NutriChef 12 Bottle Thermoelectric Wine Cooler

In today’s wine fridge review we’ll check out the NutriChef 12 Bottle Thermoelectric Wine Cooler. This a modest sized thermoelectric style cooler that will work as either a freestanding or countertop unit. It has a lot of great features and is a popular buy at the moment, so let’s dive right into the details to see if this might be the right wine cooler for you.

Product Details

Let’s start by looking at the size. This wine cooler is 9.9 inches wide, 19.7 inches deep, and 25 inches tall. This means it doesn’t take up a whole lot of horizontal space, whether on your countertop or free-standing on the floor. Remember that you’ll want to have a bit of buffer room between the rear of the fridge and the wall in order to get the most effective cooling from the thermoelectric unit.

This model has precise digital temperature control. Unlike some models, the controls are on the exterior so there is no need to open the door and let cool air escape if you want to adjust the temperature.




The 12 bottle capacity is achieved with 8 bottles positioned horizontally on racks and 4 bottles standing upright. This configuration makes it a little easier to store the occasional odd-shaped bottle. It also allows you to easily keep opened bottles cool.

The manufacturer backs their product with a one-year warranty. This is always a good sign because it allows you to buy with confidence.

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Pros and Cons

You can adjust the temperature between a range of 50-64° Fahrenheit (10-18°C). So long as you don’t allow the ambient room temperature in your home float up above 75 degrees you can expect this unit to reliably cool down to whichever temperature you choose in this range. This will allow you to keep wine at the optimal temperature for long-term storage. You can also keep your red wines at your preferred ready-to-drink temperature. Furthermore, the cooling power is effective enough to even keep full-bodied white wines, such as Chardonnay, at a good serving temperature.

This model looks great with a genuine stainless steel door and interior LED lighting. Some coolers made by other brands go a little cheap by using metallic colored plastic on the door and handle instead of real stainless steel like we have here.

The fan runs quietly enough that you’ll probably never notice it. And the temperature inside really holds nicely and doesn’t jump around. This is the whole point with getting a wine cooler fridge in the first place, so this is really a strong point.

The only real downside I can see for this model is that it might not be large enough for some potential buyers. This really will depend on you and your wine-drinking habits.

If you are the type who collects a few bottles here and there, buys a few bottles when you visit the supermarket, but also tends to drink a couple bottles per week, then a 12-bottle capacity cooler will probably be plenty.

If you think you might want a little more space, NutriChef also makes an 18-Bottle Wine Cooler that is worth checking out. Aside from the larger capacity, the main difference with the 18-bottle model is that all of the bottles sit inside laying horizontally.

Buying Recommendation

Obviously, if you want a large wine fridge or a dual-zone cooler than this isn’t the one for you. Otherwise, if you are looking for a super-dependable wine cooler with a 12 bottle capacity, this one should do the trick.

This is also a great wine cooler if you’re shopping for a gift for either the holidays or someone’s birthday. It’s not so expensive as to break your budget, and yet they’ll be very impressed with its looks and functioning. Also, the size really fits into that sweet spot where it doesn’t seem like you’re just getting the smallest or cheapest cooler and yet it isn’t so large that they would have trouble finding a place to put it in their kitchen or living room.

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Avanti 12-Bottle Thermoelectric Countertop Wine Cooler Review

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The Avanti EWC1201 12 Bottle Wine Cooler is a unique wine storage appliance designed for use at home. It runs quietly and efficiently. Its interior allows you to store wines both in a horizontal and vertical position to accommodate four open bottles. It is environment-friendly, and I love the fact that it uses a digital controller to regulate its internal temperature.

Product Features

No Vibrations

The Avanti 12 Bottle Wine Cooler operates without any vibration because it does not use a compressor. There are no moving parts inside except for small fans that circulate the cooled air. It uses a thermoelectric design to cool its interior. It is the kind of cooler that is pleasant to use at your home because of its silent operation. I find the quality of the wine after being stored inside it to be similar to what you get from use of an actual wine cellar.

