If you begin to look for the best wine coolers online, you will find a plethora of options and types of wine coolers to pick from. Built-in (or also referred to as under-counter) wine coolers are a great option as they seamlessly fit into your kitchen cabinets and do not take a lot of additional space, making them a wine cooler of choice for compact homeowners.
If you’re planning a renovation or kitchen make-over, you may want to consider incorporating a built-in wine cooler into your design. Built-in wine fridges can certainly add value to your kitchen as they look sleek and modern and can suit any style. However, if you’re considering buying a built-in wine cooler, there are a few things you will need to think about.
Things to keep in mind before buying an under-counter wine cooler
There are many advantages to buying a built-in wine cooler. They really feel as though they belong and can make your kitchen cabinets look really sleek and stylish. Here we have outlined some of the factors you may want to consider and features to look out for when choosing a built-in wine cooler.
- Before you buy your cooler, you need to know exactly where it’s going to go – figure out the placement. One cool thing about built-in coolers is that most can be used as free-standing units but still, it’s important to know where you intend to place the cooler before you buy it. You’ll need to know the dimensions of the space you intend to place it in.
- Capacity is an important feature you must also consider when buying your built-in cooler. If you have a large and diverse wine collection, look for a larger capacity cooler.
- Also, keep in mind the number of zones while buying a wine cooler. Single zone wine coolers keep all the wines at one temperature. If you have a large wine collection that requires different temperatures, (i.e. Reds and whites) go for a dual-zone cooler.
So, if you’ve made up your mind to buy a built-in wine cooler, let’s explore some of the best options for you. Here are some built-in wine coolers that are a combination of perfect design and exemplary features. You can get a brief overview from the table below or click through to read more detailed reviews.
PRODUCT | TYPE & BOTTLE CAPACITY | TEMPERATURE RANGE | ZONE TYPE | COOLING SYSTEM | LINKS |
 Aobosi 15″ Wine Cooler | Built-in or Freestanding (28) | 41-68°F 5-20°C | Dual | Compressor | |
 Phiestina 15″ Wine Cooler | Built-in or Freestanding (29) | 40-66°F 4-18°C | Dual | Compressor | |
 Bodega 15″ Wine Cooler | Built-in or Freestanding (31) | 41-68°F 5-20°C | Single | Compressor | |
 Kalamera 15″ Wine Cooler | Built-in or Freestanding (30) | 40-66°F 4-18°C | Single | Compressor | |
 Antarctic Star 15″ Wine Cooler | Built-in or Freestanding (28) | 41-68°F 5-20°C | Dual | Compressor |
As you are potentially looking to build this unit in under your counter, the dimensions of the units are important. Here they are for you to compare easily and/or give to your contractor:
All measurements are in inches:
- Aobosi: 14.96 x 22.95 x 34.25 (WxDxH)
- Phiestina: 14.9 x 22.4 x 33.9 (WxDxH)
- Bodega: 15.3 x 23.1 x 34.3 (WxDxH)
- Kalamera: 14.9 x 22.4 x 33.9 (WxDxH)
- Antarctic: 14.96 x 22.75 x 34.25 (WxDxH)
As you can see, all of our top 5 picks are around 15 inches wide so they don’t take up a lot of space. The heights vary from 32″ to 34.3″ so you might need to check the height of the space under your counter to identify which will fit best into your space.
Pros and Cons of Built-in Wine Coolers
With so many to choose from it can be easy to get confused and overwhelmed when shopping for your best option – you want to make sure you make the right decision! Here, we’ve broken it down into a simple list of the pros and cons of buying a built-in wine cooler. Work your way through the list and figure out if this is the right style of wine cooler for you.
PROS
CONS
- Perfect for people who want a wine cooler to seamlessly merge with their home décor.
- The compact design of these coolers makes it very easy for them to fit in kitchen cabinets.
- They are very energy efficient.
- They are very easy to maintain.
- You must have existing cabinetry with correct dimensions to fit the cooler in.
- Installation is more difficult than a freestanding model and should be done by a professional.
- Once installed you are unlikely to move it to another room/space or new home if you move.
With its dual zone function and wide temperature range, the Aobosi is our top pick for the best bult-in wine cooler. If you need a slightly larger capacity, the 31-bottle capacity Bodega is a good option, but keep in mind it only has single zone cooling. As always, you can’t go wrong with any of the models on our list – each of them is very good at serving its purpose, keeping your wine chilled!