Whether you're a casual collector who keeps a couple of bottles around for special occasions, or a serious aficionado who has a custom cellar packed with carefully-catalogued wine bottles, one of the keys to maintaining your wine collection is learning about the different types of wine rack styles available. Wine racks hold bottles, of course, but they can also help provide the optimal conditions for wine aging, as well as adding a touch of beauty to your wine collection.

What does a wine rack do?

You can't store wine properly just by putting it on any old shelf. This is because wine racks are designed to keep your bottles stored at the proper angle. The right angle of storage ensures that the cork is completely covered in wine, preventing it from drying out. A dry cork can interfere with the oxygen levels within your wine, interfering with the aging process or even causing your wine to go bad.

Within the world of wine racks there are many variations. Wine racks can be small or large, and come in many styles, from modern to traditional to antique. Here are three of the most popular and unique types of wine racks among wine collectors today:

Del Mar San Diego Custom Wine Cellar Backlit Modern Glass Wine RoomHanging wine racks

Most wine racks resemble shelves, so if you're going for an aesthetic that's a little unusual, hanging wine racks might be the right choice for you. Hanging wine racks showcase a column of floor-to-ceiling shelves that display wine racks horizontally and parallel to the floor.

Since hanging wine racks don't display bottle facing outwards, they take up far less room than traditional wine racks, and so are often ideal for kitchens or other smaller spaces. Hanging wine racks store bottles at the appropriate angle for aging, and also have the added advantage of allowing the label to be clearly displayed, making finding the right bottle a simple task.

Metal lattice wine racks

Another unique choice is metal lattice wine racks. If you're on a budget, or just appreciate a clean, simple aesthetic, these might be the right choice for you. Metal lattice wine racks are a set of interlocking, heavy-gauge wire shelves. Available as a kit, metal lattice wine racks are a great choice for a do-it-yourselfer. Each kit holds 150 bottles, making metal lattice wine racks a great choice for the avid collector.

Metal wine racks are also a great choice for commercial wine cellers, because they are cost-effective and easy to set up and move around. Many commercial wine sellers choose to use metal wine racks for their back-room storage, and more traditional wooden wine racks in their retail section. We carry a wide variety of wine racks designed for retailers.

 

Stackable wine racks

Do you love the look of custom wine racks, but shy away from the price tag? Stackable wine racks may be the best solution for you. Stackable wine racks don't have the high price tag of custom wine racks, but they can be modified to fit your space much better than a wine racking kit. Stackable wine rack sets come in a choice of elegant wooden finishes, and offer a variety of different styles that you can mix and match to fit seamlessly into your space. There are wide and narrow column-style wine racks, curved wine racks for corners, "waterfall" shelves that add visual interest, and even arched wine racks for over doorways. By choosing a set of the right stackable wine rack pieces for you, you can create a beautiful, customized wine cellar look without the high price.