When we talk about wine storage facilities, there are a lot of options that come to mind. But usually, we think about wine racks.
Wine racks are the most accessible, convenient, and safest wine storage solution these days. They come in many forms and styles, and the choices are almost limitless with custom wine racks. But how do you choose the best type of wine rack for your wine storage needs?
Here, we give you five practical steps on how to choose wine racks in Washington DC.
Tip #1: Choose a durable material.
Glass, plastic, metal, and wood – these are the materials that wine rack builders use. Do not choose glass or plastic because of durability issues even when used for short-term wine storage. Instead, go for metal or wood wine racks.
Choose Metal Wine Racks
Metal wine racks are popular in contemporary wine cellars. They are highly durable and can house various wine bottle sizes for long periods of time. One of the best metal wine racks is from VintageView.
Learn more about VintageView metal wine racks by clicking here.
Choose Wood Wine Racks
If you choose wood wine racks, make sure also to check what type of wood the wine rack is made of. We recommend wooden wine racks made of Redwood, Mahogany, and Pine.
These wood species are known to withstand time, warping, decay, and pest infestation. Many wine cellar builders recommend them not only because of their longevity but also because of their natural beauty and environmental sustainability.
Tip #2: Check the Craftsmanship and Important Features
Have you seen wine bottles with scratched wine bottle labels? As a wine collector yourself, you do not want to see this on any bottle in your collection.
Wine rack manufacturers apply various techniques in building custom wine racks. One of the most important things to check is if the wood pieces that anchor the wine bottles are well sanded. Hand-sanding the wood is a standard procedure in building wooden wine racks. This step makes sure that the wine labels are protected from scratches.
Another significant detail to look for is the presence of a toe-kick at the base of the wooden wine rack. This feature ensures that the wine rack is stable enough to prevent movement and vibrations which can disturb the process of wine aging.
Tip #3: Watch out for Off-Gassing
Natural wood extracts, lacquers, stains, and other finishing substances applied to the wood or metal can emit chemical gasses which can potentially damage the wine. Wines are sensitive to such elements, so you must make sure that the finishes and paints applied to the wine racks you purchase are safe and do not emit harmful, odorous chemicals.
Tip #4: Consider Wine Rack Extensions
Consider your long-term wine storage plans when choosing a wine rack design. If you plan to start out with a small wine collection and grow it in the future, then the modular wine racks are the best option for you.
They are flexible which means you can easily add wine rack extensions or additional wine racking systems to your existing modular wine rack to accommodate more bottles of wine.
Tip #5: Choose a Trusted Wine Rack Manufacturer
If you have already determined whether to choose metal or wood wine racks or both, the next step will be to choose a wine rack manufacturer. Having a durable material but poor craftsmanship means a waste of money, time, and effort. So, right from the beginning, you should choose an expert wine rack or wine cellar builder who can provide quality wine storage products and services.
Here at Custom Wine Cellars Washington DC, we provide high-quality, functional, sturdy, and aesthetically pleasing custom wine racks. 
We have been in the wine cellar industry for years, and we are a member of the Wine Cellar Designers Group which upholds the quality standards in the construction of wine storage facilities. We have completed beautiful residential and commercial wine cellar projects for our clients all over Washington DC.
Contact us now to learn more about our wine storage products and services.