For purposes of distribution, it is essential to have proper wine racking equipment. Commercial wine racks bear the burden of having to be completely serviceable as well as pleasing to the eye. It is equally important to have a plan instilled that takes care of exceedingly large inventories.

There are countless avenues to explore for satisfying all wine equipment needs. Corporate wineries can be a source for used wine equipment, and several companies are in the business of designing and constructing commercial wine racks. Some things to consider when looking for wine racking equipment:

1. Look for businesses that offer commercial wine racks from small to large capacity. Functionality and attractiveness are key elements.

2. Find ways to save money and time by looking for used wine racks and used winery equipment.

3. Investigate warehouse wine storage as a way to keep large stores of wine safe and fresh in an adapted environment.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Find commercial wine racks that offer attractiveness and functionality

There is more to the formula than finding wine equipment that will store bottles. If the wine will be stored in view of customers, special attention should be paid to space, capacity and appearance.

I recommend: Consider commercial wine display racks from Vigilant, Inc., a company that specializes in the storage of fine products. Bottle capacity ranges from the hundreds to the thousands, depending on individual need. Vintage Cellars offers a wide variety of professional wine racking equipment, ranging from islands to glass-windowed display towers.

Save a bit of cash by shopping for used wine equipment

Purchasing used wine racking equipment saves not only money but time on building and design. Do your homework to ensure that the equipment is in good working order before purchasing.

I recommend: Browse the classifieds at Winebusiness.com. In their used equipment section, buyers can locate vendors selling not only used commercial racks but also a large variety of used winery equipment. Vinotemp International carries a selection of slightly used commercial wine racks with competitive discount pricing.

Consider warehouse wine storage for large bulk supplies

Professional warehoue wine storage facilities offer an ideal alternative for vendors with large-scale wine inventories. With services like temperature controlled storage and detailed inventory control, wine can be kept safely at these facilities and shipped when needed.

I recommend: Research facilities such as D. Sokolin Co. which offer Investment Grade Wine Storage. Here, wine is kept in ideal conditions with high-level security. Customers are sent condition reports on aspects such as fill level and label condition. West coast vendors can also contact facilities such as Groskopf Warehouse and Logistics that specialize in storage, distribution and consolidation.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Contact local vineyards and wineries to enquire about what to look for in good used equipment for wine. Those in the business of making wine will be the best source of equipment information.