If you’re at the point now where you can confidently tell a Merlot from a Malbec and you’re recognising the names of the vineyards that produce your wine, we think you’ve eclipsed the stage of a casual wine drinker. In fact, it looks like you’re well on your way to becoming a bonafide connoisseur!
To make sure this ever-growing collection is in good hands, you’re going to need a reliable cooler. Just like the wines you drink, there are nuances that one should be familiar with when buying a rehydration station. So, to help out, we’ve compiled all the information you'll need into a simple guide and list of our favourite products to buy from sites like John Lewis, Argos and Amazon.
While it initially may seem like a simple purchase, there are still many subtleties to consider when buying a wine cooler. In this section, we’ll take a look at the most critical features to think about and compare.
The first choice comes down to how much room you have in your kitchen. Do you have the capacity to hold another appliance? If so, you could opt for a freestanding cooler. Or would you prefer it to be integrated to save floor space?
Freestanding wine coolers are the most readily available, and usually the cheapest option. They can be placed anywhere in the house and, as they’re freestanding, they are capable of being wider and taller and therefore often have a higher capacity.
Although they can be placed anywhere you desire, it is worth putting them somewhere where the outside temperature doesn’t fluctuate too much, as you would with a standard refrigerator.
The biggest advantage of integrated coolers is that they're great for homes where space is at a premium as they can be slid underneath countertops or built into cabinets. This look also provides a neat and streamlined finish to a style-conscious kitchen.
The downside is that they usually come with pretty standard dimensions, so you’ll have to make sure they fit the spot you would like to install them in. Also, due to this, they can be limited in their capacity and often store fewer bottles than freestanding models.
When it comes to wines, they need taking care of! If you store them in a place where the temperature is too warm, you could end up ageing them too quickly, resulting in a loss of aroma and flavour. Conversely, if it's too cold, the wine can freeze which in turn can push out the cork.
For these reasons, you must identify what types of wine you want to be storing and at what temperatures they require. If you like to mix it up with different styles of wine, then you’re going to need a cooler that has a good range of temperatures.
Ideally, your purchase should work between 7°C–18°C, as this is flexible enough to work well for whites, rosés, and reds. If you also want to store champagne, then look for a product with an even lower minimum temperature.
Another question to pose is how many temperature zones you need. The answer to this will depend on what you plan on using your cooler for: serving, storage, or both.
If you particularly favour one type of wine and you want to keep your bottles at a constant temperature, be that either for storage or serving, then a single-zone cooler will do the job adequately.
If your collection includes different variations of reds and whites, you’ll require a dual-zone cooler. They are more expensive but will provide you with a much more adaptable appliance – for example, if you want to store a red whilst having a white ready to serve, this won't be a problem.
Light could rightly be considered wine’s natural adversary. This is because UV rays can prematurely age wine, hence why most companies use dark or coloured bottles to protect their product.
To avoid this, you’ll want to check that the door of your purchase (if it is see-through or glass) is UV protected.
Also, while bulbs won’t age the wine, they could potentially fade the labels, something no good collector wants to happen. To sidestep this issue, look for a device that uses LED bulbs.
Finally, you’ll want to consider the capacity of your wine cooler. Choosing a cooler that you outgrow quickly will be frustrating and a waste of money. Equally, picking one that is bigger than your needs will force it to work harder to cool empty space, hiking up those electricity bills.
To find what is right for you, consider your wine collection and how many bottles you have on hand at any given time. Then, add between 25 and 50% depending on how much more you would like your collection to grow.
Now you know the advantages and disadvantages of each style of cooler, and hopefully which will work best for your space, it's time to choose your match. Here, in ranking order, are the top 10 best wine coolers in the UK!
