Wine chillers

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Wine chillers

What's behind our wine chiller Ratings?

Experts at our National Testing and Research Center tested 14 models in wine chillers to see which ones perform best.

We look for:

Overall score
Overall score is based primarily on how well the model was able to maintain a uniform temperature, how noisy the unit was and well it compensated for changes in room temperature. The displayed score is out of a total of 100 points.
Temperature performance
Temperature performance includes uniformity, stability, reserve capacity, and range of available temperatures.
Energy efficiency
Energy efficiency reflects energy consumption observed during our in-house tests.
Noise
A noisy wine chiller can be a concern if it will be placed near living areas.

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Recommended wine chillers

Recommended wine chillers are standout choices with high scores. They include CR Best Buys, which offer exceptional value. When narrowing your choices, weigh features, price, and attributes that matter to you.

Recommended wine chillers

Wine chiller buying guide

To find the wine chiller that is right for you, read our expert advice on which features to consider and how to find the best value.

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Why shop here?

In addition to finding Ratings for the latest models, you can now shop online using an ad-free interface where you can buy wine chillers in a safe-shopping environment.

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Sales of wine chillers, also known as wine cellars, wine refrigerators, or wine coolers, have been growing as Americans drink more vino. If you're looking for information about wine chillers, Consumer Reports is your best resource. Consumer Reports' wine chiller reviews will give you honest buying advice that you can trust. Use our wine chiller buying guide to discover which features are most important to consider. We also provide unbiased Ratings and wine chiller reviews to help you choose the best wine chiller for your needs.

Ratings & recommended wine chillers

Wine chillers (14)

Wine chillers serve a single purpose: offering a temperature-controlled environment for the storage of wine, whether that storage is long term for aging or short term for chilling to a suitable temperature prior to serving. The market for wine chillers is still relatively small though growing, with quite a few models. Top-scoring models typically deliver more consistent temperatures. Once you know how much space you have, particularly the width, our Recommended models will help you find models that fit in that space. Models that have higher energy efficiency scores use less electricity for their capacity.

Wine chiller buying guide

Sales of wine chillers, also known as wine cellars, wine refrigerators, or wine coolers, have been growing as Americans drink more vino. We tested several under-counter and seven freestanding models with capacities ranging from 28 to 60 standard bottles.

Despite their small size--under-counter wine chillers are generally 34 inches high by 24 inches wide; freestanding models are narrower--some cost about as much as a full-sized refrigerator. Most excelled at maintaining uniform temperatures, which is essential for keeping your favorite tipples in tip-top condition.

More companies are producing two-zone wine chillers, which offer greater flexibility in storing sparkling, white, rosé, and red wines at different temperatures. (Single-compartment models count on colder air settling to the bottom of the unit to provide various temperature zones.)

"You wouldn't buy an antique car and leave it out in the driveway," Gary Vaynerchuk of the Wine Library, one of the biggest online wine retailers in the country, said. "People are investing more and more money in wine and having the ability to store that wine properly is massively important."

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