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Wine Rack Article
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Choosing the Best Wine Rack
from: Maxx Guide to WineAn appreciation of wine continues to grow throughout the U.S. with many wine shops popping up throughout the country. Unlike Europeans who are used to drinking wine on a daily basis, many people in North America who haven't grown up with wine as a part of their routine are now attracted to both sampling and collecting.
Wine tasting parties, along with special wine pairing events have become common at restaurants as well as in households. Thus, an increase in wine consumption has created an increase in the need for home storage. Proper storage is critical since wines can improve with age, but improper storage could ruin the wine.
A good solutions is a freestanding, temperature controlled wine rack, but these are much more costly than a basic wooden or metal wine rack. On the other hand, it isn't necessary to spend thousands of dollars in order to enjoy your wine at home. If you have a dark, cool and slightly humid area in your house, you can purchase a simple rack that can maintain your wine for several years. This location should be in the 50-60 degree range, with consistant 60-70% humidity.
Wine Rack Kits: You can reduce the cost of storage by building your own wine rack, and an easy way to do this is to get a wine rack kit. Since you have much to consider when designing a wine rack, getting started with a kit will keep your wine in the rack where it belongs rather than having it crash to the floor because you miscalculated during the building process.
You can purchase commercially available wooden racks with snap-together assembly, which means you only need a hammer to put it together. These kits are inexpensive, less than $35, and are usually made of redwood or pine.
When building your own wine rack you must consider its strength. A full wine bottle weighs about 3 pounds, so the weight can add up quickly as you add more bottles. Thus the rack as well as the floor must be able to handle the weight.
If you choose a wooden kit, the wood must be dried properly with no more than 14% moisture. Also, the cross sections must be no less than 3/8" -- but 1/2" will be much better. Finally, your wine bottles must be stored horizontally so the wine remains in contact with the cork. If the cork is dry, the wine has been damaged.
Wine Rack Capacity: So, how much wine do think you need? Having 1000 bottles of wine readily available may sound exhilarating, but most of us don't have that much space or a budget to support this. If you want enough capacity for everyday usage, a 15-30 capacity rack will meet most people's needs. This adss up to 2 bottles of sparkling wine, 3 bottles of red (merlot and cabernet), 3 bottles of white (chardonnay, grigio, pinot or white zinfandel), and a bottle each of red and white cooking wine with space left over for a few special bottles you'll be allowing to age for a few years. A 30-bottle capacity rack will give you enough space for wine-tasting, an extended get together, or for someone who wants to have a different wine every day.
Styles of Wine Racks -- Location is Key: You can purchase wine racks in many different styles -- freestanding, counter top, or wall mounted. When choosing the style that works best for your situation, determine how much space you have, and whether you want your wine rack to be visible, or just a large, hidden rack that doesn't need to match your home's decor.
The location is the most important consideration. A rack that isn't freestanding must be protected from vibrations, so don't put it near the sink where the disposal or dishwaser will rattle it. Don't place a wine rack on top of your refrigerator since this locations gets quite warm. In addition, don't place a rack near a window, since the temperature varies too much and Ultra Violet light will damage the wine.
Some people who have the budget will have a custom wine rack created that fits their available space perfectly. This option is going to be more expensive, but it's still less than a freestanding unit and you can have it built to fit the decor of its surrounding area.
Wine Rack Material: Wine racks can be made from wood, metal or glass. Choosing mahogany over steel will depend on several factors, such as the cost, weight and appearance.
Wooden Wine Racks: Wooden wine racks are the most common since they're generally easier to assemble and relatively light in weight. Woods used include pine, spruce, oak, cedar, redwood and sometimes mahogany. Mahogany is a high quality wood used for moderate as well as more expensive racks.
Metal Wine Racks: The popularity of metal wine racks is on the rise, especially steel racks. These racks are very strong and last longer than wooden racks and require less care. Steel racks can be painted to match your decor and be formed into more shapes while maintaining their strength.
Choosing a wine rack for your needs shouldn't be too difficult. A solid rack should be considered an investment that maintains all the wines you want to try out over the coming years.
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