If you are in a hurry and just want to find out what the best small wine cooler for house parties is, then we recommend the Nutrichef PKCWC120 as the best one.

There are lots of different ways to store wine. Of course, some of them are great when served at room temperature but others are better when chilled.

No matter if you’re a fan of white, red, sparkling, or liqueurs, having a wine cooler around is a great way to enjoy your collection.

And even if you don’t have one built up yet, getting a cooler is a step in the right direction. Below are five of the best small wine cooler brands and products on the net.

Each was picked for temperature stability, capacity, and ease of handling. The best cooler of them all is shown at the end.

Here are the top small wine coolers we’ll be reviewing:

• Nutrichef PKCWC120
• Koldfront TWR181ES
• Aobosi 24 Inch Dual Zone Wine Cooler
• Antarctic Star 18 Bottle Wine Cooler
• Colzer Upgrade 15 Inch Wine Cooler

Small Wine Coolers: A Must-Have?

Picking the Best Wine Cooler

Try to learn all that you can about wine storage before ordering a wine cooler. Although cooling wine is a pretty straightforward thing to do, it can be made to taste better when stored properly.

Do you have an adequate space to store the cooler?

Try to avoid putting it in a garage, unless such a room is temperature-controlled. Most coolers have a low temperature that’s no greater than around 45 degrees (Fahrenheit).

If left in a hot or cold location, the wine’s taste could be affected by too many temperature fluctuations.

Knowing the Capacity

How much wine are you planning on storing in the cooler? If there’s only a small amount, then you might be better off with a compressor cooler.

These are sometimes smaller and require less energy to run. However, don’t plan on holding a large amount of wine in most, either.

If you’re planning on storing 25 or more bottles, always go for the biggest option. Alternatively, you could acquire two coolers for the overflow.

Avoiding Noise Pollution

Almost every refrigerator and/or cooler will emit some sort of noise. This could range from a low hum to a loud clanking sound that’s very annoying on the ears.

Preferably it’s a given that you’d want one that’s as silent as possible.

To end up with such a cooler, you’ll have to rely on what has been said about them. Those featured below are mostly low in volume.

Remember to keep your cooler door closed at all times and the sound will likely remain low. And as suggested earlier, never place the cooler in a hot room (the harder the motor must work, the louder it will be).

Wine Bottle Sizes

The standard size for wine bottles is 750 ml. When wine cooler brands give you an estimate of how many bottles can fit into their product, always expect three or four less than what’s advertised when storing bottles of various shapes.

For instance, maybe you have some sparkling wine that you would like to store in the cooler. If so, the bottles themselves might be a bit fatter than your other wine bottles.

Although sparkling wine has the same standard size as ordinary wine, the lower part of the bottle is significantly bigger and thicker.

As a result, you could end up with fewer bottles in a full cooler than you might have expected. As such, plan carefully so that you have an accurate prediction of the number of bottles that’ll fit inside.

How to Operate a Wine Cooler

Much of a wine cooler’s operation isn’t that much different than a modern refrigerator, in the sense that one is familiar with wine cooling temperatures.

Many enthusiasts will recommend a temperature between 50 to 55 degrees Fahrenheit (10-13 degrees Celsius). These numbers are best for long-term storage.

Yet if you just need a place to cool wine that’s being served shortly after refrigeration, chilling in lower won’t impact the flavor.

Cleanup and Maintenance

Before turning on your wine cooler, be sure to check the instructions. Some models might not perform well until you allow the refrigerant or coolant to settle.

Being that they’re delivered online, allow any new model to sit in an upright position for at least an hour or two before turning it on.

Of course, you don’t have to wait, but the cooler’s interior might take a while to hit a designated temperature.

Cleaning should be done the same way that you would with any refrigerator, which means to avoid letting water touch any sensitive electrical components.

A damp towel or cloth should be enough to wipe away dust and debris.

Top 5 Best Wine Coolers Reviewed

Looking for the best wine coolers? Look no further, because we want to save you some time by identifying the top ones out there.

Nutrichef PKCWC120

The Nutrichef PKCWC120 is a digital wine cooler. There are several versions but each of them will hold about 12 wine bottles in total.

It’s about the same size as a desktop computer so you shouldn’t have much issue in finding a good place to store it.

However, try to place it somewhere where the cooler won’t be at risk of tipping over.

The Nutrichef PKCWC120 is very quiet, making hardly any noise at all. This goes for the cooling cycles as well.

The only way you’re likely to hear it is when nothing else in your home is running.

Temps display accurately (you can check with a separate thermometer to be sure). All areas of the exterior are finished, save for the transparent door in the front.

All in all, this Nutrichef cooler is great for people that need a general-purpose cooler that’s sophisticated and dependable enough for short-to-extended storage.

