Wine coolers are often sought out by wine enthusiasts – as well as those who frequently hold parties. The purpose is simple: to protect the wine against damaging environmental factors, to preserve the original flavor and taste, and to make sure that guests can enjoy the wine chilled. With recent advances in technology, more and more models have been available in the market, and the quality and price varies significantly.

To help you make decisions more easily, I have compiled the list below – where you will find 4 of the best 12-bottle wine coolers in terms of price and functionality. On top of that, I’ve also included a small buying guide and FAQ section to address some common issues that people often face upon buying and using one. Ready? Let’s go!

Advantages of 12 Bottle Wine Cooler

The main advantage of 12-bottle wine coolers is that they take up minimal space – while at the same time is capable of storing quite a few bottles. For those whose room do not have too much space left, or do not possess a large collection of wine, such coolers are the recommended choice.

Compared to larger models, these generally do not come with many luxurious functions, yet most of them still perform really well in terms of cooling and storage. Some even come with special smart tech functions. Depending on your personal taste, you may either go for a countertop model or a freestanding one. The former is a better choice for those who are short on space, while the latter is meant for those who need a little bit of atmosphere.

Reviews of Best 12 Bottle Wine Cooler

1. Ivation 12 Bottle Compressor Wine Cooler

Ivation wine fridge 12 bottle storage space is enough for those who live in compartments to celebrate – either alone with their friends – when they want. Built using advanced compressor cooling technologies, it is capable of perfectly retaining the wine’s temperature (within the range of 41-64 F) for long, no matter how hot/cold it is outside.

Operation is pretty simple – all you need to do is to choose the temperature you want, and then the cooler will do everything for you. Inside, you will find a built-in circulation fan – its function is to ensure complete air circulation, which is an essential storage condition for wine. And we have not yet mentioned the thermopane door – this, on the other hand, is meant to “repel” all potentially harmful UV lights and leave the wine unscathed.

For those who have not had any experience with using wine coolers, don’t worry – just take advantage of the LED lights and do everything according to the labels. And remember, there’s an LCD display to help you operate. Once you are done with it, simply remove the racks for easier cleanup.

Pros

• Digital touch controls.
• Provide the perfect storage condition.
• UV-resistant thermopane glass door.
• Detachable racks.
• LED lighting.

Cons

• Customers have reported that this cooler is not very durable and may break down after a few years.

2. NutriChef PKCWC12 Wine Cooler

NutriChef PKCWC12 wine cooler is created using state-of-the-art compressor cooling technology – and believe me, you will believe it as soon as you see how long it preserves your favorite bottle of red/white wine. Inside, there’s a built-in circulation fan and ventilation grill, which – combined together – ensure complete air circulation and prevent risk of the wine getting damaged. All in all, you can be rest assured that you beverages will always be in the finest condition.

The wine cooler is designed with an array of digital touch buttons, which are available in both C and F degrees. Hence, no matter what your preferred temperature measurement is, operation with this one will always be very simple. In terms of look, Nutrichef PKCWC12 is also one of the best 12-bottle wine coolers – its stylish design is sure to blend in with, as well as liven up, your whole room.

Pros

• Up-to-date compressor cooling technologies.
• Adjustable temperature setting.
• Soft-touch control.
• 1-year warranty.

Cons

• Not a good fit for larger bottles.
• The LED lights may malfunction sometimes.

3. Nutrichef PKCWC120 Refrigerator

Another wine cooler from Nutrichef – this one is sure to provide you with the perfect way to preserve your favorite red/white wine bottle. Like the two options listed above, this one is also built using advanced compressor technologies – hence, there’s little reason to worry about its quality and performance. But that’s not all: due to the adjustable temperature setting, it is possible to set temperature to the exact number that you want.

To make operation simpler for users, the manufacturer has designed an array of LED lights, circulation fan, and ventilation grill inside the refrigerator. As a sleek, compact and stylish product, Nutrichef PKCWC120 is capable of blending perfectly with any room. Even if something wrong happens to it, remember that you are backed up by a 1-year warranty policy!

Pros

• Contemporary design.
• Adjustable temperature control.
• Auto lock feature for more safety.
• Operate pretty quietly.

Cons

• Sometimes, the fridge may stop working without warning.

