Which Are The Quietest Wine Coolers You Can Buy In 2022?

One of the most frequent complaints reported by wine cooler owners is the noise.

Most wine fridges have a rated noise level of 35-45 dBA depending on compressor type, configuration size and some other factor. On comparison a dishwasher makes around 45-50 dBA while a quality kitchen fridge 35-40 dBA.

Most manufacturers are aware of the noise problem so they have been working on designing quieter wine coolers in recent years.

Sidenote: A compressor wine cooler just like a kitchen fridge will always make some noise. They contain moving elements and the part of the refrigeration technology itself generates some sound that is quite normal (expansion valve emits a hissing noise).

So, at present you will not find a completely silent wine fridge. The good news is however, that there are more and more units with relatively low noise level.

We researched and compiled a list of the quietest wine refrigerators in various sizes available in stores in 2022. Browse and select the one that suits you in all aspects!

Note: When you buy through links to Amazon placed on our site we may earn a commission at no additional cost to you.

Table Of Contents

What Causes The Noise In a Wine Cooler?

The most common sources of noise in a wine cooler are the moving parts

• the compressor and
• fan or fans.

Compressor

The compressor is the most important part of any fridge. It is usually installed at the bottom of the back of the cabinet.

This is the most important technological part in a fridge that generates the cool air. Noise & vibration dampening, most often a rubber/silicone contraption, helps reduce the characteristic humming sound.

We will not go in details on how compressor refrigeration works in this post. You can read about the topic here if you are interested.

Fan or Fans

It ventilates the air inside the cooler to distribute the temperature more evenly. They work and sound just like a tabletop fan.

Larger and split zone wine coolers usually have two built-in fans, smaller and single-zone units come with one fan. They make a gentle swooshing noise that – if everything has been set up correctly and – should not reach annoying levels.

Other factors that causes the fan to switch on frequently are:

• high ambient temperature,
• the cooler’s door is opened to many times,
• not enough clearance left at the sides, back, and top

Wine fridge owners can prevent many of the noise issues by paying attention to the installation advice provided by the manufacturer (normally can be found in the instruction manual).

Let’s go over these common noise-reducing pointers in brief!

Usually the instruction manual recommends to leave a few inches of space at the sides, back and top of the fridge so that it can drive out the warm air through the venting holes.

The Most Silent Wine Fridges You Can Get in 2022

Inverter Compressor is The Key To Lower Noise

TIP: Wine coolers with inverter-type compressor tend to generate less noise. The compressor has variable speed that adjusts to the ambient temperature and other factors affecting the cooler’s set temperature. It will run at a gradual speed when it is needed to maintain the temperature. This result in a more even and less noisy operation.

Unlike non-inverter type ones that work only at one speed. They will start and stop suddenly whenever the temperature will drop below the set value.

These sudden starts and stops draw more electricity as well as create more noise. Colzer for example makes wine coolers with inverter compressor. NewAir also has such models.

Black & Decker 12-Bottle Wine Cooler, BD60336

This is a compact, thermoelectric wine fridge that has one temperature zone with the range of 46 – 65 ºF (8 – 18 ºC).

It has a noise level of 38 dBA which equals to whisper quiet. What’s more this neat little cellar looks utterly elegant with the mirrored glass door, touch sensitive controls and streamlined design.

Once you plugged in the fridge (115Volt/60Hz) tap the appropriate buttons on the touch sensitive control panel located on the top door frame.

By pressing the Up arrow you increase the temperature and with the Down arrow you decrease it with 1 Fahrenheit degree.

Wait 1 hour to let the cooler reach the set temperature then you can fill it up with your bottles. Monitor the temperature on the digital screen.

Most Black & Decker wine coolers are for freestanding placement only since they ventilate at the back and side.

For proper air circulation find a spot for it where you can ensure 2″ clearance at the sides and back, and 4″ at the top.

Key Features

• Model: BD60336
• Capacity: 12 bottles of wine (750 ml, Bordeaux-style).
• Cooling Type: Thermoelectric with air circulating fan.
• Number of Zones: Single zone, 46 – 65 ºF (8 – 18 ºC)
• Door: UV protecting, mirrored glass with black frame.
• Direction of Door Swing: Opens to the right, direction is not reversible
• Shelving: 5 removable, chromed wire shelves.
• LED Lighting: soft blue interior illumination to show off your wines.
• Placement: Freestanding only, ventilates at the back.
• Clearance: min. 2″ around the sides and back, 4″ at the top
• Adjustable Legs: 3 rotating legs, turn them until you find a level height
• Auto defrost: the fridge will defrost itself automatically.

