Wine Rack Guide

Styles

• There are a variety of wine rack styles on the market that hold wine bottles in different ways. A common style of rack is a freestanding unit with multiple shelves, each of which has several indentations along its length to cradle bottles on their sides. Some racks feature cubby-style shelves, with one bottle to each cubby hole, or a large cubby with an "X"-shaped interior to hold multiple bottles, known as a wine cube. Some racks are designed to hang from the ceiling or under cabinets, which is convenient in rooms with limited floor space. Riddling racks are boards with angled holes bored in them that hold bottles by the neck and can be leaned or mounted against a wall. Another style of rack holds bottles on their sides end-to-end so that the labels face outward. Racks can also be large stackable or built-in units that fill an entire cellar. Some wine racks combine other functions in a single piece of furniture, such as a hanging rack that holds bottles as well as glasses, or a cabinet with wine storage in just one of multiple compartments.

Materials

• Most wine racks are made of either wood or metal. Some feature a combination of materials, which might include glass, wire or wicker. Metal and glass racks have a more modern appeal that works well in a contemporary room. Wood is more traditional and complements a classic style in addition to adding a warming effect to the room.

Sizes

• Wine racks vary vastly in size. They can hold anywhere from a single bottle to hundreds of bottles. Consider your wine storage needs in deciding which type of rack is right for you. If you typically keep a few bottles in the house and you want them handy for use anytime, you probably want something small and attractive to keep on the floor or counter top in your kitchen. If you are a collector of wines and you have a lot of bottles that you plan to store long term, look for large racks or built-in solutions that work in your cellar in addition to something smaller to keep a few bottles handy.

Specialty Racks

• Beyond the standard types of wine racks, there are a multitude of original, artistic wine racks that use creative design. These decorative racks typically hold a small number of bottles, or just one, and can be found in retail stores, online and from individual artists. If you are looking for an unusual piece, you might have to spend some time shopping around until you find the one you want.