4. Antarctic Star 15″ Wine Cooler Beverage

Let’s move on to the last – but not least – pick in our best 12 bottle wine cooler list. This one from Antarctic Star is designed to provide the perfect storage condition for you wine, while at the same time not producing too much annoying noise. Hence, you are free to concentrate on your work/ rest while this is taking care of your favorite drinks.

No matter which type of wine you enjoy – red, white, rose, dessert, etc. – Antartic Star is capable of handling them all! Changing the temperature is easy, thanks to the digital control panel featured. As a 12 bottle dual zone wine cooler, this allows you to set two temperature settings separately for two zones. For example, the upper zone can be used for storing stuffs such as champagne, dry wine, etc., while the lower zone is for sweet, cognac, dry red wine, etc.

The front door is made from heavy-duty stainless steel; therefore, it will last for long and add a nice touch to your room. Inside, a system of blue LED lighting is featured for easier operation and navigation. There are a total of 6 racks available – so you may arrange your beverages in a much more organized manner. When no more operation is done within 3 minutes, the fridge will automatically lock itself to ensure safety for certain users (e.g: children).

Pros

• Dual zone design.
• Six beech wood racks.
• Quiet operation.
• Elegant look.
• Adjustable temperature.
• Auto lock.

Buying guide

Now that you’ve learned some top picks when it comes to the best 12 bottle wine cooler, let’s take a look at a few criteria to consider before buying

• Sunlight

UV rays have always been among the top threats to wine’s flavor and taste. For this reason, make sure that the wine cooler you are about to buy has tempered glass door – as well as tight seal to prevent the damaging effects of sunlight.

• Size

Depending on where you intend to place the wine cooler – as well as how much space you have, choose one with an appropriate sizing.

• Temperature setting

Overall, look for models that provide users with the ability to change temperature within the range of 41-64 F.

• Operation

Nobody wants to have a noisy wine cooler in their house, no matter how good it is. In addition, make sure that the model you choose is energy efficient and does not “burn” too much power.

FAQs

1. Do wine refrigerators have any advantage over fridges?

Fridges are generally too cold for wine storage – they are initially designed to store a wide variety of things. Hence, you’d better go for a specialized wine cooler to better preserve the wine’s taste.

2. Is humidity an important criterion in terms of wine storage?

Yes, of course! Overall, the ideal humidity level is from 50-70%.

Conclusion

If you identify yourself as a wine enthusiast, there’s little reason not to add a wine cooler to your collection. Unless you tend to hold big parties quite often, 12 bottles is often enough for you to sate your appetite. When it comes to choosing the best 12 bottle wine cooler, you may be perplexed by the number of models available. If you don’t know where to start, just stick to the 4 options listed above – and don’t forget to have a look at the tips above.

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Wines can at times be classified as fine or strong depending on their alcohol by volume contents. Lots of people prefer fine wines as they, in most cases, are perfect for special occasions. Of the most loved fine wines are Brut and Extra Dry.

The smooth wines are more or less like champagnes only that they are a little cheaper. Most of the brut and extra dry wines are found in the Northern Italy due to the climatic conditions, winds and mountain terrains, therein.

So, what are some of the things brut and extra dry wine share in common? And how different are they? Well, this is where the extra dry vs brut becomes an interesting read. In this article, we therefore seek to lay bare all the truths concerning the two.

Dry Wine

What does it take to call a wine dry? What are some of the things such wines got that others don’t? These are questions so many wine lovers ask, not you alone. Well, for wine to be classified as dry it has to have low residual sugars.

Dry wines are therefore not as sweet as you might want them to be. But how can wine have low sugars when the grapes from which it’s extracted are known to be of high sugar levels? Grapes have high sugar levels, yes, but some of these sugars are lost during the process of fermentation resulting into the dry wine.

So what does sugars got to do with wine’s dryness? The yeast used in the wine production often eats away some sugars. The remaining sugars is dependent on the duration of fermentation. If the fermentation hasn’t taken long, the resulting wine is sweeter and if it takes long dry wine is yielded.

However, there are instances where sugars can be added back to the wine to make it sweeter regardless of how long it has taken to ferment.

Even though there is a little bit of sweetness in dry wine, it can taste nice altogether; thanks to additional flavors that can be introduced during production.