KWT6322UG
£3,199.00
Freestanding/ Integrated | Integrated |
---|---|
Temperature Range | 5-20°C |
Temperature Zones | Dual |
UV Door | Yes |
Inside Lighting | LED |
Capacity | 34 bottles |
HUS-HN6
£139.99
Freestanding/ Integrated | Freestanding |
---|---|
Temperature Range | 8-18 °C |
Temperature Zones | Single |
UV Door | - |
Inside Lighting | Yes (bulbs unknown) |
Capacity | 12 bottles |
JLWF608
£899.00
Freestanding/ Integrated | Either |
---|---|
Temperature Range | 5-16°C |
Temperature Zones | Dual |
UV Door | Yes |
Inside Lighting | LED |
Capacity | 38 bottles |
HEA3
£349.99
Freestanding/ Integrated | Freestanding |
---|---|
Temperature Range | 5-18 °C |
Temperature Zones | Single |
UV Door | - |
Inside Lighting | LED |
Capacity | 26 bottles |
KR-12A2E
£129.98
Freestanding/ Integrated | Freestanding |
---|---|
Temperature Range | 10-18 °C |
Temperature Zones | Single |
UV Door | Yes |
Inside Lighting | LED |
Capacity | 12 bottles |
RH34WC1
£289.99
Freestanding/ Integrated | Freestanding |
---|---|
Temperature Range | 5-18 °C |
Temperature Zones | Single |
UV Door | - |
Inside Lighting | Yes (bulbs unknown) |
Capacity | 34 bottles |
CWC301BK
£319.99
Freestanding/ Integrated | Either |
---|---|
Temperature Range | 5-20°C |
Temperature Zones | Single |
UV Door | Yes |
Inside Lighting | LED |
Capacity | 20 bottles |
WDZ46
£329.99
Freestanding/ Integrated | Freestanding |
---|---|
Temperature Range | 4-22°C |
Temperature Zones | Dual |
UV Door | - |
Inside Lighting | Yes (bulb unknown) |
Capacity | 46 bottles |
VIVA16LED-BL
£159.99
Freestanding/ Integrated | Freestanding |
---|---|
Temperature Range | 3-18 °C |
Temperature Zones | Single |
UV Door | - |
Inside Lighting | LED |
Capacity | 16 bottles |
10027674
£249.99
Freestanding/ Integrated | Either |
---|---|
Temperature Range | 8-18 °C |
Temperature Zones | Dual |
UV Door | Yes |
Inside Lighting | LED |
Capacity | 18 bottles |
Image | 1 ![]() Klarstein | 2 ![]() Subcold | 3 ![]() Bush | 4 ![]() Cookology | 5 ![]() Russell Hobbs | 6 ![]() Kalamera | 7 ![]() Klarstein | 8 ![]() John Lewis & Partners | 9 ![]() Husky | 10 Miele |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Name | Vinesse Wine Fridge Cooler | Viva16 Tabletop Wine Fridge | Dual Zone Wine Cooler | Freestanding Undercounter Fridge Cabinet | Freestanding Wine Cooler | Silent Wine Fridge | Vivo Wine Cellar | Under Counter Wine Cooler | Reflections Drinks Cooler | Integrated Wine Cabinet |
Features | An Absolute All-Star All-Rounder | As Cool as a Cucumber | For the Enthusiasts Whose Thirst Can't Be Quenched | A Classy Wine Cooler That Can Home Any Style of Wine | Save Yourself Some Serious Fridge Space With This Cooler | A Cooler for Those Who Want to Drink and Not Collect | Chic Stainless Steel to Complement Kitchens With Natural Woods | A Big Capacity to Fit All Your Favourites | Taste the Future With This Contemporary Reflective Design | Utilise Remote Control Technology With This Advanced Cooler |
Price | £249.99 | £159.99 | £329.99 | £319.99 | £289.99 | £129.98 | £349.99 | £899.00 | £139.99 | £3,199.00 |
Freestanding/ Integrated | Either | Freestanding | Freestanding | Either | Freestanding | Freestanding | Freestanding | Either | Freestanding | Integrated |
Temperature Range | 8-18 °C | 3-18 °C | 4-22°C | 5-20°C | 5-18 °C | 10-18 °C | 5-18 °C | 5-16°C | 8-18 °C | 5-20°C |
Temperature Zones | Dual | Single | Dual | Single | Single | Single | Single | Dual | Single | Dual |
UV Door | Yes | - | - | Yes | - | Yes | - | Yes | - | Yes |
Inside Lighting | LED | LED | Yes (bulb unknown) | LED | Yes (bulbs unknown) | LED | LED | LED | Yes (bulbs unknown) | LED |
Capacity | 18 bottles | 16 bottles | 46 bottles | 20 bottles | 34 bottles | 12 bottles | 26 bottles | 38 bottles | 12 bottles | 34 bottles |
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Wondering how to get started on your up-and-coming vino collection and which meals to match them with? Hopefully our related articles will please your palate!
And thus concludes our round-up of the best wine coolers to buy online. We hope you were able to identify exactly what you're looking for in terms of style, temperature range, and other features.
With autumn right upon us, it seems like the ideal time to stock up a little bit and spend the cooler months hibernating and getting involved in some sophisticated wine tasting. Drink anyone?
Author: Lewis Clark
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