Whynter BWR-18SD 18 Bottle Built-In Wine Refrigerator Review

Whynter BWR-18SD 18 Bottle Built-In Wine Refrigerator

The Whynter BWR-18SD 18 Bottle Built-In Wine Refrigerator is a step-up in class from your regular compact wine cooler. Its premium features such as its powerful compressor and distinctive stainless steel styling allows you to cool a wide variety of wines in true style. For many, the main stand out appeal of this wine refrigerator is its front ventilation which gives you the flexibility of fitting the unit flush against your cabinet or using it freestanding.

In this review we’ll analyze the feature set of this model and reveal whether it’s as magnificent as the hype would suggest.

Read Consumer Reviews on the Whynter BWR-18SD

Features of the Whynter BWR-18SD 18 Bottle Built-In Wine Refrigerator

• Capacity: 19 bottles
• Tempered double pane gray-smoked glass provides UV protection
• Digital LED temperature control
• Soft interior LED light
• Powerful compressor cooling system
• 6 removable flat slide out chrome shelves
• Auto defrost
• Security lock and key
• Warranty: 1-year limited

Stylish and Versatile

Whynter have done a great job on the styling with this model. It features a black cabinet and stainless steel door with a robust L-bar handle. The door has tempered glass which is double-paned and grey-smoked to provide you a superior level of UV protection so your wines won’t get affected by harmful UV rays.

As this wine refrigerator has been designed with front ventilation you can store it flush against your kitchen cabinet to maximize the use of space. Alternatively, it can be used as a free-standing appliance if you prefer.

Compressor Based

The compressor cooling system gives you a wide temperature range between 40°F - 65°F. The internal fan provides good air circulation so the temperature is even throughout every area of the unit. Compressor cooling systems are slightly louder than thermoelectric-based systems, but they provide the added advantage of keeping the temperature more stable and can generally cool to a lower temperature.

Interior

Upon opening the door you have access to the digital control panel at the top of the unit. This allows you to power the appliance, control the interior LED lighting and set the internal temperature setting using UP and DOWN buttons which increase or decrease the temperature in 1°F/°C increments when pressed. The temperature is displayed on a blue LED readout on the panel.

Six removable chrome shelves are located inside the unit which can slide out with ease. The bottom shelve has the highest capacity and can store up to 4 bottles. The upper shelves have a capacity of 3 bottles although if the optional humidifying tray is installed on the top shelf then its capacity is reduced to 2 bottles.

Humidity Control

Humidity is an important factor in wine storage to ensure that your wine doesn't dry out. A small humidity control box is included which can optionally be placed on the top shelf inside the chiller.

Security

The option to keep your wines under lock and key is a feature we really like. If you have children then this feature will be particularly very useful for keeping your bottles secure and out of reach.

Pros and Cons of the Whynter BWR-18SD 18 Bottle Built-In Wine Refrigerator

Pros

The Whynter BWR-18SD has elegant styling and boasts a small footprint for its 19 bottle maximum capacity. Build quality is second to none. The front ventilation is highly beneficial if you want the space efficiency of under-counter storage.

The compressor system allows the cooler to reach temperatures as low as 40°F so you can store wines which require lower temperatures to reach their full taste.

Cons

As this uses a compressor-based cooling system, it’s noisier than a thermoelectric wine cooler.

Final Thoughts

The cost of the Whynter BWR-18SD Wine Refrigerator would suggest its real quality and it proves to be just that. Its narrow compact size, front ventilation and high cooling efficiency really make this a great choice for those with limited space that need to store a good variety of wines, but don’t keep a large collection.