“A dedicated wine fridge is great for someone who loves hosting and has guests that drink a lot of chilled wine and Champagne," says Jessica Randhawa, owner and head chef of The Forked Spoon, a website filled with numerous recipes. “Storing large amounts of wine and Champagne bottles can take up a lot of space in the main kitchen refrigerator. But more importantly, the temperature in a kitchen refrigerator is too cold for most wines.”   Mari Jones, president of Northern California’s Emeritus Vineyards, agrees about the benefits of owning a wine fridge. “I like having dedicated storage space for my wine instead of having boxes scattered everywhere. I also like knowing that my wine is at a constant temperature and not fluctuating with the seasons. As someone without air conditioning, the summers can be hot!” We researched dozens of wine refrigerators, evaluating effectiveness, capacity, durability, and overall value. The Hisense 54-Bottle Wine Cooler is our top pick for a few reasons: it’s energy-efficient, it offers flexible installation, it has a frost-free design, and it is packed with clever features, like a door alarm and UV filter. But if you’re still shopping around, there are plenty of great options. Ready to dive in? It’s time for happy hour! Gather up your favorite bottles, because we’ve rounded up the best wine refrigerators you can buy. The average wine lover can’t go wrong with the Hisense HWS54029SS. It can hold a large amount of your favorite vino—54 bottles, to be exact!—and you can install it in multiple places in your home. To top it all off, it’s also reasonably priced.  There are plenty of convenience features to add to the list of things to love. Most importantly, the fridge features six removable shelves with attractive wood paneling and a super-handy interior light to help you spot your favorite bottle. (You know, when you’re looking for one late at night!) The door is also reversible, has an alarm, and filters UV rays to keep your bottles safe from premature aging. On the downside, this fridge only has one zone, so you’ll have to pick a temperature rather than choose a dedicated one for each varietal. Installation is highly flexible on this model, too—you can opt for a built-in or freestanding design. And because the model vents out the front, you can even slip it under your counter. Just note: You’ll have to install the door handles yourself, and the screw holes don’t always line up, requiring repair with a drill. You’ll find this particular model sold exclusively at Lowe’s. Price at time of publish: $649 While the small size may be a turnoff for some, there are advantages to having a compact freestanding design. Namely, you can install this very cute fridge in small spaces, like on your kitchen countertop or even in your game room. The internal temperature can be set anywhere between 46 and 65 degrees Fahrenheit, which is slightly more suitable for reds, but it works for white, too. And there’s a bit of good news: The electronic controls make it easy to set the right temperature. Perhaps the biggest downside is that the fridge manually defrosts, so you’ll have to unload your wine when frost builds up, chip away at it, and let the model drain before it can be put to work again. But for the affordable price, we think it’s worth the workout! Price at time of purchase: $172 You can even opt to have the fridge built right into your cabinetry or freestanding in your space—either way, the controls are hidden to keep things super-sleek. You can also customize the handles to match the hardware in your home. Talk about snazzy! But it’s not all about aesthetics. This wine fridge can hold up to 46 bottles and has a full LED light wall that gently illuminates the interior—just use your smartphone to adjust the light’s dimness. And you can also wirelessly control the internal temperature of the dual-zone unit between 41 and 61 degrees Fahrenheit. The fridge notifies you if the door is left open, and there’s also a Sabbath and lockout mode. This wine fridge is totally worth the splurge! Price at time of publish: $2,788 Still, it has two zones for chilling both whites and reds in the most ideal environment, and 12 shelves, complete with a top display shelf, making the whole thing look impressive and sophisticated. The freestanding, built-in fridge also features a wide temperature range that can be set from 40 to 65 degrees Fahrenheit. An internal fan helps distribute cold air for optimal conditions. There’s a learning curve associated with adjusting the temperature, though. What’s more, it manually defrosts, and 92 bottles is a big load to regularly take out and put back in. Still, we think its large capacity and energy efficiency make this a top choice worth checking out. Price at time of publish: $1,207 Storage is undeniably more constrained than other models on the market, but you can fit eight bottles inside of the single-zone unit. It’s also quiet and very easy to operate. You’ll have no trouble adjusting the temperature anywhere from 39 to 68 degrees Fahrenheit.It does, however, lack some convenience features of larger models. There’s no reversible door, for example, but overall, it’s a worthy pick for the average wine lover with a happy hour–sized collection or a smaller living space. Price at time of publish: $200 It’s not just about the organizational factor of dedicated shelving for each type of bottle or can, though. This sort of organized division allows you to have the appropriate climate for each type of beverage. The left zone offers a temperature range of 35.6 to 50 degrees Fahrenheit, while the right zone offers a range of 41 to 64.4 degrees Fahrenheit.  But that’s not even what we love most. At capacity, the fridge holds up to 18 bottles of wine—more than sufficient for the average person—and 57 cans of beer, soda, or sparkling water. Maintenance is minimal, too. The fridge automatically defrosts itself every six hours. The appliance is also very quiet, and it has a double layered door that keeps the machine running efficiently. Just note: While you can install it freestanding or built-in, it shouldn’t be placed in an area that’s not temperature-controlled, like the garage. Price at time of publish: $960 It’s highly functional, too, protecting wine from its three biggest threats: temperature and humidity variation, vibration, and light. The 41-bottle wine fridge has a unique, proprietary feature that the brand calls Wine Cave Technology to minimize vibration and temperature fluctuations, plus limit light exposure and maintain optimum humidity levels. You’ll also get two zones, so you can confidently store more than one varietal.  It’s also WiFi enabled, so you can tweak all of the settings from afar using a compatible smartphone app. Want to learn more about wine? You can get expert recommendations through the brand’s Signature Sommelier app. Price at time of publish: $6,999 Beyond the envy-inducing bells and whistles, you’ll get the function you need. The 65-bottle LG SIGNATURE Wine Cellar uses LG’s proprietary Optimal Preservation Technology to mimic the environment of traditional wine caves. This helps minimize temperature fluctuations, reduce vibration, limit light exposure, and lock in humidity to create the ideal storage environment for any variety or vintage. What’s more, the base of the unit has two convertible drawers that add versatility. You can customize the temperatures of these handy drawers from fridge to freezer mode, instantly turning the appliance into a preservation system for both food and wine. We think it’s the perfect place to store a nice selection of cheese or maybe frozen appetizers for those last-minute gatherings. Price at time of publish: $6,999 But this compact option for Kalamera is a great option—the workhorse is meant to run in all kinds of areas in the home, so you can store up to 30 bottles wherever you’d like! It’s freestanding, so simply place anywhere—in the dining room, kitchen, garage, or entertainment area. The unit keeps wine at a set temperature between 41 and 61 degrees Fahrenheit. Just note that the digital controls only cover a single zone, so you’ll have to choose one temperature for all of your vintages.  Still, you can expect this fridge to work hard to preserve your collection of wine. The appliance has a quiet compressor that won’t disturb wine sediments. It also has an interior cooling fan that improves airflow through the wire racks for better chilling. You will, however, have to defrost manually. But no biggie! We definitely think the benefits of this wine fridge outweigh any disadvantages. Price at time of publish: $345 There’s flexibility in installation, too. While the appliance is a terrific freestanding wine cooler, it can also be installed as a built-in under-counter unit—perfect for anyone who is looking for a more custom, high-end look. Price at time of publish: $679

