Vintage 19th Century Chateau Oak Wine Riddler

Description

This double-sided riddling rack or ‘pupitres’ from Champagne district was used in the vast underground growers cellars to store 120 bottles during the fermentation process.Every few days the vintner turned the bottles a quarter-turn. Industrial strength, this antique racks were made from solid oak planks. Developed by Madame Clicquot, the process of riddling is an important step in removing sediment during the wine and champagne process. This generously sized late 1800s historically significant riddling rack is a fine wine collector’s conversation starting piece about the importance of properly storing any corked wine and French ingenuity in developing simple but effective strategies for aging it. A turner of the bottles on such a rack is called a ‘riddler’ and the very best can turn 40,000 bottles in a day.