Dimensions & Weight:

• Height: 24.88″
• Width: 10″
• Depth: 20.38″
• Weight: 28.3 lbs.

Price & Warranty

The Black & Decker 12-bottle wine fridge with mirrored door costs cc. 220 – 230 USD. Price per bottle: 18. 3 – 19.2 USD.

The manufacturer warranty is 1 year for parts and labor.

Who Should Buy The Black & Decker 12-Bottle Wine Cooler?

This is a perfect choice for occasional wine lovers or budding wine enthusiasts looking for a silent, affordable storage and cooling solution.

With its refined look it will blend in nicely in any home, especially where space is limited.

Easy to use and requires no extra maintenance apart form the occasional cleaning. You cannot go wrong with this model in this size and price category!

Other Buying Options: Walmart – Wayfair

TIP: If you are really tight on space in your home check out an even smaller Black & Decker wine cooler, with room for 6 bottles.

Schmecke 12-Bottle Single-Zone Wine Cooler

This is a compressor-operated wine fridge, what’s more it is inverter-type with the added benefits of

• low noise (rated 36 dBA) and
• electricity consumption.

The twin-layer glass door is slightly tinted but still allows you to see the interior. You can lock the door should you want to keep your collection safe from kids.

An additional highlight is the cabinet’s slim design – with less than 10 inches width it won’t take up much room.

The Schmecke 12-bottle fridge is neither for slot-in application because of the rear ventilation.

Setting the temperature is pretty simple with the digital touch sensors integrated in the top of the door. use the Up/Down arrows to adjust the temperature. An LCD screen displays the temperature in clear numbers.

TIP: You can change to Celsius display and back just keep the thermometer button pressed for a few seconds.

The light switch is also on the control panel. tap the “bulb” icon to turn on the blue LED light. It will turn off automatically after 10 minutes.

Shelving – Scalloped Metal

The unit comes with 5 solid wire shelves that can be removed if you need room for a magnum or other non-standard size bottle.

The scalloped shape is ideal for gently cradling the bottles without scratching the labels.

There is a fixed display rack – also chromed metal – on the bottom that is great for showcasing some nice bottles from your collection. It also comes handy when you have an unfinished open bottle – you can store it safely here.

Placement – Freestanding Only

This wine cellar dissipates warm air through the back so it is not fir for built-in/enclosed use. In addition, to ensure good air flow leave cc. 6″ clearance from the wall or other solid surface.

This is essential for the efficient, operation of the cooler with minimal noise.

If you follow this recommendation then you can rest assured that you the unit will maintain temperature well without emitting disturbing noises caused by the constantly running fan.

Features At A Glance

• Cooling Type: Inverter compressor with fan
• Number of Zones: Single zone, 41 – 64 ºF (5 – 18 ºC)
• Door: UV filtering, see-through glass door with safety lock at the bottom.
• Direction of Door Swing: Right hinged, direction of opening can’t be changed.
• Shelving: 5 removable, chromed wire shelves.
• Placement: Freestanding only, ventilates at the back.
• Clearance:
• Adjustable Legs: 4 rubber legs (3/4″ high)

Dimensions & Weight

• Height: 31.18″
• Width: 9.92″
• Depth: 17.72″
• Weight: 37.5 lbs.

Price & Warranty

The Schmecke 12-bottle wine has a price tag of around 220 – 250 USD depending on seller.

If you fill it up to the max. 12 bottles the price per bottle comes to 18.3 – 20.8 USD which is still a moderate amount considering the nice features it has: silent, stable temperatures, lockable door.

Warranty: 1 year limited on parts and labor.

Who Is It Best For?

The Schmecke 12-Bottle cellar is for those who want an attractive, well-functioning unit that is virtually noiseless.

On top of these, it has a door lock should you want to keep your wines safe from kids/teens. The small footprint is another plus – many people live in homes that are already packed with appliances and gadgets where a bulky unit is not an option.

So if narrow design is major decision factor then you have it in the Schmecke SHMFWCC121LB model.

Other Buying Options: Sears – Kmart –

TIP: Here’s is a best-of list of 12 bottle wine fridges if you are interested in this size.

Colzer 18-Bottle Built-In, Single-Zone Wine Cooler, YC-60A

This sleek cellar is generates 38 dBA or less so it deserves to be included our “top quietest wine coolers” list. Moreover, its other features are just as impressive starting with the

• Advanced compressor (inverter-type with adjustable speed for saving energy) combined with air circulation for consistent temperature.
• Wide temperature range: 41°F-72°F that allows for storing a broad selection of wines
• 3-layer glass door for maximum insulation and grey tint to block UV light.
• Touch-key controls and digital display of the interior temperature.
• Cool, low-intensity blue LED lighting
• Door lock with 2 keys
• 60 – 70% relative humidity.

