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Amazon.com Review

Though it drinks deep of its subject, Karen MacNeil’s Wine Bible deftly avoids two traps many wine books fall into: talking down to wine novices or talking up to more experienced enophiles. The book avoids these traps through MacNeil’s obvious, and infectious, love of her subject, which comes out in almost every sentence of the book, and which lets her talk about wine in a way that combines the good teacher, the trusted friend, and the expert sommelier. As director of the wine program at the Culinary Institute of America in Napa Valley, California, MacNeil is one of the world’s true experts on wine. After reading a chapter on the Burgenland, for example, you’ve learned about the region’s sweet wines while feeling like you’re actually there, toasting a glass of Cuvee Suss with the author. It is this passion that leads to describing an Italian riservas as “mesmerizing” and a Cabernet Sauvignon as having “texture like cashmere.”

The Wine Bible is broken into countries, hitting all of the major wine producers and most of the minor ones. Each section gives detailed descriptions of the country’s wines (with chapters on individual regions when necessary), highlighting specific wine producers and individual wines, as well as talking about local foods, customs, and other tidbits that add to the reading experience. MacNeil begins her journey through the world’s wine with an invaluable section on “Mastering Wine,” which lets a reader get ready before uncorking separate sections. –A.J. Rathbun

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Review

“A dazzling, comprehensive, modern guide to wine, free of elitism and pedantry. This thoroughly successful work sets a new standard and makes wine more accessible and user-friendly than it has ever been before.”
—Anthony Dias Blue, wine and spirits editor, Bon Appétit (Bon Appétit )

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Features and Specifications of the Vinotemp VT-18TEDS Thermo-Electric Digital 18-Bottle Wine Chiller

• Freestanding 18 bottle wine chiller
• Sleek black & stainless steel design
• Digital temperature display
• Adjustable temperature
• Thermo-electric cooling system does not use ozone-depleting chemicals
• Ultra-quiet operation which protects wine from unnecessary vibration
• Energy-efficient dual-paned glass door for better insulation (less electricity use)
• 5 pull-out chrome shelves included
• Measures 21-1/2 by 14 by 25-1/2 inches;
• 1-year limited warranty

Review – Vinotemp VT-18TEDS Thermo-Electric Digital 18-Bottle Wine Chiller

The Vinotemp VT-18TEDS Thermo-Electric Digital 18-Bottle Wine Chiller comes highly recommended by the people who currently own and use this wine chiller.

This wine chiller is produced by Vinotemp, a manufacturer in business since 1985 with a good reputation for quality products. One owner reported “We called a wine store for a recommendation and this is the manufacturer he recommended”.

Our research uncovered many pleased owners, with comments such as “very pleased”, “excellent wine cooler”,  “highly recommended for wine connoisseurs”, and “does the job exactly as I would wish”. A very high number of owners rated this wine cooler as a 5/5 or 4/5.

Temperature

Many remarked on the quick and accurate cooling temperature and quiet running of the Vinotemp VT-18TEDS Thermo-Electric Digital 18-Bottle Wine Chiller.  One person brought up the point that if one likes their white wines chilled, one would have to move the white wine to a refrigerator an hour or two before serving.  This would, of course, be the case with any single temperature wine cooler in which both reds and whites are being cooled.

Appearance

Sleek black and stainless steel design “looks nice”, according to owners.

Bottle Size Compatibility

The only complaint that we were able to find was that this wine chiller only fits standard size wine bottles and that long bottles had to be laid across the bottom of the unit and especially wide bottles didn’t fit in the middle shelves, though apparently they can be placed in the upper shelf.

One person brought up the point that if one likes their white wines  chilled, one would have to move the white wine to a refrigerator an hour or two before serving.  This would, of course, be the case with any single temperature wine cooler in which both reds and whites are being cooled.

Life Span

No owners commented on this.

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Summary

Consumer reviews on the Vinotemp VT-18TEDS Thermo-Electric Digital 18-Bottle Wine Chiller were generally very positive.  If you store both red and white wines and don’t want to have to move whites to the refrigerator before serving, then we would suggest purchasing a dual temperature unit.

