeze.
I hope this guide has helped you find the right small wine cooler for your home.
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Thanks for reading, and have a great day.
-Craig
