So you’re ready to store more wine in your collection and want them all chilled and ready to be served. Whether you need it for personal use at home, at your office, or maybe you’re serving it at a mini-event or small restaurant, an 18-bottle wine cooler is a great solution.
This is also great for wine enthusiasts who have a medium-sized collection of wine bottles that don’t have a built-in wine cellar. There are different models available with unique features, and we have chosen the top 5 units according to their functionality, ease of use, design, and good value for money.
Last updated: 01/14/2023
Table of the best 18 bottle wine coolers:
| Manufacturer | Design | Single/ Dual Zone | Our Rating | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Nutrichef | Counter Top Free Standing | Single Zone | 4.4/5 | |
EdgeStar | Built-in Free Standing | Single Zone | 4.3/5 | |
Haier | Free Standing | Dual Zone | 4.2/5 | |
Koldfront | Free Standing | Dual Zone | 4.1/5 | |
NewAir | Free Standing | Single Zone | 3.6/5 |
1. Nutrichef 18 Bottle Thermoelectric Wine Cooler
Our best pick is the Nutrichef 18 Bottle Thermoelectric Wine Cooler. It’s a great companion for wine lovers and enthusiasts, even if you only serve and drink wine occasionally.
Preserves Your Wines’ True Aroma
The Nutrichef 18 Bottle Thermoelectric Wine Cooler Refrigerator helps keep your wines’ true aroma with its precision cooling system. It also offers long-term storage thanks to thermoelectric technology which will keep your wines crisp and fresh at all times.
The temperature is also adjustable using the digital control panel that is easily accessible on the top of the cabinet door. See the current temperature setting on the center LED display and adjust it using the up and down touch buttons to increase and decrease the temperature. After settings of temp, buttons are automatically locked after 12 seconds of inactivity. You can also switch the temperature readings from Celsius to Fahrenheit, whichever you prefer, and turn the interior lighting on and off.
Compact and Decorative Design
This 18-bottle wine cooler is compact even with its 50-liter capacity. You can easily fit it under kitchen islands or counters, or have it standing alone in your office or living room. The freestanding design makes it versatile and you can place it on the floor or on a countertop with ample space.
The Nutrichef looks quite stylish with its reinforced glass door. It is frosted on the sides and clear in the center so you can easily see your red and white wine collection. This glass door has an airtight seal to secure the circulation fan and ventilation grill. That means your wines will remain fresh as long as you store them in the cooler.
The exterior has an elegant black finish that would go well with any home décor and furniture, and the racks are polished chrome that looks impressive even from the outside.
It’s also possible to buy this 18-bottle wine cooler with stainless steel finish or as a dual-zone, check more here.
Pros
Sleek and compact design
Easy to use
Quiet
Cons
No humidity control
Some champagne bottles don’t fit in a rack
Click HERE to check price & user reviews
2. EdgeStar 12 Inch Wide 18 Bottle Built-In Wine Cooler
Our next best pick is the EdgeStar 12 Inch Wide 18 Bottle Built-In Wine Cooler. It has a unique design compared to many models and combines a modern and classic look with stainless steel and wooden accents.
What Makes It Different?
What’s really great about the EdgeStar 18-bottle wine cooler is that it has a slim design that is the perfect space-saving solution for your kitchen or home office. It only has a 12-inch width so it can really squeeze into tight spaces. You can place it under your counter or let it stand in a corner.
The best thing about this cooler is that it can be built-in or freestanding. This is because the unit is designed with front ventilation so you don’t have to worry about allotting a lot of space on the back or sides. This setup allows for flush with cabinetry. But if you want it freestanding, you can very well do so since the cabinet back is also quite decorative.
In this wine cooler, company Edgestar is using cooling technology with the compressor, the same as in the regular fridge. A heat pump with a compressor is energy efficient in the long run but also produces more noise and vibration than thermoelectric technology with the Peltier module.
The door features sleek stainless steel trims while the sliding racks are designed with wood-trimmed edges. So whether you have a classic wood-themed kitchen or a modern looking one, this would fit right in without a problem.
Innovative Bottle Arrangement
The shelf features a layout that lets you achieve maximum bottle capacity. You can arrange the bottles facing opposite ways to make more space and accommodate larger ones.
Preserves the Quality of Your Wines
The door is designed with tinted glass to protect your wine bottles from UV rays and unwanted heat. These things could strain the cooling unit and affect the chemical makeup of wines which will decrease their quality and flavor. The tinted glass door allows you to see your bottles while keeping your wines protected from these potential harms.
Digital Controls
Perfecting the overall design of the EdgeStar 12 Inch Wide 18 Bottle Built-In Wine Cooler is the digital control panel located at the top of the cabinet though you would have to open the door to access it. It provides accurate information on the LED display and lets you adjust the settings with intuitive touch controls.
Pros
Easy to install if you want it built-in under a counter or replace a trash compactor
Shelves are removable for upright bottle storage
Very compact and slim
Energy-efficient in the long run
Cons
You would have to open the cooler door to access the temperature control and see the current settings
Expensive compared to others
A bit noisy when the compressor running
Click HERE to check price & user reviews
3. Haier 18-Bottle Dual Zone Curved Door with Smoked Glass Wine Cellar
For those who want a more versatile option for storing different types of wine, you might consider the Haier 18-Bottle Dual Zone Curved Door with Smoked Glass Wine Cellar. It has a unique dual-zone cooling system that lets you chill two sets of wine bottles simultaneously at different temperatures.
What is the Dual Zone Cooling System?
