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Because your wine collection deserves nothing but the finest

As much as we may wish it wasn't true, wine cellars aren't the most practical addition to most homes. Luckily there's an easy solution to any wine storing conundrum: investing in a wine cooler. In fact, we'd say it's a must-have in the kitchen of any self-respecting collector.

Mimicking the cool and dark conditions of a cellar, wine fridges will protect your bottles and keep them at the perfect temperature, ensuring their quality so that when it's time to get the corkscrew out, they pair exquisitely with your steak or BBQ'd fare.

They're designed with a temperature range to suit all. and if you do want to store a variety, look for a wine cooler that has multiple temperature zones. That way, you can keep your whites cool and reds at a slightly warmer temperature. One option on our list has three sections, meaning there's ample room for Champagne too.

As well as their temperature regulating capabilities, there are a few other factors to consider when investing in a wine cooler. Firstly, decide the capacity you need; think about how many bottles you currently store, and whether you need room to grow your collection. The products on our list range from a 21-bottle to a 190-bottle capacity, so there truly is a cooler for every kitchen and collection.

If you’re redoing your whole kitchen, it's also worth considering an integrated cooler rather than one that's freestanding. These built-in models will sit elegantly alongside your other appliances and cupboards for a classic finish. That said, if you like your kitchen the way it is, go for a freestanding model that you can plug in wherever you would like.

To find a wine cooler you can rely on, we measure the temperature stability of every model we try over a period of two, 24 and 48 hours. For coolers with multiple temperature zones, we test each zone separately and for every section, we're looking for a lack of fluctuation.

Our next step is testing how quickly each model recovers to the correct temperature after we leave the door open for two minutes. Granted, this is unlikely in real usage, but it's reassuring to know that opening and closing the door won't damage the integrity of your wines.

Finally, we look at its energy consumption over 48 hours and consider its ease of use, instructions and design elements to choose the cream of the crop.

These are the wine coolers worthy of your attention:

Rest assured this cooler will give your fine wines the care they deserve. It was our highest scorer on test, demonstrating outstanding consistency; on average, this appliance's temperature fluctuated less than 1 degree over 24 hours. Though the upper zone’s temp rose slightly more than the lower one’s, neither changed significantly enough to affect your bottles. It was barely phased when the door was left open either.

What's more, it features intuitive controls, an easy-to-read display, stable shelves and a super-sleek design. Plus, it was easy to clean and used less energy than any other dual-zone cooler on this list. We'll raise a glass to that.

Key specifications Cooler type: Built in Bottle capacity: 44 Temperature zones: 2 Temperature range (°C): 5 - 20 Dimensions (cm): H81.8 x W59.8 x D58.1 Smart tech: No Energy rating: G

Wine collectors and design enthusiasts alike will love this cooler. With a 117-bottle capacity and timeless wooden shelves that proved stable too, it will store your vintages comfortably. Its classic looks are sure to elevate your living space and its range of lighting modes allow you to tailor its overall look to your kitchen.

Its temperature didn't rise too much during our test, and it stabilised notably quickly after being left open. We also liked this cooler’s straightforward controls, reversible door and low energy consumption. You'll need a sizeable space for it, but a good wine collection is worth making room for.

Key specifications Cooler type: Freestanding Bottle capacity: 117 Temperature zones: 2 Temperature range (°C): 5 - 22 Dimensions (cm): H176.8 x W59.5 x D61.5 Smart cooler: No Energy rating: G

This mid-sized offering from Candy is perfect if you’re looking to invest in an easy-to-use wine cooler with enough capacity to keep the wine flowing when the party's at yours. Over 24 hours, it averaged a temperature difference of 1.5 degrees, and impressively only rose by 1.3 degrees after being opened for two minutes, recovering to the set temperature swiftly afterwards.

We would have preferred the controls to be on the outside of the unit, but other than that we found the temperature setting and light-adjusting processes seamless. The end stops on the shelves were also a thoughtful design feature that would ensure no bottles slip out.

Key specifications Cooler type: Built in Bottle capacity: 46 Temperature zones: 2 Temperature range (°C): 5 - 18 Dimensions (cm): H86.5 x W61.2 x D59.5 Smart cooler: No Energy rating: G

If you’re in the market for a wine cooler to store a select few bottles, this compact wine fridge will serve you well. To fit the 21 bottles advertised, you would have to remove the shelves and stack them, so it’s definitely better suited to fewer bottles than that. But the shelves themselves are excellently secure, making them well worth using.

When it comes to temperature stability, the Neff wine cooler didn't disappoint; it maintained its set temperature throughout our test. It did warm up a bit when we left the door open but redeemed itself by getting back to its setting in a matter of minutes. Overall, it's an easy-to-use, energy-efficient and high-performing appliance.

Key specifications Cooler type: Built in Bottle capacity: 21 Temperature zones: 1 Temperature range (°C): 5 - 20 Dimensions (cm): H81.8 x W29.8 x D56.7 Smart cooler: No Energy rating: F

Control this state-of-the-art appliance from the palm of your hand thanks to its smart capabilities. Its accompanying app allows you to set temperatures remotely and track your wine inventory. It can even double as a sommelier, recommending wine pairings for your meal and the appropriate fridge temperature for the wines you own.

Performance-wise, it was another trustworthy cooler; it stayed comfortably within its set temperature over 24 hours. While it warmed a bit when left open for a couple of minutes, its recovery time was short enough that it wouldn’t spoil your wines. We'd award it bonus points for its easy to use, compact design that would fit perfectly under a kitchen counter.

Key specifications Cooler type: Built in Bottle capacity: 24 Temperature zones: 1 Temperature range (°C): 5 - 18 Dimensions: H45.5 x W59 x D60.7 Smart cooler: Yes Energy rating: F

One for serious wine collectors, this is as close to a cellar as they come. It's an exclusive product that’s only available from showrooms and can house a whopping 190 bottles over three temperature zones. It stores them impeccably, too; the temperature stability was top-notch, fluctuating by a mere 0.2 degrees over 24 hours, and barely rising after being left open. It subsequently recovered quickly enough that your wines' quality will be assured, too.

It features a beautiful serving area with a changeable LED light display, as well as a storage drawer for accessories, shelves with secure end-stops, and a brick for adjusting humidity levels. And if you need help compiling an inventory of your 190 bottles, it has an accompanying app that makes it easy.

Key specifications Cooler type: freestanding Bottle capacity: 190 Temperature zones: triple Temperature range (°C): 5 - 20 Dimensions (cm): H192 x W70 x D79.7 Smart cooler: Yes Energy rating: F