Having a slightly bigger collection of wines would require some special storage equipment to ensure that your wine bottles are kept in an ideal environment that would not decrease the wine’s quality and taste. For wine enthusiasts needing more room for their collection, a 21-bottle wine cooler is a perfect upgrade.
If you have this much amount of wine in your home, you probably would not want to keep them in the main fridge. Aside from taking up a lot of space, the temperature in a normal fridge is not really the best for wines. Red and white wines need to be chilled at just the right temperature so that it doesn’t lose their original flavor.
But how do you know which 21-bottle wine cooler to choose from? As always, we’ve done the bulk of the work for you and selected 3 of the best coolers on the market which are perfect for a larger collection. Each of these units has its own unique design, features, and advantage and then it’s up to you to decide which one you need the most.
Last updated: 01/22/2023
The Best 21 Bottle Wine Cooler:
| Product name | Price | Our Rating | |
|---|---|---|---|
Avalon Bay 21 Bottle Wine Cooler | $$ | 4.5/5 | |
Wine Enthusiast 21 Bottle Wine Cooler | $$$ | 4.4/5 | |
NewAir Streamline 21 Bottle Wine Cooler | $$$$ | 3.5/5 |
Picking a Wine Cooler that Suits You
There are many types of wine coolers and they come in different sizes and styles. Picking the right one would depend on certain factors that are unique to you such as the size of your collection, the types of wine you like, and physical aspects, like design and space requirements.
Single or Dual Zone Coolers
For larger-capacity wine coolers, you will find that many of them feature either a single or dual-zone cooling system. If you’re the type of wine collector who is only interested in just white or red wines, you may not really need more than a single-zone wine cooler. That’s because most of your collection can be stored at the same temperature. However, if you like both types of wines, you may eventually have to upgrade to a dual-zone cooler as your collection grows. As you learn more about wine collecting, you will realize that some red wines are best at one temperature while others require a slightly higher or lower temperature.
Single Zone Cooling
A single-zone cooling system is the best option for novice collectors. It is not really advisable to dive right into the dual-zone when you start out. A single-zone cooler will be more than adequate for your needs. You will want to keep your collection simple so you don’t waste a lot of money on wines that go bad because of improper storage. A single-zone cooling method is great if you just want to chill your wines in an appropriate cooler instead of your fridge. These types of models are also a lot cheaper. We recommend checking out our reviews of 18 bottle wine coolers or even wine coolers for 6 bottles.
Dual Zone Cooling
Dual-zone wine coolers are best for people who have a better understanding of the wines that they keep. Having this feature will only be an advantage if you have enough knowledge about which wines should be stored at certain temperatures.
If you have more experience in collecting wines, you most likely have both red and white wines. A dual-zone wine chiller becomes very useful because oftentimes, red wines are not very happy when chilled at the same temperature as whites. If you don’t set the right temperature for specific types of wines, they can easily go bad and you will end up wasting your money on an expensive bottle.
Dual-zone coolers are more expensive but they will save you a lot of costs by not letting your wines go bad.
Other Types of Wine Coolers
The below-featured wine coolers are specifically designed for wine enthusiasts with a slightly bigger wine collection than most people. But you might be interested to know that there are other variations of wine coolers and even if you have bigger capacity storage, you might still benefit from having one of the smaller ones for personal reasons that we will discuss below. For the curious one, on the market exist also single bottle wine chiller in case somebody needed quickly cool down just one bottle or a few cans of beverages.
Counter-Top Wine Coolers
Perhaps the most popular type of small wine cooler today is the countertop cooler. This is perfect for those who have limited floor space and is great for people who don’t really collect wines but are fond of drinking them occasionally. Countertop coolers are pretty compact and you have a lot of options when it comes to capacity. They can store as little as 6 bottles and as big as 24 bottles of wine. These come in various sizes and you need to ensure that there is enough ventilation in the area where you will place one.
Built-In Wine Coolers
Another great idea to save floor space is to install a built-in wine cooler. These models can be expensive but they have a lot of advantages. One of the best things about a built-in cooler is that it doesn’t need ventilation around it, unlike freestanding coolers and countertop coolers where you need to allow enough space in order for it to cool properly and not cause hazards. Do not install a cooler in a cabinet space unless it is specifically labeled a built-in cooler. An obvious disadvantage to built-in models is that you cannot easily rearrange them if you want them to be on another part of the house.
Free-Standing Wine Coolers
Another popular type of cooler is the free-standing one and they are moderately priced. Free-standing wine coolers also come in different sizes but you would have to consider the floor space that it requires. A great benefit of this type of cooler is that you can place it almost anywhere you like in your home or office.
1. Avalon Bay 21 Bottle Dual Zone Wine Cooler
Our top choice is the Avalon Bay AB-WINE21DS 21 Bottle Dual Zone Wine Cooler. This is great for your growing collection of wines and would help you give them the proper care and attention they need to age naturally and deliciously.
Chill Two Sets of Wines in Different Temperatures
One of the important features you may want your wine chiller to have is a dual temperature. The Avalon Bay 21 Bottle Wine Cellar allows you to store your red and white wines at their ideal temperatures in one place.
You can store up to 6 bottles in the upper zone which has a temperature range of 44 degrees to 64 degrees Fahrenheit and the lower zone can accommodate 15 bottles and has a temperature range of 51 degrees to 64 degrees Fahrenheit.
