Wine Racks Blog

Remember how a few years ago, it seemed like Merlot was everywhere? And then Sideways came out, and Pinot Noir took the spotlight. Well, I have a recommendation for the next great red wine - the 2006 Imagery Grenache! Imagery Winery is a sister winery of Benziger. It’s almost like a boutique winery - they have the freedom to create wines with creative blends of varietals. If you get a chance to wine tasting in Sonoma County, you must stop by the winery! Not only is it a gorgeous place to walk around, the tasting staff are some of the nicest people you’ll meet.

The Grenache was one of those wines I tasted, and something clicked in my brain. How had I gone so long with never drinking this!?! It’s a medium bodied wine, with fruity cherry/berry notes. What’s really interesting about this wine is that it has a deep, almost smoky, finish. It pairs well with a lot of food, including chocolate cake (I attest to this from personal experience).

That fateful day at Imagery led to me buying 3 bottles of the Grenache. Three bottles - that can be a tricky amount for storage. But that’s why tabletop wine racks like the Axis Vertical Rack were invented! This attractive chrome rack is designed to hold a trio of bottles, and is perfect for a kitchen counter.  Sometimes you don’t need a big wine rack. Sometimes the best wine rack is small, stylish and even a bit of a conversation starter. Kind of like Imagery Winery, and their wines.

No, I’m not talking about those compressed carbon pieces that everyone seems so keen on! I’m talking about this Diamond Wine Rack!  

This is another example of how modular wine storage can change your life. This understated wine rack can hold up to 24 bottles of wine. And, since it has an open design - it can even hold differently sized bottles. You’ll have a central space for wine storage, whether you’re collecting magnums, splits, or standard sized bottles.

You can also stack multiples of this divided wine rack - perfect for growing collections. I like the dark finish, too.

I’ve recently been hearing about keeping wines in a closet - it seems to be a good solution when you aren’t ready to invest in a wine cooler, or if you don’t have the space for a wine cellar. This wine rack  from StacksAndStacks.com would be a terrific way to keep your wines, and your closet, neatly organized.

One of my favorite things about wine tasting is being able to gather around the tasting table with my friends as we compare notes on the wine that we’re trying. There’s something very fun, almost conspiratorial - about talking about wine and enjoying each others company. That’s why I love this Apachi Wine Table  at StacksAndStacks.com. This darling little table has a rich mahogany finish, and a nicely shaped oval top. Perfect for a tête-à-tête with your favorite wine pal!

Plus, this table is also a wine rack. There’s bottle storage underneath the table top. You can store up to 11 bottles of wine. It’ll be your one-stop wine entertaining station! Man, don’t you love multitaskers? 

So, what do you think? All you need is a few glasses, a basket of breadsticks or crackers, and you can replicate the wine tasting experience in your home. You can even charge your friends for each pour - you know - for authenticity!

The foodie world is abuzz with the menu of yesterday’s post Inauguration luncheon at the White House. To go with the food (which included duck, pheasant, and a seafood pie - yum!), three wines were served. There was the Duckhorn Sauvignon Blanc, the Goldeneye Pinot Noir, and a Korbel California Champagne. On a side note, I’ve had the Goldeneye Pinot before, and it is ridiculously delicious. It’s one of the most well balanced pinots I’ve ever tasted - the jammy fruits and the tannins are working together in harmony. Hmmm…you could even call it a bi-partisan wine!

Anyway, special times call for special wines. And special wines need an out of the ordinary setting. That’s why I love this wine server. This decorative server is handcrafted from copper, and the cool colors? That’s not paint - that’s the natural oxidation of the copper. Wine servers like this are a great way to add a distinctive touch to a meal - it’s a great way to pamper your guests.

What wines would you like to see served at the White House? I’m sure they’re going to be stocking the wine racks in the cellar with some of America’s finest vintages.

Over the holidays, I think I ate about a metric ton of sweets. In fact, I even discovered a new love for hard candies. Especially ribbon candy. Besides being full of sugary goodness, ribbon candy is an aesthetic delight.

Look at it! It's downright adorable!

There’s something so appealing about the bunched curves of ribbon candy. And while I don’t have the seasonal excuse for mainlining sugar anymore, I don’t have to give up loving the look of this old fashioned treat. I found the S-Shaped Wine Rack!

I love it! This rack is made of steel, and has an antiqued copper finish. There are even embossed details of grape bunches, vines, and leaves. This rack will hold up to five bottles of wine, and is perfect for a counter top, or even a table. It’s a little whimsical, but I think it’d be a great gift for any serious wine enthusiast. Or candy enthusiast. It’s versatile like that!

I love making resolutions at the start of the year. However, keeping the resolutions - well, to be frank that part isn’t quite as fun. I start with the best of intentions (working out every day, brushing up on my French vocabulary in the evening). But by mid-March, the only work out I’m getting is walking to the cafe and the only French I’m using is ‘pain au chocolat’. 

So, this year I’m keeping my resolutions simple. And my favorite of my resolutions is to drink more champagne! I’ve fallen into a habit of only popping open a bottle for a special occasion. No more! I’ve been working on a list of things worth breaking out the flutes for this year:

• Finishing a good book
• Trying a new recipe (this one is also practical, since if the recipe doesn’t work out, the champagne will make everything better with its sparkling goodness)
• Finishing a craft project (maybe all those half finished scarves I have malingering in the closet will finally get done!)
• Watching the new season of Lost! (I’ll put a Dharma Initiative label on the bottle those nights)

Now as part of this resolution, I’m going to try to keep a bottle in the fridge at all times. However, I’m a bit forgetful, so I think a good chilling bucket will be necessary. Plus, there’s something so stylish about a good looking chiller - it’s like tapping into your inner Bette Davis. I found this copper champagne bucket, and I’m smitten. It has brass handles, and I love the simplicity of it. I particularly like this one, because I think it would look great with flowers (ooh! Like hydrangeas!) during those non-chilling times. I found this one at StacksAndStacks.com

So, what are your resolutions this year? I hope I’ve provided some inspiration for your own resolutions. Remember, as a great man once said: “Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.” So fill your chilling bucket with some salt, ice, and water - pop in a bottle of champers, and find your own reason for an everyday celebration.