We Tested 10 Wine Fridges to Find the Best Ones, Whether You Want to Save or Splurge

A wine fridge is a bulky appliance. However, for those into vino, a dedicated wine fridge can allow you to properly age wine, developing flavors and complexities the wine otherwise wouldn’t have. Of course, you could try putting bottles in a dark cabinet or basement, but wine is best stored at about 55°F and 70% humidity, and should be cellared on its side, which prevents the cork from drying out and allows the sediment to settle properly. Even for casual wine drinkers, a wine fridge could still be a good investment for storing bottles at perfectly drinkable temperatures.

To find the best wine fridges, we tested 10 of them. We included larger fridges as well as ones that held just eight bottles to find picks that serve a variety of wine drinkers and collectors.

The Tests

• Assembly Test: We assembled each wine fridge as needed, timing how long it took to do so.
• Wine Test: We added and removed numerous bottles of wine, noting how easy this was.
• Long-Term Testing: Staffers took home the wine fridges, using them for four months and evaluating their performance, features, and more.
• Usability Tests: Throughout testing, we noted how easy the wine fridge was to open and close, how sturdy its shelves or racks were, and whether it was simple to adjust the temperature.

What We Learned

Why Wine Storage Temperature Matters 

Wine cellaring involves aging bottles in a controlled environment to improve quality. “If your interest in wine is driven by the marvel of the ‘life’ of a wine and the fascinating stages of that life—from youth to adolescence to adulthood—then a respect for its living quarters is essential,” says Scott Carney, a master sommelier and dean of Wine Studies at the Institute of Culinary Education.

When it comes to storing wine, heat is the enemy. Think about the transformative powers of heat during cooking—a ripe strawberry has much lighter and brighter flavors than strawberry jam, which is rich and fudgy. Heat can create a similar change in wine. During storage, hot temperatures can cook wine, transforming its fresh fruit profile into a murky, raisin-y mess. While this process, known as maderization, is intentional when making Madeira—a fortified wine known for its nutty and caramelized flavors—when this happens accidentally, it’s considered a flaw. 

The ideal temperature for storing wine is between 55 to 57ºF. This range is known as cellar temperature and is much warmer than the average household fridge, but cool enough to prevent maderization. Prior to modern heating and cooling technology, wine and other perishables, including root vegetables, were stored in cellars. Because they’re underground, cellars are cool and aren’t as susceptible to temperature changes as other rooms in the house. But nowadays, you have the option to invest in a wine fridge, which gives you more control over temperature. “The variables that can unduly accelerate the lifespan of a wine—temperature, humidity, light, and vibration—are fairly well controlled by a wine fridge,” Carney says. Some of our favorite wine fridges, like the 32-bottle capacity Wine Enthusiast Dual Zone MAX Compressor Wine Cooler, even have dual temperature zones, meaning you can have two racks storing wine at different temperatures—fancy!

Single vs. Dual Zone Wine Fridges

As we mentioned above, some wine fridges give you the option of two temperature zones; this feature is ideal if you store a variety of bottles. For example, reds like to be stored at 60°F, while white wine prefers 55°F. Conversely, single-zone models, as their name suggests, offer one zone of temperature control. That all being said, while wines are best cellared at different temperatures, we don’t think it’s a dealbreaker to store a few reds and whites together at 57°F. 

Wine Fridge Features to Look For

The best wine fridges should have tinted doors and horizontal shelves, which protect the wine from light and prevent the cork from drying out, which can lead to oxidation. They should also have drawers that open and shut smoothly, close securely, and operate relatively quietly. Some fridges come equipped with touchscreens, which allow you to customize settings, and easily maneuverable shelves that’ll take care not to scuff labels. The Rocco Super Smart Fridge boasts the fun feature of taking inventory from the comfort of your phone—great if you realize you’re out of rosé and have a party coming up (only slightly kidding).

What Size Wine Fridge Should You Get?

“For commercial purposes, it is not unusual for a temperature-controlled wine cellar to be custom-built,” Carney says. “[They’re] often built to be displayed in the restaurant to demonstrate to their guests that when they shell out $800 for a bottle of wine, they can be assured that it has been perfectly cared for.” 

