The Allavino VSWR172-2SR20 is a 172-bottle dual zone wine refrigerator from the FlexCount II Series, built to slide into a standard 24-inch cabinet opening or stand on its own. It suits collectors with roughly 150 to 200 bottles who keep reds and whites together and want them at different temperatures. The trade-off is size and money: it stands 71.5 inches tall, weighs 304 pounds, and sits in the premium price tier.
Allavino VSWR172-2SR20 172-Bottle Dual Zone Wine Refrigerator Review
The Allavino VSWR172-2SR20 is the 172-bottle unit I would point a serious collector toward when they need built-in dual zone storage and have the budget for it; smaller collections will do better with something cheaper.
Is the Allavino VSWR172-2SR20 Worth It for You?
Recommended for: Collectors with 150 to 200 bottles of mixed reds and whites, kitchen or bar remodels with a 24-inch built-in opening, and anyone whose collection includes Champagne, Pinot and Bordeaux shapes that fight with ordinary shelving. Capacity is 172 bottles across 14 shelves.
Look elsewhere if: Your collection is under 50 bottles, you cannot give it 72 inches of vertical clearance, or a two-person delivery and install is not realistic in your home. See the large wine cellar guide for other options at this capacity.
What Works
- Two independent zones: upper 41-61 F for whites and sparkling, lower 45-64 F for reds
- FlexCount II shelving holds Champagne, Pinot and Bordeaux bottles without rearranging shelves
- Built-in ready: front venting and a 23.5-inch width fit a standard 24-inch cabinet opening
- Fourteen metal shelves with wood slats on ball-bearing tracks and vibration-dampening mounts
- Compressor cooling with automatic defrost and fan-forced air circulation
- Double-pane tinted glass door with UV protection, lock, and stainless steel frame
- Five-year compressor warranty on top of the first-year parts and labor coverage
What Doesn’t
- Premium-tier price puts it well above most dual zone units
- 304 pounds: this is a two-person job and cabinetry needs to carry the weight
- Compressor coverage in years two through five is parts only, no labor
- Lower zone must be set 4-12 F warmer than the upper zone; you cannot run both at the same temperature
- 71.5-inch height rules out under-counter placement entirely
How the Allavino VSWR172-2SR20 Compares
| Factor | Allavino VSWR172-2SR20 | Allavino VSWR56-2SR20 |
|---|---|---|
| Capacity | 172 bottles | 56 bottles |
| Cooling | Compressor (Tru-Vino) | Compressor (Tru-Vino) |
| Temperature range | 41-64 F | 41-64 F |
| Zones | Dual | Dual |
The 56-bottle FlexCount II sibling is the most useful comparison because it shares the cooling system, the shelving and the built-in design, and only gives up capacity. It fits an 18-inch opening rather than a 24-inch one. Beyond the Allavino range, the NewAir AWR-290DB (29 bottles, 40-65 F, freestanding) and the Ivation 24-bottle dual zone are the units most readers weigh against it, and both offer a fraction of the capacity. The comparison matrix lets you line them up side by side.
Who It’s For
Collections in the 150 to 200 bottle range
Good fit
- 172 slots is a practical size for an enthusiast who has outgrown a 50-bottle unit but has no plan to build a cellar room. Twelve shelves hold 11 bottles each and two hold 20, which is where the odd-shaped bottles go.
- Because the zones are independent, you can hold Champagne and whites at 45 F upstairs and age reds at 55-60 F downstairs in the same cabinet.
- Mixed collections with Champagne, Pinot Noir and Bordeaux shapes are the case FlexCount II was designed for. Ordinary shelving usually loses 10 to 20 percent of its rated capacity to those bottles; here the manufacturer’s count assumes them.
Built-in kitchen and bar installations
Worth knowing
- The unit measures 23.5 inches wide, 71.5 inches tall and 27 inches deep. The manufacturer calls for a minimum 24 x 72 x 27 inch opening for built-in use. Front venting means no rear clearance, but the cabinet base must carry 304 pounds plus the wine.
- Freestanding placement works too; allow about 3 inches of side clearance. Maximum ambient temperature is 90 F, so an uninsulated garage in summer is a poor location.
- Power is 115V/60Hz at 1.1 amps running. A dedicated circuit is sensible for a built-in install. See the built-in wine cellar guide for the planning checklist.
Where it struggles
Think twice
- The zones are linked: the lower zone must sit 4-12 F warmer than the upper. If you want all 172 bottles at one storage temperature, a large single zone unit is cheaper and simpler.
- Delivery weight is 344 pounds. Stairs, tight hallways and a solo move are real obstacles, and the price does not include installation.
- The compressor warranty is parts only after year one. Budget for a service call if anything fails in years two through five.
