How To Make a Riddling Wine Rack
Riddling is process used in making champagnes and heavy red wines. The bottles are inserted into the riddling rack, which has angled holes. Over time, the bottles are slowly rotated and the angle of the rack increased, with the sediment in the wine settling into the neck. When the last of the sediment has settled, the neck is frozen, the plug is removed and the wine is recorked. You can use a riddling rack in home wine production or as an attractive way to display wines that do not require cooling. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Drill press
- 2.5-inch hole saw
- Screwdriver
- 1 inch x 5 inch x 4 feet oak boards (six)
- 1 inch x 1 inch x 15 inch oak strips (six)
- Heavy finishing nails
- Heavy piano hinge (30 inches)
- Screws for piano hinge
- Heavy open hooks (four)
- Moderate weight brass chain (6 foot)
- Stain or clear vanish
Instructions
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1
Set the drill press for a 45-degree angle. Using the 2.5-inch hole saw and starting 5 inches from the top of each board, drill a series of seven holes on 5-inch centers from the top 5-inch mark.
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2
Join three of the boards with three oak strips placed between the second and third, fourth and fifth and sixth and seventh riddling holes. Make sure the boards are positioned so that the riddling hole angles will be upward when the rack is standing. Repeat the process with the final three boards. When this is complete, if you wish, stain or finish the rack sections.
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3
Screw in the open hooks on both sides of the rack sections, 2 feet from the top. You will use the chain to either adjust the angle of the rack, if you are using it to riddle homemade wine, or as a safety chain to keep the rack from flattening, if you are using it for storage only.
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4
Position each section and join them with the piano hinge. Set up the rack and store your wine bottles.
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Tips & Warnings
You can use a hand drill to make the riddling holes. It is heavy work, but can be stretched out for a few days.
Using power tools always poses a hazard. Use and wear the proper safety equipment.
References
Comments
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jdreich
Jan 31, 2010
Riddling rack: when making the holes the saw bottoms out before the the whole hole is cut. Any special technique or tool needed to avoid this?
