Wine Box Crates & Panels

Wine crates are crafted with solid pine and come in a variety of different sizes. They are made by individual wineries to store and protect wine in transit, as well as to display the winery name. Crates from France, Italy and California are the most popular.

Most wine crates are designed to hold 750 ML bottles, and they come in four different sizes:

Single Bottle (750 ML)

Average dimensions of a single-bottle crate: 15 1/4" L X 5" W X 5" H

Three Bottle (750 ML)

Average dimensions of a three-bottle crate: 14 1/4" L X 10" W X 4 3/4" H

Six Bottle (750 ML)

Average dimensions of a six-bottle crate: 13" L X 11" W X 7" H

Twelve Bottle (750 ML)

Average dimensions of a twelve-bottle crate: 21" L X 13" W X 7" H

There are also magnum sized bottle crates (1.5 L) and half bottle crates (375 ML). Magnum sized crates tend to be thicker and taller than 750 ML crates, because magnum bottles are twice the size. Most magnum crates are designed to hold one or siz bottles.

Single Bottle (1.5 L)

Average dimensions of a single-bottle magnum crate: 15" L X 5" W X 5 1/2" H

Six Bottle (1.5 L)

Average dimensions of a six-bottle magnum crate: 14" L X 15" W X 9" H

Half bottle crates (375 ML) are designed mostly to hold 24 bottles, so they are much longer than 750 ML crates.

Twenty-four Bottle (375 ML)

Average dimensions of a 24 half-bottle crate: 21 1/2" L X 10 1/2" W X 8 1/2" H

Magnum and half bottle crates are made much less frequently than 750 ML crates.

Most wine shipped in wooden crates originates in France. French wineries often have very low wine production per year in comparison to other countries. Because of this, there are only a few thousand wine crates crafted per vintage year. Full cases of wine are usually purchased with the crate included.

One or more sides of a wine crate is branded with the winery name. Collectors typically purchase full cases of wine sold in it's original wine crate (OWC), because it will increase the yield of their investment by 100 - 150% when the wine reaches it's peak year. This is when the wine can be sold for the highest amount.

Wineries brand their names on a crate in two ways: embossing (painting) and engraving. Both ways are often done on multiple sides of the crate, except for wineries in Bordeaux, which brand only in the front. Wineries other than Bordeaux sometimes brand the long sides of the crate, and those are nearly twice the size as the front. Many of these wineries are hundreds of years old and add highly detailed and artistic designs to the sides. These branded sides can be removed from the crate and used as panels. Wine panels can then be combined together as tiles to cover the walls of living areas or wine cellars. Because of their exceptional durability, they are also good for flooring, cabinetry, tables or unique wine themed projects.

Engraved: Designs and logo etched in the wood

Embossed: Painted on the wood

Engraved Bordeaux Panels

Due to the fact that wine crates are often shipped long distances, they may have mild imperfections such as small scuffs, chips or gashes. In some cases, panels may be slightly off-center or not perfectly straight.

Because of specific customs laws for importing, wineries are required to itemize wine shipments. They sometimes do this by writing numbers or letters in magic marker, and placing inventory stickers of tape on the crate. Crate panels that have these imperfections can still be used, but may require TLC such as sanding or removing stickers/tape. Sanding can sometimes fade the designs of a panel.

We have created a rating system based on this:

Mint: No magic marker, stickers or tape. No faded designs. Minimal scuffs/chips. Perfectly center.

Excellent: No magic marker, stickers or tape. May have small faded designs which would be mostly unnoticeable. May be slightly off-center. Integrity of the panel 100% with very little or no TLC needed.

Very Good: May have magic marker letters/numbers as well as stickers or tape. Some scuffs/chips may be present and the panel may be slightly off-center. The integrity of the panel will be 100%. Faded designs may be present. May need some TLC.

We do our best to provide the highest level of quality possible. Over half of our customers are repeat buyers.

There are several countries that produce wine, and in those countries are regions. France for example has several world-class wine regions such as Bordeaux, Burgundy and Rhone. Inside those regions are sub-regions such as: Medoc, Pessac Leognan, Pauillac and Margaux. All of the famous First Growths' are from these sub-regions. Many other winemaking countries produce truly excellent wine, but none matches the prestige and tradition of Bordeaux.

All five First Growth panels:

• Chateau Mouton Rothschild
• Chateau Margaux
• Chateau Latour
• Chateau Lafite Rothschild
• Chateau Haut-Brion

Panels from some of the finest regions of Bordeaux:

Average Dimensions: 12 1/2" L X 6 3/4" H

Thickness: 1/2"

Side Panels:

Some Bordeaux winemakers brand their artwork on the left and right hand side panels of the crate, which are almost twice as long as the front panels.

Average Dimensions: 21" X 7"

Thickness: 3/8" L - 1/2" H

Below are picture samples of other types of wine crates outside of France:

California - Generally very thick panels (1/2" - 1") with exceptionally rich engravings.

Italy - Many Italian panels are embossed and often have ducktailed edges.

Wine Crates & Panels serve many purposes:

• As a collectible.
• Adds asthetic beauty to a wine cellar
• To enhance a wine collection
• Highly durable and easily finished
• Remain in excellent condition for decades
• Home decor for the wine lover
• Wood working projects such as wall tiling, cabinetry, wine tasting tabletops and shelving
• Herb and flower garden accents

We currently have a page for our customers to display their panel & crate creations. Feel free to visit our website. We offer bulk rates and custom options. Please e-mail us for details.