Wondering how people store their 375s or smaller bottles? I hate those little bottles taking a whole spot on my regular storage racks and and seeking storage for just the smaller bottles.
Two fit capsule to punt in my EuroCave. Or I bin then w/ 750s. But mostly, I font age them. They get drunk quickly. Only ones I currently have are VinSanto and Y’quem.
I basically just stuff half bottles in wherever there is space and can usually fit 1.5 in per 750mL bottle slot, so yes it is less efficient for storage. I tend to just stuff them in between the necks of two full bottles. It’s not particularly elegant. Never buy any splits.
Half-bottle racking. Although I assume you’ve thought of that.
In Darryl’s case I think he’s trying to figure out how to fit them in an offsite storage locker. And having seen his lockers, there’s zippy space for racking.
Got a decent source? My google skills seem to be invalid in this case.
Actually I was trying to find a storage mechanism at home so I can find stuff. Off-site is a disaster for another day.
Darryl, I store them in Bordeaux wooden boxes and stack them. Paper on the outside listing what’s inside.
+1. You can get at least two rows in a wooden case.
I bought this:
My retailer carries Rombauer in 375s. I have him save the cardboard boxes for me. Each holds 12 of the small bottles. Great size for vintage port or Sauternes for 2.
And a company called Box Vendor sells styro boxes for 375s.
I always have a bunch lying horizontal and perpendicular between the necks of full-size bottles on the racks.
I put them in the ‘bulk’ section on the bottom of my cabinet. Left side for huge bottles (magnums, champagne and awkward bottles). The right side is for .375; 3 deep instead of two deep. It fits 162 (boy, I love Cellartracker!).
So someone has to say it - a 375 is a half, a split is a 187 ml.
I keep a couple of Sauternes wooden cases that are built for 375s for assorted 375s. Work for Bdx style and thinner Burg shapes. There seem to be 2 distinct shapes of Burg half bottles - the fatter ones (resemble Huet 375s and I store together) I keep in a box. And of course the German/Alsace are longer and need own space. Other than Sauternes and other stickies I generally drink 375s much earlier, so long term is less of an issue.
Thanks, I think I shall try this. Although if one built a rack for the boxes and put handles on them?? Might make it easier to find things.
It is the German/Alsace bottles that cause issues in 750 too, sadly.
I just found and ordered this 1/2 bottle rack:
http://www.beveragefactory.com/wine/racking/wine-cellar-rack-kits/allavino-system/wcr6foot/CKC-302-SPL.shtml
Once it arrives and I set it up, I will post more about it.
I had bin-drawers built in for storage. 2 the depth of a milk crate (one for mags and one for chamagne) and 4 half that depth (two for Alsatians (long necks), one for red halves and one for white halves.
I also have half bottle racking for 32 (in between the drawers). Half racking often doesn’t make sense because it takes well more than half the space. However, in this case, I couldn’t fit 2 columns of 750s between the drawers; 2 columns of 375s worked great.
As you might guess, I love 375s.
I either go three in a double-deep slot or layer them in on the top shelf (where they generally fit on top of a row of 750s, depending on the cooler.
Since the store selling the rack is in San Diego I picked the unit up in person and saved nearly $70 in shipping fees. (The fees are high because the unit is very long and packed in numerous layers of cardboard and bubble wrap.) The hardest part was getting it out of all of the protective coating. The directions are vague to say the least, but I finally figured it out. Seems like a very sturdy unit which I bolted to the wall of my cellar.