Everyone Stored Wine Like This In The '80s — Now These Vintage Racks Could Be A Lucky Thrift Store Find

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The quirky kitchens of the '80s are now a thing of technicolor legend. However, that doesn't mean that all decor fixtures from 1980s kitchens belong in the past. Introducing (or perhaps reintroducing): the circular bamboo wicker wine rack. These bobbles were once ubiquitous to kitchens of the decade. A wheel-shaped bamboo rack was affixed to a standing foot base. Inside, seven circles were held together with natural wicker material, providing slots to horizontally store seven wine bottles — conveniently, that's one for each night of the week. So, if you happen to find one of these racks, feel free to turn on some MTV or "Cheers" and invite a few friends over to hang out by the kitchen table, '80s style.

These circular bamboo wine racks were popular as they offered a sculptural element, with an eye-catching design that also maximized vertical storage space. Plus, since these racks are free-standing, they could be positioned anywhere home cooks of the era desired: sitting on the kitchen island, tucked into a countertop corner, or even placed atop the fridge (although, nowadays, we know that storing wine on top of the fridge isn't such a good idea, after all). 

Thanks to the organic subtlety of this rack's design, there's no need to fully commit to the '80s kitchen design trends that have fallen out of fashion (goodbye, neon accents) to kick it retro style. The bamboo wine rack would fit into modern coastal kitchens, tying together a jute grass area rug or bamboo blinds over the kitchen windows. It would also work perfectly in a midcentury Polynesian tiki bar, or blend seamlessly with rustic design elements in traditional or Mediterranean kitchens, complementing the warm tones of oak cabinetry.

Caught a taste for nostalgia? The circular bamboo wicker wine racks that characterized 1980s kitchens can still be found on eBay. Models in excellent vintage condition sell for anywhere in the $40 to $125 price range. Hunting for these useful beauties can also make a fabulous excuse to stop by your local thrift store (and, for the record, there's an ideal time to visit shops to score the best kitchen items). 

As you scour resellers, it's worth noting that this trend wasn't exclusive to the '80s. Circular bamboo wine racks were also a common fixture of the macrame and earth tone elements that dominated kitchens of the 1970s. Indeed, many of the vintage bamboo racks lining thrift shops and antique boutiques today were made in the '70s. Still, if the goal is to emulate 1980s kitchen style, these round wicker racks are just the tool for the job — even if that rack happens to be a slightly older model produced a decade earlier.

To truly capture a taste of the '80s, stock your circular bamboo wine rack with the bottles that would have been most popular during the era. Sutter Home White Zinfandel (the best-selling premium wine in the U.S. in 1987) was especially lauded, as were bottles of chardonnay and Beaujolais Nouveau. A New York Times article also called 1980 "The Year of the Home Winemaker," so some foodies might have even used these round wicker wine racks to display their homemade bottles.