Display Cabinets for Wine Lovers: What to Look For

For wine lovers, a good display cabinet should do two jobs at once: show off bottles and glassware beautifully, and keep the wine away from the things that spoil it, namely heat, strong light and constant vibration. In practice, that means looking for a cabinet with horizontal bottle racks or deep shelves, sturdy shelving that can carry real weight, low heat LED lighting, doors that close properly and a position in the room away from radiators and sunny windows. A display cabinet is the right home for the bottles you plan to drink in the coming months. For serious long term ageing, a temperature controlled wine cooler is still the better tool.

With that distinction clear, a well chosen piece from our modern display cabinets UK range can become one of the most enjoyable pieces of furniture in the house. Here is what to look for, and how to set it up so that it looks good and treats your wine kindly.

Display cabinet, drinks cabinet or wine cooler?

It helps to be clear about which piece you actually need, because the three are often confused.

• A display cabinet is designed to show items behind glass. Fitted with racks or suitable shelves, it works well for a rotating selection of bottles and for glassware.
• A drinks cabinet is built around serving, often with bottle storage, a mixing surface and glass holders. It may be fully enclosed rather than glazed.
• A wine cooler is an appliance that controls temperature and, in some cases, humidity. It is the right choice for cellaring wine for years.

Many wine lovers combine two of these: a cooler in the kitchen or utility room for the cellar, and a display cabinet in the living or dining room for the bottles currently in rotation, plus the glasses to serve them.

Where to put it

Position matters more than almost any other feature. Wine is happiest somewhere cool, dark and steady, which in most UK homes rules out a few obvious spots.

• Avoid radiators and fireplaces. Even a few feet from a radiator, the temperature can rise noticeably when the heating is on.
• Keep away from direct sun. South and west facing windows can bathe a cabinet in light and warmth for hours each afternoon.
• Avoid the kitchen if possible. Ovens, hobs and dishwashers create heat and humidity swings.
• Think about vibration. A cabinet beside a washing machine, on a bouncy suspended floor or next to a large speaker will be jostled more than one against a solid internal wall.

An internal wall in a dining room or a north facing living room is often a good choice. When you plan the layout, consider how the cabinet relates to the rest of your modern living room furniture UK or dining set, so that it is easy to reach when guests are seated.

Building a complete drinks corner

If you entertain often, a display cabinet can anchor a wider drinks area. A dedicated piece from our drinks cabinets and serving trolleys UK collection adds a surface for opening bottles and pouring, while a trolley can be wheeled to the table or the garden. In a larger kitchen diner, a small set from our modern bar table sets UK sale range nearby creates a relaxed spot for tasting. Keep the display cabinet as the calm, protected home for bottles and glasses, and let the other pieces handle the pouring and the mess.

How bottles should be stored

Bottles sealed with natural cork are traditionally stored lying down so the wine stays in contact with the cork and helps prevent it drying out. Screw capped bottles can stand upright without concern, though many people still lay them down for consistency and to save space.

Look for a cabinet with one of the following:

• Built in wine racks or a lattice section that holds bottles horizontally.
• Deep shelves that can take a bottle lying sideways, which usually means a depth comfortably greater than the length of a standard bottle.
• Removable racks that let you switch between bottles and other display as your collection changes.

If the cabinet you love has only flat glass shelves, freestanding countertop wine racks can sit inside it. Measure the internal height and depth carefully first.

Shelf strength: bottles are heavy

A full bottle of wine weighs well over a kilogram, and a single shelf of bottles adds up quickly. This is the most common practical mistake people make when turning a display cabinet into wine storage.

Wooden and metal shelves generally carry more weight than glass of the same span. Where shelves are glass, thickness and width make a significant difference to how much they can safely support. Our guide to glass shelf load limits in UK display cabinets explains the principles, and we would always recommend following the manufacturer’s stated limits.

As a rule of thumb, keep bottles on the lower shelves or the base, and use upper glass shelves for stemware, decanters and lighter pieces. This also lowers the centre of gravity, making the whole cabinet more stable.

Lighting: show the glass, spare the wine

Lighting is part of the appeal of a wine display, and nothing shows off crystal quite like a softly lit shelf in the evening. The key is choosing the right type.

• LED lighting gives off very little heat compared with older halogen bulbs, which makes it the sensible choice near wine.
• Warm white tones flatter wood and red wine, while cooler whites suit chrome and contemporary glass.
• Switchable or dimmable lighting lets you use it for occasions rather than leaving it on all day.

Strong light, especially ultraviolet, is generally considered harmful to wine over time, which is one reason many wine bottles are tinted. Ordinary glass doors do not offer complete protection from daylight. Our article on whether UK display cabinets protect contents from fading looks at how glass and light interact, and the same thinking applies to bottles.

Glassware deserves its own plan

Part of the pleasure of a wine cabinet is having the right glass within reach. Stemware is fragile and tall, so it needs a little thought.

• Check the shelf spacing. Large red wine glasses are taller than many people expect, so adjustable shelves are a real advantage.
• Store glasses upright on their bases. Resting them on their rims can damage the delicate edge over time.
• Consider an under shelf stemware rack, which hangs glasses by the foot and frees up shelf space below.
• Leave a little space between glasses so they do not chime together when the doors are opened.

Doors, locks and households with children

Glass doors keep dust off bottles and glasses and reduce the small amount of air movement that can carry kitchen grease or cooking smells. Magnetic catches or soft close hinges help doors stay shut and prevent the small knocks that rattle glassware.

A lock is worth considering if there are children or teenagers in the house, or if the cabinet sits in a shared space. Many display cabinets come with a lock on the doors, and it is a detail worth checking before you choose.

Style choices for a wine display

The look you choose will shape the mood of the room. A few combinations work particularly well:

• Dark walnut with warm lighting: rich and intimate, suited to dining rooms painted in deep greens, blues or burgundy.
• Black metal and clear glass: modern and graphic, letting the shapes of bottles and decanters stand out.
• Light oak with reeded glass: softer and more Scandinavian, with the bottles partly veiled.
• Mirrored back panels: doubling the sparkle of glassware and making a small collection look more generous.

A checklist for wine lovers

• Is the position away from radiators, sun and appliances?
• Can bottles be stored lying down?
• Will the shelves safely take the weight I plan to put on them?
• Is the lighting LED and switchable?
• Are shelves adjustable for tall stemware?
• Do the doors close well, and is there a lock if I need one?

When you are ready to bring your bottles and glasses out of the cupboard, you will find display cabinets, drinks cabinets and dining furniture together at Furniture in Fashion, with free delivery to most UK mainland postcodes.

Frequently asked questions

Can I store wine long term in a display cabinet?

A display cabinet suits wine you plan to drink in the near future. For ageing wine over several years, a temperature controlled wine cooler or a cool, dark cellar space is more reliable.

Should wine bottles lie down in a display cabinet?

Bottles with natural corks are traditionally stored lying down to keep the cork moist. Screw capped bottles can be stored upright if that suits your cabinet better.

Are glass shelves strong enough for wine bottles?

It depends on the thickness and span of the glass and the manufacturer’s stated limits. Keep bottles on lower or wooden shelves where possible and use glass shelves for lighter stemware.

Does cabinet lighting harm wine?

Low heat LED lighting used for short periods is generally a sensible choice. Avoid leaving lights on all day and keep the cabinet away from direct sunlight.

How should I store wine glasses in a cabinet?

Stand them upright on their bases with a little space between each glass, or use an under shelf rack that holds them by the foot.