Source for free standing duel temp wine coolers?

8 years ago

last modified: 8 years ago

Hi all, I'm looking to buy a free standing double door duel temp forty some odd bottle wine cooler with wood interior shelves. I want pretty but also dependable. I need your ideas or experiences. I would like something better than mid/cheap but lower than very top high end.

I'm having trouble finding reliable reviews and what I need to educate me on the best choice. Amazon has some, but is that the best I can do?

Comments (9)

Fun2BHere
8 years ago
I'm sorry that I can't help you. We have been unhappy with every wine cooler we've ever purchased. They just don't seem to last very long and finding a repair person who won't charge almost as much as a new cooler costs seems impossible. The two major issues we have that may not apply to you are: 1) one of the coolers is built into a cabinet and doesn't seem to get enough air flow and 2) the other house gets too hot in the summer with no A/C and coolers can only handle about 10 - 15 degree difference from the ambient air temperature without burning out.
just_terrilynn
Original Author
8 years ago
Thank you Fun2B. So far what I have learned in my searches is that if the celler/cooler is ugly the reviews are somewhat okay. If the cooler is very attractive the reviews are poor. Also, price points are all over the board for a 40 some odd wine bottle cooler with the higher priced units reviews no better than some of the cheap.
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Hopefully someone with more knowledge will contribute on brands/models but I can tell you that a lot of the price differences that you're seeing are due to 1) built-in vs free standing 2) silent operation vs normal compressor noise 3) dual zone that are *really dual zone. Just like fridges, built-ins cost more than free standing because of the venting needs of running successfully for years in an enclosed environment. You mention undercounter so this might be important to you. When I was looking, I read lots and lots of reports about people putting free standing units into their cabinetry and then being unhappy with either/both performance and reliability. Maybe this has changed since I looked but I can't imagine successfully getting warranty service for a freestanding unit when the tech comes and it's obviously built in to your cabinets. The silent operation can be important to you if you have an open floorplan or if you're serious about your wine and don't want any sediment disturbed by a compressor that causes vibrations in the racks. This decision will rule out a bunch. If you don't know, look up your wines to find out what temps they need for storage. Sometimes units that advertise dual zone have a very narrow difference between the zones and if your wines need to be kept farther apart in temperature, then you can rule out another bunch. Also some units have a SS door (or wood finish) with plain metal sides, again like fridges, because they're meant to go between cabs so the sides are never seen. If yours will be on the end of a run, you might want to have a finished side that looks nicer. I did buy a unit a few years ago for another house and ended up with a single zone as our house temp was cold enough to have reds just on the counter. Mine was a compressor, free standing unit from Summit. I was very happy with it for my budget but you could definitely hear the compressor kick on and off. I put the white wines at the top (slightly warmer) and the beers on the bottom (slightly colder) which worked ok for us. cheers
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voila
8 years ago
Here are some reviews and prices. http://www.compactappliance.com/best-wine-refrigerators/?mtcpromotion=msn%3EWine+Coolers++(Expanded)&utm_source=msn&utm_campaign=Wine+Coolers++(Expanded)&utm_medium=cpc&utm_term=kitchen%20wine%20coolers&src=msn&k_clickid=3c2ef7a5-1d67-4fba-89cb-8010b668970e
just_terrilynn
Original Author
8 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
Thank you Voila! I think my criteria is: A front vent so it does not have to be out from wall four to six inches, dual zones for red and whites, and, one that takes larger bottles not just the average size. I have had some bottles of red that are a bit thicker than norm.

On my list to check are:Newair 46 bottle, Danby 50 bottle, Vinotemp 52 bottle and Allavino 42 bottle...so far!

I hope not to go much over $1,000. Originally I was looking in the four to six hundred range but got discouraged. With most all those cheaper ones it's not recommended to keep wine for over a year. Not that spending a tic more will really allow for a proper wine aging collection. That sort of storage is out of my spending world. Still, I would like to buy a little more time (?). Or, it's possible after more research I will find that in my range that little tic higher in price from $600 to $1200 will make no difference at all on quality.
voila
8 years ago
It is very confusing, isn't it? Thought the Danby was good til I read the Amazon reviews. Is it better to have Thermoelectric or compressor motor, or is it not important? None of the wine coolers seem to hold the number of bottles stated.
just_terrilynn
Original Author
8 years ago
Yes Voila, very confusing! It seems the Newair 46 bottle (but really thirty some odd bottle) has the best overall reviews in this price point. But, I am now thinking that a wine/beverage cooler might be better for our needs (yep, more research). We do need a dual zone for red. However, once in a while here in hot Florida my husband enjoys a Blue Moon beer with an orange slice. He also likes a very cold Sauvignon Blanc. Those as well as other beverages could all go on one side with the Reds on the other. Plus, when I have guests it would be better to have the coffee / tea station at that end so a little milk container would have a home. Newair wine cooler.
Or, a wine beverage center.
Hmmm
Chris Niedbala
7 years ago
Did you ever find a wine cooler that you were happy with? I am needing something very similar to your original request.
just_terrilynn
Original Author
7 years ago
Hi Chris, we ended up buying the Summit. It works great for us and husband loves it. I bought a wood top to bring it up to counter height. It's a dual zone. Sorry, can't remember the model number but if you want it I will go through the file drawer.
just_terrilynn
Original Author
7 years ago
last modified: 7 years ago
Found it, it's this one. When looking at reviews most of the complaints were due to loudness. Strangely it was loud at first, and then all of a sudden it wasn't. It's almost like it needed some settling in time. I have to say it works great! One thing to keep in mind is that most all of these compact beverage/wine coolers almost never hold as many wine bottles as stated. This one is close though.

https://www.winecoolerdirect.com/summit-swbv3001-30-inch-built-in-dual-zone-wine-and-beverage-cooler/SWBV3001.html

Here are the newer models.

https://www.wayfair.com/Summit-Appliance-33-Bottle-Dual-Zone-Built-In-and-Freestanding-Wine-Refrigerator-SUI1264.html

https://www.wayfair.com/Summit-Appliance-33-Bottle-Dual-Zone-Freestanding-Wine-Refrigerator-SUI1572.html

Source for free standing duel temp wine coolers?

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Fun2BHere

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Source for free standing duel temp wine coolers?

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Fun2BHere

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