Repurposed buckets, pots, bowls, metal and plastic containers work well as table-top wine chillers. Not only do they bring ingenuity and creativity to the party or dinner table, reusing them as wine or other table-top beverage chillers keeps them out of landfills. Repurposing an item means recycling it for a use other than originally intended. Repurposed containers used as table-top wine chillers draw more interest, are easy to decorate and serve the same purpose as expensive new wine chillers.
Bowls and Plastic Containers
Most households own a soup tureen or a punch bowl that sees rare use. Both can serve as wine chillers. Short-handled pots, plastic-lined wicker baskets and small colorful wastebaskets can also be used as wine chillers. Cut the tops off of plastic water jugs or large milk cartons. Cover them in wildly patterned contact or self-sticking wallpaper for a funky contemporary or retro look.
Flower Pots and Planters
Flower pots come from around the world in all sizes, designs and materials. Indoor or outdoor flower pots and decorative planters make good table-top wine chillers. An 11-inch-high round poly-resin Acanthus planter is ideal for planting three or four bottles of wine. Poly-resin planters filled with ice are lightweight enough for the table. Adding greenery around the wine bottles makes an interesting and different wine bouquet. Groups of ceramic flower pots used as wine chillers serve well as focal points on the dining table.
Ice Buckets
Any type of bucket will serve as a wine chiller. Silver or crystal ice buckets always look elegant. However, if you have neither at your disposal, tin buckets, plastic, Styrofoam ice buckets, and other plastic and Styrofoam containers work just as well. Any one will look good spruced up with silk ribbons or covered in colorful fabric.
Pumpkin and Watermelon Wine Chillers
For a Halloween party centerpiece, cut the tops off one or more large pumpkins. After cleaning out the inside, fill a plastic bag with ice and place it inside the cavity or simply fill the cavity halfway with ice. Set wine bottles inside then completely fill the pumpkin with ice. A hollowed out watermelon half serves as the perfect tabletop wine chiller at a summer patio or pool party, or the Independence Day picnic table.
Purchased Tabletop Wine Chillers
Purchasing a dedicated table-top wine chiller takes the fun out of repurposing. However, buying one makes it simple to keep and serve wine at a consistent temperature. Most chillers have preprogrammed temperatures for several varieties of wines. Many also have LCD backlit screens for easy reading.
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