Antarctic Star 26 Bottle Wine Cooler Discontinued – Best Alternatives
The Antarctic Star 26 Bottle Wine Cooler and Beverage Cabinet is currently unavailable on Amazon with no restock date, and this page tells you what to buy instead.
Updated:
Antarctic Star Wine Coolers: Brand Review and Model Guide
Disclosure This page contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, Wine Cellar Diva earns from qualifying purchases, at no extra cost to you.
The Essentials
Antarctic Star makes small compressor wine and beverage coolers in the budget price tier, sold mainly through its Amazon store. Both models we review are single zone, freestanding units that hold either wine or cans. The Antarctic Star 16 Bottle / 68 Can is the one we rate highest. The Antarctic Star 12 Bottle / 48 Can is the smaller countertop choice, with a very large owner record. The limitation buyers find too late is manual defrost: both models need to be switched off and emptied now and then to clear the ice.
How These Recommendations Are Made
I have spent over ten years testing and reviewing wine coolers, wine cellar equipment, and wine-related gear, and tracking how it actually holds up over time. No unit on this page was bench-tested. These recommendations are built from the manufacturer’s specifications, the Amazon listings’ own stated figures, owner reports and comparison against units in the same size class. Where a model has no published figure, the page says so.
Antarctic Star Wine Cooler Reviews: Every Model We Cover
These are the Antarctic Star coolers we have reviewed that you can buy today. Each link goes to the full review, with specifications, pros and cons, and alternatives.
| Model | Capacity | Zones | Installation | Our Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Antarctic Star 16 Bottle / 68 Can JC-48UEL-F | 16 bottles or 68 cans | Single | Freestanding | 4.1/5 |
| Antarctic Star 12 Bottle / 48 Can JC-36UEL-F | 12 bottles or 48 cans | Single | Freestanding, countertop | 3.8/5 |
Both were in stock on Amazon when we checked on October 5, 2026.
Rating Context: Antarctic Star
Antarctic Star ratings here are scored against other budget compressor coolers of the same size, not against built-in or premium units. A model loses points for manual defrost, a single zone, thin listing detail or a noticeable share of one-star owner ratings. It gains points for compressor cooling at a budget price and the flexibility to hold wine or cans.
Disclosure The buttons below are affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, Wine Cellar Diva earns from qualifying purchases.
The Shortlist
Antarctic Star 16 Bottle / 68 Can: Best Overall
Sixteen Bordeaux bottles or 68 cans on two removable shelves, compressor cooling from 40 to 61 F and a double-pane UV-coated glass door. Buy it for an apartment or home bar where one small fridge covers wine one month and drinks the next. Read the review.
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Antarctic Star 12 Bottle / 48 Can: Best for a Countertop
Twelve bottles or 48 cans in a cabinet 18.5 inches tall, with compressor cooling from 40 to 61 F, a key lock and a reversible door. It has thousands of owner ratings, along with a noticeable one-star share. Read the review.
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Antarctic Star Models That Are No Longer Available
We reviewed these Antarctic Star models in the past. Each page keeps the record of what the model offered and lists current alternatives.
| Model | Size | Status on October 5, 2026 | Our Page |
|---|---|---|---|
| Antarctic Star 24 Bottle | 24 bottles, single zone | No longer offered for sale on Amazon | Review and alternatives |
| Antarctic Star 26 Bottle | 26 bottles or about 100 cans | Currently unavailable, no restock date | Review and alternatives |
Antarctic Star Buying Mistakes to Avoid
Building in a freestanding cooler
Neither model we review is rated for built-in use. The 16 Bottle / 68 Can needs two inches of clearance on all sides. Enclosed in cabinetry, a freestanding cooler runs hot and cycles constantly.
Expecting two zones
Both models are single zone, 40 to 61 F. Reds and whites share one temperature. If you want them apart, look at a dual zone cooler.
Forgetting manual defrost
Both models use manual defrost. Plan to switch the cooler off, empty it and let the ice melt from time to time, which is a chore automatic-defrost models avoid.
Counting bottles and cans at once
The capacity is wine or cans, not both at full count. Sixteen bottles or 68 cans means one or the other, or a mix of fewer of each.
