It is no secret that I love wine. Red, white, and of course sparkling! Many of my favorites come out of Napa. But instead of talking about the fabulous wines that come out of Napa California (don’t get me started, I might not stop), I want to talk about wine as a design feature.
Wine has become a powerful icon in our society. It used to be thought of only as a luxury for the well-to-do class. But that is no longer the case. Whether it’s a crisp Italian white on a balmy afternoon on your porch or a juicy California red on a cool evening around the fire, there is a certain elegance to sipping wine, particularly out of a beautiful, stemmed wine glass.
I’m sure you’ve all seen the traditional wine storage with wines stored side by side in cherry wood with the bottle end facing out. Very efficient for wine storage. Stainless steel wine coolers and beverage fridges seem to be in most kitchens nowadays, keeping wine the right temp for sure. Again, this is great for storing wine but falls short when it comes to displaying wine.
Undoubtedly, you’ve seen the cabinets with a lattice pattern in place of upper cabinets with wine glasses hanging below. You immediately recognize it is wine storage. Very decorative, but you still must remove each bottle of wine to see what it is.
That’s where a label forward method of wine storage excels. After all, the labels on many bottles of wine are art gallery worthy. It is also easier to recognize and locate the wine you may be looking for. From a design perspective, label forward display has transformed wine storage to an interior design feature in the home.
Wine displays can vary greatly. A basic wine fridge certainly works. As does a simple display over a set of cabinets in or just off the kitchen. Wine displays can also capture the unused space under the stairs, suggesting the wine is stored in a “cellar”. Some are elaborate glass enclosed alcoves, while others are entire rooms that are climate-controlled, perhaps even featuring a bar area or table to sit and enjoy a glass or two of your favorite wine with friends and family.
No matter how you store or display wine in your home, I just want to say, “CHEERS” and enjoy some vino!
Adapted from Housing Design Matters Blog