Colzer’s YC-60A model holds wine bottles on 6 sturdy, beechwood shelves. You can completely pull out 5 of them, the 6th on the bottom is fixed and can accommodate larger bottles.

Front ventilation makes it a ideal fit for integrated, under the counter application.

Dimensions & Weight

• Height: 34.25″
• Width: 11.61″
• Depth: 22.63″
• Weight: 66.1 lbs.

Price & Warranty

You can get this compact 18-bottle wine fridge for around 480 USD this is 26.7 USD per bottle. The manufacturer warranties no defects for 1 year (for parts and workmanship).

Why Buy The Colzer 18-Bottle Wine Fridge?

Colzer makes reliable, efficient and quiet wine fridges and this slim, 12″ unit with 18 bottles capacity is no exception. If you need storage space for little more than a dozen bottles of wine then this fridge is a excellent choice.

What’s more, if you like a streamlined, built-in integration then slot this in under the kitchen counter. This way you save space.

With its less than 38 dBA noise level it won’t bother family dinners or a quiet morning coffee. All in all it is a very high-end looking appliance that will keep your wines at their best.

Other Buying Option: Colzer.com

TIP: Here is a list of some of the best-value 18-bottle wine refrigerators if this is the size you are looking for.

Staigis 30-Bottle Wine Refrigerator, Single-Zone

This is another great wine fridge with reduced-noise and vibration. The Staigis ST-15030 provides storage space for 30 standard size and shape (750 ml) bottles.

You can program it to cool to anywhere between 40 – 66°F which a nice broad range suitable for many wine varietals.

6 well-made, wood shelves hold the bottles securely. They are removable if you would like to make room for a wide or long bottle.

The stainless steel trimmed door is made of two layers of tempered and UV-filtering glass. The integrated handle lends a more sleek appearance to the unit.

It opens from left to right and it can’t be reversed.

Similarly to other win fridges in this price category, the Staigis model’s door is too lockable.

The blue LED lights subtly illuminate the interior. The light switch is on the control board, tap the “bulb” key to turn on or off the lighting.

Buttons adjusting the temperature are also straightforward to use: press the + symbol to increase and the – to decrease the temperature by 1°F.

A plus feature is the temperature memory: if the power goes out in your home you won’t have to reset the temperature after the power is back on. The fridge will revert to the previously programmed settings.

You can lock the door. The hinging is reversible if you want to change the direction of opening.

The exhaust plate is in the front at the bottom si it is fit for built-in placement. Install it under a counter to save space, it needs just a 15″ opening to slide into.

Dimensions & Weight

• Height: 33.9″
• Width: 14.9″
• Depth: 22.4″
• Weight: 72.8 lbs.

Price & Warranty Info

The Staigis 30-bottle wine cellar’s price comes to around cc. 550 USD (18.3 USD per bottle). It’s a competitive price in this size category and with the great features the cooler has.

It comes with a 1 year limited warranty.

A Dual-Zone Alternative – TYLZA

TIP: If, for some reason, you aren’t satisfied with this Staigis wine fridge, the TYLZA 30-bottle wine cooler is a good option. It has two climate zones and works almost without sound (rated to 38 dBA). The cabinet size is also similar and ready for built-in application.

Why Buy The Staigis 30-Bottle Wine Refrigerator?

Staigis has become a trustworthy name in the market of wine coolers. Reading owners’ reviews of the 30-bottle model we agree that you won’t regret buying a Staigis wine fridge.

It is a stylish mini fridge with just the right dimensions for undercounter installation. According to owners it is very very quiet – some were even wondering wether the cooler worked at all.

But rest assured the compressor combined with the quality door and cabinet will keep your wines in top notch condition.

Most of all, at 580 USD the Staigis 30-bottle wine cooler is reasonably priced compared to some of the competitor units.

Other Buying Options: Homebarsolutions

TIP: For similar units browse our list of popular 30-bottle wine cellars.

Phiestina 33-Bottle Dual-Zone Wine Cooler

The Phiestina PH-CWR100 fridge holds 33 bottles of 750 ml/Bordeaux type bottles – this is achievable if you really pay attention to how to place 5 bottles on a shelf.

Otherwise you will end up less bottles – according to users around 28 – 30.

Apart from the tight shelving it is still a fine little cooler with minimal noise. It ventilates at the sides so built-in/enclosed placement is not optional.

