If this looks like any ordinary wine rack well, let me tell you, it’s not. I cannot get rid of this wine rack. Let me tell you it’s story.

This wine rack came into our lives in the summer of 2012. Remember 2012? London Olympics, over 1 DECADE ago. I was spending the summer of 2012 in Atlanta, USA where my now husband (James) was living at the time. Always trying to be slightly quirky (as clean cut as he is), he decided he would love to have a wine rack in his living room. After enquiring at a local wine shop, off we went, to purchase said wine rack. I don’t think google maps was as big back then, so we didn’t think twice, we (shock horror) printed instructions and off we went. After about 20 minutes, the location we were driving through started to become slightly…risky lets just say. Then more so. Until we took the final right (or was it left?), and into an empty building site we found ourselves. I asked him to turn around and get out of there as it all seemed slightly wrong. But out the car we got, in 38 degree, 100% humidity heat, and I believe we were greeted by a dog. Thankfully, soon after, a lovely man came out and said we were in the right place. The question of how to transport said wine rack was had, and the man (and dog) agreed to deliver it.

So off we drove, back to civilisation. Except, James didn’t live in a big American house, with a spacious front door. It required him and the lovely man to carry this up a narrow stair case and narrow front door. Did I mention it was 38 degrees and 100% humidity? Thankfully, all went well, and after a generous delivery tip, we had our wine rack (who needs normal shelving?).

(Myself and James, looking like babies, at the Wine Racks first home in Atlanta, USA).

Cut to November 2012 (4 months after purchase) and, as I am already living back in London, James decides to move back. Rather than selling his belongings prior to moving, he decides to ship a few (huge) American furniture. Including the wine rack. The shipping cost was way higher than the price we paid for the wine rack.

When the shipment arrives in London, we had just rented a very small 1 bedroom flat in Hampstead, north London. Low and behold, the wine rack did not fit through the flat door. Off came the front door (because getting rid of the wine rack was never an option). We made it and the wine rack sat proudly in our north London living room (the front door never shut quite the same way thereafter).

Because we were in London, we had a rat infestation which saw us flee said flat 6 months later. Out came the front door, out came the wine rack into the moving van (of course). This time we were going to a flat in Chiswick in one of those mansion house buildings. Still a small flat. A few markings are probably still in the hallway walls from the wine rack. So for the next 1.5 years, the wine rack sat proudly behind the couch (did I mention this was a small living room?).

(A friend of mine and I, deep in contemplation with the Wine Rack standing regally behind us)

As is life with renters, we had to move yet again. This time to another (small) 1 bedroom flat just south of the river. With a narrow front door to the building, and an even narrower flat door, there was no way the wine rack would fit through. So we cut it in half. Of course. Why wouldn’t we. Giving the wine rack away was never an option.

So James spent what seemed like hours, sawing this wine rack in the Chiswick flat so it could get into our new flat. Now, as a 2 piece furniture, one half sat proudly in our (yet again) small living room, while the other half became our wardrobe (yes, you read correctly).

6 months later, we of course decided to move again. Thankfully, only 2 doors down this time, but the wine rack came with us once again. Sitting proudly in our now, slightly bigger, living room.

(Our Daughter, looking slightly unimpressed, with the Wine Rack in the background in our house in Mortlake, London)

We managed to stay 2 years in this house. A long time for us. But, after having our first child, so came the “dreaded” move to the countryside. James was happy, I was not. But we found a lovely house here in Reigate. And so we moved, in September 2017, and so did the, now 2 piece wine rack. Except our house could only accommodate 1 half. There was no space for the second half. By now I had painted one of the halves. So, we allocated the original half to our shop in Dorset. Grateful for James’ dad and his van for taking this off our hands. But as child #2 came, the house became a lot smaller, and the (1/2) wine rack started feeling very cramped in our not so spacious living room.

(Myself with some of my Brazilian family, now in Reigate, with half the wine rack in the background)

In comes allocation number 2. Second half of the wine rack is sent (with a tug in our hearts) to our Dorset shop. Where it stays. Until March 2023. When it reappears on my door step. Again.

(Half the wine rack looking beautiful in our old Dorset shop)

We decided to close our Dorset shop and had to bring all our stock and furnishings to our Reigate shop. Cue to another moving truck, and low and behold, a 2 piece wine rack back in my house. Give it away I say. No way said James.

Cut to now, and our 2 piece wine rack in now back as a one piece, dual colour display in our Reigate shop. Doing what it does best. Showcasing amazing, award winning English wine.

It’s safe to say this wine rack will die with us. Does it make me happy? Deep down, it's pure love between me and the wine rack.