In college, your empty liquor bottles litter the top of your cabinets like gravestones commemorating forgotten forays into oblivion. Later, the empty handles evolve into semi-full cheap wine bottles sitting upright next to your toaster. And when you’re finally ready to graduate to the big leagues of adulthood, you acquire a wine rack capable of holding and maintaining your aged grape juice. The best wine racks foster your wine collection, store it (often) horizontally, and help you look like you have your act together.
Searching the internet far and wide (really though, we know our booze), we’ve landed on a handful of excellent wine racks. You’re going to want something that fits the aesthetic of your house but also sates your wanton desire to imbibe. Through extensive, ahem, research, we have concluded that the following candidates will help you keep your drink of choice safe, sound, and ready to pound.
And here are our favorite wine racks …
Homfa Bamboo Wine Rack Free Standing Wine Holder Display Shelves with Glass Holder Rack (BEST CHOICE)
With room for 16 bottles and a few wine glasses, the Homfa Bamboo Wine Rack gets our pick for Best Choice. This upright, bamboo rack is slim enough to fit into a corner, within reach of your dining room table. The smooth espresso-colored finish will mix and match nicely with most other wood and upholstery colors, and the additional shelving on top will allow you to add some color with books or your favorite potted indoor plant.
Some assembly is required with this model, though some Amazon reviews hinted that it took less than 20 minutes to put together.
The Hombazaar Industrial Wine Rack Table looks like it’s straight out of a brick mid-century bungalow. This rack does triple duty with its additional storage shelves and tabletop. You could almost imagine plating an entire buffet on the top of this rack next to your dining room table. Occasionally you’d lean over, grab another bottle out of the 20 bottle storage, and not miss a beat of the conversation happening around you. This model is one of the larger racks on our list, measuring over 43 inches wide, so be sure that you have enough space and wine to accommodate this piece of dining room décor.
For the space-conscious wine connoisseur, the Soduku Rustic Wood Countertop Wine Rack can class up your space while saving you some room. This wood and metal combo rack accommodates up to six bottles of swill, weighs just over four pounds, and requires no assembly upon arrival. The footprint itself is just slightly smaller than two bottles of wine sitting next to each other. Since this rack will likely sit on a countertop, Soduku slanted the bottles down slightly, so the facing of the label is easy to read, and you can quickly grab your favorite bottle. To keep your wine collection safe and secure, be sure to choose some of the quality wine coolers from our list.
Our first stackable entry in the list comes to you from Simple Trending. This 4-Tier Stackable Wine Rack features a classy wire “arc” design. This commonly used cradle concept is great because it can accommodate the wide variety of bottle designs available these days. The model allows you to store 16 bottles at a time, but if you’re really into keeping more booze on hand, you can simply stack the racks.
This jazzy little number only holds nine bottles, but what it lacks in capacity, it more than makes up for in style. It’s hard not to imagine this thing sitting atop the counter of an art deco flat in Miami, or the tiled bartop of a summer home. If no-assembly-required is jam, we think this model might do the trick for you. Now you just have to figure out whether it goes in your house by the water or your upscale condo in the city. Or simply give it to any wine enthusiast in your life as a housewarming gift. No doubt they will appreciate it.
When you’re ready to wine down for the weekend, this model might just hit your shopping cart along with a live, laugh, love wall mount. Anna Stay (manufacturer) pulled out all the stops with this five-bottle rack. It incorporates a small tray for storing corks, and they also threw in some wine charms so that you’ll never confuse your glass with your fellow drinkers.
The Mango Steam 32 Bottle Wine Rack is a classy choice if you want to keep your storage clean and inconspicuous. While it does feature a fairly high capacity for bottles, its overall size is quite small. The rack ships fully assembled and features no external facing screws, so it has a smooth finish and clean look. The 20-inch-deep top is constructed of glass and makes a nice place to keep a recently corked bottle of wine. The bottle orientation is tilted slightly down, which will allow you to glance at labels and make a quick choice.
The X-cosrack Rustic 3 Tier Wine Rack has a touch of the old country in it, with modern materials and finish. This model is stackable, so as your collection grows, your rack can grow with it. You can also break this three rack system down into individual racks and place them side by side if that suits your storage needs.
This stylish and elegant tabletop wine rack from Jimi takes up such little space it could practically sit on your dining room table. At just over 3 pounds and slightly wider than a foot, the overall footprint of this thing is petite for such a package. You have the option to store up to four bottles at a time (perfect for a big dinner) as well as a few wine glasses.
Our first wall-mounted option comes from VintageView. This clean and contemporary design is made of painted steel and can store up to 12 bottles at a time. Amazon reviews claim that the installation process is fairly simple; install the two rails to your wall following the instructions, and you’re good to go. The black satin finish should blend in nicely behind most bottles but could be easily painted if you wished to change the color up.
