Choosing the Best Countertop Wine Cellar For Your Needs

If you are a wine connoisseur, you have likely experienced frustration in try to determine how best to store, display and serve your wine. Of course, wine coolers aren’t built standard into homes, so unless you had your home custom built, you are left wondering how to properly care for your wine. The good news is that it’s easy and affordable to purchase a countertop wine cellar. This small appliance will sit on top of a counter and is perfectly designed to properly store and cool your wine. Many people place it below the cupboard or rack that holds the wine glasses, effectively creating a mini bar.

You can buy a countertop cooler that can handle a variety of needs. The smallest models hold six bottles while the largest can handle up to two dozen bottles of wine. For most people’s needs, a 12 bottle countertop wine cellar should be sufficient. This Wine Enthusiast video features their six-bottle touchscreen model:

Countertop models are made by Vinotemp, Koolatron, Haier, and Avanti. Haier generally gets the highest ratings among customers. To ensure that you get exactly what you need, be sure to check the dimensions of your model. While all the coolers accommodate a standard sized bottle of wine, some are not deep enough for taller bottles.

Unlike a standard refrigerator, the countertop wine cellar is perfectly designed to keep your wines at the proper serving and storing temperatures. The standard refrigerator temperature is around 38 degrees. While you can store your wine in your refrigerator, it is not ideal. Red wines are best around 55-60 degrees while white wines perform best at about ten degrees cooler, or 45-50. A good wine cooler will accommodate both of these ranges. However, the thermostat works differently on different models. Some allow for precise adjustments within that range while others rely on several preset temperatures. Keep that in mind when selecting your model.

Buying a wine cellar is quite affordable. The smallest choices (six bottles) sell for between $125 and $175. Surprisingly, the highest rated Haier model is on the lower end of that range. A 12 bottle countertop wine cellar can be purchased for around $200. For a significant increase in price, you can purchase models that have two cooling zones, allowing you to store both red and white wine in the same unit. These generally hold about 18-24 bottles and start at around $350. Prices go up from there depending on the desired features and capacity. By assessing your needs, you can determine which is the best choice for you.