NutriChef PKDSWC18 18 Bottle Dual Zone Thermoelectric Wine Cooler Discontinued – Best Alternatives
You can no longer buy the NutriChef PKDSWC18 new, and nothing on our current list copies it exactly, but three coolers come close in different ways.
The NutriChef PKDSWC18 is no longer listed on Amazon; a search by the model number turns up no listing, and NutriChef has not given a reason. None of our current picks is an 18 bottle dual zone thermoelectric. The nearest match is the Yeego 12 Inch 17 Bottle Dual Zone, which keeps two zones at almost the same capacity but cools with a compressor.
On This Page
Best Replacement Options
Yeego 12 Inch 17 Bottle Dual Zone – Best Overall Replacement
One bottle short of the PKDSWC18, the Yeego holds 17 Bordeaux bottles in two zones set anywhere from 40-65 F, and it remembers its settings after a power cut. At 11.6 inches wide it is narrower than the old NutriChef, though at 34 inches it is noticeably taller. Compressor cooling and a front vent let it sit freestanding, under a counter or built in, and owners rate it 4.5 of 5 from 301 ratings. The hinge is fixed on the right, so check your door swing; our Yeego 17 bottle review has the full picture.
Koolatron WC20 Urban Series 20 Bottle – Best Value Alternative
If you liked the PKDSWC18 because it was thermoelectric and fitted in a short space, the WC20 is the closest in spirit: dual-module thermoelectric cooling, 20 standard bottles and a cabinet only 21.25 inches tall that can sit on a counter. The honest catch is that it is single zone, one range of 46-66 F, so you give up separate red and white settings. It adds a key lock, which the PKDSWC18 lacked, and it carries the most owner feedback of the three at 4.4 of 5 from 933 ratings. See our Koolatron WC20 review.
NutriChef 27 Bottle Dual Zone (PKCWCDS275.5) – Step Up in Capacity
Staying with NutriChef, the PKCWCDS275.5 takes 27 standard bottles, nine more than the PKDSWC18, with two zones across 41-64 F and an ultra-quiet compressor. It is a freestanding floor tower, 11.61 inches wide and 43.31 inches tall, so it needs far more height than the PKDSWC18. It has only 18 Amazon ratings so far and needs manual defrosting. Read our NutriChef 27 bottle dual zone review for more.
Why the NutriChef PKDSWC18 Was Discontinued
The plain fact is that the PKDSWC18 is no longer listed on Amazon. A search by model number returns no PKDSWC18 listing at all. NutriChef has not said why it went, so I can only tell you what the unit was and how the category has moved since.
What It Did Well
- A true two-compartment layout in a small cabinet: our original review recorded 6 bottles in the upper section and 12 in the lower.
- A compact footprint, recorded as 13.6 inches wide, 20 inches deep and 25.5 inches tall.
- Grey tinted dual-pane glass in a stainless steel door, with the handle already fitted.
Where It Fell Short
- Our original review noted that the lower section suited reds only, which limited white wine space to the six upper spots.
- No lock, and the lower racks came out as a single unit, so removing one shelf meant removing all of them.
- Some owners reported it was a little noisy and that it only took standard sized bottles.
Market Context
None of our current picks is a small dual zone thermoelectric, and none is an 18 bottle dual zone thermoelectric. At this size, buyers now choose between a compressor dual zone like the Yeego or a thermoelectric that is single zone like the Koolatron. That is the real trade you face in replacing this unit.
How the Alternatives Compare
| Factor | NutriChef PKDSWC18 | Yeego 17 Bottle Dual Zone | Koolatron WC20 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Capacity | 18 standard bottles | 17 Bordeaux bottles | 20 standard bottles |
| Cooling | Thermoelectric | Compressor | Thermoelectric (dual module) |
| Zones | Dual (6 upper, 12 lower) | Dual | Single |
| Temperature range | 46-64 F overall; lower 54-64 F | 40-65 F | 46-66 F |
| Dimensions | 13.6 W by 20 D by 25.5 H in | 11.6 W by 22.4 D by 34 H in | 20.25 W by 15.75 D by 21.25 H in |
| Availability | No longer listed | Current | Current |
The PKDSWC18 figures are as recorded in our original review. The comparison matrix lines up more models if none of these suits your space.
Buying Used – A Reality Check
Before You Buy a Used NutriChef PKDSWC18
- The parts that wear on a thermoelectric cooler are the cooling module, the small fans that move heat off it, and the door gasket. For a model that is off sale, sourcing any of them is uncertain.
- A second-hand unit comes with no warranty, and you cannot tell how many hot summers it has run through.
- For a small, older thermoelectric, a used purchase only makes sense if it costs very little and you can see it cool down in a normal room first.
For Current Owners
Keeping Yours Running
A thermoelectric unit lives or dies by how well it can dump heat, so keep the back clear, keep it out of direct sun and away from the oven, and vacuum the rear grille now and then. Store whites in the upper section and reds below, matching the ranges recorded for each section. If the display reads well above your setting for days in a normal room, or the fan becomes loud or stops, the module or fan is failing and replacement is the sensible step.
Compare Before You Choose
Line up these options by capacity, cooling type, zones and budget in the wine cooler comparison matrix.
Questions Readers Ask
Can I still buy the NutriChef PKDSWC18?
No, not new. There is no PKDSWC18 listing on Amazon, so any unit on offer is used or leftover stock.
What replaced the NutriChef PKDSWC18?
NutriChef has not named a replacement. The nearest current option is the Yeego 12 Inch 17 Bottle Dual Zone; if you want to stay with NutriChef, the 27 bottle PKCWCDS275.5 is a larger dual zone model.
Are parts still available?
Wine Cellar Diva does not have a parts source for the PKDSWC18. Your best route is to contact NutriChef directly with the model and serial number.
Should I buy a used one?
Usually not. Without a warranty or reliable parts, a used small thermoelectric is only worth it at a very low cost and after you have seen it hold temperature.
Is there still an 18 bottle dual zone thermoelectric wine cooler?
Not among our current picks. At this size, dual zone models have moved to compressor cooling, and thermoelectric models like the Koolatron WC20 are single zone.
What to Buy Instead
The closest current equivalent to the NutriChef PKDSWC18 is the Yeego 12 Inch 17 Bottle Dual Zone, because it keeps two separate zones at nearly the same bottle count in a narrower cabinet. It is taller and uses a compressor, so it is not a like-for-like swap.
- Best match: Yeego 12 Inch 17 Bottle Dual Zone
- Also worth a look: Koolatron WC20 Urban Series 20 Bottle
Related Guides
References & Sources
- UC Davis Department of Viticulture and Enology – Research on storage conditions and how they influence wine over time.
- Wine Institute – Industry background on keeping wine in good condition at home.
- ASHRAE – Refrigeration fundamentals behind compressor and thermoelectric cooling.
- WSET – Guidance on suitable serving temperatures for different wine styles.
This page replaces an earlier review of a product that is no longer on sale. The assessment of the original unit is kept for the record and is based on manufacturer specifications and published owner feedback; the replacements are current listings compared on capacity, cooling type and footprint.
About Ms. DuPont
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.