Classic Cabinet Design

Its classic design looks great on the kitchen counter or in the bedroom. It has just enough decoration to make it blend with other electronic appliances. Its digital display panel gives it a look of a modern kitchen appliance designed to perfection.

Compact Design

The compact design which takes more vertical space than horizontal space means that you do not waste much of your kitchen counter space. If you have an open kitchen, you will love showing off this unique wine cooler.

Silent Operation

I like the fact this wine cooler does not make any noise when working to cool your wine. I enjoy the fact I can have it in my bedroom and forget it is even there. If you like to meditate or do other activities that require a silent environment, then you will love this wine cooler. It cools your wine and stays silent at the same time.

Power Efficiency

Without the use of a compressor, they were able to not only avoid vibration and noise—they lowered its power consumption as well. You can rest assured your energy bill will not shoot up because you bought this great wine cooler.

Environmentally Friendly

No compressor means this wine cooler has no Freon in it as well. I find that to be a great relief when buying it. It just feels good knowing that you are not polluting the environment at the same time that you indulge yourself.

Pros

  • It is efficient. Your energy bills will not be affected much.
  • It is easy to operate and allows storage of four bottles vertically and eight horizontally.
  • Blends well with other kitchen appliances.
  • Operates silently, you can sleep with it in your bedroom. Great for those living in a studio apartment.
  • Does not vibrate when in the running. Your wine’s sediment, therefore, remains undisturbed just like in a wine cellar.

Cons

  • The door is a little fragile. You have to open it with care to avoid making it come off the hinges.
  • This is not a chiller. You can only use it to store wine down to 53 degrees Fahrenheit. Fine for reds, but whites might need extra chilling before serving.

Conclusion

Even though you will not be able to use this model to chill your white wine, you can happily use it to store both reds and whites without ruining their unique character. I like it that I can have a micro wine cellar at my kitchen counter. And the vertical orientation of this unit gives it a very small footprint on your countertop. The ability to store 4 open bottles upright is another unique feature that will appeal to some. It would make a special gift for any wine lover you know.

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Igloo FRW133 12-Bottle Wine Cooler Review

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The Igloo FRW133 12-Bottle Wine Cooler is the perfect wine cooler for storage of a modest wine stash at home. I like it that it can hold up to 12 bottles and cool them down to 52 degrees. It does that without making any noise like a regular fridge does. I find its unique compact design blends very well with my other kitchen appliances.

Product Features

Holds a Maximum of 12 Bottles

This wine mini cooler is everything you need at home for storing your wines. It can cool them down to 52 degrees Fahrenheit, which is below the recommended temperature of 55°F for storing wine. So you can safely store your wines for as long as you want. For many casual wine drinkers, this 12 bottle capacity is plenty.

Digital Temperature Control

It uses a micro-controller to keep its internal temperature in check. That is helpful when you are looking for a stabilized temperature to store your wine. All I have to do is set the right temperature on its digital display panel, and then the micro-controller will do the rest. It does not cool the wine instantly. However, it does hold the temperature constant once it reaches the temperature you have set.

Adjustable Interior Space

I found out that you can take out the shelves to increase the interior space of a row if you need to. That is helpful when you have bigger wine bottles to store.

Double Layer Glass Design

The double layered glass design improves its cooling capability. That is because the gap of air between panes of glass slows heats loss by convection. It also offers addition structural strength to this compact wine cooler.

Thermoelectric Cooling System

The Igloo FRW133 12-Bottle Wine Cooler is environment-friendly. It does not use a compressor to cool its interior. It, therefore, does not pollute the environment with Freon, a coolant in compressors.

Silent Operation

Since this mini cooler uses a thermoelectric cooling system instead of a compressor, it can run more quietly as compared to other cooling systems. You can have it in your bedroom, and you will sleep comfortably without being kept awake by noise. The only moving parts are small fans that help to circulate the cooled air in its interior.

No Vibrations

Another advantage of this type of cooling system is a lack of vibrations. That means your wine’s sediments stay undisturbed for the entire duration of storage. Therefore, when you finally take out the wine, you can enjoy its crispy taste because it will taste like any professionally stored wine. After that, you will not want to store your wines in your fridge again.