Even used as freestanding make sure you leave a couple of inches space around the sides, back and top for the heat coming out of the cooler to dissipate.

Leave also 3 inches at the back for the power plug. The power cord is 1.5 m long.

On the other hand the double zones let you chill whites in the

• upper section between 40 – 50°F and
• cool reds in the lower part where you can program the temperature from 50 – 66°F

The digital touch buttons controls are simple to use.

The double pane glass door opens to the right and the hinging is not reversible. The smokey filter applied to the glass shields your wines from UV light.

The 7 beech wood racks were designed to accommodate 5 bottles each- see the photo how to arrange them to accomplish this.

The blue LED lights draw little electricity while adding a classy touch to the appearance. Just press the light bulb button on the control panel to turn on the lights-

Note: The sample bottles used for filling up the fridge measured 2.75” in diameter and 11.8“ in height.

Dimensions & Weight

• Height: 33.07″
• Width: 15.5″
• Depth: 22.48″, with handle: 24.48″
• Weight: 83.1 lbs.

Price & Warranty

The Phiestina 33-Bottle fridge cost around 467 – 535 USD depending on store. The warranty is 1 year for replacement parts.

Price Per Bottle

• 28 bottles: 16.7 – 19.1 USD per bottle with
• 30 bottles: 15.6 – 17.8 USD per bottle
• 33 bottles: 14.2 – 16.2 USD per bottle

Who Is It Best For?

We recommend the Phiestina 33-bottle wine cooler for those who want a handsome looking wine chiller with two climate sections at a great budget price.

They do not necessarily insist on being able to arrange 33 bottles in it and built-in/undercounter installation is not a must. The cooler is not a good choice however if you love Champagne and wines in magnum bottles

In all other aspects this is an awesome fridge for how good it looks. Not to mention it does what it was designed for: keeps wine at suitable temperature, protected form sunlight and vibration.

TIP: The Smith & Hanks 32-bottle dual-zone cellar is a very similar but slightly pricier option. It is for built-in application with 15″ width.

Other Buying Options: Walmart – Wayfair

NewAir 46-Bottle Wine Refrigerator

This capacious home cellar by NewAir is powered by inverter compressor with dual fan air ventilation. You can split your wine collection between the two zones:

• The top zone is bets for whites and sparkling wines where you can keep them between 40 – 50 °F, while the
• bottom section is more suitable for storing red wines: 50 – 66 °F.

The NewAir 46-bottle fridge is available in 3 versions regarding door frame and toe kick color.

The door window is made of 3 layers of tempered glass with some smokey hue to screen UV rays.

You can lock up the fridge to keep your wines safe and secure. The direction of door opening is reversible, it opens to the right as default.

Quality, sliding shelves support the bottles: 2 in the top zone, 3 in bottom one.

If you stick to the instructions and stow only the usual 750 ml Bordeaux-style bottles then you can squeeze in 16 bottles in the upper compartment and 30 in the lower area.

Despite the size, it is a fairly noiseless wine cellar with noise level rated at 39 dBA.

The digital touch-sensitive controls are a breeze to use and a plus is that you can monitor both the current and the set temperature of the two zones.

The LED interior light – that has two brightness settings – highlight the bottles in a muted blue.

Dimensions & Weight

• Height: 33.5″
• Width: 24.5″
• Depth: 24″ (without handle: 22.5″)
• Weight: 104 lbs.

Price & Warranty

This 46-bottle capacity cellar by NewAir costs roughly 750 – 900 USD (16.30 – 19.56 USD per bottle).

The price varies from store to store and also depends on the model’s decor and design. The black stainless steel model with standard (NWC046BS00) or recessed toe kick NWC046SS01 cost considerably more.

The manufacturer’s warranty that covers parts and labor is for 1 year.

Other Buying Options: NewAir – Bestbuy

TIP: Read our detailed review on the NewAir 46-bottle dual-zone wine fridge to find out more about its specs, as well as strengths and possible weaknesses.

Colzer 51-Bottle Single-Zone Wine Refrigerator

You can store more than 40 bottles of wine – depending on bottles size and style – between 41 – 72 ºF in this sturdy wine fridge by Colzer.

A good thing is that it’s quite affordable too at cc. 800 USD, especially if you calculate the cost per bottle ration (15.7 for max. 51 bottles capacity).

An inverter compressor provides the cooling power with air ventilation in the cabinet interior. As we’ve already mentioned this type of refrigertaion technology has the added benefits of

• low noise (39 dBA or less) and vibration and
• less electricity consumption
• minimal variation in the temperature.

