My husband is a mixologist, so he and I are major beverage fans, and we don’t mess around when it comes to properly storing our spirits and wine! That photo above is his Blueberry Champagne Cocktail which is so refreshing. If you’re a wine drinker, I recommend investing in one of the best dual-zone wine fridges out there. Keeping wine in the fridge, or even in a cooler part of your house, doesn’t cut it when it comes to preserving the wine and keeping the bottles at the right temperature, which is usually between 45 degrees F and 65 degrees F. What I LOVE about dual zone wine fridges is that you don’t need to commit to one temperature for the entire fridge. Say you have a few bottles of red and then some whites or sparkling wines, with dual zone fridges you can dedicate two different temperatures for different zones in the wine fridge. To create this list of the best dual-zone wine fridges, I started with the one I use regularly and considered important features like handy, durable racks that will hold up over time, and UV-resistant glass doors so sunlight won’t damage the wine.
My Top Picks
Reviews of The Best Dual Zone Wine Fridges
1. In My Kitchen: Allavino Vite II Tru-Vino 99-Bottle Fridge
My general contractor initially picked this fridge when I bought my house, did a massive overhaul and remodel of the kitchen, and I knew that having a large, stand alone wine fridge was very important to me. Some people want a big screen TV, I want a big wine fridge. It’s definitely on the pricier side, but it’s come down A LOT in price since I first got it. I love that it’s a company local to me in San Diego, especially since it comes with a 5-year warranty. Fun fact: About 6 months after my 5-year warranty expired (mid pandemic, supply chain issues, the worst time ever for something to break), I had a problem with this fridge and the company gave me A WHOLE NEW wine fridge at a very substantial discount. Their customer service was super solid. It boasts a roomy 10.35 cubic foot capacity and has enough room to hold up to 99 bottles! You can adjust temperatures to sit anywhere between 41 and 73 degrees F, which is perfect to store ingredients for drinks like my husband’s AMAZING Rosé Sangria recipe. The Specs:
Weight: 167 pounds Temp: 41 degrees F to 73 degrees F Capacity: 99 bottles Depth: 21.5” Width: 23.5” Height: 64.5”
The Pros:
Digital temperature control Freestanding Wood shelving Great warranty Can hold up to 99 bottles at a time
The Cons:
Expensive
Buy the Allavino Vite II Tru-Vino 99-Bottle Fridge:
2. Best Value Dual Zone Wine Fridge: Schmecke 33-Bottle Dual Zone Wine Fridge
If you’re new to drinking wine or have a small living space, I’m not going to suggest you invest in a 99-bottle fridge like mine! For the price and quality, this is a FANTASTIC starter dual zone wine fridge. The wire racks are removable, which allows you to customize based on how many bottles you have at one point in time. Then, if it turns out you fall in love with this product, you can always increase your storage by purchasing another one of these 33-bottle dual zone wine fridges, or even one that stores 12, 14, 18 or 24 bottles instead. The Specs: This happened to me when I was measuring for a wine fridge once. The actual size ended up being a ½-inch larger than the specs said online, so I had to take out one of the screws to make it fit and there were some tense moments! Because trying to ship back a very bulky and heavy item after you take it out of the protective crates it comes in is not a job anyone wants.
Weight: 62 pounds Temp: 41 degrees F to 64 degrees F Capacity: 33 bottles Depth: 16.9” Width: 19.4” Height: 33.4”
The Pros:
Digital temperature control Freestanding Adjustable racks Good for smaller spaces Soft touch LED lighting UV-resistant double-pane glass door
The Cons:
Users report temperature fluctuations
What Others Are Saying: Buy the Schmecke 33-Bottle Dual Zone Wine Fridge:
3. Best Small Dual Wine Fridge: Wine Enthusiast 18-Bottle Dual Zone MAX Wine Cooler
I think this is a great wine fridge if you have super limited space or you aren’t the biggest wine drinker in the world, or it could potentially be used as a secondary unit. It has enough capacity to fit 18 bottles and I love the useful digital touchscreen and LED display. It looks sleek, too. If you end up going with this option, you can pop in bottles of white wine to make my refreshing Peach Mango Pineapple White Sangria! The Specs: You probably won’t be able to pack each bottle in like the perfect Jenga piece so I would say you can fit about ~75% in real world terms of what it says. So a 20 bottle unit (according to the manufacturer) may only fit about 15 bottles in practical terms.
