Storing wine, wine racks, why, what and how
- Dane Shorrock
- Aug 27
- 5 min read
Reasons why storing in the right wine rack is important
History of wine storage
The history of storing wine goes back to around 6600 BC. Typically this would have been in earthenware jars, around this period of time.
The Greeks and Romans progressed the storage solutions using what is known as amphorae. The amphorae had two handles and a pointed base to allow the wine to be stored in sand, and for transportation. In time the Romans would build underground cellars called "cella vinaria" this was to provide a consistent temperature and control the humidity whilst stored, understanding that these factors all have an effect on the wine.
During the middle ages the Christian monks developed the aging and preservation of wine by aging it in large barrels. Again developing on what the ancients had pioneered and bringing it a step closer to the modern ways of producing wine.
Wine was stored this way until the advent of glass and cork stoppers in the 17th and 18th centuries. leading to storing wine in bottles and the need for bottle racks became a requirement.
This leads into the modern age where the use of cellars is still a preferred method to keep wine stored. Modern wine fridges and the use of dedicated technologies to accurately control temperature and humidity are in use in the modern age, all of which echoes the ways that the Greeks and Romans understood that it enhanced the wine.
The Why
Why is it important to store wine correctly?
The importance of wine being stored at a stable and constant temperature is important as with any liquid under temperature fluctuations the wine will expand and contract, this has a damaging effect on the wine and the cork. The enemy of aging wine correctly is keeping the oxygen out of the wine. Stable temperatures is key. You may have noticed the change in a wine that has been left in the fridge overnight which may have dulled and become less flavoursome.
The What
What can preserve the wines aroma, flavour and overall enjoyment?
Storing unopened wine between 10 degrees and 15 degrees celcius (50-59 fahrenheit). This is the optimal temperature for wine to be stored at. After opening the bottle, the oxygen that has been in contact with the wine ideally must be removed to ensure enjoyment after an extended period. this can be removed from the bottle using inert gas pumps or simply vacuum pumps.
The How
How can you keep the wine at its best?
Cellars usually offer the best solution if your lucky enough to have a cellar. If not then a modern solution is a must. A dark place away from direct sunlight, bottles should be kept horizontal ensuring the wine is in contact with the cork, this prevents the cork from drying out. Once stored, best prcatice is to minimise any movement of the bottles. Always keep wine stored away from strong odours as they can also taint the wine.
In need of a solution to preserve and store your wine correctly, we will collate together some of the modern solutions available on Amazon.
Bamboo Wine Rack with 20 bottle capacity
Excellent value for money £30.59-£33.99 dependent on colour choice, simple bamboo set from Amazon, comes in a range of colours, as per the descriptions below. Would suit being in a cellar as well as a kitchen setting, bottles can be displayed and also kept at the correct positioning, horizontal and displayed.
Made of 100% well-sanded solid bamboo bar, covered with an eco-friendly protective coat of lacquer.
It is a wine rack for space efficient storage in your living room, kitchen, dining room, pantry or wine cellar.
Available on Amazon.
Natural - Available on Amazon here
Walnut - Available on Amazon here
Black - Available on Amazon here
Brown - Available on Amazon here
Grey - Available on Amazon here
White - Available on Amazon here
Basic set but has the essentials to store wine correctly and adds to the decor of any room.
Struggling for space to store your wine then this rack could be just the solution.
Classic understairs walnut stained wood and galvanised metal wine rack
Classic understairs walnut stained wood and galvanised metal wine rack ready assembled
Approximate rack dimensions Metric: 62 x 62 x 23cm Imperial: 24 x 24 x 10.5 inches
Large bottle spaces holds up to 97mm diameter bottles
Can be joined with other wine racks to make larger systems
Ready to use, no assembly required
Feeling the need to display your wine for all to see, then this wall mounted set
Wall Mount Wine Rack Organizer for 9 Bottles, Elegant and Simple Rustic Wood Wine Storage Display Holder
The wall wine storage rack showcases a range or different sizes of wine and champagne bottles in a modern fashion and can be stacked for easy reach.
Instead of bulky shelves and taking too much space, mount these wooden wine bottle racks on your wall space and display them elegantly on any room.
Excellent space saving idea.
It comes in three separate parts, each holding up to 3 bottles. Mount them creatively together or separately, all depending on your space and preference.
Looking for a modern solution to store your wine, with temperature controls and touchscreen display. Save space and store wine like a true lush should, at the perfect temperature and ready to be served at its best. Excellent small design on the 12 bottle version we have showcased as a 12 bottle box is what we normally purchase. This 12 bottle fridge is the best value for money and space saving solutions we can see.
Baridi Black 12 Bottle Wine Fridge Cooler, Super Quiet 25dB, Touch Control,
Sleek & Compact Design - Attractive tempered mirror glass door helps to reflect UV light and protect your wine while letting you see the contents at a glance.
Thermoelectric Cooling - Eliminates humming, uses less electricity and causes less vibration, making it ideal for the home environment. Range between 12-18°C, controlled by touch screen controls.
Ultra Quiet - At a whisper quiet 25dB this fridge is suitable for placing under counter or looks great on top of a kitchen counter.
Flexible Storage - Removable waved metal shelves with space for up to 12 bottles. Superb solution to safely store your wine and prevent temperature fluctuations, with a modern fridge cabinet.
Looking for a dual purpose chiller for keeping your wine at the perfect temperature whilst the other side keeping the beers cool. This fridge would make a perfect solution to any home bar or summer house.
There are 3 metal shelves and 6 beech wood wine racks to hold 57 cans of beverage and 18 bottles of wine. You can freely remove each shelf to customize interior space to meet different storage needs.
Smart control panels enable you to separately control 2 zones. The temperature of wine zone ranges from 5℃ to 18℃, while the temperature of beverage zone ranges from 2℃ to 10℃.
Our low noise beverage cooler can stand freely or fit perfectly under your counter. The recommended inserting dimension is 59.5 x 57.5 x 82.5 cm (L x W x H). Designed with adjustable legs.
This concludes our journey through the history of wine storage and the solutions we have scrutinised and provided links to all the various versions available on Amazon through our links. Thank you and we hope that you enjoy reading and hope that we have found a solution to fit your wine storage needs and no need for any amphorae.
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