How to Properly Store Wine Glasses at Home

Wine glasses are delicate crystals that need extra care when handling and storing. There are many ways to store wine glasses at home. You can use a cabinet, a shelf, or a wine glass rack.

However, there are some critical things about proper wine glass storage that you need to know. Follow these best tips, so you can use your wine glasses long-term:

Things to remember when storing wine glasses on a shelf, cabinet, or cupboard

Rims up

Should you store your wine glasses upside down or upright? The rim of the wine glass is not strong enough to handle the weight. When storing wine glasses in a cabinet or cupboard, store them with their rim up. 

Keep distance

Have dividers or shelves to allow each glass to breathe or keep them at least half an inch away from each other. This will prevent them from getting scratched, chipped, or broken when stored together.

If there's not much room for air circulation around each wine glass, it may lead to condensation, which could cause mold growth. This will be unsightly and may contaminate the contents of the glass when drinking.

Avoid heat

Avoid putting storing your wine glasses in direct sunlight or extreme heat. So keep them away from windows or radiators as they can get too warm. A cabinet or closet that is dark and cool is an ideal wine glass storage. 

If you have a collection of glasses, make sure to place them on a strong enough shelf to hold their weight. 

Use a liner

For extra security, buy a silicon liner or mat with a grip texture. This will help hold the glasses in case there’s rattling when you close the cupboard door too hard.

Storing wine glasses in a wine glass rack

You can create a DIY wine glass storage rack. Just make sure to use sturdy materials and screw them tightly.

There are also freestanding wine glass racks that you can purchase online or in the stores. Place these racks on a flat surface and away from a busy area to avoid knocking them over.

The best way to store wine glasses is to use a high-quality wine glass storage rack in the market. Some are specially designed for storing wine glasses, while others are multipurpose racks that can be used for storing other items.

The VintageView Stemware Rack can securely store up to six wine glasses. It sits above or below a column of wine bottles. It is modular, so it can be adjusted to fit your needs.

Adding VintageView Stemware Rack in your wine cellar or storage area will make serving and drinking wine convenient as you can just pick your wine bottle and a couple of wine glasses in the same place.

How to wash wine glasses

Make sure the wine glasses are clean and dry before putting them away in the storage. 

Wash the glasses immediately, especially after drinking red wine, as they can get stained.

It's better to handwash your glasses than put them in the dishwasher. They may break due to the high temperature and pressure inside. 

Remove dirt or wine from the glass by washing it with warm water and mild soap. Rinse well under running water before drying completely with a soft and clean microfiber towel.

Bonus tip in storing wine glasses

Try to avoid using the same wine glasses repeatedly to avoid wearing them. Put the glass you recently used at the back, and use the one in the front next time. Rotating your wine glass can also help avoid dust accumulation.

Final Words

Storing wine glasses can be tricky. They could easily break, chip, or get scratched if you don't take the proper precautions. So use an appropriate place of storage like the VintageView Stemware Rack. It will not only keep your wine glasses secure, but it will also display them elegantly with your favorite vino collection.

Randy Green

Randy is a true wine storage aficionado and expert in wine cellar design. He gained construction experience as a partner in a general contracting business before niching into and passionately focusing on creating wine storage solutions for clients in 2016. He takes great pride in bringing these designs to life, and is dedicated to ensuring that every wine cellar he creates is not only functional but also a beautiful addition to any home or business. The Wine Cellar HQ team also includes refrigeration sizing experts and licensed HVAC technicians to ensure optimal climate control for your wine cellar, so that your wines can age to perfection.