7 Creative Uses To Recycle Wine Bottles
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What do you do with your leftover wine bottles? Do they make their way to the uninspired recycle bin awaiting their fate in a fiery furnace? Maybe you’re like me and save a few of your memorable bottles and they adorn the tops of your kitchen cabinet. I still have the bottle of wine that we were drinking when I proposed to my wife. Sometimes I save bottles just so my wine rack doesn’t look so defeated. Many bottles are beautiful works of art and that glass has to be useful for something other than being reincarnated as…gasp…a beer bottle.
Here are 7 creative uses for your wine bottles. I would love to hear of anything fun that you do. Please share in the comments if you’ve done any of these or if you have other inspiring ideas to share with the readers here. Not only is it hip to go ‘green,’ the wine bottle makes for an elegant decoration.
From the Vine to the Flower
Creative angled cuts with a glass cutter and you have yourself a decorative vase.
Photo credit David Guilfoose at http://www.greenwinebottles.com
Stemware without the Stem
A simple cut with a glass cutter and some edge finishing gives new life to wine bottles.
Shine A Light Outside
A few simple items from the hardware store, some premade ceramic wine glass torch toppers, and some fuel and you have yourself a creative outdoor torch.
Twinkle Twinkle Little Wine
Cut a hole in the bottom, fill with a short strand of Christmas lights and you have yourself a fun lighting solution.
Grand Lighting Solution
This industrious crafter could build a unique lighting solution that is sure to be a show stopper and conversation starter.
For the Builder
Take an old glass table top and add wine bottle punts for some new artsy loft flare.
A Work of Living Art
An alternate take on the outdoor lamp, use some ordinary hardware items to create a work of wine wall art .
BONUS: For the Over Indulging Wino
This Christmas tree is made entirely of wine bottles. I bet there was a severe hangover after that party!
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51 Comments:
By Tweets that mention 7 Creative Uses To Recycle Wine Bottles | Drink Nectar -- Topsy.com 12 Jul 2010
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Wine Lovernews, Josh Wade. Josh Wade said: 7 Creative Ways to Recycle #Wine Bottles http://bit.ly/bLwLri [...]
By Chris 12 Jul 2010
Neat blog, Josh, I love all the photos. We haven’t thrown a wine bottle away in the two years we’ve lived in Washington. That means have about, oh a dozen or so empties.
One use we’ve come up with so far, recycling with homemade wine. A couple hundred have seen that cruel fate and some of them are now on their second trip through the recycle bin, er, closet.
My next idea is to build a cellar wall out of bottles stacked on their sides punt side into the cellar and bottles recorked to create an air insulated wall. Some construction kinks to work out, like how to mortar and how to hang things on that wall but it might happen this winter. It does take a boatload of bottles to build a decent size wall that way though and if I get to the point of actual construction I’ll probably scour tasting rooms for more empties.
By drinknectar 12 Jul 2010
Chris that sounds like a fun adventure. Sadly, you’ll need to drink more wine! Share some pictures through twitter/facebook when you get around to constructing!
Josh
By Sophie 29 Nov 2010
Yes, you definitely have to drink more wine, 12 bottles in two years
that 6 a year thats one bottle ever other month. Thats sad.
Anyway I think I have enough bottles to make that Christmas tree.
I hope somebody comes up with a better idea saving my bottles with
the labels because they are Talbot 57, Chateau D’Yquem 64, Margaux 72
etc. I dont want to ruin the label.I have to pour out the wine because
I did not store them right. Any suggestions???
By Marlene Lawson 02 May 2011
I use my “best” bottles as candle holders. The wine shop I frequent sells candle holders with a cork that fits into the bottle. The top part has a holder for 1, 2, or 3 candles. Very nice. Mine are black iron (or something like that) with the 3 candle holders.
By FLSunshine 06 Sep 2011
next time don’t throw the wine out…make your own vinegar!
By Stephanie 10 Nov 2011
Check out old Mother Earth mags. I mean old. I seem to remember walls being built like this. Pretty too!
By Mike Supple 12 Jul 2010
Josh – nice post. Some cool ideas in here. I’m right there with you about having a few significant empties around the house. The bottle my wife and I drank when I proposed is front and center on our mantle!
Chris – that sounds like a really cool (yet challenging) idea. I echo Josh’s sentiments in wanting to see pictures if you do decide to tackle the project!
Cheers,
Mike
By drinknectar 12 Jul 2010
Mike, what was the bottle you proposed with?
