Wine Bottle Holders

From LoveToKnow Wine

Wine bottle holders come in a variety of styles, at various price points.

So Many to Choose From!

I went shopping the other day at a wonderful store in the San Francisco Bay Area called Ikea. It’s a small little store, you may have heard of it (ahem). Anyway, while walking through the store I saw a section chock full of wine bottle holders. I’m talking tons of different styles, shapes, sizes, capacity-you name it. It seems that you can’t go to most home furnishing stores anymore and not see these things. In the past, wine bottle holders were either small, non-decorative or just plain and not as common as they are now. One thing is for sure: they are the popular thing to have now. I’ve seen them in all weird shapes and sizes from boring wood racks to pretty clever wire/stainless steel styles that hang from the ceiling -- and anything in between. There are so many different styles, brands, sizes, costs, etc., that I would recommend shopping online and at stores for one that fits you and your needs. When purchasing wine bottle holders, there are a few things to consider before you whip out the plastic to buy yourself one of your very own. So let’s take a look.

Not Wine Storage

First of all, I need to make one thing very clear. Buying yourself a wine bottle holder is NOT the same as getting a wine storage unit. Not even close (unless you live somewhere where your house is constantly 55-60 degrees in which please don’t have me over for dinner). Wine storage is meant to do just that: store your wine safely and protect your bottles from the outside world so-to-speak. Wine bottle holders are usually meant to be decorative or utilitarian and since it’s out in your house, the bottles you put on it are subject to the same temperature changes your house or apartment will go through during the day. And that’s not always as detrimental a thing as many people think.

Different Uses

I have a wine bottle holder and I use it. Mine holds about a case of wine (12 bottles) and sits on the counter in the kitchen on the opposite side of the stove. I also own a wine storage unit, too. So why have both, you ask? Simple: sometimes I want quick and easy access to my wine. Now that isn’t to say that you should be keeping your Dom Perignon or aged Burgundies in this thing, but not all the wine I drink is of the “coveted” status. I can’t afford to drink like that and would take away the fun on the few occasions I do drink that kind of wine. Anyway, I use the rack for wines that I don’t mind being left out and drink as a “weeknight” wine where I may open a bottle of zinfandel or a cab and cork it until the next evening. Sometimes I keep wine on the rack that I want to cook with in dishes that require wine of some sort. During the winter months I feel pretty confident about putting bottles in the holder because I know that the temperature will be fairly consistent and not too hot or too cold (I live in Northern California). In the summer that would be a whole other story (my house can get up to 80+ degrees inside…not exactly the best conditions for wine storage).

In the Kitchen

Which leads us to the next question: Where should you put one of these things once you buy it. Well, assuming you buy one small enough to actually fit on a countertop somewhere, the kitchen is always a great place because it’s central to the whole eating thing, you know…food. I would caution you however on a couple of points. 1) Do NOT put it on top of your refrigerator or stove or up high on cabinets. Heat rises and even though the room may feel comfortable, up a few more feet could easily be a bit too warm to safely put your wine. 2) Do NOT put it next to your oven or stove. Not only can your wine literally get cooked here because of the intense heat off the oven or stove, but when you cook things it can splatter and ruin the labels from your bottle (if you ever wanted to save one for whatever reason).

Where to Put Wine Bottle Holders

OK, so if you don’t want it in the kitchen, where else could you put it? Anywhere, really, but just remember about wines' worst enemies: heat and light. We’ve already mentioned heat and how that can obviously ruin your wine. Light is another thing that ruins your wine too! If you let your wine sit in an area that gets direct sunlight, it can fade your wine and get heat damaged and molecularly altered. So put it somewhere that doesn’t get any of those nasty things. So obviously that leaves in front of a window or across from a window out. Another thing to keep in mind is traffic flow throughout your living space. My friend has a larger wine holder that sits on the floor and someone walked by and kicked it by accident, tumbling wines to their demise onto the floor. So keep it out of the way of people, light, and heat and you’re good to go.

Another Fun Use

Last but not least, you don’t have to put full bottles of wine on a wine rack. Some people like to put wines they have opened and consumed with friends or wines that have special meanings to them on the rack as well. It can almost become like an art piece in your home and definitely a point of conversation for inquisitive guests that will visit. Just an idea.

Have Fun With It!

Most of all, have fun with it. Wine bottle holders are an inexpensive and creative way to house your wines. Be sure before you buy one that you know what size and bottle capacity you’re looking for, and then head out exploring. Happy hunting!


 


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