If a single (adjustable) temperature chiller suits your needs, the Vinotemp VT-18TEDS Thermo-Electric Digital 18-Bottle Wine Chiller certainly comes highly recommended by the people who currently own and use them. We would concur with that, especially given the very reasonable price and more than adequate capacity of this bottle wine cooler.

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Features of the EdgeStar 32 Bottle Dual Zone Wine Cooler (TWR325ESS) with Stainless Steel Trimmed French Doors and Digital Controls

• 2 temperature zones, both left and right zones from 47F to 64F
• Stainless steel French doors with tinted double paned glass doors protect wine from sunlight
• Digital touch temperature display with adjustable thermostat
• Quietly, efficiently maintains optimum temperature and humidity conditions
• Dimensions: 32 1/2″h x 20 2/3″w x 20 1/4″d

Review – EdgeStar 32 Bottle Dual Zone Wine Cooler (TWR325ESS) with Stainless Steel Trimmed French Doors and Digital Controls

Many people have purchased the EdgeStar 32 Bottle Dual Zone Wine Cooler (TWR325ESS) and it was difficult to find anyone with complaints about this wine cooler. Complaints we did find were minor. If you plan on storing close to 32 bottles of wine, this cooler would appear to be superior to many other wine coolers on the market for the price.

“Excellent buy for the money”; “highly recommend”; “thrilled with this wine refrigerator”; “would definitely recommend this wine refrigerator”; “a good buy for the money”; “a great purchase”; “very pleased”; “highly recommend it to all”; “exceeded my expectations”; “excellent product, love it”;  and “fantastic wine fridge” were some of the many complimentary comments on this cooler.

Temperature

Owners were very happy with the dual temperature zones for red wine and white wine. Most said that the temperature stays at the appropriate setting, with only one saying that it differs slightly from the set point.  A few owners mentioned that they wish the temperature could be set lower than 46 degrees for white wines but that didn’t seem to be a major concern, with one owner saying “the temperature is steady and certainly cool enough”.  Owners were also impressed with how quiet this wine cooler is, saying “no noise at all”; and “extremely quiet”.

Appearance

The sleek design of this wine cooler was something that most owners remarked on. “Really classy look”; “nice appearance and easy controls”; “very attractive”; “very nice looking”; “looks more expensive than it was”; “really great looking wine cooler”; and “a very attractive and functional unit at a competitive price” were among the many comments.

Bottle Size Compatibility

Most owners were satisfied with this wine coolers’ ability to store bottles other than the standard size. Though some said that the shelves were a little close together, over all comments were “will hold 32 bottles very easily”; and “easily holds wine bottles up to 13 inches tall and larger bottles on the bottom shelving”, while another owner’s solution to the storing the larger bottles was to was “turn the shelf upside down to accommodate larger diameter bottles”.  One person said the only thing he didn’t like was un-adjustable shelves, but most owners didn’t have an issue with this.

Life Span

Only one owner out of 28 owners spoke at all about life span, saying that one side of his wine cooler had stopped cooling after 15 months.

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Summary

The only negative reports on this bottle wine cooler were from one owner who had received his cooler with one door misaligned and another who said the door on his wine cooler had been drilled wrong and had to be replaced.  Both of these issues were solvable and ultimately did not impair the functioning of the cooler.

Given the overall high rating that current owners give the EdgeStar 32 Bottle Dual Zone Wine Cooler (TWR325ESS), and the value for the price, we would have no hesitation in recommending this wine cooler highly.

The sophisticated design of this bottle wine cooler adds to any decor. Features include a sleek stainless steel door trim with an ergonomic towel bar handle glass door, and a removable luxurious stainless steel racks in the unit, allowing you to store and display your wine collection with pride.