Bottle Capacity

Bottle capacity is a big factor when it comes to choosing a wine fridge or cooler. Mari Jones, president of Emeritus Vineyards, says, “I wanted to make sure my wine fridge could hold a range of bottle sizes and shapes. I have a lot of magnums, and as a Pinot Noir person, I have a lot of Burgundy bottles, as well. Most wine fridges are made for Bordeaux bottles, so ensuring that I could utilize all the space of the fridge with my collection was the most important feature to me.” The capacity of a wine refrigerator can be measured in cubic feet, but it is often measured in the number of bottles it can hold. The most compact units on the market can hold as few as seven bottles, while the largest can hold nearly 57. For both wine connoisseurs and amateurs, a unit that can hold 24 bottles is usually enough, even when split into multiple zones. This capacity has a good balance of airflow and storage space, and it doesn’t give the appliance a bulky exterior, which can be hard to place in your home. It leaves room for large-form bottles that aren’t a standard shape and size.

Zone Type

The interior of a wine fridge is called a “zone.” The model you choose can either have one continuous zone, which is outfitted with shelves and set to a single temperature, or two separate zones. A dual-zone model divides the interior into two compartments, which can have unique temperature settings. This type of design is handy if you’re hoping to store both reds and whites in your unit. White wine needs a chillier environment than red wine, so one compartment of a dual-zone model usually has a temperate range of 40 to 50 degrees Fahrenheit, while the other has a range of 50 to 66 degrees Fahrenheit.

Reliability

Finding a product with quality humidity control and temperature control is key to storing wine properly. Look for a wine fridge with a temperature range between about 40 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit. (As noted, white wine should be stored at about 40 to 50 degrees Fahrenheit, while red wine requires a higher temperature of about 50 to 66 degrees Fahrenheit.) Humidity level is just as important. If wine is stored in a location with low humidity, it can degrade more quickly. The best humidity for wine is between 65 and 70 percent. Just know that wine fridges with humidity control are more precise.

Standout Features

Reversible Door

A reversible door allows you to access your wine fridge by opening the door to either the left or right. It’s usually designed with recessed handles and airtight seals along both edges. Although these seals can become worn or less effective over time, this feature is handy for households with limited space, as it makes the model more flexible to install. That’s why we chose the Hisense 54-Bottle Wine Cooler. Not only does it have a reversible door, but it is energy efficient, it offers flexible installation, and it is packed with clever features, like a door alarm and UV filter.

Safety or Child Lock

A safety lock, which is sometimes called a “child lock,” gives you the option to secure your wine fridge on a daily basis or while entertaining. If your household includes children or frequently has guests, it prevents unwanted entry and can ease your nerves. Typically, the lock is paired with a physical key or key fob, which should be stored in an accessible spot inside your home.

Door Alarm

In the event that you leave your wine fridge’s door open, or the door doesn’t seal tightly, a door alarm is very handy. It alerts you, with either a loud noise or a notification to your device, that the door needs to be closed. That prevents chilled air from escaping, and the internal environment from fluctuating in a way that could ruin your wine. While this feature is typically found in high-end wine fridges, it can be worth the extra money if you have a special collection or are picky about how wine is stored.

Why Trust The Spruce?

This article was written by Brigitt Earley, a freelance writer with nearly 15 years of experience writing about consumer products like home appliances. To curate this list, Brigitt scoured all of the most popular retailers to find the best, most highly rated wine fridges. Then, she vetted each, reading all of the specs and hundreds of reviews to ensure that the final list contained only the most reliable, quality options on the market today.  Additional reporting was conducted by Marisa Viglione, Senior Commerce Editor for Appliances, Cleaning, and Organization for The Spruce.