It's happened to everyone: You want to open a bottle of wine, but you discover that it’s not chilled yet. Whether you want to enjoy a glass yourself or you’re entertaining, you'll want the bottle to be chilled properly so it tastes great and you can avoid the mess of condensation slipping off the bottle. Likewise, if your bottle is already chilled, a wine bucket will help keep it cold between pours.
From an iceless cooler to one specifically designed for sparkling wines, we researched the best wine buckets for your bar cart. Our top picks feature sturdy materials, stylish shapes, and practical designs.
Best Overall
Vacu Vin Rapid Ice Elegant Wine Cooler
Label doesn’t get wet
Chills wine in six minutes
Insert takes up little space in freezer
Needs time in freezer prior to use
Sometimes dealing with ice and water to chill your wine can get a bit messy. This iceless wine cooler solves that problem in six minutes! First, the cooling element sleeve must be placed in the freezer for six hours— though thankfully, the sleeve can lie flat, thus saving valuable space in your freezer. Once fully chilled, slide the sleeve into the sleek matte bottle cover. Within minutes, your wine is cold and ready to enjoy.
Reviewers loved how this cooler kept their wines refreshingly chill for hours without any condensation on the bottle. The cooling element is reusable, so be sure to put it back in the freezer so it’s ready to use for the next time.
Dimensions: 5.9 x 5.9 x 8.2 inches | Weight: 1.88 pounds | Material: Stainless steel
Best Value
Oggi Wine Cooler, Stainless Steel
Double-wall insulation
Simple design
Great for indoors or outdoors
Only fits one bottle at a time
Bottle must already be chilled
This no-frills wine chiller is great for those looking for a more affordable option or something that's versatile for both indoors and outdoors. It's made of food-grade stainless steel and features double-wall insulation that will keep your chilled bottles colder for longer. The brushed stainless steel adds a contemporary feel that's also practical (any accidental scratches or fingerprints are less likely to show up on the finish).
Although this budget-conscious wine chiller is just 5 inches in diameter, it's enough to hold a single bottle of still or sparkling wine with a little extra room left over for water and ice. However, the size also means that it's small enough to fit inside the freezer to make it extra cold before inserting your bottle.
Dimensions: 5 x 5 x 7.2 inches | Weight: 15.4 ounces | Material: Stainless steel
Best Glass
Crate & Barrel Perry Glass Wine Bucket
Handmade
Simple yet elegant design
Thick glass
Less durable than other materials
There are several reasons to choose a clear glass wine bucket. First, the classic design will never go out of style, especially if it's made of long-lasting thick glass like this one. Second, it allows you to see inside the bucket to know exactly what you're grabbing (or show off some fancy ice cubes at a party). As an added bonus, glass wine chillers are easy to find other uses for while they're not chilling wine—we've used them as a vase for flowers, for example.
This glass bucket is simple yet elegant and will look great in photos or on your party table. It has a generous size that can fit two bottles of wine or champagne inside, and it's hand-blown with a slightly rounded rim that gives it a modern feel.
Dimensions: 9.25 x 9.75 inches | Weight: Unspecified | Material: Glass
Best Large
Yeti Rambler Beverage Bucket
Durable
Great for the outdoors
Comes with lid
Heavy
From the same brand known for its durable reusable water bottles, this extra-large beverage bucket from Yeti features a rubber grip handle, non-slip bottom, and double-wall vacuum-insulated stainless steel. We love that it comes with a lid to increase the thermal retention or keep your ice protected from the elements to use for cocktails. Its 256-ounce capacity can easily hold three full bottles of wine or a six-pack of beers.
Keep it on the back patio for an impromptu picnic with friends, or take it along camping to pair with your favorite outdoor wine glasses. The cushioned, rotating handle makes it easy to move around, despite the hefty 6.7-pound weight. It comes in three core colors (Navy, White, and Stainless), but the company has also released limited edition shades for an extra pop of color.
Dimensions: 11.5 x 8.8 inches | Weight: 6.7 pounds | Material: Stainless steel
No ice needed
Can fit a Champagne bottle
Great price
Only for pre-chilled wines
This Wine Enthusiast bucket is another notable option to keep your wine chilled without the mess of melting ice or condensation. It is made for wine that you’ve pre-chilled in the fridge and want to keep cold while it sits on the table. Perfect for dinner parties or everyday use, the double-walled design of this iceless bucket keeps your bottle cold for up to three hours.
The transparent design of the shell also allows you to see which wine you're drinking without the hassle of taking it out. If you're seeking a simple and functional wine chiller that costs less than a good bottle of wine, this is the one for you.
Dimensions: 6 x 6 x 9 inches | Weight: 1.55 pounds | Material: Acrylic
Best Marble
Ludivine White Marble 6-Inch Wine Chiller
Elegant appearance
No ice required
Hand-carved and polished
Bucket is heavy
Only fits a standard size wine bottle
Marble not only looks elegant but is inherently cold as well (think how marble countertops and floors are always cool to the touch). A plus of this bucket is that there is no need to add ice. Instead, place an already chilled bottle of wine in, and it will keep at that same temperature for hours. This keeps things neat and mess-free. You could also keep the bucket in the freezer a couple of hours before needed in order to heighten its cooling properties even more.
We're fans of how the white marble design adds a glamorous touch to your table setting. Keep in mind this will only fit standard-size bottles of wine, not Champagne or bottles with wide bases.
