Wine racks and wine storage units come in incredible variety, some designed to display a single bottle and others to store hundreds of bottles or ases, and everything in between. Materials also vary considerably.
If you have a modern living space, you might choose the stainless steel versions available. For a more old school or traditional space, an oak or other wooden rack will add the final touch to your decorating scheme. Wrought iron is often used, as it is sturdy and comes in an overabundance of shapes. Plastic wine racks come in countless shapes and sizes, and are often cheaper than the other materials.
Once you have bought yourself a few really good bottles of wine, you should keep them in optimum condition by storing them on their side and rotating them occasionally to preserve their flavor. This is where a wine rack comes into its own.
You can get counter-top wine racks to go in the kitchen, and these can usually hold six bottles. They are readily available in department stores and come in a variety of styles, so there is probably one to go with your decor. However, you might accrue more than six bottles of wine and want to buy a larger rack.
There are many racks available that sit on the floor and these usually hold at least twelve bottles. Finally, for the serious collector, there are racks designed to fit in your cellar that hold hundreds of bottles. For this last kind of rack you will probably need a professional to come and design one to fit in your space.
Wine racks can be freestanding or incorporated into the fitted cupboards in your kitchen. Alternatively, you can get hanging wine racks if floor space is limited. If you are unsure how much wine you will end up buying, choose a stackable wine rack that allows you to increase the storage space in the future.
