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Wine Enthusiast Wine Refrigerator

Last updated: June 18, 2020

Wine Enthusiast Wine Refrigerator
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We looked at the top Wine Coolers and dug through the reviews from some of the most popular review sites. Through this analysis, we've determined the best Wine Cooler you should buy.

Overall Take

In our analysis of 177 expert reviews, the Wine Enthusiast Wine Refrigerator placed 5th when we looked at the top 16 products in the category. For the full ranking, see below.

From The Manufacturer

Slimline freestanding refrigerator, holds 18 Bordeaux bottles, provides two temperature levels for perfect storing conditions for both reds. Digital Touch Screen – Top zone adjustable temperature range of 54-66 degrees F provides ideal storing conditions for reds while the bottom zones adjustable temperature range of 46-66 degrees F provides optimum serving conditions for most whites. Silent and Energy Efficient – The Thermoelectric refrigerator is energy-efficient and CFC-free, providing virtually silent cooling technology to perfectly protect the taste of your wines.Shelving is meant to hold standard Bordeaux size bottles, using larger size bottles may limit the capacity. If you would like to store larger bottles you can easily remove any of the shelves. This will also prevent scraping the labels on the larger bottles. Convenient and Easy to Use – Convenient temperature control with an exterior digital touchscreen, 7 pull-out chrome shelves to increase space flexibility for non-standard bottle sizes; supports upright and preserved bottles. Specs – Dimensions: 37.5″H with hinge x 9.87″W x 20.25″D – Style: 272 03 18 05 is freestanding only – Due to state regulations – Does not ship to California NOTE: Refer the User Manual before use.

Expert Reviews


What experts liked

Not to be outdone, Wine Enthusiast offers its own 18-bottle system, one that can easily fit into tight spaces given its slim build. The 37-inch-tall thermoelectric fridge looks a little different from the other options on this list. A dual-zone model, the fridge holds 10 bottles on top and eight on the bottom. The larger zone is meant for storage, holding temperatures between 54 and 66 degrees Fahrenheit (12.2 and 18.9 degrees Celsius). The bottom zone lets you chill your whites to ready-to-serve temperatures, with a range of 46 to 66 degrees Fahrenheit (7.7 degrees to 18.9 degrees Celsius). One really unique feature is the upright bottle shelf, which allows irregularly shaped bottles to stand up.
It’s perfect because how little space it takes and how attractive it is. It sits against an old panelled wall, and though it’s modern it compliments the brick and wood nicely. It is truly silent and keeps the wine at a perfect temperature.”
A simple, touch-sensitive interface and two cooling zones propel the Wine Enthusiast 272 into the high-end range, but without the hefty price tag of some models with similar features. It is a slim, freestanding design that can accommodate a good mix of your favorites.
Why struggle to keep your wine at the right temperature when you can own this black wine cooler from Wine Enthusiast? It has a decent size for normal use and can hold up to 18 standard bottles. The freestanding unit comes with a Dual Zone for accommodating wines that require different temperatures. The top zone’s temperature ranges from 54 to 66 deg F while the bottom is 46-66 Deg F. It’s among the most energy efficient coolers in the market thanks to the thermoelectric technology. The ETL-approved unit is also free of CFC and you shouldn’t worry about harming the environment.
It was designed to be slim which is perfect for narrow spaces, ensuring you maximize every corner of your home. Adding to its beautiful modern design is its thermopane door with reflective smoked glass and stainless steel rim. It also has an interior LED lighting which softly illuminates your wine collection.
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Wine Enthusiast has nearly 35 years of experience designing products by and for people who love wine. Our brand focuses on exclusive products that enhance your wine lifestyle, whether you are a new wine enthusiast or a true wine connoisseur. Our Dual Zone Wine Refrigerator creates the perfect environment for ideal storage and taste. A wine enthusiast knows how complex each bottle can be and how important it is to store and serve your wines at the right temperature. The dual zone wine fridge design allows just that - perfect conditions for every bottle in your collection. The temperature is easily adjustable in each zone. The 54-66 degrees F in the top zone makes for ideal storage of 10 bottles of reds and whites.
It can hold up to 18 bottles, which means it will offer you excellent service. It’s free-standing and has both adjustable top-zone 54-66°F and bottom-zone temperature range 46-66°F.
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This is a dual-zone cooler, so you can chill more than one type of wine at a time with each zone programed for a different temperature. You can set the temperature between 46 degrees and 66 degrees Fahrenheit to cater to a variety of white and red wines.
This energy efficient wine cooler has two zones with the top zone able to accommodate 10 wine bottles while the bottom compartment holds 8 bottles effectively.
If you are on the lookout for the sleekest and slimmest dual zone wine cooler in the market, then you need to pay a look at the Wine Enthusiast 18-bottle wine cooler. Featuring the trademark Wine Enthusiast Slim Design, the wine cooler stands over 3 feet tall and would be more suited in standing on the floor instead of being placed over or under the countertop. Aside from its shape, what makes this wine cooler even sleeker is its all-black finish coupled with a smoked-glass Thermopane door featuring a modern digital display that shows the current temperature inside the cooler’s compartments.
The Wine Enthusiast 18-bottle freestanding wine cooler has a lot to offer the occasional entertainer who loves wine. Wine Enthusiast slim wine chiller has a nice slender profile that makes it a great fit for narrow spaces. The interior is illuminated with LED lights, making the labels easier to see. It has seven chrome shelves which combine with the stainless steel trim to give the unit a modern look that fits nicely with the décor of the room. The smoky glass also has a stainless steel trim, which combines with the recessed door handle to radiate an elegant appearance. Removable shelves helps a lot with different configuration setups for wine bottles.
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This cooler has an uncanny ability to almost perfectly fit in with any interior surroundings you might be considering placing it in, whether as the focal point in the living room, man-cave, etc. or as an accentuating under-counter kitchen appliance. External digital touch-screen display and control unit makes it very easy to monitor and adjust the temperature. Very well packaged to protect the seemingly fragile inners of all dual zone coolers. All things considered, this cooler offers some good quality at a very competitive price.
The unit is very stylish despite being in the budget price range. It fits in nicely with and compliments any interior décor. It is certainly a statement of class. The Wine Enthusiast Silent 18 Bottle Dual Zone Wine Refrigerator has very accurate operation with temperature remaining within the set range regardless of the surrounding temperature. The dual zone operation of the Wine Enthusiast Silent 18 Bottle Dual Zone Wine Refrigerator means that the user can store both whites and reds in the same fridge and the fact top-bottom placement of the two zones make the zoning very efficient. The freestanding operation gives the user flexibility with placement, which means you can have it in whichever room you want including the office.
This little Wine Enthusiast 18 bottle dual zone wine cooler might look small at first sight, but it definitely seems bigger on the inside. You not only receive horizontal storage options, but also vertical storage in this rather quiet unit. If you’re ready to see how easy it is to store your wine safely and at the proper temperature, then you’re ready to see what this appliance could do for you. We liked how easy it was to remove the shelves on this wine cooler. If you’re storing larger bottles of wine you’ll be able to do so with this Wine Enthusiast model without worrying about scratching your labels. Of course this will change the total number of bottles that can be stored, but you’ll also be able to safely store just about any bottle of wine that you prefer – including Champagne.
The Wine Enthusiast Silent 18-Bottle Dual Zone Touchscreen Wine Cooler has four easy to remove and clean chrome shelves. The Dual Zone wine chiller is embedded with digital touch screen temperature display and control pad. The thermopane glass door keeps out excessive sunlight and UV rays which may damage stored wines. This chiller offers the one-year limited warranty.

