The bottle thread......

[HokitikaGold]

Aloha all

Still learning this site, so please be gentle. I used to be an avid flyer, but COVID has killed that for now. I know that this forum has many wine people.

I am an unskilled wine aficionado, but amongst my quirks is admiration of the bottles themselves. Does anyone else have strong thoughts here?

I truly love well made bottles. To me the overall experience of wine includes that tactile appreciation of the vessel itself. But there are so many facets in this discussion. The foremost, in my mind, is the usage of old traditional styles, effectively French in origin. I like their faithfulness on a regional and style level. Thus I would love cabernets and SBS/SSB to come in bordeaux bottles, pinot noir and shiraz in burgundy fashion. Reisling and traminer in the Alsace flutes... etc. I notice that here in Australia there seems no rhyme or reason in this. No tradition.

I also love a heavier bottle in the case of bordeaux and burgundy. Sheer weight and punt depth I enjoy, even if intellectually, the reasons for these are now lost in modern times.

Yet another facet is the new age of sustainability/ carbon footprint / etc. I know that a heavier bottle costs the "climate" more. Transportation costs, non-recyclable glass styles, etc. Yet I still enjoy those heavier bottles.

I suffer from "me" - an affliction that some could label as asperges. But I do actually WEIGH the bottles of the wines I sample. Yes, I recognize this is over the top. But it is amazing that the sheer receptacle of a standard bottle of wine can range from 300 grams to over a kilo of solid glass.

This is not about closures - that is a whole different discussion (which I am happy to debate also )

But do AFF wine imbibers think much about the bottles. What are your thoughts?

 

[Steady]

I love standard Bordeaux bottles as they are so much easier to store. Standish and Sami Odi bottles are a bugger but the contents make up for it

 

[wine-muller]

Standish and Sami Odi bottles are a bugger

Which is why you always buy by the case. Zero issues storing them in their boxes

 

[HokitikaGold]

I have a fetish these days for simple wine racks. My only kind is the following:
I dont know what this style is called?

But for bordeaux and flutes, and 90% of burgundys, it works for me.

 

[Steady]

I have a fetish these days for simple wine racks. My only kind is the following:

There is nothing following?

 

[HokitikaGold]

There is nothing following?

Sorry Steady - had technical problems....

 

[Daver6]

I have a fetish these days for simple wine racks. My only kind is the following:View attachment 226501
I dont know what this style is called?

But for bordeaux and flutes, and 90% of burgundys, it works for me.

I find that style is terrible for label preservation. Way too easy to destroy the label on the metal strip.

 

[HokitikaGold]

I find that style is terrible for label preservation. Way too easy to destroy the label on the metal strip.

I admit that point. But it is simply so versatile, as you can build units to whatever space. I treat my wines differently depending on their value to me. Some I remove/handle/admire with the gentle touch of kid gloves. Others cheapies are just shuffled as I work out the dozen that will sit on my desk for this weeks tasting. But I do love the versatility. My current wine "cellar" is the built-in wardrobe of the guests room - so this style fits in so well in a non-special area.

 

[Steady]

I find that style is terrible for label preservation. Way too easy to destroy the label on the metal strip.

What do you use instead @Daver6

 

[Daver6]

I admit that point. But it is simply so versatile, as you can build units to whatever space. I treat my wines differently depending on their value to me. Some I remove/handle/admire with the gentle touch of kid gloves. Others cheapies are just shuffled as I work out the dozen that will sit on my desk for this weeks tasting. But I do love the versatility. My current wine "cellar" is the built-in wardrobe of the guests room - so this style fits in so well in a non-special area.

I agree about the versatility. You can get a similar modular style without the sharp metal bits. I used to have something similar but all plastic.

What do you use instead @Daver6

I have a room converted to a cellar. I got the racking from https://www.cellarack.com/ in Melbourne. They were brilliant to deal with. I measure up the space, had a discussion about what I wanted to achieve. They came up with a few options and shipped everything to Perth.

 

[Steady]

I agree about the versatility. You can get a similar modular style without the sharp metal bits. I used to have something similar but all plastic.



I have a room converted to a cellar. I got the racking from Cellarack Wine Racks in Melbourne. They were brilliant to deal with. I measure up the space, had a discussion about what I wanted to achieve. They came up with a few options and shipped everything to Perth.

View attachment 226505

Looks like a great setup

 

[TheRealTMA]

I have a fetish these days for simple wine racks. My only kind is the following:
I dont know what this style is called?

Wines for tonight?

 

[Steady]

Wines for tonight?

There is probably enough there for tonight

 

[henleybeach]

I agree about the versatility. You can get a similar modular style without the sharp metal bits. I used to have something similar but all plastic.



I have a room converted to a cellar. I got the racking from https://www.cellarack.com/ in Melbourne. They were brilliant to deal with. I measure up the space, had a discussion about what I wanted to achieve. They came up with a few options and shipped everything to Perth.

View attachment 226505

Did you tag the wines ?

 

[Daver6]

Did you tag the wines ?

Yeah, I use cheapy wine tags that I got off eBay. I dont tag individual bottles, but one bottle for each wine of a vintage. Makes finding it later much easier. I also have my wines in CellarTracker where I list each vertical section by letter. That way I know to say look in column B for a specific wine and then just look for the tag.

The whole process is actually really simple once set up. I'm pretty good at keeping on top of things but adding wine to CellarTracker and tagging as it comes in and marking it off as consumed as it goes down my gullet.

 

[henleybeach]

Yeah, I use cheapy wine tags that I got off eBay. I dont tag individual bottles, but one bottle for each wine of a vintage. Makes finding it later much easier. I also have my wines in CellarTracker where I list each vertical section by letter. That way I know to say look in column B for a specific wine and then just look for the tag.

The whole process is actually really simple once set up. I'm pretty good at keeping on top of things but adding wine to CellarTracker and tagging as it comes in and marking it off as consumed as it goes down my gullet.

Like it !

 

[HokitikaGold]

I find that style is terrible for label preservation. Way too easy to destroy the label on the metal strip.

For the record, the rack I showed the photo of is my favorite (hence its position of pride next to me) because of nostalgia. It is my oldest rack, brought from NZ, made by "Wine Storage Systems" - who no longer exist. It is approaching its 50th birthday - I have no idea of how long this style has been around? And yes, it has sharp edges.

My main racks are far more modern - they have a plastic clip on each unit that shields the bottle/label from any metal contact. In the picture below I have removed the clip from the centre unit to show the clips form - the bottle to the right shows how the thing works...



And although I could put these clips on "old faithful", have not ever bothered to. Bottles on the desk rack are about to be consumed - so no need for finesse - it is like a holding pen at an abattoir

 

[Ekka]

Jolly good for you.

As an Australian I prefer Australian wines, of which there are many.

 

[HokitikaGold]

Jolly good for you.

As an Australian I prefer Australian wines, of which there are many.

I am a beleiver in drinking wines of whatever country you are in. In australia, there is just so much good wine...

 

[jrod]

I am an unskilled wine aficionado, but amongst my quirks is admiration of the bottles themselves. Does anyone else have strong thoughts here?

I agree.

ie. Felton road, expensive wine but the bottle and screwcaps are so cheap and poor quality