Let us take a look at how this dual-zone technology works. The cooler is divided into two parts, top, and bottom. What it means is that you can configure the upper and lower zone to get the inside of the cellar to your preferred temperature. The upper zone ranges from 54 degrees to 66 degrees Fahrenheit and the lower zone can be adjusted from 46 degrees to 66 degrees Fahrenheit. This will allow the wine chiller to be more accurate in setting the ideal temperature. You can simultaneously store both red and white wines at different temperature settings.
These settings can be easily configured using the touch control panel located at the center of the door, separating the two zones. It also shows an LED display which lets you see the current settings.
Highly Reliable and Low Maintenance
This 18-bottle wine cooler uses thermal electric cooling so there are very little noise and no vibration. This lack of vibration also prevents bubbles from forming inside the wine bottles. Because of this cooling system, the unit is highly reliable and requires little to no maintenance.
Pros
Like the above-mentioned EdgeStar unit, the Haier has a very slim design so it can fit under counters; however, it cannot be built-in
Versatile temperature control
Removable shelves allow for bigger bottle storage
Cons
Some customers experienced slight inaccuracies in temperature setting when using the dual-zone, but can be fixed once recalibrated
Click HERE to check price & user reviews
4. Koldfront 18 Bottle Free Standing Dual Zone Wine Cooler
If you have limited vertical space and want the same 18-bottle capacity, the Koldfront 18 Bottle Free Standing Dual Zone Wine Cooler is ideal. This is a freestanding 18-bottle wine chiller that also features two temperature zones as in the Haier model.
Thermoelectric Cooling for Both Zones
Both the upper and lower zones of the Koldfornt use the thermoelectric cooling system with Peltier modules. This will ensure that all 18 bottles in your collection remain of high quality and maintain the taste that the winemakers intended.
The top zone has a temperature range of 54 degrees to 66 degrees Fahrenheit while the bottom zone ranges from 46 degrees to 66 degrees Fahrenheit. You can adjust each zone on the control panel located at the center of the cooler door and see the settings reflected on the LED display for both zones.
Additional Safety Features
The Koldfront 18 Bottle Free Standing Dual Zone Wine Cooler is unique from most 18-bottle wine cooler models because of its door lock located at the bottom to keep your wine collection safe.
Practical and Stylish Design
This unit is designed for practicality while keeping it stylish. The shelves are removable to accommodate larger bottles and have high-quality polished wooden edges that make it look really classy even from the outside.
It’s compact and would look dashing even if it stands alone in your kitchen or living room floor, showcasing your small wine collection to impress your guests.
Even Cooling and Energy-Saving
The Koldfront uses thermoelectric cooling to minimize harmful vibrations and noise. It evenly cools the wine bottles in both zones. It is energy efficient so you are also helping the environment.
Pros
Looks impressive and is compact
Removable shelves to accommodate bigger bottles
Dual temperature zone for versatile cooling options
Digital control panel accessible without opening the door
Cons
Some wine bottles don’t fit but you can remove a shelf to get them to fit
Click HERE to check price & user reviews
5. NewAir 18 Bottle Thermoelectric Wine Cooler
The NewAir 18 Bottle Thermoelectric Wine Cooler is also a great model to consider. It offers flexible storage because of the customizable interior and complete temperature control. This is great for both new wine collectors and experienced connoisseurs.
Efficient One Zone Cooling
The NewAir 18 Bottle Thermoelectric Wine Cooler may not offer dual-zone temperature control but it has an efficient cooling system that is vibration-free. This prevents sediments from forming in your wines and helps them to age naturally if you wish to store your wine long-term. The thermoelectric cooling system is quiet and lets your wine rest in place without any shaking or shifting. That means you will enjoy the full flavor and pleasant aroma each time you open a bottle from your small collection.
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The temperature can be adjusted using the digital thermostat. It is designed with easy push buttons and an LED display so you can easily see the current setting.
Customize the Interior for Flexible Storage
You can custom design the inside of this 18-bottle wine chiller. It includes 5 removable wine racks that you can pull out and interchange to accommodate different sizes and shapes of bottles. You can store a 1500ml bottle of magnum on the bottom shelf and use the upper area for smaller bottles.
Pros
Compact and requires only 4 inches of clearance on all sides so it’s easy and convenient to place
User-friendly push-button controls
Cons
The door handle is not recessed so you would need to allow space for it especially when opened
Click HERE to check price & user reviews
Important Factors to Consider When Choosing an 18 Bottle Wine Cooler
A few things to note when shopping for 18-bottle wine coolers as compared to smaller and bigger coolers. An 18-bottle capacity is a medium-sized one. You will find that there are chillers that are more suitable for larger collections such as the 21 bottle units while others have smaller capacities like the 6 bottle wine coolers.
The thing about this size cooler is that it allows you to store just the right amount of wines of different types. Depending on your taste, you might want some of your wines to be chilled at a lower temperature and some at a slightly higher one. If that is the case, it is best to opt for models that offer dual-zone temperatures. That way, you can simultaneously chill two sets of wine bottles at different temperatures. However, you may run into problems such as inaccuracies on either of the zones. If you don’t intend to chill different types of wines, then you’re still better off with a single-zone cooler.
Aside from that, you also have to factor in the design of the cooler. We are talking about an 18-bottle capacity and these models, as shown above, can be designed horizontally or upright. If you have a small space, it might be best to choose the slim models, preferably one that you can install as a built-in unit. It’s also important that the shelves or wine racks are adjustable so you can keep bigger bottles.
