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The Insider Pick:
Wine racks are a great way to save on counter space, show off your collection, and ensure that your bottles are stored properly. Our top pick is the Mango Steam 32 Bottle Wine Rack with Glass Table Top because it’s sturdy, versatile, and makes a stylish addition to your kitchen or dining room.
Whether you’re an avid collector or just like keeping a few bottles around the house, it’s always a good idea to have a safe and organized place to store your wine.
Wine bottles are delicate objects, and they can be difficult to display securely given their unique shapes and sizes. Plus, you can’t underestimate the importance of storing wine on its side. When bottles are placed upright, there isn’t any liquid touching the cork. And if the cork dries out, oxygen will slowly start seeping into the bottle, eventually spoiling the wine inside.
Aside from these practical reasons, most wine racks can also serve as a decorative element or the foundation for the rest of your bar area. The key, however, is striking the delicate balance between style and functionality.
There are a few specific features to consider when it comes to selecting a rack. Though it may be tempting to go with an attractive wood design, a metal-wire rack is better for gripping slick glass bottles and absorbing vibrations. Having a stable wine rack will ensure that it serves its main function: keeping your wine safe. Those who have more eclectic tastes in wine should look for racks with wide openings to fit larger bottles like Champagne, but not so wide that it won’t also be able to secure your standard 750 ml bottles.
An unfilled wine rack can also be an eyesore, so we’ve favored racks that have removable layers, as well as ones that can be accessorized with other bar and kitchen products when not in use.
Finally, don’t break the bank on your wine rack. There are plenty of quality and affordable racks on the market. You want to spend your money on the wine, not just a place to put it. We’ve rounded up the best across several categories to help you find the best option for any size collection and space.
The best wine rack overall
Why you'll love it: The Mango Steam 32 Bottle Wine Rack with Glass Table Top is large and sturdy with a classic design that complements any room in the house.
When it comes to finding a wine rack that demonstrates both form and function, the Mango Steam 32 bottle rack is a great example.
Its open design secures each bottle in individual diamond-shaped slots constructed from strong, powder-coated steel. The slots in the rear are raised slightly — storing the bottles on a forward-slanted tilt —which ensures that the cork will remain damp. The design creates a secure rack with a non-invasive style that draws the eye to the wine bottles, not just the rack. It also displays your wine without covering up the label, making it easier to identify each bottle.
Despite its open design, the steel-made base and frame, combined with the weight of the bottles, makes for a sturdy rack. Buyers have also commended the product for its individually adjustable legs that help stabilize it on uneven surfaces.
The rack holds 32 bottles, which is the perfect size for a freestanding rack. Any smaller size rack wouldn’t be worth the space it takes up on the floor. If your collection is larger than 32 bottles, it’s probably time to invest in a wine cooler, as maintaining proper temperature and humidity is crucial for long-term storage.
The Mango Steam rack is also quite attractive. One blog that specializes in reviewing wine coolers noted how the rack made them “think of those cozy little Bistros with low lights and intimate tables where you can have a candlelit dinner for two.”
This rack is just as much of a display piece as it is a functional storage unit. Especially given the glass-made tabletop, which provides an additional surface area that can serve a variety of purposes. You can store open bottles, wine glasses, and other accessories on it or add a decorative touch with a plant, framed picture, or a small stack of books.
Pros: Sturdy, decorative, extra tilt for cork protection
Cons: Too large for people who don’t keep a lot of wine around the house
The best countertop wine rack
Why you'll love it: The Sorbus 3-Tier Stackable Wine Rack is compact and stackable, so you can detach and store the racks when not in use.
Countertop wine racks are ideal for non-collectors who only buy a few bottles of wine at a time. They’re also great for compact spaces, especially a rack that’s versatile, stackable, and minimal in design like the Sorbus 3-Tier.
This rack holds a maximum of 12 bottles, with four bottles on each tier. Casual wine buyers might need this space when preparing to host a dinner party or returning from a sale at the liquor store. But most of the time, when you only have a few bottles, the layers can be detached and stored away. If you want to chill some white wine, you can also detach one tier and place it in the refrigerator.
The rack has a slight tilt for cork protection and, despite its metal-wire construction, also boasts a unique design. Spy ranked the Sorbus 3-Tier number one on its list of Best Wine Racks For Every Decorating Style. Available in a copper or silver finish, the rack complements kitchen countertops as well as dining room sideboards and buffet tables.
If you only want to keep about a dozen wine bottles, there’s no reason to spend a lot of money on a rack, and at about $20 on Amazon, the Sorbus 3-Tier is the perfect price for what you need.
Pros: Detachable, stackable, affordable
Cons: Holds a maximum of 12 bottles
The best freestanding wine rack
Why you'll love it: The Trinity EcoStorage 4-Tier NSF Wine Rack is a sturdy, no-frills wine rack with a design that secures any bottle size.
If you’re a wine collector looking to store a large variety of different-sized bottles in your basement or cellar space, look no further than the Trinity EcoStorage 4-Tier.
This rack holds 36 bottles, nine to each tier, with plenty of space between shelves. It’s great for storing larger Champagne bottles alongside the standard 750 ml bottles or any size in between. Plus, each shelf holds up to 150 pounds. Despite its heavy-duty frame, it doesn’t require tools to assemble.
Buyers have backed up these claims, as the Trinity EcoStorage rack maintains a near-perfect 4.8-star rating on Amazon, with many of the reviews commending the product for its sturdiness.
Though it may not be as attractive as the more traditional freestanding racks made of wood, metal is less susceptible to damage in humid environments. And when it comes to storing wine in a damp basement or cellar, you want a rack that will remain structurally secure over time. The feet are also adjustable for use on uneven surfaces, which can be particularly helpful in basements with concrete floors.
Trinity’s EcoStorage production strives to make environmentally-friendly products, and the company claims that this wine rack was made using minimal waste, energy, and toxic chemicals. It’s also an NSF-certified product, meaning the National Sanitation Foundation independently deemed it safe for food and beverage storage.
Additional poles and shelves can be purchased to vertically expand this wine rack if your collection grows beyond its capacity of 36 bottles. Given its versatility and heavy-duty construction, Trinity’s EcoStorage is the perfect rack for housing large collections of wine over long periods of time.
Pros: Sturdy, eco-friendly, holds a range of bottle sizes
Cons: Not as attractive as other floor racks
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