Wine racks
WINE puts the gadgets and gimmicks to the test and provides an honest appraisal.
Steelrax
This is the professional solution to cellaring wines and is aimed at the serious collector, restaurant or even business. There's a sturdy steel frame with welded, wave-form bottle support. It's wrought iron, primed and sealed and comes in black paint. The standard unit of 180 bottles is 2m high by 1m wide and holds 180 bottles. The depth of the unit is 21,5cm. Designed for large numbers, it's possible to see at a glance what the label is. Aesthetics are somewhat minimalistic but if looks don't matter and storage does, this is the one for you. These racks can also be customised.
Price: 180-bottle rack (2m x 1m wide) - R1185
Cellarax Wine Cellars: 011 455 4920, reciprocal@icon.co.za
Dowel racks
Colleague Christian Eedes swears by these and has a number in his office. However, I'm not a fan, having had a number collapse and lose shape with dowels popping out of the joints. Some outsize Burgundy bottles are almost too fat for the space provided which could stress the frame. They're also not intended for large numbers of wines - 12 or 24 being the max I'd stack. The standard unit is five bottles by three rows making it either a 15 or 20 bottle rack, depending on whether bottles are stored on top or not. Depth is 20cm. Again, these can be customised at an average cost of R5 a bottle (plain pine) or R5,50 for the stain and varnish option. If you liked Tinka-toys as a child, racks can also be supplied in a DIY set.
Prices: 20-bottle rack in plain pine is R100.
Cape Wineracks: Edmund Krohn, 021 851 4205
Terractotta
This is a semi-permanent solution since it requires some construction. There is a base for the two-bottle units to be rested upon. The base costs R55 and each two-bottle unit is around R28 (including VAT). Pros of this system are that the terracotta means the wine is kept naturally cool and insulated, with the bottle stored at an angle. Cons include the rough edges which scuff up labels and abottles - and if you don't have neck tags or a cellar management system, you also can't see the wine label. To accommodate more than 12 bottles can be quite expensive as both the racks and the prices stack up.
Dimensions: 245mm wide x 125mm high x 200mm deep.
Price: R55 - base; R28 per 2 bottle unit.
Available at Italcotto and other similar tile suppliers nationwide.
www.italcotto.co.za
Stack Rack
This is marketed and sold by Makro and is quite an intriguing little number. Had us tugging and twisting like a Chinese monkey-puzzle initially! It's an 18-bottle chrome rack that (allegedly) simply clicks together. Ideal for a dining room, kitchen or lounge display. It's sturdy and secure but also disassembles easily should it need to be moved. Can be free-standing or attached to a wall. I'd hesitate to use it for anything more than 12 to18 bottles. Also available in four and six bottle widths.
Dimensions: 365mm wide x 700mm high and 145mm deep.
Price: 4 x 3 bottle - R99,90
6 x 3 bottle - R149 o 6 x 6 bottle - R289
Available at Makro outlets nationwide.
Well constructed, these 12-bottle boxes are sturdy, easy to stack and can even be used to transport a collection lock, stock and bottle with minimum disruption. Compartment sections are nice and deep - at 240mm the deepest of all the racks tested - so when stacked, bottles don't fall out. It accommodates both Burgundy and Bordeaux bottles equally well. Fancy bottle sizes can be a problem. For example, we found that an oversize Riesling bottle neck protruded by a full 70mm, making the bottle wobble around in its slot. Some bubbly bottles (Pongracz) might also not fit. Still, you could start a decent cellar by stacking these atop one another.
Dimensions: 420mm x 320mm. Depth 240mm
Price: from R199
River Woods: 011 887 7139, 021 686 6662, www.wineracks.co.za
(River Woods will customise any wine rack or cellar to order. A scalloped or neck cradle wine rack in plain pine will cost R7,50/bottle while a varnished unit costs R9/bottle.)
Crate racks
Construction is nice and sturdy with a really solid feel. Another that can be used to equip an entire cellar - or just to keep a modest collection. Great for Bordeaux bottles which happily pack a half-dozen to a triangular section, and it looks good when fully stocked. Not so for Burgundy - only five bottles fit into a section, four on the longer side. This reduces the capacity of the crate to 20 Burgundy bottles - and also looks ungainly. Fancy bottle sizes can also be a problem - the Riesling again. The section dividers are only 200mm so there's less support for the bottle. Great if all wines are the same, but if not it can mean a lot of tugging and clunking of bottles to retrieve the right one.
Dimensions: 520mm x 425mm. Depth 200mm
Price: from R199
River Woods: 011 887 7139, 021 686 6662, www.wineracks.co.za
Our verdict?
If you don't have a huge collection then we'd opt for the 12-bottle case for convenience, support and price. Add more cases as your collection grows. If it's aesthetics you're after and you only have a case or two of wine, go for the Stack Rack. If you're serious about your wine collection, rather customise your cellar. Steelrax would get my vote having seen how well they work in WINE magazine's two cellars. Ultimately it comes down to practicality and aesthetics. Is your collection on display? Are you going to host tastings in your cellar or just use the racks for storage? Only you can answer.