6 well-crafted wooden shelves ensure safe storage of your wines. 5 of them are completely removable while the 6th shelf on the bottom is fixed.

Further Specifications Include:

• Lockable dual-layer glass door with a pair of keys (direction of swing is not reversible)
• Activated-carbon air filter to keep the interior free from unwanted odors
• LED illumination in blue
• LED display screen
• Touch responsive control buttons
• Built-in placement

Dimensions & Weight

• Height: 34″
• Width: 23.4″
• Depth: 22.6
• Weight: 100 lbs. (45 kg)

Price & Warranty

This model currently sells for around 799 USD which is a splendid price compared to similar capacity units. Furthermore your purchase is backed by a 3-year long warranty on the compressor.

Why Buy The Colzer 51-Bottle Wine Cellar?

Besides the bargain price, it’s a reliable unit for storing and keeping wines at the right temperature at minimal noise. You may not be able to reach the maximum bottle count but it still a good value for the price.

TIP: If you want to find out more about the Colzer 51-bottle wine refrigerator then read our detailed review.

Finally, make sure you heed the placement advice included in the instruction manuals. It will help to keep the noise by a wine fridge at minimum.

NewAir 76-Bottle Dual-Zone Wine Cooler

NewAir’s latest wine fridges apply inverter compressor technology that run silently while ensuring even, stable temperature for your wines.

In their NWC076SS00 model you can put away up to 76 bottles (has to be strictly Bordeaux-type, 750 ml wines to achieve this) in two separately controlled zones.

Both zones has the same temperature range of 40 – 65 ºF (5 – 18 ºC).

Other Features Include

• Dual pane high-insulation door with UV blocking tint
• Blue LED illumination that emphasizes the elgant look and the stored bottles
• 8 pull-out metal racks

Dimensions & Weight

• Height: 47.64″
• Width: 23.22″
• Depth: 23.22″
• Weight: 117 lbs. (53 kg)

Price & Warranty Info

The NewAir 76-bottle freestanding wine cooler is available for around 1 300 – 1 500 USD in stores (Amazon, Wayfair). A 1 year warranty is included in this price thta covers parts and labor.

TIP: Here is our in-depth review of the NewAir 76-bottle dual-zone wine refigerator should you want to learn more about its specifications and reasons to buy/not buy.

NewAir 116-Bottle Dual-Zone Wine Cellar

This slightly larger model by NewAir also applies highly effective inverter cooling with the added benefit of reduced noise and vibration.

Key Features Include:

• Twin cooling zones with temperature ranges: 40 – 50 ºF in the upper part, and 50 – 66 ºF in the lower part.
• Roll-out unstained beech wood shelves: 5 in the upper zone and 6 in the lower one (1 shelf here is a bit deeper fitting for larger, wider bottles.
• Stainless steel-trimmed triple layer, tinted glass door for maximum insulation and UV protection
• Door lock with two keys
• Front exhaust for integrated installation under a counter.
• Noise level: less than 40 dBA

Dimensions & Weight

• Height: 54.75″
• Width: 23.50″
• Depth: 26.90″ (28.75″ w handle)
• Weight: 183 lbs (83 kg)

Price & Warranty Info

This is a fairly larger wine cellar so it has a slightly higher price tag. You can get it for around 1 500 – 1 600 USD (12.9 – 13.8 USD/bottle) which is not a terribly much considering the size and efficient, silent operation.

The manufacturer gives 1 year limited warranty on parts and labor.

TIP: If all this have picked your interest please click to see our review of the NewAir 116-bottle wine fridge for more details.

Leave Enough Space For The Wine Cooler To Breathe

Usually the instruction manual recommends to leave a few inches of space at the sides, back and top of the fridge so that it can drive out the warm air through the venting holes.

Naturally, if the unit is designed for built-in application then the clearance is usually less but you should always check and follow the manufacturer’s recommendations.

Built-in wine coolers ventilate in the front so it is important that you don’t block the exhaust air flow.

If you fail to leave enough space or block the ventilation then the cooler’s compressor and internal fan will work overtime trying to bring the warm air’s temperature down inside the cabinet. This will generate noise.

Firm Flooring, Level Placement, No Direct Sunlight Or Other Heat Source

To ensure that that your wine fridge will work optimally with minimal disturbing sounds it is essential to pay attention to the placement recommendations.

Place the cooler on a firm, level floor, away from direct sunlight. If the floor is not level, the shelving might tilt and rattle.

In addition the annyoing noise this causes the shaking-rattling is not beneficial for the wine since it will stir up the sedimentation.

Note: When you buy through links to Amazon placed on our site we may earn a commission at no additional cost to you.