The Art of Wine
Creative juices uncork a new age of accessories for pouring and furnishings for storing.
1. Sub-Zero’s 46-bottle cooler has two wine compartments with separate thermostats for whites and reds. $3,600; available locally at Aggressive Appliances, Architectural Artworks, Ferguson Enterprises and Southeast Steel. 2. Skybar preserves and serves as many as three bottles of wine for up to 10 days; individual controls allow each bottle to be chilled to its own ideal temperature. $999.99; skybarhome.com. 3. Metal sculptor Michael Aram crafts practical wine accessories with an artistic touch. The collection includes nature-themed coasters, stoppers and rests. $49-$98; Bloomingdale’s and Neiman Marcus at The Mall at Millenia. 4. Tupperware’s sleek wine opener is simplicity itself. Fit it over the neck of a bottle, twist the handle and the cork slips out with ease. $29.50; tupperware.com or the Gallery at Tupperware’s world headquarters in Orlando. 5. Artist Robin Antar calls her hand-carved, cast-stone creations “Wine Knots.” This freeform wine holder is available in white, blue and custom colors. $600-$700; rantar.com. 6. Umbra’s reputation for push-the-envelope product design can be seen most clearly in the company’s handmade “Chantilly” decanter. $130; umbra.com. 7. Made of reclaimed wine barrels and architectural salvage, “Re-Inspired Elements: A Tasting Installation” by eco-designer Claire Danthois is both sculpture and tasting bar. $20,000; newtonvineyard.com.
Just as a fine wine can bring out the best in a meal, the right accessories and storage elements can enhance your collection of reds, whites and rosés. Those accessories no longer need to be hidden away in a drawer when not in use, and wine racks and cooling units don’t have to be tucked into corners. Industrial designers and artisans have elevated the utilitarian to an art form, creating wine tools and furnishings that are as decorative as they are functional.
Those bottles bearing fruits of the vine deserve to be showcased as well, in artistically formed wine racks and holders that do double duty as sculptural accents. Finishing touches include elegant wine coasters and servers, wine glasses and stoppers, which can enhance both your décor and your appreciation for the grape in its most enjoyable form.
