The Best Wine Chillers and Buckets, According to Sommeliers and Hosts

This stylish bag comes recommended by Chloe Grigri, owner of the Good King Tavern in Philadelphia, who uses it for BYOB outings. It fits on small tables and is easily transportable. “You see these everywhere in France because they aren’t too cumbersome and they don’t sweat too badly,” she says. Grigri advises adding ice to the bag to keep the wine extra cold, but warns, “The wine should be gone before the ice is.”

Matt Whitney, wine director at Sunny’s in Miami, has a specific method when it comes to using this wine bag. “Put the bottle in first, then a bunch of ice and a bit of water,” he says. “Otherwise, you get stuck with a bottle sitting on top of hard ice that gets unstable and won’t stay cold.” He likes this cooling system for informal events: “We have beautiful wine buckets for the dining room at Sunny’s, but when I’m hanging out with friends, this option is simple, portable, and easy to clean.”

If you find yourself an impromptu host and need wine chilled quickly, this Vacu Vin sleeve chills a bottle in 15 minutes, no messy ice bath needed. Just keep the sleeve in the freezer ahead of time for at least six hours, then take it out and put the wine bottle in it. CEO of The Hue Society and frequent traveling sommelier Tahiirah Habibi says the wine chiller sleeve has revolutionized her on-the-go wine experience: “Its portability, freezing speed, and elegant bottle look changed the game.” Habibi was originally drawn to its minimalist design and appreciates how well it adapted to her work style.

This CB2 Levanto marble wine chiller is a dramatic display piece. Nicole Cole, CEO and principal designer at Vestige Home, constantly seeks out unique accessories and natural materials and recommends this one because “the footed base on this particular chiller is a real standout feature. I love that it adds height to your tablescape and a more casual, earthy element through the perfectly imperfect stone,” Cole says.

D’Onna Stubblefield also loves this chiller, which fits in just as well at Bloomsday in Philadelphia, where she is a beverage director, as in her home. “I’ve used my chiller for other items like fresh-cut flowers or to store kitchen utensils,” she says. “Even when I’m not chilling my wine, it still makes for a very beautiful addition to my kitchen.”

Tablecraft’s heavy-duty marble wine chiller eliminates the need for ice, chills very quickly, and stays cold for a long time. General manager Lawrence Gardner uses this at The Prime Rib in Philadelphia to give guests an elegant fine-dining experience. “Guests want to feel like they are dining in luxury, so marble is an important material to have throughout the restaurant, countertops, tables, bar tops, and, in this case, our wine cooler,” says Gardner.

Jordanne Pascual-Cancel, wine and service manager at New York restaurant Principe, likes this Wine Enthusiast bucket because it’s durable and easy to clean. It also comes with a table attachment so that the wine bucket stays secure, doesn’t clutter coveted table space, and prevents condensation from leaking onto the table. She recommends fully submerging a wine bottle in a bucket of ice and cold water after opening it. “The added water cools the wine more evenly than ice alone and prevents the bottle from tipping over,” says Pascual-Cancel.

Cookbook author and restaurant consultant Nicole A. Taylor uses this plastic and vinyl yellow bucket for small gatherings because “there’s no need to run back and forth to the mini-fridge or open the sliding door again.” It keeps her booze chilled and has a secure top. It also has a metal knob and handle, double-wall insulation, and a sweat-free surface, and it keeps up to three quarts of ice cold for three to five hours. “Its pop of color and design fit perfectly with the whimsy in my vacation house in Athens, Georgia. I have a similar one in my Bed-Stuy apartment too,” Taylor says.

This is a sleek, high-quality option made from a hand-poured and shatterproof resin material that’s meant to look like alabaster. It has cutout handles and fits up to eight bottles. Mural City Cellars co-owner Francesca Galarus uses the lightweight tub to serve hundreds of guests a night, changing bottles out frequently but only changing the ice once per shift. “It’s a beautiful pearly white with subtle swirls and holds lots of wine,” she says. She puts these beverage tubs out for private-event tastings and at farmers’ markets.

This Yeti wine chiller isn’t just practical for outdoor enthusiasts; wine experts also like its extra-durable features. The stainless-steel double-wall insulation keeps the wine at a consistent temperature, the sides are nearly indestructible, and the non-slip silicone means you can place this wine chiller on a variety of surfaces (rocks, sand, dirt, grass, etc.) without it easily tipping over. “It holds temperature better than any other on the market that I have seen,” says Terence Lewis, beverage director at Safran Turney Hospitality. “This will hold a slightly chilled red as opposed to a cooler with ice that will actively chill the red further.”

Yeti products are known for their durability, which is why they have dedicated fans like Liz Einhorn, founder and CEO of Experience Threee, who’s been a Yeti customer for over a decade. This wine chiller has become her go-to for BYOB dining in Philadelphia — she even chooses wines based on how well they fit in this chiller. It doesn’t take up too much room, is sturdy enough to stand on its own, and doesn’t leak. “I also love to give it as a gift. You can customize the exterior, and it’s something people will actually use and appreciate,” says Einhorn.

This stainless-steel Society6 wine chiller is Citrine Tablescapes founder and creative director Alex Cahanap’s favorite because it serves a dual purpose as wine chiller and décor at her BYOB dinner parties and events. She likes the unique wraparound designs by independent artists and the chiller’s ability to keep wine cool for hours (she puts the wine chiller in the freezer for about 30 minutes before use). “They are the epitome of marrying practicality with a splash of artistic flair,” she says.

This Champagne cooler from Couzon offers a sleeker high-class tableside option for frequent entertainers and makes a great special-occasion gift. It has plenty of space for your widest Champagne bottles, white wine bottles, and ice. Rebecca Hopkins, a wine marketer and founder of A Balanced Glass, first saw this cooler at a house party where magnums of wine were poured. Hopkins says the 18/10 stainless-steel material and double-wall insulation are evidence of high-quality construction and provide for excellent temperature retention and less condensation at the table. And for what residual moisture there is, she says, “Place a service napkin or a felt coaster under the bucket to catch condensation and protect the table surface.”