Weight: 50 pounds Temp: 41 degrees F to 64 degrees F Capacity: 18 bottles Depth: 20” Width: 25” Height: 37”
The Pros:
Digital touchscreen Freestanding Adjustable racks
The Cons:
Heavy Small capacity isn’t ideal for big wine drinkers
Buy the Wine Enthusiast 18-Bottle Dual Zone MAX Wine Cooler:
4. Best French Door Design: NutriChef PKCWC24 24-Bottle Cooler
I like the idea of a French door or dual door design on a wine fridge. This set-up allows for less digging for the bottle you want since you can just open the door to access only the side you need. Plus, if you’ve already got a stainless-steel French door fridge, the two appliances side by side would look REALLY sleek. However, this will no doubt require more overall space on either side so make sure you can open both doors given the layout of your kitchen or area. It only has enough room to house 24 bottles at a time, but I like that it has a built-in circulation fan and touchscreen controls that are easy to use. It’s perfect for chilling bottles of champagne for my yummy Raspberry Champagne Float! The Specs: It’s like ordering a sectional, you need to think about which side you want the chaise to extend on, and then make sure that whichever way the door opens on your wine fridge, you’ll have proper space and clearance.
Weight: 61.73 pounds Temp: 41 degrees F to 64 degrees F Capacity: 24 bottles Depth: 19.3” Width: 20” Height: 31.4”
The Pros:
Digital touchscreen Freestanding Polished chrome racks Built-in circulation fan
The Cons:
Some users reported issues with installing handles A few people found that the temperatures run a bit high
Buy the NutriChef PKCWC24 24-Bottle Cooler:
Other Dual Zone Wine Fridges I Considered
NewAir Shadow Series 33-Bottle Wine Cooler
Food & Wine called this option “a top contender”, but didn’t make it into their list of the best dual zone wine fridges. While the price for this one is only a bit more than the other 33-bottle dual zone wine fridge I recommend above, the reviews are pretty lackluster. The NewAir Shadow Series 33-Bottle Wine Cooler is available at Home Depot for $399.99.
Ivation 33-Bottle Freestanding Dual Zone Wine Cooler
Magic Chef 44-Bottle Dual Zone Wine Cooler
A 44-bottle dual zone wine cooler for under $500 is a steal, but it doesn’t have the best ratings — only 56% of Home Depot buyers recommended buying it. Many buyers cited that it wasn’t great at cooling beverages, which means the temperatures probably aren’t super accurate. The Magic Chef 44-Bottle Dual Zone Wine Cooler is available at Home Depot for $429.
Why You Can Trust Me
Hi, I’m Averie! While you may know me more for my cooking and baking than my ability to gauge a good bottle of wine, trust me when I say this is also a key interest of mine! My husband and I both love trying out new drinks and developing fun new recipes, though he’s definitely the drink making expert in our home! When it comes to recommending kitchen appliances, I work hard to make sure I’m only suggesting the best options possible — and that includes dual zone wine fridges. What’s the point of cooking an amazing meal if the bottle of wine you’re serving it with wasn’t properly stored or cooled? Often, that extends to drinks like sparkling wines, white or red wines, and even cocktails. I began my food blogging career in 2009 and have since published two cookbooks, including Peanut Butter Comfort: Recipes for Breakfasts, Brownies, Cakes, Cookies, Candies, and Frozen Treats Featuring America’s Favorite Spread. As well as Cooking With Pumpkin: 50+ Pumpkin Recipes That Go Beyond the Pie To come up with this list of the best dual zone wine fridges, I looked at user reviews, and key features, like sturdiness, ease of use, and design. Anytime you bring a new gadget into the kitchen, it has to be a well thought-out move and no one knows that better than me. I cook in a very small kitchen and am constantly reminded to be mindful of its space and not create clutter and chaos. I only bring in what I KNOW I will use regularly.