What experts didn't like

However, since it was designed to be freestanding only, it cannot be integrated into shelving or under countertops as it needs proper ventilation. Moreover, it has non-reversible doors which can limit the possible spaces where it can be placed.
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Because it is a freestanding model, this Wine Enthusiast isn’t meant to be installed inside a cabinet or under a counter. This is because of the thermoelectric cooling system, which requires adequate ventilation space, and treating it as a built-in may void the one-year warranty that comes with it.
The door has no lock. Too tall to be placed under kitchen counters.
Lock is missing.
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Specifically built NOT to be built-into cabinetry, and performance-wise perhaps not ideal for under-counter spaces (although aesthetically it’ll fit perfectly); the cooler’s ventilation unit requires an open space. The door isn’t reversible, so this limits placement options. Not the quietest of coolers (even though it has the word “silent” in its product model name), especially considering its thermoelectric cooling unit and mid-range capacity.
The wine fridge does not quite offer the silent operation that is promised. There have been complaints about a consistent hum when the fan changes speed but it is not much of a bother. The shelves are a bit crammed together, making it unsuitable for larger and oddly shaped wine bottles. However this is a common problem with these devices and the Wine Enthusiast Silent 18 Bottle Dual Zone Wine Refrigerator makes up partially for this with a specially created shelf for up to three standing bottles.
Sometimes we observe noisy operation in Wine Enthusiast You cannot store odd shaped size bottles in this wine refrigerator

Our Expert Consultant

Julie Chernoff
Culinary Expert

Julie Chernoff is a long-time member of Les Dames d’Escoffier (past president of the Chicago Chapter, and current co-chair of the LDEI Legacy Awards Committee), the Association of Food Journalists (AFJ) and the International Association of Culinary Professionals.

Chernoff is the dining editor of Better, a lifestyle website and print magazine. Her journalism started in the test kitchens of Weight Watchers Magazine. She holds a BA in English from Yale University and is a graduate of the California Culinary Academy. She has spent the last few decades styling, photographing, teaching, developing recipes, editing, thinking and writing about food.

View our Wine Cooler buying guide for in-depth advice and recommendations.

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