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Vinotemp Wine Coolers: Brand Review and Current Alternatives
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
Vinotemp has made wine storage since 1985, but it is hard to buy one on Amazon right now. Of 12 Vinotemp listings we checked on October 5, 2026, 8 were unavailable, and the 4 in stock had between 0 and 11 owner ratings. We do not currently review a Vinotemp model. If you want a Vinotemp-style dual zone tower, the Allavino VSWR172-2SR20 is the closest match we rate, at 4.5 out of 5. For a 24-inch under-counter space, look at the Kalamera 24 Inch 46-Bottle; for a 15-inch gap, the ICEVIVAL 15 Inch Dual Zone 28 Bottle.
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. The facts about Vinotemp come from vinotemp.com and the Amazon listings checked on October 5, 2026. The alternatives were matched on width, zones and capacity using the manufacturers’ specifications, those same Amazon checks and owner reports.
About Vinotemp
Vinotemp was founded in Los Angeles in 1985 by Francis Ravel and is still family run; his daughter is now the chief executive. The company moved to Henderson, Nevada in 2019. Besides Vinotemp wine coolers and cabinets, it sells Wine-Mate cellar cooling systems, Element wine coolers and Apex wine racks. Vinotemp says it has sold over one million wine cellars since 1985.
Vinotemp sells its wine coolers on its own website, vinotemp.com, where the Connoisseur 168 was in stock when we checked. On Amazon the picture is thin: most Vinotemp listings there were unavailable.
Vinotemp on Amazon Right Now
| What We Found | Status on October 5, 2026 |
|---|---|
| Vinotemp listings checked | 12 |
| Unavailable | 8, including the Connoisseur 168 (EL-168WCST) |
| 28-bottle dual zone, 14.75 inches wide | In stock from a third-party seller, 1 owner rating |
| EL-300DSWL, 173 bottles, 29.5 inches wide | In stock from a third-party seller, no owner ratings |
| 7-bottle cooler | In stock, sold by Amazon, 2.7 stars from 11 ratings |
| One further listing | In stock, 1 star from 1 rating |
With so few owner ratings, none of the in-stock Vinotemp listings gives you much to judge by, so we do not link to them. The models below are in stock on Amazon and each has a full review here.
Vinotemp Connoisseur 168 vs Allavino VSWR172-2SR20
The Connoisseur 168 is Vinotemp’s dual zone tower and is still sold on vinotemp.com. The Allavino VSWR172-2SR20 is the nearest model we review.
| Specification | Vinotemp Connoisseur 168 | Allavino VSWR172-2SR20 |
|---|---|---|
| Capacity | 119 to 215 bottles, depending on bottle shape | 172 bottles |
| Zones | Upper 40 to 56 F, lower 54 to 65 F | Upper 40 to 55 F, lower 55 to 65 F, at least 4 F apart |
| Size (W x D x H) | 24 x 27 x 73.6 inches | 23.5 x 27 x 71.5 inches |
| Venting | Front exhaust | Front venting, built-in or freestanding |
| Room temperature | 41 to 100 F | Up to 90 F |
| Warranty | 12 months parts and labor, 5 years compressor parts | 1 year parts and labor, compressor parts through year 5 |
| On Amazon | Unavailable | In stock |
On paper the two are close. The Connoisseur 168 handles a warmer room, and the Allavino is the one you can order on Amazon with an owner record behind it. Read our full VSWR172-2SR20 review for the details, or our full Allavino vs Vinotemp comparison for both brands model by model.
Disclosure The buttons below are affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, Wine Cellar Diva earns from qualifying purchases.
The Shortlist: What to Buy Instead
Allavino VSWR172-2SR20: Best Alternative to a Vinotemp Tower
A 172-bottle tower with an upper zone of 40 to 55 F and a lower zone of 55 to 65 F, fan-forced circulation and front venting for a 24-inch opening. The Amazon link goes to the left-hinge version, the one available there. We rate it 4.5 out of 5. Read the review.
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Kalamera 24 Inch 46-Bottle Dual Zone: Best for Under a Counter
Forty-six bottles in two zones, 40 to 50 F and 50 to 66 F, in a 33-inch tall cabinet with front venting and zero rear clearance. Buy it if your wine cooler has to fit a standard 24-inch opening under a kitchen counter. We rate it 4.3 out of 5. Read the review.
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ICEVIVAL 15 Inch Dual Zone 28 Bottle: Best 15-Inch Alternative
The same 28 bottles in two zones as Vinotemp’s 15-inch listing, with an upper zone of 40 to 55 F and a lower zone of 55 to 65 F, listed for built-in or freestanding use and a listed 165 kWh a year. We rate it 4.2 out of 5. Read the review.