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Features of the Whynter WC-211DZ 21 Bottle Dual Temperature Zone Wine Cooler

• 21 bottle capacity; 6 bottles in the upper zone and 15 bottles in the lower zone
• Dual zones for storing reds and whites
• Vibration-free thermoelectric cooling, to not disrupt the wine aging
• Adjustable thermostat for each zone – Upper zone (44F – 66F), Lower zone (50F – 66F)
• Enhanced LCD temperature displays for both zones
• Solid state components for long life – the only moving parts are fans to circulate air for even temperature distribution
• Stainless steel trimmed glass door with sleek black cabinet
• Professional quality towel bar handle
• Soft interior LED lighting with on/off switch
• Six removable premium stainless steel trimmed scalloped chrome shelves
• Dimensions:  32.5 by 20.8 by 13.4 inches.
• ETL certified
• 1 year limited warranty

Review – Whynter WC-211DZ 21 Bottle Dual Temperature Zone Wine Cooler

We found a good number of owner reviews on the Whynter WC-211DZ 21-Bottle Dual Temperature Zone Wine Cooler. It seems that it has quite a number of happy users. Though a few complained about the lack of ease of slide ability of the shelves, that didn’t seem to be a major issue for most owners.  We have no hesitation in recommending this dual zone wine cooler.

Frequent comments were “Looks great”, “very pleased”, “great unit for the price”, “absolutely stunning”, “for the price it’s just unbelievable”, “well pleased”, “works very well”,  “looks great and works great”, and “happy with my purchase”. Most owners rated this wine cooler as a 4/5 or a 5/5.

Owners like the size, calling it a perfect fit into any nook or cranny, and the perfect size for keeping a few bottles chilled for drinking.  Another owner said that he had purchased the Whynter Dual Temperature Zone Wine Cooler because it was sized right to fit in a space just below his kitchen counter top.

Temperature

The dual zones are definitely an advantage. One owner said “dual feature for red and white is great” , while another said that the wine cooler was working well at keeping both zones at his desired temperatures, and yet another said that the temperatures were “spot on”.

Appearance

Owners seemed particularly pleased with the look of this wine cooler, with one describing it as “Silver, slim, and nice visual addition to any kitchen or bar area”. Another owner went further, to say “I was not quite expecting something that looked as sharp as what I received. Love the stainless steel racks and handle, extremely sophisticated appearance”.

Bottle Size Compatibility

Some owners complained about difficulty storing larger wine bottles, which seems to be a standard complaint for many of the wine coolers in this size and price range. One owner said that the metal trays don’t slide in or out easily and another said that the slide out shelves “feel kind of cheap”, however a third owner said that the “trays are pretty sturdy, but a non-standard wine bottle might not fit well due to narrow clearance.”  Another owner, however, pointed out that “The shelves are designed for the standard 750ml bottle but are completely removable so I can mix and match to store whatever size bottles I need to.”

Life Span

No owners commented on this.

Other Issues

One other complaint that cropped up a few times was that the 4^th foot didn’t come attached, is sized differently, and the manual/instructions don’t tell you where it goes. One buyer initially thought that one foot was missing.  Another was able to find out from customer service that the answer is “it screws into the bottom of the door hinge, not the base of the unit” but it took 24 hours for customer service to get back to him with that response. The company is planning on revising their instructions.

One person complained that the unit he received required bolting on a handle but the top hole for the bold hadn’t been drilled. A small oversight but a very big problem for the owner as he had already thrown out the packaging and was therefore unable to return the unit for exchange.  Something to keep in mind.

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Summary

Overall, buyer satisfaction and positive feedback concerning the Whynter WE-211DZ 21 Bottle Dual Temperature Zone Wine Cooler far outweighs the negative comments.  Given that and that this bottle wine cooler is thermoelectric (better for the environment and for the wine), has dual temperature zones, and is well priced for its’ size and features, we have no hesitation in recommending this wine cooler highly.

Designed to fit into more places, this slim wine cooler keeps your wine property chilled and ready to enjoy. The touch-sensitive control panel with an LED display makes it simple to adjust the thermostat to the perfect temperature for the type of wine being stored. This unit accommodates full reds at temperatures from 59 to 65 degrees F, light reds at 54 to 57 degrees F, and rose and white wines at 52 to 57 degrees F. Since this unit only chills to 52 degrees F, it’s not recommended for sparkling wine or champagne, which taste best when they are chilled at cooler temperatures.

