Wine Racks Blog

So, as everybody knows, I’ve been looking for a new tabletop wine rack. Whenever I get a new table, I have to get a new tabletop wine rack. It just makes sense, am I right? Anyway, I was searching for so long, that I was beginning to get frustrated. Especially since it seemed like everyone around me was finding their perfect tabletop wine rack, and I was still left alone, with an empty table. Even friends of mine who don’t know as much about wine, or don’t have as nice of a table as I do were finding racks. So, I started to feel like I would never find the perfect rack for me. And wouldn’t you know it? As soon as I stopped looking, the perfect wine rack fell right into my life! Take a look at the Howard Miller Wine Caddy!

Isn’t he just dreamy? The contemporary satin nickel metal is complemented by a Black Coffee finished wooden storage base. The storage base on this wine storage rack includes a useful pull-out drawer and matching nickel knob, felt lined and great for wine-accessories. This wine rack holds up to 6 bottles. And all of my problems I was having - the lack of a dynamic yet sophisticated tabletop wine rack for my dining table? Well, Howard makes them all go away!

One of the poorest and least developed countries in the world, Haiti in recent years has struggled with problems ranging from near-constant political upheaval, health crises, severe environmental degradation and an annual barrage of hurricanes, which killed an estimated 800 people and caused vast damage in 2008.

On Jan. 12, 2010, a massive earthquake struck Haiti, reducing much of its capital to rubble. It was the worst earthquake in the region in more than 200 years. Since then, there have been aftershocks, causing even more devastation.

It’s far too easy to feel powerless to help in the face of such heartbreaking news. But you can help!

To give to the Red Cross, phone users can text the word “HAITI” to 90999 to donate $10, and when prompted, hit “YES” to confirm the donation.

The donation is added to the cell user’s bill, and receipts are available.

Other text-message codes for donations include:

• Text the word “HAITI” to 20222 to donate $10 to the Clinton Foundation Haiti Relief Fund.

• Text “HAITI” to 25383 to donate $5 to the International Rescue Committee.

• Text “HAITI” to 85944 to donate $10 to the International Medical Corps.

Also, some of my favorite companies have started donation campaigns for relief work in Haiti. Through January 28, StacksAndStacks.com will be donating $10 on every order over $100 dollars to the American Red Cross. You can make this a philanthropic double whammy - buy some organizing supplies for a local charity in your neighborhood, and if you spend over $100 dollars, you’ll be helping Haiti as well! It’s a new version of “Think Globally, Act Locally” - it’s “Act Locally, Act Globally”!

Can you believe 2009 is almost over? Soon it will be 2010. I’m excited about the new year, except I’m disappointed that I won’t be able to wear those New Year’s Eve glasses, where the lenses are the ‘00′ in the number. Oh well, times change! Whether you’re raising a glass of wine, champagne or milk - here’s a list of New Year’s toasts you can say:

In the New Year, may your right hand always be stretched out in friendship, but never in want. ~ Traditional Irish toast

Stir the eggnog, lift the toddy, Happy New Year, everybody. ~ Phyllis McGinley

Here’s to us all, God bless us every one! ~ from Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol

Here’s a toast to the future, A toast to the past, And a toast to our friends, far and near. May the future be pleasant; The past a bright dream; May our friends remain faithful and dear. ~ Anonymous

Cheers to you, Cheers to me, Have a Happy New Year’s Eve!

All right. I’ve been asked about this particular product too many times now, so it’s finally time we talk about The Wine Rack.

Yes, the Wine Rack is a bra type apparatus, that can be filled with wine, beer, or any other beverage. It can hold up to 25 ounces, and increase your bustline up to two cup sizes! Apparently, the younger crowd likes this sort of thing for pub crawls, or concerts or other things. However, I can think of several reasons why this is not a practical way to store wine.

1. Wine needs to be kept at a proper temperature. If you are wearing this, chances are your wine could be getting up to 80 or 90 degrees. That would utterly ruin the quality of your wine, and degrade the taste of the wine.

2. If this is meant to sneak wine into establishments that would otherwise not let you drink alcohol, I’ve got news for you - that’s illegal, and you will end up in jail. You might think jail is glamourous, and you will get to meet Lindsay Lohan or Paris Hilton, but that is not the case. I think. I wouldn’t know for sure, because I’ve never been to jail, because I don’t do things that would involve jail as a consequence.

3. If it increases your cup size by two sizes, you will stretch out your shirts. Buying new shirts in this economy seems like an unnecessary expense.

Now, I know I sound like a stick in the mud, but I’m not. I know how to have a good time. One time, in college, I stayed up so late that I was 5 minutes late to my morning history class. So don’t tell me that I haven’t lived on the edge. I just think wine racks are serious business, and you shouldn’t have your wine rack be part of your wardrobe!

Anyway, what do you think? Let me know in the comments!

I admit it. For a long time, I thought decanting wine was something that only really fussy people did. For instance, I saw it done on Frasier - not always the best reference for real-world advice. But over time, I was lucky enough to experience decanted wine, and now I’m a convert.

The thing about decanting wine is that both old and young wines benefit from a period of decanting. Decanting gives young wines a chance to blend with oxygen - which helps release the fragrance and flavor of the wine. When you decant a young wine, feel free to “splash” it into your decanter - it helps the wine to breathe.

Older wines benefit from decanting because it allows sediment to settle to the bottom, leaving you with a clean glass of wine. Slowly pour old wine into a decanter - that allows the fine sediment to go straight down.

Plus - decanters are just plain pretty! I like the Orbital Decanter.This crystal decanter comes with a steel base. It also has a tight stopper. Using a decanter can make an ordinary bottle of wine taste a little more extraordinary.

So, give your wine rack a new friend and consider getting a decanter. You won’t regret it!

There’s something very charming about the Fuji Wine Rack. This wooden wine rack can hold up to 12 bottles of wine. I think what I really like about it is how the wine bottles alternate from tier to tier. It reminds me of a building block set.

This one of those wine racks that also works well as a serving table! Or put your favorite wine guide on the top of this table.

The Mendoza Rolling Wine Cart has all the potential to become party central. It can hold up to 8 bottles and 12 wine glasses. It has a storage drawer, and there’s a railing around the open storage area - so it can safely hold more bottles.

Plus did I mention it rolls? That’s a great feature for dinner parties - you know how it seems everybody first congregates in the kitchen, then the party moves out to the dining room and living room? Just roll the Mendoza Cart wherever you need it as the evening progresses!

I’m really starting to like floor wine racks?Have you seen any good ones out there lately?

The Loire Valley is also known as the “garden of France”. I was lucky enough to take a day trip to Chartres from Paris one summer. I spent a wonderful afternoon touring the cathedral, and drinking Sancerre at a bistro. Which is why I have such a soft spot for the Loire Wine and Stemware Rack. This petite floor standing wine rack holds up eight bottles of wine and eight glasses. I like this size of this rack, you can either put it on the counter in a large-ish kitchen, or in the corner of your living room or dining room. I like the mix of natural wood, and chrome. This rack will be a real beauty when it’s fully stocked! Plus, I love the convenience of having my stemware and wines together. It makes entertaining just that much easier.  

And as a start - you should stock it with a few bottles of Sancerre! Sancerre is a lively wine, made from Sauvignon Blanc grapes. It’s fresh and crisp, which makes it perfect for warm, lazy summer afternoons. But, you don’t have to wait until the weather gets warm! I love it anytime of year - and recently I’ve started drinking it with sushi instead of sake.