Storing wine properly is very important. Wine bottles are very fragile and can be easily broken if not stored securely.

If you regulary keep a few bottles of wine on hand, its a good idea to store them in a wine rack. Wine racks come in all shapes and sizes, and all prices. You can find one for anywhere from $15 to $1000 or more. Or you can build a wine rack yourself!

Personally I like the look of a nice wrought iron wine rack, but you can find almost any style you like including:

• metal wine racks
• wood wine racks
• wall-mounted wine racks.

If you are just starting out, storing wine bottles in a small wine rack is the perfect solution. A rack that fits 5 or 6 bottles should suffice. The important thing is that they are safe and out of the way.

As you start drinking more, storing your wine will become more difficult. You can upgrade your wine rack to a larger model, or even purchase a wine refrigerator to keep your bottles cool.

If you really become a wine connoisseur, you will need a wine cellar! There are companies that will come to your home and build you a customized wine cellar large enough for any collection.

Of course you could always build your own wine cellar. It doesn't have to take up a lot of space either. Since you're doing it yourself you can make it as large or small as you'd like.

If you are considering building a wine cellar yourself, you should read Chris Miley's How to Build Your Own Wine Cellar. It's the best resource I've found on building and maintaining a residential wine cellar.

Wine Accessories

So now you've learned a bit about different types of wine and home wine storage, but in order to complete your home bar, the following wine accessories are a must:

• A nice selection of wine glasses is essential to any home bar. I wouldn't worry about all the different shapes, especially if you are just beginning to set up your bar. Start with a nice versatile glass that can be used for both red and white wines, and then expand your collection from there. Champagne flutes, brandy snifters, and cordial glasses are nice additions.
• A quality wine stopper is an important item. A few of them are even better. Once you open a wine bottle, you must use a stopper to keep air out. This will help the bottle last longer. Even with a stopper, I wouldn't drink it after any more than a few days.
• Hanging wine glass racks are a terrific way to store your wine glasses. They keep them safe and out of the way, and at the same time and a classy look to your bar area.
• Ever been to a party where everyone was drinking wine and no one could tell which glass belonged to them? A set of wine glass tags will solve that problem once and for all. They only cost a few dollars and come in many different varieties. They lock onto the wine glass with either a clasp or an elastic band and help your guests distinguish one glass from another...they come in especially handy after your guests have enjoyed a few glasses!
• Other wine accessories you will need include a quality corkscrew, a decanter for serving wine on the dinner table, and an ice bucket to keep wine cool.