This cooler is fitted with five slide-out chrome shelves with a scalloped design for securely cradling the bottles of wine. A special feature is the thermoelectric cooling system, which delivers ultra-quiet operation, avoiding vibrations (caused by compressor cooling systems) which would disturb the sediments in the wine and disrupt the aging process. Environmentally friendly, the thermoelectric cooling system uses no Freon, which can be harmful to the planet. Energy efficient, this unit uses only about as much energy as a 75-watt light bulb. Other thoughtful details include soft interior lighting with an on/off switch, and adjustable levelling legs. Freestanding and ETL-approved, this 70-watt wine cooler measures 19-1/2 by 10-1/4 by 25-3/5 inches. The Sunpentown WC-1271 ThermoElectric 12-Bottle Slim Wine Cooler comes with a one-year limited warranty.

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Features of the Sunpentown WC-1271 ThermoElectric 12-Bottle Slim Wine Cooler

• 12-botttle slim wine cooler
• ThermoElectric cooling with no vibration, allowing wine to age naturally with no disruption
• Touch-sensitive control panel and LED display
• Adjustable thermostat
• Double-pane glass door with recessed handle;
• 5 slide-out chrome shelves
• Soft interior lighting
• Sleek, elegant design
• Freestanding
• Quiet operation
• Levelling legs for balance
• ETL-approved, energy efficient, no Freon
• Dimensions: 19-1/2 by 10-1/4 by 25-3/5 inches
• 1-year limited warranty

Review – Sunpentown WC-1271 ThermoElectric 12-Bottle Slim Wine Cooler

We found a good number of reviews for the Sunpentown WC-1271 ThermoElectirc 12 Bottle Slim Wine Cooler. Comments from owners of this cooler were overwhelmingly positive. If you normally purchase standard or European size bottles of wine and store only a small quantity, the Sunpentown WC-1271 ThermoElectric 12 Bottle Slim Wine Cooler offers excellent value for the price.

A very high percentage of people who bought this wine cooler were very happy with their purchase, rating it a 5/5 or a 4/5.  “Works great”; “excellent”; “great product”; “fantastic…present”, “great product and value”; and “excellent quality for the price” were sentiments echoed repeatedly.

Temperature

Many of the owners commented on the accuracy of the temperature readout and how this wine cooler keeps the wine at the right temperature consistently.

Appearance

Other frequent comments were on the convenient size and elegant look of the Sunpentown WC-1271 ThermoElectric 12 Bottle Slim Wine Cooler.

Bottle Size Compatibility

A few people noted that the shelves are close together on this wine cooler and that it only fits standard bottles and not large bottles.  One person had the simple and creative solution of simply removing one shelf to store the larger bottles.

Life Span

We found one person who stated that their wine cooler had stopped cooling after seven months. We weren’t able to find any other complaints of this nature.

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Summary

According to our research, the Sunpentown WC-1271 ThermoElectric 12 Bottle Slim Wine Cooler is a quality product with excellent value and most current owners are very pleased with it. This bottle wine cooler is energy efficient, keeps the wine at a consistent temperature and the thermoelectric cooling unit lends to more natural aging of the wine.

The one comment concerning the wine cooler that stopped working did give momentary cause for concern but since we were not able to find anyone else with that complaint, we took that to be one faulty unit, which can happen with any model by any manufacturer.  Considering that there is a one year limited warranty on the cooler, this is not a major concern.

The overwhelmingly positive response to this product greatly outweighs any negatives that we were able to find. If you are in the habit of buying large bottles of wine you might wish to look for a less compact wine cooler. However, if you normally purchase standard or European size bottles of wine, we would not hesitate to give the Sunpentown WC-1271 ThermoElectric 12 Bottle Slim Wine Cooler a strong recommendation as it does offer excellent value for the price.

In addition to a chrome bottom rack, this bottle wine cooler provides five chrome storage racks with wood trim that glide in and out for easy access and securely cradle standard-size bottle. The flat full-view double-pane glass door can be set to open from either the left or right, and has an automatic door stop that prevents the door from slamming, ensuring a soft close that will not disrupt or dislodge the wine.