Both upper and lower zones can be adjusted and personalized. You can increase or decrease the temperature by using the digital push-button control panel located on the door frame. The LED display shows you the current setting and you can toggle between Centigrade and Fahrenheit by holding the + and – on the lower zone temperature controls for a few seconds. This allows you to easily store your red and white wines at their ideal temperature.
Helps Preserve the Quality and Original Flavors of Your Wines
This 21-bottle wine cooler uses a thermoelectric cooling system so it has minimal vibrations. It also uses cool blue LED lighting to minimize the heat and not disrupt the internal cooling temperature. Both of these factors help to keep your wines’ quality and taste.
Another great thing about this cooling system is that it is not only efficient but also eco-friendly and does not use any ozone-depleting coolants. Your wines are safe and free from harmful substances, and you’re helping preserve the environment.
Designed for Practicality and Efficiency
The unit comes with 6 removable racks that you can rearrange to accommodate different sizes and shapes of wine bottles. Each rack can be completely removed in order to make room for larger bottles. It’s practical and would help you organize your wine collection. The doors are designed with double-paned glass which traps air and works as an insulator to keep the inside temperature steady.
The bottom feet are adjustable as well so you won’t have a problem placing them on uneven flooring.
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There is nothing too fancy about the Avalon Bay 21 Bottles Wine Cellar’s design but it looks elegant enough and would go well with any home décor.
Pros
Easy to set up and adjusting the settings is a breeze with the hassle-free touch control panel
Quiet and vibration-free operation
Stylish exterior and solid aluminum handle make the cooler durable and elegant looking
Cons
No lock on doors
The handle is not recessed thus requiring more frontal space
In warm ambient temperatures may have trouble maintaining the desired temperature
Click HERE to check price & user reviews
2. Wine Enthusiast Silent 21 Bottle Dual Zone Wine Refrigerator with Curved Doors
Our next top pick is the Wine Enthusiast Silent 21 Bottle Dual Zone Wine Refrigerator with Curved Doors. This is a stylish and energy-efficient cooler perfect for a slightly bigger wine collection. There are many things to love about this model including the versatile storage options.
Includes a Stand Up Bottle Area
Like the above-featured Avalon Bay unit, the Wine Enthusiast Silent 21-Bottle Wine Cooler features dual-zone cooling. What’s unique about this model is that the bottom storage lets you store a few bottles upright. Now depending on what types of wine you collect and how you store them, this may or may not be a very important factor for you. One very specific advantage to having this is that you can store bulkier bottles and also wines that have been opened and are at risk of spilling if you store them horizontally.
Beside the stand-up area, are 4 more slots for the usual size of bottles and another shelf at the top. The top zone has two shelves and can hold up to 6 bottles. All shelves are chrome plated and completely removable so you can customize and organize your wine collection even more!
Store Different Wines in Two Separate Zones
The top zone of the Wine Enthusiast 21-bottle wine cooler has an adjustable temperature range from 46 degrees to 65 degrees Fahrenheit and the bottom can be adjusted from 52 degrees to 65 degrees Fahrenheit. Customize each zone to achieve the ideal storing condition for red and white wines and even champagnes.
Appealing Modern Design
Another factor that makes this model stand out is its curved doors. Both the top and bottom storage have curved reflective smoked-glass thermopane doors which give the wine chiller an attractive modern look and help preserve the quality of the wines. And with the soft LED lighting, you can easily see your wine bottles without opening the doors.
The Wine Enthusiast Wine Cooler looks quite stylish and professional, it can even be used for bars and restaurants. This is sure to impress your guests or customers.
Pros
Versatile storage options with removable shelves and stand-up bottle area
Quiet operation
Solid built and attractive design
Recessed handles which require less space for the chiller
Cons
Might produce a slight hum at lower temperatures but not loud enough to be a problem
Click HERE to check price & user reviews
3. NewAir Streamline 21 Bottle Dual Zone Thermoelectric Wine Cooler
We also highly recommend the NewAir 21 Bottle Wine Cooler with a compact freestanding design. It also features two separate compartments for optimal temperature control and has an effective cooling system perfect for storing vintage bottles.
Gives You Convenient Access to Your Wine Collection
As with the two models, the NewAir Streamline 21 Bottle Wine Cooler features top and bottom storage with separate temperature controls. What’s great about the NewAir is that all elegant wood wine racks slide out easily which gives it a classic touch and easy access to the wine of your choice.
The cool blue LED lights keep your collection illuminated so you can easily find what you’re looking for.
Temperature Control Panel
This 21-bottle wine cooler has two distinct, separately regulated temperature zones. You can control the temperature for each zone using the push-button control panel located between the upper and lower zone. Featuring a temperature range from 44-66° F and independently operated cooling zones, this NewAir thermoelectric wine cooler allows you to chill both red and white wine just the way you like it. You can anytime increase or decrease the temperature setting with the up or down arrow.
The unit uses a silent vibration-free thermoelectric cooling technology so you can rely on it to protect the flavor and quality of your vintage wines.
Pros
Holds a steady temperature
Minimal noise
Wooden shelves
Cons
Handles are not recessed and require extra space
Not suitable for bulkier bottles
Click HERE to check price & user reviews
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