While dreamy, most folks aren’t looking to create a literal wine cave in their basement. Instead, at-home wine fridges tend to be more approachable, with capacities ranging from as low as four bottles to larger ones that carry upward of 146. Which size you choose depends on how much wine you want to have, though we recommend starting small—27 to 32 bottles—for those new to cellaring. In addition to considering your bottle collection, it’s good to keep in mind where you want to put the fridge, since these things can be big.

The Criteria: What to Look for in a Wine Fridge

When choosing the best wine fridge, there is no one-size-fits-all approach. Consider whether you want a single-zone fridge or a dual-zone one to store wines at different temperatures. You should also factor in how much wine you plan on cellaring. General features we looked for were sturdy shelving, an easy-to-open (and close) door, and simple temperature adjustment. A good wine fridge should also be straightforward to assemble and not sound like a freight train when it’s running. A gentle hum is best.

Our Favorite Wine Fridges

The Best Wine Fridge

Wine Enthusiast 32-Bottle Dual Zone MAX Compressor Wine Cooler

$459 at Amazon View on Wine Enthusiast

What we liked: Sommeliers and wine experts rave about Wine Enthusiast's collection of fridges. Carney says The Institute of Culinary Education relies on the brand for its wine program, which is high praise. This model holds up to 32 bottles, making it suitable for anyone just getting into cellaring. Its dual-zone design allows you to customize two separate temperature areas between 41 and 64°F. It’s also fairly quiet and doesn’t take up too much space, since it only requires four inches on the back and top for proper air circulation and cooling performance. Our long-term tester liked its built-in light that allowed them to easily see the fridge’s contents.

What we didn’t like: It's still noisier than some of our other top picks. 

Key Specs

• Dimensions: 17 x 19.5 x 33.5 inches
• Stated capacity: 32 bottles
• Single or dual zone: Dual
• Temperature range: 41 to 64°F
• Warranty: 1 year

Another Great Wine Fridge

GE 31-Bottle or 109-Can Wine and Beverage Cooler

$890 at Best Buy $881 at Wayfair View on Build.com

What we liked: This GE model is beautiful and has the performance to back it up. This single-zone fridge has a temperature range of 41 to 61°F, making it great for reds, whites, sparkling, rosé, or dessert wines. The wooden shelving has slats that are close together, so it can also hold cans of seltzer or beer. We liked how quiet the fridge was and that it came with a key to lock it. 

What we didn’t like: For the price, we wish this were a dual-zone fridge. It would be nice if its five shelves were adjustable.

Key Specs

• Dimensions: 20.75 x 19 x 31.5 inches
• Stated capacity: 31 bottles
• Single or dual zone: Single
• Temperature range: 41 to 61°F
• Warranty: 1 year

A Splurge-Worthy, Editor’s Pick

Rocco The Super Smart Fridge

View on Roccofridge.com $1,895 at Goop.com $1,795 at Nordstrom

What we liked: The Rocco fridge boasts a modern design and a stylish ribbed glass panel door. It comes in four colors, too: chic white, mustard yellow, verdant green, and glossy graphite. It has dual temperature zones, a mid-century aesthetic, and spacious, modular racks with horizontal bars that keep bottles in place. Its shelves are versatile and can accommodate cans, and we liked that the top doubles as a bar cart. The smart features allow you to toggle between temperatures of 37 to 64°F, which is the biggest range of all our winners, and the app lets you see what’s inside your fridge. Assembly was straightforward, and took about 15 minutes. While you can sometimes hear it humming, it’s otherwise pretty quiet.

What we didn’t like: This wine fridge is pricey, and we think the inventory management system could be better at recognizing brands. Occasionally, the shelves stick out for seemingly no reason and need readjusting; otherwise, the door pops open. At 128 pounds, it’s heavy and hard to move.

Key Specs

• Dimensions: 24 x 16 x 34.5 inches
• Stated capacity: 27 bottles
• Single or dual zone: Dual
• Temperature range: 37 to 64°F
• Warranty: 10 years
  

The Best Budget-Friendly Wine Fridge

Ivation 12-Bottle Single Zone Freestanding Wine Refrigerator

$238 at Amazon $200 at Home Depot $250 at Lowe's

What we liked: This sturdy, compact fridge is a great starter appliance for learning how to care for wine. It can hold up to 12 bottles and has a touchpad control panel and a lock, which is pretty sweet for a $200 pick. We liked that its metal shelves were removable, so we could fit bottles of all sizes and shapes.