Pros

• Produces hardly any sound at all; stays quiet
• Pinpoint temperature reading and controls that never need adjusting after being set
• Has a finished rear that makes it more attractive to place in locations where the entire cooler is exposed

Cons

• The lowest rank isn’t big enough to hold some larger bottles, such as the standard size for sparkling wine

Koldfront TWR181ES

The Koldfront TWR181ES is one step ahead of a lot of other wine coolers from the fact that it can carry the exact number of bottles that are advertised in its description.

The max is 18, more than enough to store your favorite wines.

You could even get a few sparkling wine bottles in there and still end up with the capacity that’s specified once filled.

The body is very compact and looks outstanding when given its own space in a kitchen. Racks hold the bottles well and don’t slide when being moved around.

Try to keep the magnetic seal clean and all times, without handling it too roughly.

But overall, the Koldfront TWR181ES is a great way to store your favorite wines the same way that the professionals do.

Pros

• Its size makes it easy to fit in a variety of locations
• Spacious enough for most sparkling wine bottles and others that aren’t the norm
• Racks are easy to pull out, even when they’re completely full

Cons

• The magnetic seal could be stronger

Aobosi 24 Inch Dual Zone Wine Cooler

The Aobosi 24 Inch Dual Zone Wine Cooler is a bit larger than the other two wine coolers shown.

It can hold approximately 46 bottles and is very pretty on the eyes. There are two light bars at the top, colored blue.

Each will turn off when the cooler is closed, automatically illuminating after engaging the door. Take a look at the cooler’s lower portion.

A security lock is featured, a convenient way to keep inquisitive hands at bay. Don’t forget to place this cooler in an upright position for a couple of hours before using it.

The Aobosi Dual Zone is the best small wine cooler for anyone with a collection that’s big enough to warrant (or need) longer-term storage.

Pros

• Fast temperature adjustments
• Dual slider capability on either side of the cooler
• The space provided for larger bottles doesn’t need to be moved in order to reach those that are smaller

Cons

• Must be placed in an upright position for several hours it’s turned on (to even the refrigerant)

Antarctic Star 18 Bottle Wine Cooler

The Antarctic Star Wine Cooler is more transportable than the previous product, though two larger options are available.

If you’re going with the one the smallest version, you’ll never even know that it was in your kitchen.

That’s because the compressor in the back creates hardly any sound at all. As soon as you turn it on, the box begins to cool.

There’s little wait time either, so plug it in and use it immediately upon its arrival to your doorstep. And best of all, the cooler appears to have little static.

Dust won’t cling to the top and side the same way it does with other electronics.

Refrain from placing it on an uneven floor (it won’t stay if you do so) and everything should be fine.

In the end, size is what makes the Antarctic Star one of the best small wine cooler pieces for beginning collectors. Consider it if you’re not planning on storage too much.

Pros

• The compressor keeps its operation silent at all times
• Will cool down in minutes after being turned on for the first time
• Doesn’t attract dust and lint; easy to keep clean

Cons

• The door seal is weak and may not close well on uneven floors
• Doesn’t hold as many bottles as advertised (less than 17 750ml)

Colzer Upgrade 15 Inch Wine Cooler

The Colzer Wine Cooler finishes off the list with improvements made over previous versions. The compressor has been upgraded to reduce vibrations.

On top of this, the feet are more level, so you won’t ever hear it rattling in the kitchen late at night.

Its height is appropriate to fit snugly underneath the standard counter height, which is 36 inches.

That would leave about a four-inch gap in between since the cooler itself is 32 inches tall.

Temps range from 41 to 72 degrees Fahrenheit; make sure that you set it appropriately before adding anything. You won’t have to do this often, mind you.

The cooler never fluctuates, staying at the temperature you set it to until it’s changed.

Just be patient with the door, it takes about five seconds to unlock before you can reach inside.

Is the Colzer Wine Cooler worth it? Absolutely.

It’s one of the best small wine cooler products out at the moment, particularly for people that want a cooler that’ll keep the noise level to a minimum.

Pros

• Strong door handle that doesn’t move the entire cooler when opening, even when it’s empty
• Stays at a consistent temperature that doesn’t fluctuate
• Doesn’t trap in odors

Cons

• The five-seconds it takes to unlock the cooler (with a button) could become tedious

Final Thoughts

Out of the five shown, which product do you think is the best small wine cooler?

Although each brand/product has great features, there’s one that manages to combine guaranteed temperature stability with intuitive control.

It’s the Nutrichef PKCWC120, spacious enough to hold varied bottle shapes at accurate capacity.

Meeting all of the suggestions described in the Value Section, it’s the obvious choice for the average wine enthusiast regardless of experience.

Think one of the others deserves to be at the top? Go with those instead; you’ll be pleased with any choice that you make.