Introducing Wine Glass Racks
If you are looking into wine glass racks, we’re guessing that you’re interested in the purchase for one of two reasons:
1) You have inadequate shelf space in a small home or kitchen and need creative ways to store those extra wine glasses.
2) You have a magnificent wine glassware collection and you would like to showcase your love for stemware in a tasteful but clearly visible display.
Before we continue with our recommendations, though, a little about the KnowWines blog. We are an Amazon.com affiliate and we do receive a small commission if you purchase items through our affiliate links at no cost to you. The commissions we receive help us pay for web hosting fees, products to test, and other costs associated with running this site. Thanks for using our affiliate links and supporting our independent blog!
Do I need a wine glass rack?
If you have ample in-cabinet storage in your kitchen or unconditioned storage elsewhere in the home, then you may not need a wine glass rack for storing your stemware. If this is the case, be sure to read our blog on how to properly store your wine glasses.
However, if you don’t have in-cabinet space for storing wine glasses, or you want to showcase wine glasses in your kitchen, bar, or even a repurposed armoire, then wine glass racks are a great solution to storing wine glasses.
What types of wine glass racks are there?
Different types of wine glass rack designs are generally dependent upon the intended location for installation. Wine glass racks can be installed in any of the following locations:
Ceiling-mounted
Wall-mounted
Under the cabinet
Free-standing counter-top or table-top unit
In an armoire, bookcase, or pantry
What types of materials are wine glass racks made of?
Just as there are many types of wine glass racks, there are also several materials from which wine glass racks are made. Stemware glass racks can be made from metal, wood, composite wood, glass, plastic, and reclaimed architectural elements like pallets. If the wine glass rack is made out of metal or wood, frequently there is more than one finish available from the manufacturer so that the rack will fit in with a variety of aesthetics.
How Do I Select the Right Wine Glass Rack?
Select a Location
While under the counter is a popular option, consider some other spaces before purchasing a wine glass rack. Think about how often you use the space where you’re considering putting a wine rack. Is this spot easy to access when you’re entertaining guests? Do you want to showcase your glassware, or do you simply need an out-of-the-way place to store it?
Consider Type and Number of Glasses
Consider the diversity of glasses you own or may own in the future. Are you just beginning to purchase wine glasses or do you already have a collection? If you’re single or live with just one other person, a smaller wine glass rack may work just fine. If you have a bar in your basement or entertain frequently, you will want to consider a wine glass rack that will store 18 or more glasses.
Most wine glasses have a fairly thin base - if you have wine glasses with “fatter” base you may find that these don’t fit well into some wine racks.
Take a Measurement
After you’ve decided where you want your wine rack to go, measure the space available. Consider not only the width and depth of space but also the height.
You’ll also want to measure your wine glasses. Consider how much space each glass takes in diameter. Some specialty large-bowl wine glasses for Burgundy or Bordeaux take up more space than universal wine glasses.
Make sure that there is enough space between glassware to store them a half-inch apart. When glasses are stored too close together, vibrations can damage your glassware (or just make an annoying noise).
When taking your measurements, you should also consider if there are pets or children who could bump/break glasses by accident as they are passing by. Hold up your favorite glass under the counter and see if your cat can safely pass under it (no, we don’t love cats on our countertops either, but we all know they get up there when we’re gone!). You may also want to consider if an under-counter wine glass rack will reduce your counter space.
The Best Under-Counter Wine Glass Rack
The simple, clean design of this under-counter wine rack is perfect for today’s modern kitchens. The rack is easy to install and holds up to 18 wine glasses (it will also hold champagne flutes or martini glasses).
The Best Hanging Wine Glass Rack
When selecting a wine glass rack that hangs from the ceiling, make sure to measure how far from the ceiling that wine glasses will be. You don’t want to look out across a room and stare directly into wine glasses instead of at your guests or partner.
We love the rustic elegance of this wine glass rack. And we love that it holds wine bottles in addition to wine glasses.
The Best Countertop Wine Glass Rack
If you are looking for a stemware storage rack that can sit on your counter or in your pantry, consider one of these. The spiral staircase effect is visually pleasing, and because glasses are stored vertically, they won’t take up too much counter space.
Wall Mounted Wine Glass Rack
One of the most flexible wine glass racks on the market are these wall mounted wine glass racks. Like this one, many have both a framework for hanging wine glasses and a “bonus” bookshelf surface. This is a great space for storing wine books or even wine bottles! When you’re short on cabinet space, using wall space is an excellent way to get more storage.
The Best DIY Wine Glass Rack
On a budget or good with hand tools? You can make your own wine glass rack for under-counter storage. Check out this short video for instructions.
To make the wine glass rack, you can purchase your own T-Molding in a variety of lengths from your local hardware store and even online. We like this unfinished T Molding as you can stain or paint it to match your cabinet or armoire.
Installing Your Wine Glass Rack
Most wine glass racks require screws (which are often included with purchase), a screwdriver (manual or electric), a tape measurer or ruler, and a pencil to mark where to insert the screws.
It’s a good idea to have extra screws on hand in case the screws provided with the rack are too shallow or too long. Nothing’s worse than installing a wine rack and puncturing through the cabinet. Or, even worse, using too short a screw, resulting in your wine glass rack falling down. No one wants to clean up that mess (or lose all that glassware!).
If you are installing a ceiling-mounted wine glass racks, you might want to have a few spare eye screws on hand in case the eye screw you receive is not sufficient.
When installing a ceiling mounted wine glass rack, try to screw into the ceiling joists. Alternatively, you can first install a decorative board on the ceiling and secure that to the ceiling joists. Then, you can hang the wine glass rack from the board.
If you’ve no clue where the ceiling joists are, you can get a stud finder (these are also helpful for hanging up large paintings, shelves, mirrors, or other heavy objects).
Stemware Rack Wrap-Up
There are a variety of wine glass racks to store your stemware depending upon the space you have available and the number of glasses you need to accommodate.
Wine glass rack options range from DIY to higher-end, ceiling-mounted units. The most flexible type of wine glass storage is a wall-mounted wine glass rack, as it can be installed just about anywhere you need it.
When installing any wine glass rack, make sure the screws you use to install it are long enough (and also not too long!). If the wine glass rack weighs over a couple pounds and is to be installed in drywall, we recommend that the screws are inserted such that they go into the studs (for a wall installation) and joists (for ceiling installation).
When filling the glass wine rack with glassware, make sure that the glasses are about ½ inch apart so that they don’t chip and to prevent a ringing noise if there are any vibrations near the wine glass rack. Also, if you’re displaying your glassware for guests to see, be sure they’re nice and clean!
Cheers!