The Technical Truth: How Antarctic Star Wine Coolers Work
How Antarctic Star’s Models Differ
The two models we review share the same 40 to 61 F range, compressor cooling, a single zone and manual defrost. The 12 Bottle / 48 Can (JC-36UEL-F) is a countertop unit 16.93 inches wide and 18.5 inches tall, with a key lock. The 16 Bottle / 68 Can (JC-48UEL-F) is the same width and 22.24 inches tall, with two removable shelves and a seven-position knob control.
Where Antarctic Star Excels
Compressor cooling at a budget price, in cabinets small enough for a counter or a bar. Both models can hold wine or cans, and the 12 Bottle / 48 Can listing carries thousands of owner ratings.
Where It Falls Short
Manual defrost and a single zone on both models, thin listing detail on controls and shelving, and no published noise figure. The 12 Bottle / 48 Can listing states a one-year manufacturer warranty; the 16 Bottle / 68 Can listing does not state one.
How Much Electricity Does an Antarctic Star Wine Cooler Use?
The 12 Bottle / 48 Can listing gives 358 kWh a year. At an example rate of 15 cents per kWh, that is about 54 dollars a year. The 16 Bottle / 68 Can listing gives no yearly figure. Room temperature and how often the door is opened will change the real number. The energy-efficient wine fridge guide compares listed yearly use across brands.
How to Care for Antarctic Star Wine Coolers
Leave the listed clearance around the cabinet and keep it out of direct sun and hot rooms. Defrost it when ice builds up on the back wall: switch it off, move the bottles or cans to another fridge, let the ice melt and wipe the cabinet dry. Check that the door seals all the way around, and use the front leveling legs on the 12 Bottle / 48 Can so the door closes properly.
Wine Cellar Space Calculator
Work out the capacity your space will actually take before you buy.
Wine Cooler Comparison Matrix
Put shortlisted models side by side on the specifications that matter.
Your Questions, Answered
Is Antarctic Star a good wine cooler?
For a small budget cooler, yes. We rate the 16 Bottle / 68 Can at 4.1 out of 5 and the 12 Bottle / 48 Can at 3.8. Both use compressor cooling, which holds temperature better in a warm room than thermoelectric units at this price. Expect one zone, manual defrost and no built-in option.
Who makes Antarctic Star refrigerators?
Antarctic Star sells its coolers mainly through its own Amazon store. Its listings name Antarctic Star as the manufacturer but do not give a company address or the country where the coolers are built.
Is Antarctic Star a good brand?
It is a value brand, not a premium one. Owner ratings on its Amazon listings average around 4.2 out of 5. Buy it for a small, low-cost compressor cooler, and expect the trade-offs that come with the price: one zone, manual defrost and thin published detail.
Can Antarctic Star wine coolers be built in?
Not the models we review. Both are freestanding, and the 16 Bottle / 68 Can needs two inches of clearance on all sides. For an under-counter space, see our built-in wine cooler guide.
Disclosure The links below are affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, Wine Cellar Diva earns from qualifying purchases.
The Last Word: Which Antarctic Star Should You Buy?
Our Recommendation
Choose Antarctic Star for a small, budget compressor cooler that can hold wine or drinks. The 16 Bottle / 68 Can is the model to buy. Choose the 12 Bottle / 48 Can if it has to sit on a counter. If you need two zones or a built-in cooler, look at another brand.
Related Guides
Latest Antarctic Star Reviews
Antarctic Star 16 Bottle / 68 Can Wine and Beverage Cooler Review
The 16 Bottle / 68 Can is the Antarctic Star I would point most people toward if they want wine storage on weekdays and a drinks fridge on weekends, as long as they can live with one temperature zone.
Antarctic Star 24 Bottle Wine Cooler Discontinued – Best Alternatives
The Antarctic Star 24 bottle wine cooler is no longer on sale, and two current 24-bottle compressor units match it closely.
Antarctic Star 12 Bottle 48 Can Wine Cooler Review
This is a small, simple compressor fridge that does two jobs reasonably well, as long as you accept one zone, occasional defrosting and a listing that leaves several questions unanswered.
Antarctic Star SINAS46 17 Bottle Wine Cooler Discontinued – Best Alternatives
The Antarctic Star SINAS46 has dropped off Amazon, but the brand still sells a compressor cooler that is very close to it, and that is where I would start.