By Frank Gutierrez 12 Jul 2010
These are all great ideas, Josh. Thanks for sharing them. I personally like the christmas lights in the wine bottles.
By drinknectar 12 Jul 2010
Thanks, Frank! Looks like I need to invest in a glass cutter! I love the light fixture…breathtaking!
By Seattle Wine Gal 12 Jul 2010
HAHAHA! The Christmas tree has me laughing so hard I almost peed! Thanks for the smile Josh- great post, and very consumer friendly.
By drinknectar 12 Jul 2010
Isn’t that crazy! Maybe we should try something like that this Christmas. Haha!
By Mary 12 Jul 2010
This is fabulous. I want to do some of these
By drinknectar 12 Jul 2010
They are pretty darn cool! Some look pretty easy…others…not so much.
By Nicole 12 Jul 2010
So how much is a glass cutter?
By Sophie 29 Nov 2010
If you want to cut a bottle just put a thread or twine around the bottle
tie it tied and put a little gasoline or alcohol on it. Lit it and there
you go, it will split without having to grind or sand it. Cheers.
By drinknectar 29 Nov 2010
Thanks, Sophie! Great tip
By Car;a 22 May 2011
My husband’s grandmother used to do this with really large glass bottles, then used them as mini greenhouses over new garden plants in the spring.
By Mary Carman 13 Jul 2010
wow how beautiful..any ideas where I can buy a glass cutter..I do have an idea..but would like to try making it first and then would be more happy to send pictures and how I did it..thank you so much for sharing..nice Mary
By drinknectar 13 Jul 2010
Mary and Nicole – I found this glass cutter online…looks like about $30 and some practice would get you started. http://www.nextag.com/ARMOUR-Bottle-Jar-Cutter-541449528/prices-html
By Chris 13 Jul 2010
I did stained glass as a hobby. Before dringing wine and building wine cellars out of wine bottles became my hobby. Anyway, that glass cutter Josh linked is similar to any glass cutter that might be used to cut stained glass. It doesn’t actually CUT the glass, it scores it along a continuous line, then when you tap the glass just the right way it breaks evenly along the score line. This takes practice with flat stained glass, I’m sure practice with this device and many trial bottles is needed too.
The other thing you’d probably want is a glass grinder to smooth the edges after cutting. The grinders using in stain glass I’m familiar with, that would work, range from $100-$300, GoldStar is the brand I own and various grits of grinding wheel are avaialbe. Talk to your local glass hobby store then look for a used one on E-bay, everyone who is a glass hobbiest has one that they want to get rid of when they become a wino like me. I’m keeping mine to turn my wine bottles into art
By drinknectar 13 Jul 2010
Thanks for the great info, Chris!
By Wine Harlots 13 Jul 2010
Nice!
Great minds think alike (And drink alike too!)
I’ve been doing a series of what to do with those excess wine corks.
Keep up the great work.
Cheers!
By drinknectar 13 Jul 2010
Awesome! Provide the link here so people can see what you’re up too!
By Wine Harlots 13 Jul 2010
Here’s the first two links in our series of what to do with wine corks.
Put a Cork in It! – Part One: ReCork http://bit.ly/dfVYLk
Put a Cork in It! – Part Two: Get Framed http://bit.ly/crG1kz
By drinknectar 13 Jul 2010
Awesome!
By Reginald Whibbey 15 Jul 2010
And what is the best way to do the edge finishing after you cut the glass?
By drinknectar 15 Jul 2010
From what I’ve seen a fine grit dremel tool (sp?) attachment or by hand.
By Anya 10 Dec 2011
Back in the olden days of Gen Chem, when we had to fashion our own glass stir sticks, we rounded the sharp edges over a bunson burner. I’m sure an small butane torch would do the same.
By What’s a Beer or Wine Lover To Do When Their City Stops Recycling Glass Bottles? | Green Matters 22 Nov 2010
[...] going to continue to buy wine in glass bottles, check out ideas for reusing bottles creatively at DrinkNectar.com. And don’t forget to support recycled glass products. This will help markets for recycled glass [...]
By Lily 12 Dec 2010
I love all the great pics and ideals for empty glass bottles. Especially love the Christmas Tree!! keep comming up with more great ideals.