Other features include an over-temp alarm function, a manual interior light to showcase your collection, a stainless-steel door handle, a lock and key, front venting, and leveling legs to balance the unit. This unit can be built-in or freestanding and is UL- and CUL-approved. This wine cellar measures 23-1/8 by 14-7/8 by 34-1/4 inches. The Haier HVCE15BBH Built-in or Freestanding 26-Bottle Wine Cellar carries a one-year warranty with a five-year limited warranty on the compressor.

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Features of the Haier HVCE15BBH Built-In or Freestanding 26-Bottle Wine Cellar

• Built-in or freestanding 26-bottle wine cellar;
• Black cabinet with stainless steel door;
• Compressor cooling system with 5 year limited warranty on the compressor;
• Electronic temperature control to suit both red and white wines;
• LED display;
• Over-temp alarm;
• 5 chrome glide-out storage racks with wood trim plus chrome bottom rack
• Flat full-view double pane glass door with left or right mounting option;
• Automatic door stop for soft closes to not disrupt or dislodge the wine;
• Interior light with manual switch, to highlight your collection;
• Front venting;
• Lock and key;
• Levelling legs;
• Dimensions: 23-1/8 by 14-7/8 by 34-1/4 inches;
• 1-year warranty with 5-year limited warranty on the compressor.

Review – Haier HVCE15BBH Built-In or Freestanding 26-Bottle Wine Cellar

We were only able to find a small number of consumer reviews on the Haier HVCE15BBH Built-in or Freestanding 26-Bottle Wine Cellar. Most consumers rated this wine cellar a 4/5, with only one person rating it as 5/5. Even though there are only a small number of reviews, there are a variety of concerns, mostly minor.

Positive comments from owners were “Love this cooler”; “seems solid and well built”; “solid, quiet wine system”; “works great”; and “by far the best deal for a quality wine cooler of this size”.

Temperature

Though several owners are pleased that this wine cellar maintains a constant temperature, one owner says that when her house temperature is over 80 F inside, the wine cellar wouldn’t maintain the temperature she set, saying that the temperature in the unit went to 62 F under these conditions when she had set it for 55F. She did say that it cooled down again when the house cooled at night.

A number of owners commented on how quiet this wine cellar is, saying “Exceptionally quiet”; “very quiet”; and “quieter than expected”. One owner, however, called it “very loud”, saying “It can’t be operating normally” and “we’ve contacted Haier”.  We concur that his unit must not be working normally given the number of owners who report their Haier HVCE15BBH’s as being quiet.

Appearance

Other features that owners like are that this wine cellar unit “fits in handsomely with the other stainless steel appliances in the kitchen”; that it “fits like a glove” under a 15 inch counter; and that the “racks slide very smoothly”. Another owner, however, thinks that Haier skimped a little on the plugs for the holes on the reversible door handle, and dislikes the white plugs on the stainless steel door.

Bottle Size Compatibility

No owners commented on this.

Life Span

No owners commented on this.

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Summary

Overall, the reviews from owners of this wine cellar appear to be far more positive than negative. On the whole, the Haier HVCE15BBH 26-Bottle Wine Cellar would seem to be a good buy, especially for a bottle wine cooler of this size, as long as you don’t mind the white hole plugs on the stainless steel door and that the unit appears to struggle a bit with keeping the set temperature under extreme heat conditions. The price is certainly far better than many wine cellars of this size, possibly because it is compressor run.  This is obviously a good solid unit that many owners are pleased with. So long as you don’t mind the minor issues, the Haier HVCE15BBH 26-Bottle Wine Cellar would be a good purchase.

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Features of the Edgestar Deluxe 28 Bottle Wine Cooler Refrigerator

• 28 bottle capacity
• Vibration-free thermoelectric cooling
• Soft interior LED lighting to proudly display your wine collection
• Adjustable thermostat for storing different wine varieties
• Auto defrost
• Includes 6 slide-out chrome racks
• Reversible door, silver tone trim
• Solid state components for long life- the only moving parts are fans to circulate cool air within the wine cooler and dissipate heat outside the unit
• Dimensions: 28-1/2 inches high by 18 inches wide by 20-1/2 inches deep
• Warranty: 90 days parts and labour. One year parts

Review – Edgestar Deluxe 28 Bottle Wine Cooler Refrigerator

The Edgestar Deluxe 28 Bottle Wine Cooler Refrigerator seems to be very popular and one that many people have purchased.  There was certainly no scarcity of consumer reviews to be found. Most were quite positive but a number of owners had issues with the life span of the unit. If you decide to purchase this wine cooler refirgerator, we recommend getting an extended warranty for it, if that is available, or using a credit card that offers an extended warranty for the purchase.

