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The Best Wine Coolers, According to Experts
Because your wine collection deserves nothing but the best
As much as we may wish it wasn't true, wine cellars aren't the most practical addition to most homes. Luckily there's an easy solution to any wine storing conundrum: investing in a wine cooler. So much so, that we'd say no self-respecting collector should be without one in their kitchen.
Mimicking the cool and dark conditions of a cellar, wine fridges will protect your bottles and keep them at the perfect temperature, ensuring their quality right up until it's time to get the corkscrew out.
They're designed with a temperature range to suit all, but if you want to store a variety of wines, look for a wine cooler that offers multiple temperature zones. That way, you can keep your whites cool and reds at a slightly warmer temperature. One option on our list has three sections, meaning there's ample room for Champagne, too.
What to consider when buying a wine cooler
As well as their temperature regulating capabilities, there are a few other factors to consider when investing in a wine cooler. Firstly, decide the capacity you need; think about how many bottles you currently store, and whether you need room to grow your collection. The products on our list range from a 21-bottle to a 190-bottle capacity, so there truly is a cooler for every kitchen and collection.
If you’re relocating or redoing your whole kitchen, it's also worth considering an integrated cooler rather than one that's freestanding. These built-in models will sit elegantly alongside your other appliances and cupboards for a classic finish. That said, if you like your kitchen the way it is, go for a freestanding model that you can plug in wherever you would like.
How we test wine coolers
To find a wine cooler you can rely on, our panel measured the temperature stability of every model we tested over a period of two, 24 and 48 hours. For coolers with multiple temperature zones, we tested each zone separately and for every section, specifically seeking a lack of fluctuation.
Next, we tested how quickly each model recovered to the correct temperature after we left the door open for two minutes. After all, it's always reassuring to know that opening and closing the door won't damage the integrity of your wines.
Finally, we monitored its energy consumption over 48 hours and considered its ease of use, instructions and design elements to select the leading wine coolers for 2023.
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