Avalon Bay AB-WINE12S Wine Cooler Review

I received an Avalon Bay Wine Cooler for the purpose of this review. This post was made possible by Mom Spark Media. Thoughts are my own.

This summer has been amazing for the garden but all those organic veggies are really hampering my wine storage in the fridge… I usually like to keep a few bottles at the ready, just in case of emergency, but there is simply no room for any bottles among the bountiful greens, tomatoes, squash, peppers and herbs. Sad story but true.

Obviously, I jumped at the chance to try a wine cooler. (You know, once I realized that they weren't talking about the sweet and delicious wine-ish beverages popular when I was younger. Ahem.) I liked the  sleek look of the Avalon Bay Wine Coolers and thought one might fit in quite nicely in my kitchen. Perhaps giving me an excuse to hoard more wine. Yes!

I received the 12-bottle Avalon Bay Wine Cooler to review, but there is an 18-bottle version, too. It arrived in a double-walled cardboard box, ready to plug in and play. Or cool down some fine vintages, at least.

It's a pretty compact unit, not much bigger than a case of wine, so it is a good size for most kitchens. Our kitchen is not very big but I decided to put the Wine Cooler next to the sink, beside the cupboard that we keep our dishware in. The plain black and brushed steel look of the wine cooler blend in well with our granite countertops and natural wood cabinetry.

See? It doesn't take up much space at all, really. One caveat: the AB-WINE12S is a freestanding wine cooler and should not be placed inside a cabinet or nook because it needs air circulation to perform efficiently. I noticed that the temperature stays more consistent if I pull the unit away from the cabinet slightly so it can breathe. Like any good red wine should. If you are looking for a wine cooler to fit a specific cabinet or niche, you should check out front-venting wine refrigerators.

The sliding wire racks are removable, so you can accommodate other bottles or even, uh, boxes. No judgment! At just 24 lbs, you could even plug it in on the patio to keep some six packs cool at your next BBQ. So many options… 

One thing the AB-WINE12S is not meant for: food. Its cooling range is great for white wines or red but 51-64ºF is not going to keep your leftovers safe for eating. This is a wine cooler, NOT a dorm fridge! Although it would certainly be the coolest dorm fridge ever. And if you stocked it with wine, you would probably be the most popular kid on your floor. I digress.

If you find you need more space for your wine, the AB-WINE12S is an affordable, compact solution.


In accordance to the FTC Guidelines and the WOMMA Code of Ethics, I am disclosing that I received an Avalon Bay wine cooler to facilitate this review but no other compensation was made. This post was made possible by Mom Spark Media. All opinions are, as usual, strictly my own.