A Closer Alternative Worth Considering
Allavino VSWR56-2SR20 FlexCount II
If you like this design but do not have 150 bottles to fill it, the 56-bottle FlexCount II gives you the same Tru-Vino compressor system, the same dual zone control and the same shelving in an 18-inch built-in footprint. For a smaller dual zone unit with no built-in requirement, the Antarctic Star and NewAir ranges cover 24 to 50 bottles; the dual zone guide compares them.
Specifications
| Specification | Detail |
|---|---|
| Capacity | 172 bottles (12 shelves x 11, 2 shelves x 20) |
| Dimensions | 23.5″ W x 27.0″ D x 71.5″ H |
| Weight | 304.2 lbs (344 lbs shipping) |
| Cooling type | Compressor, Tru-Vino temperature control, automatic defrost, fan-forced circulation |
| Temperature range | Upper zone 41-61 F; lower zone 45-64 F (lower must be 4-12 F warmer) |
| Shelving | 14 metal shelves with wood slats, ball-bearing glide tracks, vibration-dampening mounts |
| Door | Double-pane tinted UV-protective glass, stainless frame, right hinge, lock, curved handle |
| Lighting | Blue LED interior |
| Installation | Built-in (24″ opening, front venting) or freestanding |
| Power | 115V/60Hz, 1.1 amps running; max ambient 90 F |
| Noise level | Not published by the manufacturer; compressor unit, expect audible cycling in a quiet room |
| Warranty | 1 year parts and labor; compressor parts only through year 5 |
Questions Readers Ask
Is 172 bottles enough for a serious wine collector?
For most, yes. It covers aging wines, entertaining stock and daily drinkers without reaching the scale where a dedicated cellar room makes more sense. A real mixed collection usually settles in the 150 to 170 range. If you are already past 200 bottles, a second unit or a cellar room is the better path.
Can the Allavino VSWR172-2SR20 be built in?
Yes. It is designed for a standard 24-inch cabinet opening, with front venting so it needs no rear clearance. The manufacturer specifies a minimum 24 x 72 x 27 inch cutout. It can also stand alone with roughly 3 inches of side clearance. Given the 304-pound weight, have two people on hand and confirm the cabinet floor is braced before delivery.
Why does the lower zone have to be warmer than the upper zone?
In a stacked dual zone cabinet the compressor cools the upper compartment directly and the lower compartment runs off controlled heat transfer, so the lower zone can only be warmer. Allavino specifies a 4-12 F gap. Set the upper zone to 45 F for whites and Champagne and the lower zone anywhere from 49 to 57 F; set the upper to 50 F and the lower lands between 54 and 62 F. This is common to stacked dual zone units, not a fault specific to this model.
What is Tru-Vino technology?
Tru-Vino is Allavino’s name for its temperature control system, which the manufacturer describes as holding near-zero fluctuation around the set point through compressor cycling and insulation design. The practical claim is tighter swings than the 3-5 F many wine refrigerators drift through during a cooling cycle. On this model it applies to both zones independently.
How does FlexCount II differ from Allavino’s Cascina series?
FlexCount II units such as the VSWR172-2SR20 are built-in capable, use Tru-Vino control and have shelving sized for Champagne, Pinot and Bordeaux bottles without rearranging. Cascina units such as the KWR47D-2SR are freestanding only, use standard shelving, and run a slightly wider 41-68 F range. FlexCount II is the step up; the built-in design and shelving are the difference. The Allavino brand guide walks through both lines.
How much does the Allavino VSWR172-2SR20 cost?
It sits in the premium tier, and pricing varies by retailer and season. Check the current price on the listing before deciding.
One Zone or Two?
The wine temperature zone matcher looks at the reds, whites, rosé and sparkling you keep and tells you whether a second zone is worth paying for.
Final Verdict
Allavino VSWR172-2SR20 is a smart buy for collectors with 150 to 200 mixed bottles who want a built-in dual zone unit, because it combines real capacity, shelving that copes with odd bottle shapes and cabinet-ready venting in one piece. The honest bottom line is that the price and the 304-pound weight only make sense once your collection has grown into it.
- Best for: Serious mixed collections, 24-inch built-in installs, home bars and dining rooms with room for a 71.5-inch cabinet
- Not ideal for: Collections under 50 bottles, single-temperature storage, under-counter spaces, buyers who need labor covered past year one
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Related Wine Storage Resources
Brand Guides
Category Guides
Capacity Planning
References & Sources
- UC Davis Department of Viticulture and Enology – Research on storage temperature and temperature stability in wine aging, which underpins the case for tight control across both zones.
- ASHRAE – Refrigeration and cooling performance standards relevant to compressor cycling, ambient limits and built-in ventilation.
- U.S. Department of Energy – Energy Saver – Guidance on appliance energy use and placement that informs the ambient temperature and clearance notes above.
- WSET – Serving temperature guidance for sparkling, white and red wines used in the zone settings suggested here.
This assessment is based on manufacturer specifications, published owner feedback, and direct comparison against other units in this class. It is updated when the product or its pricing changes.