By The Best From the Wine Web in 2010 | Nectar Tasting Room and Wine Blog 20 Dec 2010
[...] quickly became one of the most viewed posts of the year on Nectar Wine Blog. Take a look at some creative ways to recycle your wine bottles. I guarantee you’ll be inspired to buy a glass [...]
By So many wine bottles, so many uses! | Crazy Sexy Frugal 22 Mar 2011
[...] Drinknectar.com has a few more! [...]
By CT_Tom 20 May 2011
anyone know how to make “some premade ceramic wine glass torch toppers”
By meadow 26 May 2011
Thanks for the twine-burning-cut info!
By Lifestyle & Leisure Blog 27 May 2011
A Twist on the Traditional Memorial Day Party…
There will be family and friends gathering together across the nation to celebrate Memorial Day on Monday. The longstanding traditions surrounding this holiday are loved by so many, but why not color outside the lines and do things a little differently…
By Benita 28 Jul 2011
I’d love to see that “tree” lit up! Are there lights underneath?
By Lanette 28 Jul 2011
Would love more details on how to make the wine bottle torch! We are about to build a pergola in our back yard and it would be awesome to have those on the posts to light at night! Can you provide any details on what you would need?
By Juli Scarnati 31 Jul 2011
This is outstanding. Such creative and wonderful ideas. I love crafting of all kinds. Do you have a copy of this to mail?
I can’t wait for Xmas gifts!
Thank you!
By Jen 21 Sep 2011
I came across this blog today via Cavit’s post on Facebook. My mom moved back to Germany a few years ago and every time she visits the US I stock up on Reisling for her. I found a particular brand whose bottles have a picture painted on the back of the bottle and a ‘viewing window’ on the front of the bottle. She makes me save all of these bottles for her at my home in New Jersey and they are slowly piling up. I didn’t know what to do with all of them…until now. I’m going to visit her this Christmas and I’m thinking about making little vases out of them since she’s always picking flowers from her garden. Thanks for the idea. Great blog, by the way.
By Empty Wine Bottles « Christine Cascione's Blog 25 Nov 2011
[...] wondering what to do with them. So, after a little online research I stumbled upon this blog http://drinknectar.com/2010/07/12/7-creative-uses-to-recycle-wine-bottles/ which has really cool ideas for uses for [...]
By Kristen 19 Dec 2011
How and what kind of saw do you use?
By Noelle 05 Jan 2012
If you are needing more bottles, the recycle center is a great place to find some! I go by there every day on my way home from work (it’s practically next door) and take all the colbalt bottles I can find! I use them (and other colors too) to make tumblers. A bottle cutter works great to score the glass. Then I use a flame from a candle to heat where I scored, run under cold water and it seperates into two. The string method works too, just not as well as scoring does. I then use a grinder on my dremel (or any rotary tool) to smooth them down and round out the edges. Final touch-etch designs on them!
By Sslly Hosiner 24 Jan 2012
I use wine bottles to paint on for different occasions. Then put lights inside. I sell at craft shows. I especially like Christmas themes.
By Creating Business Interest by Using Pinterest | Nectar Tasting Room and Wine Blog 31 Jan 2012
[...] started noticing a trend in November with more traffic to my “7 Creative Uses to Recycle Wine Bottles” post. The majority of the referral traffic was coming from Pinterest. I made a mental note [...]
By Tina 02 Mar 2012
I saw this on Pinterest this morning. Can you give me more info on where to get the supplies for the torches? I love all of these ideas, and some of your readers had some great one’s also. Very cool blog/site!!! I have a wrought iron hanging bottle tree on my patio in front of my hot tub (the sun shines through it giving off some brilliant hues), but that is about as creative as I have gotten. I’m inspired!
By 100+ Ideas for Upcycling Wine Bottles - Reincarnations Art 14 Aug 2012
[...] drinknectar.com via Reincarnations on [...]
By 7 Creative Uses To Recycle Wine Bottles | RECYCLED ART, PRODUCTS AND THINGS | Scoop.it 19 Nov 2012
[...] 7 Creative Uses To Recycle Wine Bottles From drinknectar.com – Today, 9:07 PM What do you do with your leftover wine bottles? Do they make their way to the uninspired recycle bin awaiting their fate in a fiery furnace? [...]
By nectarMEDIA 26 Nov 2012
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By 7 Creative Uses To Recycle Wine Bottles | Recyc... 04 May 2013
[...] What do you do with your leftover wine bottles? Do they make their way to the uninspired recycle bin awaiting their fate in a fiery furnace? [...]