Comments were “great product for value & quality”; “very happy”; “perfect for my needs”; “fantastic product…highly recommend it”; “very happy with all aspects of this unit”; “excellent choice”; “would purchase again and recommend to a friend”; “fits the bill”; “great wine refrigerator”;  “so impressed with this product”; “delivers a lot of bang for the buck”; and “very happy with my purchase”.

Temperature

A number of owners commented on this wine cooler’s ability to hold the proper temperature, saying that the temperature has been “right on” and “keeps the wine at the perfect temperature”. One owner noted  that “while it doesn’t have a humidity feature, nor does it have a built in thermometer or hygroscope, it performs well”.

The quiet functioning of the unit, common for thermoelectric coolers, got frequent comments.  Most owners found it “very quiet”.  Though one owner stated that it is “not as quiet as we were led to believe. It makes a constant humming sound that we have gotten used to”, another said they “hardly know its running unless sitting right beside it”.

Appearance

Owners like the appearance of this wine cooler, saying “attractive, holds just enough, very stylish…works in any décor”; “looks nice in my kitchen”; “looks great”; and “attractive and small enough to fit inconspicuously in the room”.  One summed it up with “looks nice, has an internal light, holds a fair amount of wine and is inexpensive”.

A nice variation with this wine cooler refrigerator is that wooden shelves are also available for purchase,  which give this wine cooler “more of a classic look”.

Bottle Size Compatibility

A nice comment to hear, given the problem many wine coolers present for storing larger than standard bottles, was “Shelves are adjustable for maximum storage of different-sized wine bottles” .  In fact, only one person from amongst the great number who reviewed this wine cooler refrigerator said “My only objection is that you cannot store any large bottles like champagne or sparkling wines (unless you remove a shelf) and some larger 750ml bottles seem tight.” Storage of larger bottles is obviously not as difficult with this unit as it is with many others.

Life Span

Only one person had a negative review of this wine cooler and her dissatisfaction was related to the life expectancy of the cooler. She said that the 28 bottle deluxe Edgestar wine cooler they owned had died just after the one year warranty ran out. Further, the 16 bottle Edgestar wine cooler that they had purchased for her parents since they were so pleased with their own wine cooler, also died just after the one year point. That doesn’t happen with all Edgestar wine coolers of course…one owner said that he’d “bought over a year ago” and that it was “the perfect cooler for my needs”.  Still, for two Edgestar wine coolers to have both died at just over one year of use, within the same family circle, would cause one to give this brand a second thought.  A fluke?…or not?

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Summary

Though there are a vast number of satisfied owners of the Edgestar Deluxe 28 bottle wine cooler refrigerator, and the price is, as one owner said “an excellent unit for someone on a tight budget”, one has to weigh the low price with the possibility that the unit may not function for more than a year.

Satisfaction with the functionality and appearance of this wine cooler refrigerator is certainly apparent and runs high. If you decide to purchase the Edgestar Deluxe 28 Bottle Wine Cooler Refrigerator, we recommend getting an extended warranty for it, or using a credit card that offers an extended warranty.

The NewAir AW-180E thermoelectric wine cooler has an eighteen bottle capacity.  The digital controls and touch screen on the display make this bottle wine cooler very easy to use. An internal LED light within the unit illuminates for greater visibility and showcasing of your collection. Chrome-plated racks inside the NewAir AW-180E add a touch of sophistication.

This wine cooler’s thermoelectric technology involves very little moving parts, resulting in vibration-free, silent operation that won’t disturb the aging of your wine and is better for the environment.

The NewAir AW-180E 18-bottle thermoelectric wine cooler is compact, affordable, and easy-to-operate.

