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.

Good Cook Kitchen Trio Flash Giveaway!

Remember when I told you about the Good Cook Kitchen Drawer Event a couple of weeks ago? Hopefully you've had a chance to Build Your Kitchen Drawer already by visiting the Good Cook website and choosing the 15 items that you consider essential– or just covetable. If not, there's no time like the present!

Entering is quick and easy. And if you're kitchen-phobic, you can always choose one of the drawers created by the Good Cook's featured Kitchen Expert Bloggers and enter it for a chance to win everything inside!

Three super useful kitchen basics to start with are the Black Nylon Basting Spoon, Slotted Spoon, and Square Turner. 

I have a set of these three items to give away to one lucky reader! This is a flash giveaway and will only last 48 hours! Share your favorite kitchen gadget in the comments below by Monday, June 9, 2014 at 4:00PM, PST for a chance to win this great trio! (US readers only.)

Good Cook Build Your Kitchen Drawer Sweepstakes

Between June 2th and July 14th, visit goodcook.com to virtually "build" your ideal Kitchen Drawer with up to 15 items from selected Good Cook products. Choose your favorite tools and gadgets to fill your drawer with, then enter for a chance to win them all!

Have no fear– even if you're kitchen-challenged and can’t decide what should be in your drawer, you may choose one of the drawers built by Kitchen Expert Blogger and submit it for a chance to win.

Each drawer entered has a chance to win an instant prize. You can submit a new drawer daily for a new chance to win. Here are some useful things to consider:

As an added bonus, during the week of June 2nd-7th, visit Good Cook's Facebook page to enter the first 5-day Kitchen Gadget Giveaway. 

The Green Refrigerator Machine by Ozonator

I've been known to let produce die a slow, lonely death in my refrigerator. I don't mean to. I'm not a cruel person but you know how it is: you see that head of kale at the grocery store and think you'll use it but life intervenes and the next thing you know, it's wilted and starting to goo in your crisper. Ready for the compost. It's embarrassing but I'll own up to it.

The Green Refrigerator Machine (or Ozonator) seeks to end this tragic waste by extending the life cycle of food in your fridge. It does this by harnessing the power of ozone as an antimicrobial agent, reducing pathogen levels in your refrigerator by neutralizing ethylene and ammonia gases released by stored food. The Ozonator can effectively improve shelf life of perishables, delaying molding and decay, and also dramatically reduce fridge odors.

To use the Green Refrigerator Machine, simply install four "D" batteries. That's it. Nothing to power up or fiddle with. You just make sure the green light turns on and place the unit on the top shelf of your refrigerator. For best results, you are supposed to put it in the fridge overnight so it has a few hours to run without the door being opened.

It's hard to say how well the Ozonator is working, since if it's doing it's job nothing will happen. I can, however, personally attest to its power to cut the smell of Thanksgiving leftovers in the fridge!

Do you have problems with leftovers or produce withering away in your fridge? What could the Ozonator save in your household?

Follow Ozonator on Twitter or Like The Green Refrigerator Machine on Facebook for more information.

In accordance to the FTC Guidelines and WOMMA Code of Ethics, I am disclosing that we received an Ozonator to facilitate this review as part of a campaign with MomSelect. If you click on the links and buy one, I'll receive a commission. As usual, all opinions are entirely my own.