Pros

  • It’s super silent compared to a fridge. You can have it in the kitchen or even in your bedroom.
  • The compact size of this wine cooler is ideal for conserving spaces in your kitchen.
  • Its unique design makes it easy to blend it with the rest of the kitchen appliances.
  • Sufficient capacity for many wine lovers.

Cons

  • The cooling only goes down to 52 degrees F. So it’s not ideal for chilling white wines down to serving temps.
  • If you want to take out the shelf, you have to open the door by at least 90 degrees.
  • Open the door with care. It can come off its hinges if you are not careful.

Conclusion

This wine cooler cannot chill your white wines to 50 degrees F or below. If you, however, want to store your wine, it will do a perfect job. It is environmentally friendly and does not make disturbing noises. I also love its unique design that blends with other kitchen appliances. It is a great small-capacity wine storage device to have at home. I find it to be the kind of wine cooler I would give someone as a gift.

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Kalamera 12-Bottle Thermoelectric Wine Cooler Review

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The Kalamera 12-Bottle Thermoelectric Wine Cooler is designed to keep your wines at the perfect temperature. It perfectly fits on the kitchen counter, and I love the fact that does not make any noise like a regular fridge does. I like the fact that it is lightweight and compact, which makes it ideal when you want to conserve space in the kitchen.

Features of the Kalamera 12-Bottle Wine Cooler

Silent Operation

Unlike regular refrigerators, this thermoelectric wine cooler does not have a compressor. It, therefore, runs almost silent. There are just a few small fans to help circulate the cold air inside to cool it evenly.

Low Vibration

Unlike the refrigerators that experience vibrations when the compressor runs, this thermoelectric wine cooler has zero vibrations. The wine stored inside therefore stays undisturbed. The wine’s sediments are therefore able to settle down, allowing you to enjoy a crisp fruity taste of your wine.

Upgraded Appearance

kalamera_12_bottle_counter_top_wine_refrigerator_detailThe stainless steel door frame, glass door, and the steel side give this wine cooler an elegant look. The sleek beach wood shelves can be seen through the glass, giving it a combination of classy and modern look. It gives the kitchen an additional decoration with its cool blue LED lights.

Compact Size

The compact size comes from its thermoelectric cooling design. Without the compressor to take much space, its design is compact enough not to be wasteful of space. I love that I can put it on the counter top if I want and not feel that it is taking too much space.

Temperature Controls

kalamera_12_bottle_wine_refrigerator_display_detailThe temperature controls of this thermoelectric wine cooler make it one of the best wine coolers. The controls use microcontroller chips that continuously check the interior temperature of the wine cooler. They make sure it does not fall or rise above what I have set on the temperature control panel. It is that easy to manage its temperature.

Efficient

A fridge’s compressor motor takes a lot of power compared to this Wine Cooler’s thermoelectric cooling system. That is why it can run with as little wattage as 70W. Keeping in mind that I rarely open it, it ends up using much less power after the initial temperature stabilization.

Environment Friendly

A refrigerator uses Freon in their compressors as a coolant, which is a known pollutant. The Kalamera Thermoelectric Wine Cooler does not have a compressor neither does it use Freon as a coolant. It is, therefore, environment-friendly.

Pros

  • I find its compact size to be perfect for kitchen storage of wines.
  • The temperature can drop to 53 degrees Fahrenheit, which makes it perfect for wine storage.
  • I love that I cannot hear any sound while it is running. It is just the kind of cooler you want around the house if you enjoy silence at night.
  • Beautiful Design. Not many other small models come with beech wood shelving.

Cons

  • It might have trouble cooling to below 52 degrees Fahrenheit. So it is fine for red and white wine storage, but you may need extra chilling to bring white wine bottles to ideal serving temperature.
  • I always find it impossible to pull out the shelves without opening the door at least 90 degrees.

Red wines are what I mostly enjoy, and I do not need to chill them down below about 55 degrees to store and serve. That is why I find this model to be just perfect. Its ability to run silently is a blessing, especially at night.

Perfect for the casual red wine drinker looking for a compact, yet efficient cooler for under $150. I would recommend it to a friend. It would also make an excellent gift.

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