| There are practical and decorative | | | | with exceptionally loud street |
| considerations to keep in mind when choosing | | | | traffic.Extreme heat makes the wine mature |
| a wine rack or storage system, not to mention | | | | too fast so it can deteriorate before it |
| a variety of options available.When touring | | | | reaches its peak. Wine kept in the |
| wine country, many people find themselves | | | | refrigerator too long can go flat and lose |
| buying a bottle or two of a delicious wine | | | | its flavor because of the cold temperature |
| they have discovered at one or more of the | | | | and vibration of the motor. The temperature |
| wineries. Some like to buy a souvenir bottle | | | | of the room where wine is kept should ideally |
| at each winery they visit. This can be a | | | | be kept below 70 degrees Fahrenheit and |
| smart move, as many wineries deduct their | | | | between 70-95% humidity, with very little |
| tasting fee from a purchase. Others may wish | | | | variation over short periods of time. Air |
| to take advantage of a special deal offered | | | | conditioning alone is not too good because |
| only at the winery and take home a full case. | | | | excessively dry air can cause wine to |
| Also, many wines are made available only at | | | | evaporate or leech out around the cork, |
| the winery, especially those of limited | | | | ruining the wine due to oxidation.TYPES OF |
| release.Whether you are a fledgling wine | | | | WINE RACKSWine racks come in a variety of |
| collector or merely someone who likes to keep | | | | shapes, styles and materials. Wood is the |
| a few bottles around the house for special | | | | most popular material. The wood types are |
| occasions, entertaining, or nightly | | | | easy to assemble, are very durable and can be |
| consumption, at least one rack will be needed | | | | modular or stackable. Wood wine storage |
| to protect the bottles and free up space. | | | | systems can come in pine (the most common), |
| Even the serious connoisseur lucky enough to | | | | spruce, oak, fir, cedar, redwood and |
| have a wine cellar could use a wine rack in | | | | mahogany. These last two hold up very well |
| the dining room or den for easy access to | | | | against decay and mildew due to extreme |
| those wines that are ready to drink. Also, | | | | humidity.Metal wine racks allow for unique |
| you may want to have one mainly for | | | | shapes and contemporary designs. If buying a |
| displaying some of your splendid collection | | | | steel model, make sure it is painted with a |
| to your guests.Most people don't have a | | | | chip resistant paint. Powder coatings come |
| custom wine cellar; yet find their collection | | | | in different colors and are quiet strong. |
| of wine bottles is growing. They need to | | | | For a sturdy wine rack, wire should be of a |
| establish a simple storage solution by | | | | heavy gauge and the weld joints very strong. |
| deciding which type of racks will fit their | | | | Stainless steel is more expensive than steel |
| needs. Is it mainly for storage, display or | | | | wire, but it resists corrosion better and |
| easy access? Keep in mind that your wine | | | | doesn't need the paint coating.Other |
| collection may grow over the years.If you are | | | | materials used include chrome, Lucite, |
| interested in wine racks primarily for | | | | acrylic, wrought iron and polished |
| storage purposes, you can buy small ones to | | | | brass.Single racks that hold just one bottle |
| stack in a closet, place in a cupboard or put | | | | make great gifts. Hanging racks are great |
| on a bookshelf. There are also decorative | | | | for freeing up space. Standing wine racks |
| floor and wall units. On the other hand, if | | | | with tabletops are handy for serving. Some |
| you are looking to buy a wine rack to accent | | | | have drawers for holding wine accessories, |
| your home decor or to display your favorite | | | | with the bottles stored below. Some even |
| wines, there are many styles available. | | | | have glass shelves above or a hanging rack |
| These include hanging units, stand-alone | | | | for wine glasses.Wine cabinets that you plug |
| units and ones that are incorporated into | | | | in come in various types and sizes. They are |
| pieces of furniture, which have other | | | | nice because they are self-contained and |
| features such as a minibar or wine glass | | | | temperature controlled. Some look like a |
| rack.A good wine rack should be sturdily | | | | fine piece of furniture, which you can |
| built. Another factor to consider when | | | | coordinate, with the rest of your room. |
| deciding on a system is if it comes | | | | Cooling units may need to be professionally |
| unassembled, make sure the instructions are | | | | installed. Expensive and elaborate options |
| easy enough to understand and that the unit | | | | include the wall wine rack system, which is |
| itself is simple to put together. If you | | | | built in and customized.A wine rack filled |
| like burgundy and/or champagne, choose a | | | | with bottles collected on wine tasting trips |
| model with openings large enough to | | | | is sort of like a photo album, holding |
| accommodate these bottles.PROTECTING THE | | | | memories of your wine country experience and |
| WINEWine needs to be kept on its side to keep | | | | just waiting to be opened and enjoyed |
| the cork from drying out. While not so | | | | anew.Laura Eggers lived in Sonoma County and |
| important for wines you plan to drink soon, | | | | the San Francisco Bay area for many years, |
| it is a serious consideration when you wish | | | | exploring the pleasures of wine country |
| to age certain wines to their full maturity | | | | whenever she could. Now based in Southern |
| and peak drinking time. The rack should be | | | | California, she is enjoying new discoveries |
| kept in a place away from direct sunlight as | | | | in the Santa Barbara wine touring region. |
| well as from any heating source, such as a | | | | Her website offers visitors a an overview |
| stove, radiator or heating vent. Also, it | | | | of several California and Oregon wine |
| should be kept away form vibration, as from a | | | | regions, with information on wine tasting |
| dishwasher, clothes washer, dryer or window | | | | rooms open to the public. |