Wood wine racks: Practical storage solutions for your wines

If you are a wine connoisseur or just a simple person with an eye and taste for good wine the one essential item that you require other than the wine bottle is a wine rack. It is one thing to possess a good collection of the finest wines but storing them and preserving them is of paramount importance. Whether it is a wine manufacturer or an ordinary wine collector a wine rack forms an integral part of both.

Generally a wine bottle is stored on its side with a downward slant towards its neck. Most wood wine racks are designed to suit this position of storage as this ensures that wine is constantly in contact with the bottle cork. This is to prevent the cork from drying and subsequently spoiling the wine. Wine racks are made out of various materials but traditionally wood has always been the preferred choice though you do get small and decorative wine racks made out of various metals which can be wall mounted in your home. The size and capacity of wood wine racks can vary according to your requirements. For example a professional wine manufacturer might have a wine rack that can hold thousands of bottles whereas for a home a wine rack might be considerably smaller. Most wine racks are designed to hold the standard 750 ml bottle. But in situations where you want to store wine bottles of different shapes and sizes a customized wine rack may have to be purchased. Today you can browse through wine racks of different shapes and sizes at online avenues like vitalwares.ca.

What are the general characteristics of Wood Wine Racks?

Most wine racks you find across the world are made out of wood. One reason is because wood has been used to make wine racks since the beginning of wine storage. Also a wooden wine rack is elegant and different types of wood known for their strength and durability are easily available. There are many advantages of a wooden wine rack and they clearly outnumber the disadvantages even though environmentalists and certain individuals might disagree. Some of the pros and cons of using wood wine racks are explained below

• They are easy to assemble and use compared to a metal wine rack.

• They are extremely durable and generally very light weight without comprising on strength.

• Wood is more resistant to variations in temperature a crucial aspect for any wine rack.

• They can easily blend in with the surrounding decor. Moreover, at online stores like vitalwares.ca, these racks come in a plethora of options.

• They are flexible and easy to maintain.

• Wood being a natural resource is widely available and is renewable.

The only perceivable real disadvantage of this wine rack is its vulnerability to fire. Though fire retardants are available it is always a constant danger especially with wine being stored in it.

What are the types of woods used in the manufacture of wood wine racks?

Some of the most popular types of wood used in the construction of wine racks are listed below.

• Cedar

• Spruce

• Fir

• Pine

• Oak and other hardwoods

All woods have a distinct characteristic called growth rings and the density of growth rings per inch gives us an idea of the strength of the wood. Greater the number of growth rings per inch greater is the strength of the wood. Wood from fast growing trees is ideally not suited for wine racks but is used as a framing material. Whereas wood from the above mentioned trees are ideal for wine racks because of their strength and durability. Once the type of wood is selected ensure that the wood does not contain more than 12% moisture content as lower moisture content will guarantee longer life of your wine racks. You can check the moisture content of the wood using a moisture meter however this is useful if you are constructing your own customized wooden wine rack. If it is a small wooden wine rack for your house then the easier option would be to buy it off the shelf. The only thing you need to keep in mind while purchasing wood wine racks for your home is the reputation of the manufacturer. Looking for wine racks that are qualitatively flawless? Look no further than vital wares.

What are the different types of wood wine racks?

Whether you want to store a couple of bottles of wine or have an enviable collection of the finest wine you need a wine rack to store them. To suit different needs there is a variety of wood wine racks available at vital wares. Of course the design and shapes are too many to discuss here but we have tried to list some of the most commonly found types of wood wine racks.

Wood wine racks are available in different shades, sizes and shapes at vital wares, but one enduring feature is that the racks are always designed in a way to ensure that wine bottles lie on their sides. If you omit the commercial wood wine racks which are large and usually placed in a wine cellar, the smaller variety of wood wine racks can be classified into two main categories. The wall mounted racks and wine racks that are placed on the floor. Wall mounted wood wine racks are generally small and can hold only a couple or more bottles. They are more of a decorative piece than a serious glass wine rack. But they are great space savers and you can also incorporate a glass wine rack to it. They are usually light weight and come in various designs to suit your interior decor and enhance the look and feel of your dining room or your kitchen. The floor mounted wood wine racks are in comparison much larger and they usually have a cabinet for more storage space and a table top for enhanced utility. Some of the common types are as follows.

• Traditional

  Usually made from mahogany or cherry wood they are ornate with carved legs and an attached cabinet. Of course the size, shape and the extent of carving or the type of hardware used might vary according to the different models.

• Spanish

  Similar to a traditional wooden wine rack the Spanish wooden wine rack has a door up front for the cabinet and may have utility drawers attached. They come in different sizes and usually have a lot of space to hang wine glasses and store a respectable number of wine bottles.

• Transitional

  Ideal for a kitchen or a dining room a transitional wood wine rack is usually made out of walnut, pine or oak. It is usually fitted with a place to hang wine glasses and has a table top which is extremely useful while uncorking or serving your favorite wine.

What is the perfect location for my wood wine racks?

Small and decorative wall mounted wine racks can be mounted anywhere in your home. You can easily hang them in your dining room or your kitchen. But it is not every day that you open a good wine bottle to share with you friends or your near and dear ones so find below some simple tips to keep your wine in good condition. Because wine matures with time and if not stored in the proper manner in the right place it can definitely spoil a good evening when you decide to open one.

• Make sure that your wine bottle is kept sideways in a slightly forward slanting position in your glass wine rack. This ensures a constant wetting of the cork and expands it guaranteeing that no air enters your wine bottle.

• Ensure that your wood wine rack is placed in a location where there are not much temperature variations. As variations in temperature will make the bottle cork to expand and contract allowing air to enter the bottle. In this regard wood wine racks are ideal as they are more resistant to variations in temperature. All wines should be ideally stored in temperatures between 8-15 degrees Celsius.

• Do not expose your wine stored in wood wine racks to long exposure of light. This is one of the reasons large quantities of wine in any wine manufacturer premises is stored in a wine cellar.

• Position your wine rack away from any vibrating source.

• If you want to store wine then opt for a free standing glass wine rack as they offer more storage space and are more reliable than a wall mounted wine rack.

• Also consider the accessibility of your wine rack. If you are a person who likes to have wine regularly then place your wood wine rack in an easily accessible location.

Though modern wines are less susceptible to variations in temperature and come with better packing it is still advisable to store them in a strong and well-designed wine rack that is protected from the above mentioned risks. It is not mandatory that you have to store your wine in only a wine cellar; you can place them anywhere in your house as long as it does not affect the quality of your wine.

Do come to vital wares and buy the wine racks that appeal to you. At vital wares, you will find these racks in a staggering variety of styles.