Wine-barrel wine rack system

1. A rack for bottles, comprising:

at least a portion of a barrel including (i) a generally annular sidewall that extends front to rear and defines an interior space inside the barrel that extends between a front opening and a rear opening, (ii) a front head plate that at least partially encloses the front opening, and (iii) a rearward head plate that at least partially encloses the rear opening;

at least one of the head plates defining multiple head plate openings that penetrate the at least one head plate; and

at least some of the head plate openings being associated with a plurality of support members that extend from the head plate openings lengthwise through the interior of the barrel toward a rear portion of the barrel; the plurality of support members being positioned with respect to the barrel to receive and hold at least one wine bottle.

2. The rack of claim 1 , wherein the head plate openings are round.

3. The rack of claim 1 , wherein each support member comprises a respective pair of laterally spaced apart, parallel shafts.

4. A rack for bottles, comprising:

at least a portion of a barrel including (i) a generally annular sidewall that extends front to rear and defines an interior space inside the barrel that extends between a front opening and a rear opening, (ii) a front head plate that at least partially encloses the front opening, and (iii) a rearward head plate that at least partially encloses the rear opening;

at least one of the head plates defining, multiple head plate openings that penetrate the at least one head plate; and

at least some of the head plate openings being associated with a plurality of support members that extend from the head plate openings lengthwise through the interior of the barrel toward a rear portion of the barrel; the plurality of support members being positioned with respect to the barrel to receive and hold at least one wine bottle; each support member further including a respective pair of laterally spaced apart, parallel shafts and a rigid cradle that extends between the shafts.

5. A rack for bottles, comprising:

at least a portion of a barrel including a generally annular sidewall that extends front to rear and defines an interior space inside the barrel that extends between a front opening and a rear opening, (ii) a front head plate that at least partially encloses the front opening, and (iii) a rearward head plate that at least partially encloses the rear opening;

at least one of the head plates defining multiple head plate openings that penetrate the at least one head plate; and

at least some of the head plate openings being associated with a plurality of support members that extend from the head plate openings lengthwise through the interior of the hand toward a rear portion of the barrel; the plurality of support members being positioned with respect to the barrel to receive and hold at least one wine bottle; each support member further including a respective pair of laterally spaced apart shafts and a flexible sling that extends lengthwise along the shafts and depends from between the shafts.

6. The rack of claim 1 , wherein each support member is comprised of a tube.

7. The rack of claim 1 further comprising a cooling system associated with the interior of the barrel.

8. The rack of claim 1 , wherein:

both the front head plate and the rear head plate define a plurality of head plate openings that penetate the front head plate and rear head plate; at least some of the head plate openings in the front head plate being coaxially positioned with openings in the rear head plate; and

the support members extending longitudinally inside the barrel between the head plate openings in the front head plate to the head plate openings in the rear head plate.

9. The rack of claim 1 wherein opposite end portions of the support members are coupled with interior surfaces of the front head plate and rear head plates.

10. The rack of claim 1 wherein opposite end portions of the support members are attached to an internal frame positioned inside the barrel and aligned with at least some of the head plate openings formed in the front head plate.

11. The rack of claim 10 , wherein the internal frame comprises front and rear support plates to which opposite end portions of the support members are coupled, whereby the support members extend between the front and rear support plates lengthwise in the barrel from the front portion of the barrel to the rear portion of the barrel.

12. The rack of claim 1 , wherein the barrel is provided to resemble a half portion of a barrel.

13. The rack of claim 1 wherein the barrel is provided to resemble a one-third portion of a barrel.

14. A wine-rack system, comprising:

a plurality of barrel units, each barrel unit comprising at least a portion of a barrel and including a front head plate; a rear head plate; and staves arranged around each head plate and extending front to rear, the staves being held together around the head plates and longitudinally to each other to define an interior space inside the barrel;

at least the front head plate of each barrel unit defining multiple head plate openings that penetrate the head plate;

each head plate opening having associated therewith a support member that extends from the openings lengthwise through the interior of the barrel toward a rear portion of the barrel; the support members being positioned with respect to the barrel to receive and hold at least one wine bottle; and

at least one barrel-holding device securing the plurality of barrel units in position with respect to one another.

15. The system of claim 14 , wherein the at least one barrel-holding device is comprised of a barrel cradle.

16. The system of claim 15 , wherein the plurality of barrel units are stacked vertically with respect to one another.

17. The system of claim 14 , wherein the at least one barrel-holding device is comprised of a plurality of barrel wedges that are positioned between barrel units and arranged so that the plurality of barrel units are stacked vertically with respect to one another.

18. The system of claim 14 , wherein the barrel units are provided as half barrels.

19. A method for storing wine bottles, comprising:

with respect to a barrel unit having: (i) a generally annular sidewall that extends front to rear and defines an interior space inside the barrel that extends between a front opening and a rear opening, (ii) a front had plate that at least partially encloses the front opening, and (iii) a rearward head plate that at least partially encloses the rear opening; providing at least one of the head plates with multiple head plate openings penetrating the head plate;

inside the barrel unit, providing each head plate opening with a corresponding support member that extends from the head plate opening lengthwise through the interior of the barrel toward a rear portion of the barrel;

passing at least one wine bottle through one of the head plate openings into the interior space of the barrel unit; and

positioning the at least one wine bottle on one of the support members in a generally horizontal storage position.

20. The method of claim 19 further comprising:

shaping the barrel unit to resemble a half portion of it barrel;

passing at least two wine bottles through a single one of said head plate openings into the interior space of the barrel unit; and

positioning the at least two wine bottles on one of the support members in generally horizontal storage positions.

21. The method of claim 19 , further comprising:

shaping the barrel unit to resemble a one-third portion of a barrel;

passing at least one wine bottle through a single one of said head plate openings into the interior space of the barrel unit; and

positioning the at least one wine bottle on one of the support members in a generally horizontal storage position.

22. The method of claim 19 wherein at least three wine bottles are passed through a single one of said head plate openings into the interior space the barrel unit and the at least three wine bottles are positioned on one of the support members in generally horizontal storage positions.

23. The method of claim 19 , further providing the barrel unit with a cooling system that reduces and maintains a temperature within the interior space of the barrel unit.