Can't help with the Magic Chef but we did buy a Vinotemp from Costco last year. Its dual zone, works well, cost ~$500. Only down side is that it makes noise when the compresser kicks on, which is really noticable when all your other appliances are ultra quiet models.

I have an Avanti unit that I bought about 2 years ago, and I love it. Holds 45-ish bottles, has 2 temperature zones, SS front and nice looking. It would have been $500-600 (cannot remember exactly) but I got it at about 1/2 that because it had a couple of tiny scratches. Score!!! I got it from Thebeveragefactory.com, through Ebay

Along the same topic (hope this isn't considered hijacking the thread): Anybody with experience with the "Wine Enthusiast" coolers? They have a thermoelectric cooling system which supposedly is silent. They are coolers, so are not meant for long-term storage (I think the guy on the phone said you can keep bottles in it for up to a year).

I'd purchased, but then returned the Cuisinart 6 bottle cooler (also had thermoelectric cooling) when I realized that I could get something larger for roughly the same price (also, the Cusinart requires storing no less than 3 bottles inside for the cooler to function properly, and needs 3" of clearance around the unit--the WE one has no such minimum bottle storage and only 1" clearance required; according to WE cust svce).

Here is a link that might be useful: Wine Enthusiast coolers

We have a Magic Chef wine AND beverage cooler...we wanted it to store soda, beer as well as a few bottles of wine...it was from HD and cost $300-$400. We went to Magic Chef's website and bought and additional glass shelf because we wanted more can storge than wine bottle. So we removed one of the wine bottle shelves and put in this extra shelf. We love it...and it is soooooo quiet..lucked out there I believe.

The wine cooler was almost an after thought..and just thought it would be somethinf fun..however, I couldn't justify paying as much for a wine cooler as we did our new fridge, so that is why we went with this affordable option. We thought that maybe down the road, if/when we could afford a higher-end wine cooler, we would get one. What we love about this wine cooler that is sooo hard to find, is that it has a black interior..most have white...I like that when the light is on inside that it is a nice accent light to the kitchen and it doesn't look like a typical white refrigerator inside.

Thanks for your thoughts everyone! We did read a tip, by the way, on noise from wine coolers. They say to put a piece of carpet underneath them and they will be quieter.

slc2053 I think you have the same one we are getting. HD has a Magic Chef right now and they said they would honor the Costco coupon but the one they have doesn't have the reversable door (dh wants it to open to the right) and it doesn't have the glass shelves. The Costco one does so I guess we wait till it comes in and is the coupon time (2/23). I'm glad to hear you like it. We also looked at the VinoTemp, Auntibubba, because that's what they have right now. It's really nice as well but I guess we're going to wait for the MC for $350.

I have a Kenmore. It was only around $200 and is VERY quiet. You hardly hear it when it comes on. I don't think you have to spend a lot of money on a wine frig unless you're after a "look."

FWIW, the one from WE is about $179.99 in the 16 (18?) bottle size with the SS door/handle.