How dry wines taste

As you are already aware, low sugar contents mean the wine won’t be sweeter. However, there are flavors that can be added to such wine till you might not even realize the dryness. The taste of the wine can in most cases be affected by the fruity flavors, aging process, alcohol levels as well as acidity.

Low acidity levels in a dry wine will make it sweeter. At the same time, aging in oaks will increase sweetness by adding flavors like caramel, vanilla and toasted oak. High alcohol by volume content also makes dry wine taste sweeter.

Carbonation of dry wine also helps in edging off dry notes by lifting flavors. Another way of making dry wine taste better is by adding ripe fruits with higher sugar contents such as tropical fruit into the wine.

Are dry wines popular?

Dry wines are popular and at the same time unpopular depending on which part of the world you come from. In the United States, they are quite unpopular. Many have tried to know why the unpopularity in the US and it can for sure be attributed to their sweeter cuisines.

Some of the finest wines are actually the very dry so regardless of where you are you will definitely come across a few of them.

What are some of the misunderstandings about dry wines?

Many tend to think that when wine is dry it leaves some dry sensation in the mouth. However, this is not the case as dry sensations are usually as a result of tannins. Red wines have higher tannins compared to white ones and might taste dry even if they have higher sugars.

Dry wines aren’t sweet though but are refreshing and crisp.

Brut

Brut is a more dryer wine compared to the extra dry wines. The sugar levels in brut are extremely low at about 1.5%. These are less sweet.

Compared to extra dry wine, brut is crispier and more of an aperitif drink.

Extra dry vs Brut: How to choose between the two

Deciding between brut and extra dry is usually challenging to some people. Not any more though as this section recommends some of the best occasions to enjoy which of the two. These are some of the factors to consider when choosing between the two:

Type of sparkling required

If you need something sparkling and fruity, an extra dry wine will be the most ideal for you.

• Occasion

For festive occasions, extra dry wines are the best. A more formal event will definitely call for a brut. Nonetheless, it will be much okay to ask your guests in advance if they are well-conversant with dry wines before you purchase some for the occasion.

• Flavor notes

Whichever of the two with fruity flavor notes will be a good one to settle on.

• Budget

Brut wines are more expensive compared to extra dry wines. Depending on the amount of money at your disposal, you can decide on whichever of the two to choose from.

Examples of Brut wines to go for

1. Taittinger Brut La Francaise- Fruity with lots of richness.
2. Schramsberg Brut Rose 2016- Delicate with subtle flavors with hints of fresh rapberries and ginger.

Examples of Extra Dry wines

1. La Marca Luminore Prosecco Superiore- Pairs do well with so many other foodstuffs and is great for special occasions.
2. Freixenet Cordon Negro Brut Extra Dry- Stylish with hints of sweetness so ideal for drinking alongside contemporary cuisine.

Wrapping Up

Differentiating extra dry wine and brut hasn’t been so easy for many wine lovers. The difference just comes about from their sugar levels which again isn’t much apart. As you have seen though, they can be used in different occasions and with different food pairings.

Having read the extra dry vs brut above, which of the two can you consider your favorite? Why would you choose it over the other? Feel free to share your thoughts with us.

Barefoot Cabernet Sauvignon is one of the fruitiest and savory wine you will ever come across. Brewed from the famous Cabernet Sauvignon grapes, this wine has gained a lot of ground globally. And to imagine that the grapes came into existence accidentally, even makes the wine more enjoyable.

Barefoot Cabernet Sauvignon reviews is indeed a worthy piece to go through for any wine enthusiast. This wine is pocket-friendly and is brewed to quality. Spare a few of your minutes and learn more about Cabernet Sauvignon.

What’s Cabernet Sauvignon?

The alcohol content of Cabernet Sauvignon is as high as 13% to 15%. The full body grapes are usually red in color. However sweet the grapes are they have flavors which are vanilla, tobacco and green paper among others.

You should also note that the Cabernet Sauvignon usually takes flavor from the environment it has been grown. This explains the difference that you might have noticed on grapes grown in two different climatic conditions. Some grapes might end up being smokey while others could taste fruity.

The grapes are also known for their high acidity and tannin levels. For beginners in wine drinking, the dry-mouth feel and the relatively high alcohol and acidity contents might not be the right place to start from. But enjoying the wine with some food could strike a great balance for the dry-mouth feel.

