If you are looking for an entry-level basic storage unit for your wines, a Danby wine cooler might just be what you’re looking for.

Danby offers several models ranging from small 17-bottle coolers to large 65-bottle units. While each model comes close to the stated capacity, in reality given the slight variation in bottle sizes, the actual capacity is usually a little less than is stated by the manufacturer. Because of this, if you have specific need storage for a certain number of wine bottle, I recommend stepping up to the next largest cooler.

The Danby coolers tend to be very basic models. Some of the features that are included in competitors’ coolers are noticeably missing in Danby’s. For example, the lack of an internal fan causes a temperature variance of several degrees from top to bottom. If you have moderate turn-over of your wines, this isn’t an issue, but if you intend on keeping your wines for many years, it is something to consider before making a purchase decision.

Also, most of the Danby models are lacking sound insulation around the compressor. This means that compared to other higher-end (expensive) coolers, these Danby wine coolers tend to be on the loud side. They would be fine in a garage or even perhaps in a kitchen, but if you have a quiet home, they might be a little noisy. Because of this, they are also not the best choice if you need to place your wine cooler in a bedroom.

Most of the Danby models have fixed shelving. This is good for stability of the wine bottles – they will not be disturbed as much as with sliding shelves. However, this comes at a cost. Larger wine bottle can be somewhat more difficult to place and remove, especially as the cooler begins to near full capacity. I’ve seen comments where some people will place their wine bottles in an alternating backwards/forwards fashion, but this negates the benefit of the angled cork-down shelving.

Nearly all of the Danby coolers are black and most come with what they call “platinum” trim. On most models this trim is plastic. It seems durable and looks ok, it’s just not a high-end metal trimmed unit.

The glass in the doors tends to be heavy and insulates well. The doors usually have a good functional seal and the units overall use very little energy. Of course, much of this efficiency comes from the door staying closed most of the time. Some of the Danby models include LED lighting, which could be left on for extended periods of time. Their lower-end models include incandescent lighting, which should ideally only be used to find a specific bottle as it will increase the interior temperature of the cooler.

Overall, the Danby Silhoutte models are priced right, but as in most things, you get what you pay for. These are very basic models that perform their function adequately without a lot of frills. If you’re a serious wine collector, I recommend looking at some of the higher-end brands for more consistent results. Otherwise, for a value-unit, a Danby wine cooler will be serviceable for everyday wine storage.