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Features of the NewAir AW-180E Thermoelectric Wine Cooler

• Compact with eighteen bottle capacity
• Has very convenient digital temperature controls
• LED Display and Interior LED Light provides enhanced visibility
• This wine cooler operates silently so it can be used in every environment
• Modern chrome-plated racks
• Measures 20 x 13.5 x 25.2 inches

Review – NewAir AW-180E Thermoelectric Wine Cooler

The NewAir AW-180E Thermoelectirc Wine Cooler is a product that many people have purchased. There are a multitude of consumer reviews available for this wine cooler. Most owners gave positive reviews with no issues reported. However, there were a significant number of owners who were dissatisfied with the life span of this wine cooler.

General comments were “”I am very pleased with this unit”; “very affordable”, “love this cooler”, “For the price this is a very good wine cooler”; “works great and is quiet”; “great cooler for the money”; “runs quiet”; “great affordable solution”; “a small wine cooler that does the job”; “great wine cellar”; “still as great as when I first got it”; “great product for your money. You’ll be happy with this choice”; and “works well….until it doesn’t”.

Temperature

Owners like the adjustable temperature feature. Though many found this wine cooler keeps the programmed temperature, some said that it was sensitive to household ambient temperature and that sunlight could raise the temperature 2 or 3 degrees. Another reported that “there was about a two degree flux at times after opening the door and within a few minutes the temperature is back to the programmed setting”.  One person commented on how fast the wine cooler got to the programmed temperature, saying it “got to 54 degree in 30 minutes”. One perceptive owner was able find a partial solution to the temperature fluctuation. She noted that “just a little dust on the back cover sent the internal temp upward”  and said that “when I see the temp go up to 53 or 54 I know it is time to blow out the back cover. I would say I do that once every 3 months”.

Appearance

People who bought this wine cooler all had positive comments about its appearance.  “I love the perfect fit in my dining room and the ambience of the blue internal light”; “The design is very modern, sleek…looks high quality, high style”; “quite stylish”; “slick style”; “this is beautiful”; “gorgeous!!”; “attractive and stylish unit, and will look nice in any kitchen or dining room”; “looks great, small and effective. The LED light adds to the look. Very smooth and sleek”; and “most 18 bottle wine coolers are far more expensive…and don’t look this stylish”.

Bottle Size Compatibility

Unlike many other wine coolers, this unit doesn’t appear to have any problems storing different sized wine bottles. Owners say “The skinnier bottles do fit better but we have 18 of all sizes that fit just fine”; “placed 18 different size bottle of red and white wines inside it without any problem”; “no problem with the size of the wine bottles”; and “you can easily flip over a shelf and then the wide bottles fit perfectly albeit 2 to a shelf”;

Life Span

Out of close to 40 consumer reviews, 7 owners had complaints about the life span of this wine cooler. “Lasted a little over a year”; “one week after the warrantee expired (one year) this wine cooler died”; “worked fine for 9 months, then broke”; “broke after 6 months use”; “broken after about 8 months of use”; “bought this just over a year ago – woke up one morning and it wasn’t working – no cool air, no LED display, no reset button”; “got a lot of enjoyment out of this cooler. It is approximately one year later and the control panel has failed.”

One other note of caution: One owner said “there is a plastic trough on the back of the cooler that collects water and must be cleaned out. Mine overflowed and ruined the finish on the piece of furniture I had it on.”  No one else made any mention of this.

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Summary

The NewAir AW-180E Thermoelectric Wine Cooler is stylish, affordable and functions well in maintaining the temperature with only a slight fluctuation due to ambient temperatures or the opening of the cooler door. Fitting different size wine bottles is not a problem. With thermoelectric technology, this bottle wine cooler works quietly. Apparently it is common for these lower cost wine coolers to last only 1-2 years and a significant number of owners complained of this.  Keeping them dusted regularly appears to limit the temperature fluctuations and helps to keep them running well, possibly for a longer time.  Since quite a number of these wine coolers do appear to break down soon after the manufacturer’s warranty expires, if not sooner, If you do choose to buy the NewAir AW-180E Thermoelectric Wine Cooler get an extended warranty or use a credit card that offers an extended warranty.