I have installed a 70” flat screen high definition television, a billiards table, a wet bar, bar stools, a huge sectional sofa all atop the coziest shag carpet you will ever find. This man cave really has it all, but there was one last piece missing.

space-saving wire wine racks

Let me preface this by mentioning that some guys are really into sports like football and baseball; others are really into music or movies. Me, I am a die-hard, passionate foodie. Give me “No Reservations” with Anthony Bourdain over the NFC championship game any day; I’d rather watch Top Chef marathons then spend hours watching NASCAR.

As anyone that is familiar with a hardcore foodie knows, the best pairing for a delicious meal is a perfectly aged bottle of wine. Seeing that I am one of the most extreme gourmets out there, I have an enormous wine collection.
That is where the refinished basement comes in. The one element I have been missing in my man cave is a place to store my collection of wines. I have Syrah, Pinot Grigio, Pinot Noir, Burgundy; you name it, I have at least one bottle of it!

The perfect storage solution for all of these wine bottles is a set of the space-saving wire wine racks. These durable, space efficient wine racks were just what I needed to organize my wine collection and the man cave I would store it in.

I purchased a couple of the 75-bottle wine racks (I told you my collection was large!) and installed them into my basement. The racks are tall and thin, which save space; the tall racks included brackets to mount them to the wall, which add stability. The metal frame is coated with protective lining; ensuring the bottles will not get damaged while in storage.

wood mounting stemware storage rack

·         Style - You may want to choose your wine rack or stemware rack by style.  For example, if you have a modern kitchen, look for wine racks with materials such as metal and glass with clean, contemporary lines.  If, however, you have a traditional style in your home, you may want to go classic with an antique style wood wine rack or one with a rustic, country feel.
·         Size - Don’t forget to think about size!  An absolute must before purchasing a wine rack is to thoroughly measure the space where it will be used in the home.  Don’t forget to measure the height if you are going to put it, say, in a pantry or in the garage.
·         Capacity - Count how many bottles you have on hand right now in your home, and then add at least a few bottles.  If you plan on greatly increasing your wine collection, add that number on too for good measure!

Obviously, it is utterly heartbreaking. But I still must persevere, and I still must drink wine, and so I’ve turned my attention to that denizen of the morning: The Coffee Mug. And since I’m using mugs for wine, my mind drifts to another logistical issue - mug storage.

Mug storage used to be a complicated procedure for me. The mugs themselves have these looping handles, which wine glasses don’t have. So, while I’m very familiar with wine glass storage, mug storage was another thing altogether.

Luckily, as the ancient proverb says ‘another word for crisis is opportunity’, and I have taken this wine glass crises and turned it into a mug storage opportunity by discovering all the ways you can store mugs and coffee cups.

Mug storage solutions range along an entire gamut of ideas. You can store mugs in a cupboard or cabinet. Store them with the handles facing the same way, and you can fit more mugs in there. Another mug storage solution is to use hooks to hang mugs by their handles. See, those handles are good for something! If you only have a few mugs, you can put them on display on a shelf and store them that way. This works best if you have decorative mugs, or need mug storage for mugs that have a deeply intrinsic meaning to you as an individual. Mug storage is simple and easy.

This is the time of the year when I’m always reminded of the Hans Christian Anderson story, “The Pine Tree”. Do you know that story? I’ll give you a quick breakdown:
In the forest a little pine tree was growing. All he can think about is growing up and is thoroughly embarrassed when a bunny hops over him, because it makes him feel even smaller and less important. The village kids call him the “baby of the forest” and again he is embarrassed and frustrated. A stork tells him of seeing older trees chopped down and used as ship masts, and the little tree envies them. In the fall, nearby trees are felled and the sparrows tell the little pine tree of seeing them decorated in houses.
One day, before he is able to grow larger, he is cut down. He is bought, carried into a house, decorated, and, on on Christmas Eve, he glows with candles, colored apples, toys, and baskets of candy. A gold star tops the tree. The children enter and plunder the tree of its candy and gifts then listen to a little fat man tell the story of “Humpty Dumpty”.
The next day, the pine tree expects the festivities to be renewed, and that every day he gets to celebrate with his new family, but servants take the tree down and carry him into the attic. The tree is lonely and disappointed but the mice gather to hear the tree recite the tale of “Humpty Dumpty”. Rats arrive, and, when they belittle the simple tale, the mice leave and do not return. In the spring, the pine tree – now withered and discolored – is carried into the yard. A boy takes the star from its topmost branch. The pine tree is then cut into pieces and burned.
You know what this classic story always reminds of? This 44 Bottle Wooden Wine Rack, made of unfinished pine. It’s over three feet tall, and looks great in any home. Since it’s unfinished, you can paint it however you like. Which will be fun.