What we didn’t like: This wine fridge is louder than others, and its cord is short.

Key Specs

• Dimensions: 17.72 x 9.92 x 31.18 inches
• Stated capacity: 12 bottles 
• Single or dual zone: Single
• Temperature range: 41 to 64°F
• Warranty: 1 year

The Best Apartment-Friendly Wine Fridge

Cuisinart CWC-800CEN Private Reserve 8-Bottle Wine Cellar

$337 at Amazon $230 at Walmart $230 at Sur La Table

What we liked: This petite, affordable fridge is great for folks looking to dip their toes into wine cellaring. Its adjustable shelves can hold up to eight bottles, and we liked that its wire cups nicely cradled wine. The compact fridge fits perfectly on a counter or bar cart. Plus, its thermoelectric cooling system makes this model fairly silent and more energy efficient. If you don’t have the space for a full-size wine fridge and want a countertop option, this is a great pick.

What we didn’t like: Some customer reviews report that the fridge doesn’t reach its minimum stated temperature.

Key Specs

• Dimensions: 19 x 12 x 22.5 inches
• Stated capacity: 8 bottles
• Single or dual zone: Single
• Temperature range: 39 to 68°F
• Warranty: 3 years

The Most Aesthetic Wine Fridge

Wine Enthusiast Aya Two Door with One Dual Zone Cellar

View on Wine Enthusiast

What we liked: If you want a wine fridge that disguises itself as decor, the Aya is our recommendation. It features a bar cabinet on one side and an 18-bottle wine fridge on the other. The wavy, wooden doors are eye-catching, and we found the fridge to be exceptionally quiet. The fridge has dual zones and features simple temperature adjustment, with plus and minus buttons.

What we didn’t like: For the price, we think the materials could be higher quality. We had to drill a hole in the cabinet ourselves to thread the wine fridge’s power cord through. We thought the fridge’s wire shelving felt cheap, too.

Key Specs

• Dimensions: 41 x 22 x 35 inches
• Stated capacity: 18 bottles
• Single or dual zone: Dual
• Temperature range: 41 to 64°F
• Warranty: 1 year

The Competition

• Frigidaire 45 Bottle Two-Zone Wine Cooler: Throughout long-term testing, we found this wine fridge to be excessively noisy. Its shelves aren’t suited for bulbous bottles, like Champagne. However, if you’re looking for a fridge for reds and whites and plan on keeping it in the basement out of earshot, we don’t think it’s a bad pick.
• Koolatron 6 Bottle Wine Cooler Refrigerator: This is just too small for us to recommend. Get the Cuisinart instead.
• Icyglee Wine and Beverage Refrigerator: The racks were rickety, and the doors didn’t shut securely. 
• Vinotemp 28-Bottle Touch Screen Wine Cooler: When we tested it, we thought it was cheaply made. It’s now discontinued. 

FAQs

Are wine fridges good for storing wine? 

Wine fridges can assist you in monitoring bottles to safeguard them from potential threats such as temperature, humidity, light, vibrations, and improper positioning. If you plan to age wine bottles, preserving them in a fridge for several years is possible, depending on your goals. Regardless of whether you want to age your investments for five years or 20, keeping them in an optimal environment will help extend their lifespan and maintain their quality.

What is the best temperature for a wine fridge?

Different types of wine require specific storage temperatures. For example, Carney says most reds should be stored at 60°F, while most whites should be kept at 55°F. If you are unsure about the temperature required for a particular wine, you can check the label on the bottle for further instructions. 

Why We’re the Experts

• Riddley Gemperlein-Schirm is the associate editorial director for Serious Eats. She’s been with the site since 2021 and has been testing kitchen equipment professionally for about seven years. She’s owned the Rocco wine fridge for more than a year.
• Madeline Muzzi is a certified sommelier who has written extensively for Serious Eats. 
• Ashia Aubourg is a writer who has worked in kitchens (and on farms). 
• For this story, we spoke to Aubrey Bailey (the first female sommelier at the French Laundry and owner of the bars Cadet and Chispa), Scott Carney (master sommelier and dean of Wine Studies at the Institute of Culinary Education), Daniel de la Nuez of Forthave Spirits, and Cesar Vega of Les Vins de Barbichette.