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Wine Enthusiast 24-Bottle: Another Long-Standing Wine Brand
Twenty-four bottles plus an upright holder for up to four open bottles, compressor cooling from 41 to 64 F and a key lock, in a freestanding cabinet. Wine Enthusiast states one year of parts and labor and three years on the sealed system. We rate it 4.0 out of 5. Read the review.
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All four were in stock on Amazon when we checked on October 5, 2026.
Vinotemp Buying Mistakes to Avoid
Buying a listing with no owner record
Two of the in-stock Vinotemp listings are sold by a third-party seller with one rating or none. Before you buy one, check who handles returns and who honors the warranty.
Assuming a tower fits a tall cabinet opening
The Connoisseur 168 is 73.6 inches tall and the Allavino VSWR172-2SR20 is 71.5 inches. Measure the height of the opening, not just the width.
Building in a model that vents at the back
Only a front-venting wine cooler belongs inside cabinetry. The Connoisseur 168, the Allavino VSWR172-2SR20 and the Kalamera 46-bottle all vent at the front. The Wine Enthusiast 24-bottle is freestanding only.
The Technical Truth: How Vinotemp Wine Coolers Work
Zone Ranges Compared
Vinotemp’s Connoisseur 168 lets the zones overlap slightly: the upper zone reaches 56 F and the lower zone starts at 54 F. The Allavino VSWR172-2SR20 splits at 55 F and asks for at least 4 F between the zones. Both cover the usual range of whites in the upper zone and reds in the lower one.
How Much Electricity Do These Use?
The Amazon listing for the Connoisseur 168 gives 460 kWh a year. Allavino’s Energy Guide label for the VSWR172-2 gives 556 kWh, the Kalamera 46-bottle lists 333 kWh and the ICEVIVAL 15 Inch lists 165 kWh. At an example rate of 15 cents per kWh, that is about 69, 83, 50 and 25 dollars a year. The energy-efficient wine fridge guide compares listed yearly use across models.
How to Care for Vinotemp Wine Coolers
Vinotemp’s own troubleshooting guide lists the usual reasons a wine cooler runs warm: a hot room, blocked airflow at the condenser, a dirty condenser, an iced-over evaporator, a door gasket that is not sealing, an overloaded cabinet or wrong installation, and low voltage. A failed fan, a refrigerant leak or a bad control board needs a service call. Keep the vents clear, vacuum the condenser a few times a year and check the gasket seals all the way around.
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Your Questions, Answered
Is Vinotemp a good wine fridge?
Vinotemp is an established wine storage company with a long history, and its Connoisseur 168 has solid published specifications. The problem is the owner record: most Vinotemp listings on Amazon were unavailable on October 5, 2026, the in-stock ones had 11 ratings or fewer, and vinotemp.com holds 1.1 out of 5 on Trustpilot from 512 reviews, only 4 of them from the past year. Without a stronger record, we point buyers to models with one.
Who makes Vinotemp wine coolers?
Vinotemp itself, a family-run company founded in Los Angeles in 1985 and now based in Henderson, Nevada. The same company owns Wine-Mate, Element and Apex.
Where is Vinotemp made?
Vinotemp’s about page says its units are designed and assembled at its Henderson, Nevada facility. It does not say where the parts, such as the compressors, are made.
Which is better, Vinotemp or Wine Enthusiast?
We review one Wine Enthusiast model, the 24-bottle compressor cooler, and rate it 4.0 out of 5; it was in stock on Amazon on October 5, 2026 with a stated three-year sealed system warranty. We do not currently review a Vinotemp model, and most Vinotemp listings on Amazon were unavailable. On what you can buy and judge today, Wine Enthusiast is the easier choice. See our Wine Enthusiast brand guide.
Why is my Vinotemp wine cooler not cooling down?
Vinotemp’s troubleshooting guide puts the common causes first: a room that is too hot, blocked or dirty condenser airflow, ice on the evaporator, a door that is not sealing, and low voltage. Clear the vents, clean the condenser, defrost if needed and check the gasket. If it still runs warm, Vinotemp lists the fan, a refrigerant leak and the control board as service jobs.
Disclosure The links below are affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, Wine Cellar Diva earns from qualifying purchases.
The Last Word: What to Buy Instead of Vinotemp
Our Recommendation
Vinotemp has the history, but not the Amazon availability or owner record to recommend it right now. For a full-height dual zone tower like the Connoisseur 168, buy the Allavino VSWR172-2SR20. For an under-counter space, the Kalamera 24 Inch 46-Bottle; for a 15-inch gap, the ICEVIVAL 15 Inch Dual Zone.
Related Guides
Vinotemp company and Connoisseur 168 details are from vinotemp.com; availability and ratings were checked on Amazon and Trustpilot on October 5, 2026. Replacement picks were matched on width, zones and capacity using manufacturer specifications and our published reviews, not laboratory testing.