A Rustic Wine Lover's Table

Oenophiles can express their passion for wine by creating one-of-a-kind tables using their favorite bottles as centerpieces! 

We (happily) imbibed enough vino to collect a dozen bottles, and corralled them using an old wooden crate found on eBay for under $20.  (Similar crates are readily available at flea markets and antique stores; if hunting for one online, search for "vintage wooden crate" or "wooden soda crate".)

We filled the four bottles in the middle with water, stuck pretty white flowers inside of each one, and added bits of greenery for interest.  Using the same flowers, we created two mini-arrangements inside plain white vessels to flank the crate.  These add a bit of formality to the rustic centerpiece without competing with it for attention.

White linens are an elegant contrast to the wood crate, and easy, no-sew table runners cut from burlap add texture and are in keeping with the no-frills vibe.  We notched ours at each end to mimic the ends of ribbon.

Since corks and wine go hand-in-hand, each setting was topped with a cork coaster bearing each guest's initial.  We found our coasters at a hardware store, but similar ones can be found at craft stores and online (like here); we used a white paint marker to write the initials on the coasters. 

Images Courtesy: Mary Swenson