Yeah! It looks like some cool futuristic paperclip!

Add a slice of dynamic style to your home’s decor with the timeless, tasteful design of stainless steel! This wine bottle holder is a delight to behold — the perfect way to add luster and drama to your favorite bottle of vino. The bright, easily maintained surface of stainless steel provides a modern and attractive appearance. And remember, the chromium content of stainless steel allows the formation of a rough, adherent, invisible, corrosion-resisting chromium oxide film on the steel surface. If damaged mechanically or chemically, this film is self-healing, providing that oxygen, even in very small amounts, is present! And with proper care, it has a useful life expectancy of over 100 years, and it is totally recyclable! That means this stainless steel holder is worth its weight in gold — a marvel to feast your eyes on, and a value to last a lifetime.

Luckily, all that changed when I got a Cork Butler. And, if you don’t have access to a discreet British valet, this Cork Butler is the next best thing. The Cork Butler grips onto the bottle, you push the lever down, you pull the lever up and presto! In three seconds, you have an open bottle of wine. And there’s a foil cutter, which is much more effective than trying to pick off the foil with your fingernails.

So, my fellow noodle armed and patience deprived folk: say goodbye to your old corkscrew. The Cork Butler is the perfect companion to any wine rack. Brisk and efficient, I won’t be surprised if the next model has a voice chip so that it will say “Very good, madam” after it opens a bottle.

Hello Mr. Wilson. Thank you for agreeing to this conversation.

“I dare anyone to debate me on things.”

Well, I appreciate your candor. First, I would like to know…why do you only write about bike racks? Don’t you find it excessive?

“I’m sorry man, I got magic and I’ve got poetry in my fingertips, you know, most of the time, and this includes naps. I’m an F-18, bro.”

How far-reaching is your blog? Last I heard, although your blog is done for ’shock value’, the reach is only middling.

“I don’t live in the middle anymore. That’s where you get slaughtered. That’s where you get embarrassed. From the prom queen.”

What? Who’s the prom queen? That doesn’t make sense.

“Look what I’m dealing with, man, I’m dealing with fools and trolls.”

Excuse me? Are you referring to me? This is supposed to be a civil conversation.

I’m so tired of pretending my life isn’t perfect and just winning every second and I’m not perfect. You just look at your loser life and then they look at me and say “I CAN’T PROCESS IT,” well, no, you never will, just stop trying. Sit back and enjoy the show.”

How dare you, sir. I write one of the top rated blogs on the internet. How dare you speak to me this way?

“Oh wait, can’t process it. Losers. Winning. Buh bye.”

At that point he hung up. As you see, I was correct in my initial assessment of Larry Wilson. He is a dangerous man, and he, his blog, and his outrageous views on bike racks should be approached with extreme caution.

What doesn’t need caution is this wine tote.

The One Bottle Tote from BUILT NY is the perfect way to transport a bottle for a party or a picnic. This insulated tote is made from neoprene - the same durable padded material as wetsuits! The soft grip handle makes this bottle tote easy to move. This bottle tote can stretch to accommodate bottles ranging in size from 750ml to 1 liter. This wine bottle bag is machine washable, and can drip dry.

I like how it carries one bottle of wine, and it has a handle.