But what is Barefoot?

Barefoot has for a very long time been known for their communal responsibility of bringing wine lovers together. They produce some of the best Cabernet Sauvignon flavors you will ever come across. In fact, different Cabernet Sauvignon flavors from Barefoot have won different accolades globally.

From Barefoot’s wine collection, there is always wine for everyone. They have been in this field long enough and have maintained consistency in their flavors, one bottle to the other. This has definitely given them an edge over their competitors.

Apart from being a family-owned vineyard, they are also the biggest Cabernet Sauvignon wine manufacturer. They produce white, pink, red wines as well as spritzers and champagnes. These are well-distributed globally and are therefore easily accessible besides being very affordable.

They are cheaper but don’t have vintages left on the bottles as is usually the case with cheap wines. This can be attributed to the sourcing of grapes from different areas and production volumes.

Barefoot’s quality assurance team is well-advanced to keep the flavor of your favorite beverage the same even in 10 years’ time. There is always every taste for every member of your gang.  

What are some of Barefoot Cabernet Sauvignon attributes?

As a wine enthusiast it will be a good thing to know some of the features that make these wines stand out among the rest. Well, let’s have a look at some of these.

• Taste

The wine usually has an oaky finish accompanied with buttery but currant flavor. You might as well get some taste of raspberry when you drink Barefoot Cabernet Sauvignon. The battery taste isn’t much and shouldn’t scare you in any way.

• Aroma

The smell of this wine is earthy and black cherry. Other smells you might pick up when taking the wine is oak, tobacco, blackberry and currant. However, with an alcohol by volume content of 13.5% you will be surprised of not picking any alcohol smell. The alcohol smell is very easy on your nose.

• Appearance

Barefoot Cabernet Sauvignon has a red that is kind of opaque as well. It is not as dark as the other varieties of the Cabernet Sauvignon. When being poured into a glass, there is some sort of effervescence that’s not sparkling being noticed. This however disappears very fast.

The formation of the wine’s legs is so quick, evenly spaced and so thick; an indication that the alcohol content in the wine is very high.

• Mouthfeel

The mouthfeel is often heavy and dry as a result of the high tannins in the Cabernet Sauvignon. Unlike in other wines, tannins in Cabernet Sauvignon are highly subtle.

Are there alternatives to Barefoot Cabernet Sauvignon?

Would you like to explore some of the wines under the Cabernet Sauvignon label? Were you not satisfied with the Barefoot Cabernet Sauvignon and you want to get how the other alternatives taste like? Well, here are some of your to-go to wines.

• Hogue Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon

Blended with Merlot, this wine is softer. It has a fruity flavor which you might like if you are a fruity person. This silky smooth wine is well-balanced and creamy as well.

• Substance Cabernet Sauvignon

With more flavors of chocolate and tobacco, this is another great option worth consideration. It’s velvety, smooth and heavier. It’s richer in flavor compared to the Barefoot Cabernet Sauvignon.

This wine is a more expensive though.

• Forest Glen Cabernet Sauvignon

This is also affordable and widely available. It also feels velvety and heavier in the mouth. It’s also fruity with a great structure.

• Merlot

Merlot is smoother, fruity and delicate. It’s easier to drink as it is neither dry nor heavier. At the same time, it’s dry and sweet. The rich flavors and silky tannins make it another worthy alternative.

• Pinot Noir

Pinot Noir is less intimidating, punchy and bold. The problem only lies on their grapes that aren’t as easy to grow as the Cabernet Sauvignon.

See more: What is the difference between Merlot and Pinot Noir?

Which foods are best enjoyed with Barefoot Cabernet Sauvignon?

Barefoot Cabernet Sauvignon is best enjoyed with cheeses and red meats. It can also pair so well with seafood, spaghetti and red sauce due to its lightness. However, you can pair it with any food you’d love to so long as it makes your meals enjoyable.

Conclusion

Barefoot Cabernet Sauvignon reviews is a must read for any wine lover. The wine is smoother and easier to drink for beginners as well. Besides, its affordable and readily available. It is one wine you can enjoy on those special occasions with your family and friends.

Have you tried it? What was your experience like? Did you like it or would you instead consider some of the alternatives above? Share your thoughts with us if you don’t mind.