What to Know About Dual Zone Wine Fridges
Image credit: Christian Villatoro, Rose Sangria
Things to Consider When Choosing a Dual Zone Wine Fridge
Like any kitchen gadget, once you decide to spring for it, the process of evaluating its features can seem overwhelming. Here are the most important things to look at when deciding between dual zone wine fridges.
Storage
Now, we’ve all purchased a product, brought it home, and found it to be smaller than advertised. This is SOMETIMES the case with wine coolers. You should buy a unit bigger than you think you want — a 24-bottle fridge will probably only hold 15 to 18 bottles max and that’s not a lot for a wine drinker. You’re probably only going to be able to fit ⅔ or ¾ max of the overall number since not all wine bottles are the same size and shape.
Size
It’s SUPER important to measure the space where you plan to put the wine cooler before you buy it. This includes the depth of the space so it doesn’t jut out awkwardly into the room. Be sure to factor in the countertop height if it’s an on-counter unit. Remember that EVERY ½ cm counts! Because you want the best undercounter dual zone wine fridge, don’t forget to measure!
Electrical Requirements
Make sure you have a connection close by to where the unit will go! The last thing you want is to hire an electrician to install a new outlet just so you can plug in a dual zone wine fridge. If possible choose a space based on the connections you currently have, even if it means moving a counter appliance somewhere else, especially if this is the only space that will work for the dual zone wine fridge.
Shipping Considerations
The days when you could walk into your local hardware store, pick out what you want, and have it delivered, are far from few. If you’re purchasing online, which you likely are, consider the dual zone wine fridge’s weight, size, bulk, how it will be packaged, and if it’s shipped in pallets with extra protection. The boxes are easily TWO TIMES bigger than the wine fridge itself! This is so it won’t get damaged en route. Another factor is disposing of the shipping and packaging materials. As exciting as it is to get a new appliance, that part is NOT FUN!
How Much Do Wine Fridges Cost?
I’ve seen dual-zone wine fridges as low as $250 and as high as in the thousands. The sweet spot is between $350 to $400 for a dual zone wine fridge that can hold at least 24 bottles of wine. The price can vary due to a number of factors, but primarily because of space.
Do I Need a Dual Zone Wine Fridge?
Unless you plan to only drink one type of wine for the rest of your life, then, yes, you need a dual zone wine fridge. Dual zone means you can set temperatures for two distinct areas, which is helpful as reds and whites require different temperatures: whites between 40 and 50 F and reds between 50 and 64 F. Other wine fridges allow you to only lock in one temperature, which means they’re not as versatile.
What Temperature Should I Set the Dual Zone Wine Fridge?
The recommended range is 45 F to 65 F, but once you have yours for a while you may find better ways to customize based on the drinks you have. For example, some wine drinkers like their white wines ICE COLD while others prefer them just below room temperature.
Related Recipe Posts
I like to cook with wine and highly recommend these recipes of mine where a splash of wine is a key ingredient. Also, don’t forget to pour yourself a glass while you’re cooking!
Slow Cooker Chicken Marsala Creamy Lemon Chicken Piccata Shrimp Scampi Pasta
Here are my favorite drink creations that I’ve made:
3 Ingredient All Natural Margaritas Kiss on the Lips Cocktail Malibu Sunset
Here are some of my favorite beverage recipes that my husband has come up with!
Peach Sorbet Champagne Cocktail Rose Sangria Blueberry Champagne Cocktail
Prices were accurate at the time of publication. 15 Life Changing Kitchen Organizers – Get your kitchen in shape with my favorite pantry and fridge organizers. Best Bread Loaf Pans – This is a must-have in any baker’s kitchen, and you can check out my favorites here!