Dimensions: 6 x 6 x 6 inches | Weight: 3.3 pounds | Material: Marble
Best Portable
CaddyO Bottle Chiller
Sturdy handle makes carrying easy
Can also carry water and soft drinks
Includes a corkscrew
Can be awkward to carry
When you need to bring cold wine to an event, reach for this portable wine tote. The CaddyO Bottle Chiller has a bucket to chill your wine, along with a stylish zippered bag to store it and take with you on the go. Remember to freeze the removable gel-ice core before use, then enjoy your satisfyingly chilled wine for up to nine hours.
This handy chiller also works for water and soft drinks. As a bonus, the carrying strap includes a pouch with a stainless steel wine opener and foil cutter. Think of this chiller tote as the perfect accessory for your camping trips, outdoor meals, picnics, and more.
Dimensions: 15 x 6 x 6 inches | Weight: 2.55 pounds | Material: Canvas
Best for Champagne
BergHOFF Zeno 9-Inch Stainless Steel Champagne Cooler
Handle for easy carrying
Wide base can fit sparkling wine bottles
Insulated stainless steel
Pricey
Round and wide like a disco ball, this silver bucket can fit a bottle of Champagne or sparkling wine, plus ice. Made from stainless steel, the bucket will chill your wine to the desired temperature and keep it cool long after you’ve popped the cork. The handle is ergonomically designed to ensure a sturdy grip for transport.
The sleek design of this chiller works indoors and outdoors, from your fanciest of dinner parties to an evening on the patio. We're fans of how the curved shape adds a modern and unique twist to the conventional cooler bucket aesthetic. Hand washing is recommended, and it can be easily wiped down with soap and water.
Dimensions: 9.84 x 9.05 x 9.05 inches | Weight: 2 pounds | Material: Stainless steel
Insulated
Also fits a Champagne bottle
Can add personalization
Hand-wash only
Designed to take a wine bottle from room temperature to chilled in mere minutes, this stainless steel chiller is a great addition to your classy dinners. The double-walled insulation guarantees it will keep your best-loved wines and Champagnes at an ideal temperature throughout the whole night.
The slanted design makes it easy to use, while a custom monogram can be etched on the front of the chiller for an added hint of elegance. Reviewers highlighted the unique and special quality the personalized engraving brings to this chiller. It would make for quite an impressive and thoughtful gift. Overall, this is a sturdy piece that will last as any wine lover's favorite table accessory.
Dimensions: 5 x 5 x 9.5 inches | Weight: 4.25 pounds | Material: Stainless steel
Best with Stand
Etta Avenue Ipella Aluminum Champagne Bucket
Available in silver or gold
Glossy finish
Antique style
Takes up a lot of space
A wine bucket with a stand will add a touch of class to any space. This one is made of sturdy aluminum that is easy to clean (just wipe down with a dry cloth) and comes in glossy silver or antique gold. Place it near your bar cart or move it next to the dining room table to keep your bottle handy but still out of the way.
The bucket is large enough to hold a couple of bottles and is welded onto the stand to keep it from tipping over and making a mess. It stands 38 inches tall, and the cylindrical, tapered body adds to the vintage feel of the piece.
Dimensions: 38 x 9 x 9 inches | Weight: 8 pounds | Material: Stainless steel
Final Verdict
If you need a bucket that chills the wine for you quickly and without an icy mess, the Vacu Vin Rapid Ice Elegant Wine Cooler is a great option. Just remember to keep the cooling element inside the freezer so it’s always ready for you.
What to Look for in a Wine Chiller Bucket
Use
When choosing a wine chiller bucket, consider exactly what will you be using the bucket for. Do you want a bucket that chills the wine for you or one that prolongs the temperature of an already chilled bottle? Some buckets have removable cooling elements that must be placed in the freezer before use, so they require some forethought. You have to plan accordingly in those cases. Or, if you're seeking something simple and straightforward, consider the traditional bucket you fill with ice and place your bottles in.
Material
Stainless steel is generally the popular option for wine chillers. These have long-lasting cooling properties that can maintain temperatures even on the hottest of days. Double-walled insulation is also a useful feature for conserving the coldness of your bottles. We like the use of marble as well for its natural cooling abilities. Plus, it adds a chic aesthetic to the bucket.
Style
Sarita Cheaves, wine media professional and author of the wine activity book "Vine Me Up," believes that wine chiller buckets are essential, especially during the summer months. She keeps three styles on hand to bring out for planned or impromptu gatherings: a large stainless steel chiller that can hold multiple bottles, a medium-sized one that keeps bottles cold, and a small iceless bucket that can fit in the freezer, ready at a moment’s notice to chill a bottle quickly with no mess.
FAQs
How do you use a wine chiller bucket?
The best way to use a wine chiller bucket is to fill it halfway with ice, add water to cover the ice, then insert your wine bottle. If you have an iceless bucket, you must chill your wine first, then place it in the bucket to keep it cool for the next few hours.
How long should you chill wine in an ice bucket?
White wines should chill for about 15 to 20 minutes. For red wines, you only need about 10 minutes.
Should all wine be chilled?
Most wines should be chilled. The room temperature preference for red wines is out of date, stemming from the bottles being kept in a cellar. White wines should always be chilled to bring out the aromas and flavors.
Why Trust The Spruce Eats?
Tanisha Townsend is a freelance writer for The Spruce Eats and the founder and Chief Wine Officer of Girl Meets Glass, a wine lifestyle and education agency. She lives in Paris, France, where she conducts wine and food pairing experiences, hosts a podcast, and always serves her guests' wine at the correct temperature from stylish wine chiller buckets.
Katherine Gallagher is an Associate Commerce Editor for The Spruce Eats. She holds a Level 2 Award in Wines from the Wine & Spirit Education Trust (WSET) and has more than a decade's worth of experience in the food and beverage industry.