This NewAir wine refrigerator works well to protect my wine through temperature-controlled storage, and it looks good while it's doing it. The stainless steel frame, racks, and the long stainless handle create an elegant, contemporary look that still allows the wine to be the focal point through the glass door. I was most worried about the noise that this would generate, but those fears proved groundless -- more on that later. It measures 32" H (33" at top of hinge) x 17" W x 18" D (not including the handle.)
The wine cooler is easy to set up. All you have to do is remove the packing material, screw on the handle, and plug it in. You have to wait 30 minutes before doing anything with it, and in that time, the interior temperature went from 72 degrees F to 54 degrees F -- pretty efficient cooling! I like that the LED digital controls allow me to specify a specific temperature so that it can be geared toward either red or white wine storage and within my own specified range. The display will be able to tell me if the refrigerator is failing because the temperature will go up (or down, I suppose.) The condenser kicks on when the interior temperature rises two degrees, which means that it's not always running. At first, when I saw that the temperature was two degrees too high, I was afraid that the cooler wasn't working, but then I realized that the condenser needs a trigger point. Obviously, you don't want to position this cooler in an extraordinarily hot location or in direct sunlight because it WILL be working all the time in that case. Normal room temperature is fine. You also don't want to put this somewhere where the outside temperature is going to be lower than what you want inside.
This does fit 27 bottles, although to do so, you have to put bottles in the bottom bin and orient them sideways. It's a tight fit --26 bottles is a more reasonable estimate of the size. The shelves are also closely spaced, making it difficult to insert the wider bottles of burgundies, some pinot noirs, and some whites. I was able to fit all those types inside, but the bottles scraped against the racks as I did so. There's a wider spacing between the flat bottom rack (just above the bin) and the last scalloped rack, and that's where those wider bottles fit best. I placed a freestanding thermometer inside to check the accuracy of the LED display, and the two were identical.
Several times in the past I had almost pulled the trigger on buying a wine cooler, but each time I had read reviews about how noisy different models were. It didn't matter what brand; there were always people complaining about how loud it was. As someone who appreciates silence, this worried me. I am pleased to report that my fears were unfounded with this NewAir model. Yes, it makes noise -- it's a refrigerator after all -- but the sound is limited to a low hum, very light knocking, and the occasional gurgle. All those noises are muted. Yeah, I wouldn't want to sleep next to it; however, it would not bother me to have this in my kitchen or other high traffic area. Right now, mine is sitting next to me in my office as it awaits the completion of my wine cellar, and it doesn't bother me.
I haven't had this long enough to comment on longevity, but everything about it seems well made. The back is completely open at the bottom fourth, and the three-fourths above it is covered by some sort of black, plastic-covered foam board, so you won't want to position it where people can see the back. Because it requires at least two-inches of clearance at the back for ventilation, any installation will have to take into that into account. There are other wine cooler specifically designed to be set into cabinets; this is more of a freestanding model.
Eventually, I'm going to buy a second unit so that I can have one for reds and one for whites. I love both the look and the way it operates.
UPDATE: After three months, this wine fridge is still performing well. I'm about to buy a second unit for red wine. I *did* notice that power outages require me to reset the temperature control.
-- Debbie Lee Wesselmann
| Brand Name | NewAir |
|---|---|
| Model Info | AWC-270E |
| Item Weight | 55 pounds |
| Product Dimensions | 17 x 18.5 x 33.3 inches |
| Country of Origin | China |
| Item model number | AWC-270E |
| Is Discontinued By Manufacturer | No |
| Capacity | 3 Cubic Feet |
| Annual Energy Consumption | 260 Kilowatt Hours Per Year |
| Installation Type | Freestanding |
| Part Number | AWC-270E |
| Form Factor | Stand Alone |
| Special Features | Digital Temperature Control |
| Color | Stainless Steel |
| Voltage | 120 |
| Wattage | 85.00 |
| Connector Type | Water Line |
| Defrost | Automatic |
| Door Hinges | Right |
| Shelf Type | Wire |
| Shelves | 6 |
| Material Type | Stainless-Steel |
| Included Components | Wine Cooler |
| Batteries Included? | No |
| Batteries Required? | No |
| Item Weight | 55 Pounds |
| Number Of Doors | 1 |