The Sorbus Wall Mount Wine Rack is another clean and elegant storage solution. This rack allows for up to nine bottles to be stored at a time, weighs a paltry two pounds, and can combine with additional racks for more storage. Like the last model, the Sorbus Wall Mount Wine Rack is a smooth black finish, but could always be re-painted if you wished to match the rest of your furniture.
The Pag 23 Bottles Arched Wine Rack has all the proper pomp you might expect from a wine aficionado. Its elegant arch-top speaks to the late 19th-century design styles of Italian architecture and almost takes you straight to Sicily with its clean and functional forms. A keen eye may notice the silver screws holding the model together. If the overall design is your taste, but you don’t like those, apply a dot of paint over them to cover them up.
The J.K. Adams Ash Wood Wine Rack has that rustic look that you can only get from all-wood designs. J.K. Adams is an American brand, manufacturing wood products from a sleepy town in Vermont. With its modular design, this wine rack can expand to meet any size wine collection. Simply continue to connect the wooden dowels as your collection grows.
The KINGRACK Countertop Wine Rack has the industrial styling of a modern piece of farm equipment. The combination of high-quality metal and wood make for a sturdy bottle ballast, and the rack even folds up for quick and easy transport or storage. Reviewers rave about the KINGRACK’s stability, small footprint, and that there is no assembly required. Many even commented about how sturdy it is even when loaded up with bottles.
Our last entry on the list comes from Sorbus and is a Bordeaux Chateau-Style rack with a glass table on the top. With a 30-bottle capacity, you better be ready to have some serious wine on had to keep this thing stocked. The glass table up top looks big enough to accommodate a nice charcuterie board alongside a few open bottles of wine. The construction of the table is high-quality steel, and though you do have to assemble yourself, most reviewers found it only moderately challenging to put together. But if you get frustrated, pour yourself a glass.
Material – You could build a wine rack out of nearly any material imaginable. Each bottle of wine weighs approximately 2.5 pounds, so if you were really in a pinch, you could get creative and make a single bottle holder out of cardboard. You are classier than that, and so we won’t even digress about how to construct a rack out of your Charles Shaw Box. Instead, you’ll shop. As you do, you’ll notice a variety of building materials, but most often, it’s a classic blend of wood, metal, and occasionally glass. These traditional materials reflect an aesthetic that should take you straight to the vineyard in your mind. Once produced, your wine sits in a dungeon somewhere surrounded by aging steel, wood, and stone. So it makes sense to store your swill in a place that feels authentic. Style and Design – The classic wine rack was nearly always constructed of wood and featured an X pattern or checkerboard design to cradle the wine. This styling is still essentially the standard choice for most home drinkers unless you want to get really fancy of produce something custom for your home, wine cellar, or business. In an age of globalization, there’s a near-infinite number of design concepts out there in which to store your bottles of bubble and Barolo. It just boils down to what you want to spend and the story you want your storage solution to tell your friends. Easy Access – Most wine racks employ restaurant-style access. Meaning a sommelier can quickly distinguish the bottle they are looking for, pull it, and serve it. While quick access to your home collection may be a lower priority for you, don’t discount its value. Put yourself in your kitchen for a moment, your guests are enjoying themselves with a little meze plate, and as the white wine you served upon their arrival starts to disappear, you need to pull another bottle. Since you’ve got chicken in the roasting pan and sides on the stovetop, you don’t have time to sort through a complicated labyrinth of libations. You need it now! That’s why you want quick access. You’re essentially running a mini restaurant here! Capacity and Size – Some of the most common wine racks are modular, stackable, and expandable. Many people like the ability to start small, say something along the lines of a six-bottle holder that they can build on later. These stackable wine racks function just like the ones you’d find at a winery, as they grow and reduce their wine storage over time. Other wine rack models are more static, focusing more on style instead of function. To determine what capacity and size are best for you, all you have to do is forecast the kind of wine stocking scenario you hope to achieve. If you’re never going to carry more than a bottle or two, don’t go all-in on a freestanding floor model. Maybe consider something that sits on your countertop. But if you think you’re going to keep 20 or more bottles on hand, opt for the design that allows your collection to grow over time. After all, people bringing wine to your house for dinner is very common; you never know how big the collection is going to get! Stability – Imagine the mess you’d have on your hands if a large wine rack tipped over and broke a number of bottles. Not only would that ruin date night or a gathering with friends, but it might just put your carpet (or wood floors) out of commission permanently. Freestanding wine racks require a safe and sturdy base, so be sure to keep that in mind when you’re picking out your tower of sour. Maybe a countertop option is best? Other Features – Some wine rack models offer the option to store your wine glasses alongside your bottles. This is a convenient option for those who may not have space in the cupboard or want to class up the rack a bit. Freestanding – Though a night of heavy wine sippin’ may keep you from being a freestanding being, that doesn’t mean that your grape storage can’t stand alone. Many wine racks either sit on the floor or countertop on their own. If your rack does not arrive with a wall anchor, we think it would be a good idea to find one. An anchor ensures that if there’s ever an earthquake or if Karen is leaning too hard on the rack, your whole supply doesn’t get ruined. Installed – Some wine racks are wall-mounted and have no connection to the floor or countertop. These slick-looking, floor saving storage units allow you to get a few bottles off the counter and onto something that looks a little more classy. Typically these carry far fewer bottles since a standard drywall anchor only has so much holding power, but they have a nice clean look if that’s what you’re vibing. Are wine racks the best way to store wine? The orientation of a wine bottle in storage is really about keeping the cork wet. Many so-called experts will tell you to rotate the bottles occasionally, but all that does is stir up the sediment that is naturally occurring in your bottle. Stirring the sediment back into the wine does nothing for the flavor, longevity, or wine experience. The cork is the only thing separating your aging grape from the harsh oxygen outside the bottle. Wines age rapidly when they come in contact with oxygen, and you don’t want that. So, by laying a bottle on its side, or slightly tipping it down in a rack, the wine inside keeps the underside of the cork moist. This process keeps the cork from drying out too much. A dry cork will crack and shrink, allowing fresh oxygen to flow into the bottle. Most wine racks create an angle on the bottle that allows for some cork wetting, while still keeping the bottle on display so the consumer can grab them easily. Wine racks are one of the best ways to keep your wine out of the way, and the cork wetted up for libation longevity. How do I know if I have the ideal climate for storing wine? You probably do not have the ideal climate; let’s be honest. Typically, you should store good wine between 45 and 65-degrees Fahrenheit. Temps above that are OK as long as you don’t plan to keep the wine for a long time (read: decades). How do I install a wine rack? Most wall-mounted wine racks include basic installation instructions that you should read carefully. Installing anything with significant weight on a standard drywall interior wall needs the right hardware and the right installation to be safe. Most rely on drywall anchors that you pre-drill, push a plastic tube into, and then a screw fits inside and expands the plastic, creating an anchor. Others may rely on screws that go all the way into the walls studs. We’d suggest, if you don’t feel comfortable with the installation, find a local handyperson. Pop open a bottle of wine. Watch them install your wine rack. And then fill it up, raise a toast to your smart decision, and relax on the couch, knowing your wine collection is as safe as you are sophisticated. Research Wine Racks – Wine Cooler Direct History of Wine – Wikipedia How Wine Colonized the World – WinePair Ask Dr. Vinny – Wine Spectator
Hombazaar Industrial Wine Rack Table with Glass Holder and Wine Storage, Console Table with Wine Rack, Wine Bar Cabinet for Home Kitchen Dining Room, Brown
Soduku Rustic Wood Countertop Wine Rack 6 Bottles No Need Assembly
Simple Trending 4-Tier Stackable Wine Rack, Standing Bottles Holder Organizer, Wine Storage Shelf, Towel Rack for Kitchen Pantry Cabinet, Hold 16 Bottles, Bronze
Countertop Wine Rack – 9 Bottle Wine Holder for Wine Storage – No Assembly Required – Modern Black Metal Wine Rack – Wine Racks Countertop – Small Wine Rack – Wine Bottle Storage – Tabletop Wine Rack
Wall Mounted Wine Rack – Bottle & Glass Holder – Cork Storage – Store Red, White, Champagne – Comes with 6 Cork Wine Charms – Home & Kitchen Décor – Designed by Anna Stay, Wine
Mango Steam 32 Bottle Wine Rack with Glass Table Top, Black
X-cosrack Rustic 3 Tier Stackable Wine Rack Freestanding 12 Bottles Organizer Holder Stand Countertop Liquor Storage Shelf Solid Wood & Iron 16.5″ L x 7.0″ W x 16.5″ H-Patent Pending
Tabletop Wood Wine Holder, Countertop Wine Rack, Hold 4 Wine Bottles and 4 Glasses, Perfect for Home Decor & Kitchen Storage Rack, Bar, Wine Cellar, Cabinet, Pantry, etc, Wood & Metal (Bronze)
VintageView Wall Series (4 Ft) – 12 Bottle Wall Mounted Wine Rack (Satin Black) Stylish Modern Wine Storage with Label Forward Design
Sorbus Wall Mount Wine Rack (Holds 9 Bottles)
PAG 23 Bottles Arched Free-Standing Floor Metal Wine Rack Wine Display Holders Stands with 4 Adjustable Foot Pads, Black
J.K. Adams Ash Wood 12-Bottle Wine Rack, Natural
KINGRACK Countertop Wine Rack, Tabletop Wood Wine Holder for 6 Bottle Wine, 3-Tier Classic Design, Perfect for Home Decor, Bar, Wine Cellar, Basement, Cabinet, Pantry-Set of 1, Wood & Metal (Copper)
Sorbus Wine Rack Stand Bordeaux Chateau Style with Glass Table – Holds Bottles of Wine – Elegant French Style Wine Rack to Compliment Any Space – Minimal Assembly (Wine Stand – 30 Bottles)
Features To Look For In Wine Racks
Types of Wine Racks
Wine Racks FAQ