Memories of 15,000 bottles of wine on the wall
“I used to say that the shop was 400 square feet,” Christy Frank told me when I visited her in her downtown wine shop, Frankly Wines, last week. “But it’s actually closer to 350.”
The diminutive shop at 66 West Broadway has a selection that skews toward wines from the Southern Hemisphere and wines under $20. But perhaps the most distinctive feature of the shop is what might well be the world’s largest cork board made entirely from corks pulled from wine bottles.
Christy says that the covered portion of the wall, approximately six feet by eight feet, has about 15,000 corks affixed with wood glue. It took a total of 30 hours of labor to adhere them all. The original inspiration was to tastefully cover a fusebox but it grew to cover the whole wall.
The amount of corks that she actually pulled herself is a relatively small, she told me gesticulating at a small corner of the space. Instead the bulk of the corks came from purchases on eBay where she said there is a thriving market for corks.
Christy says that kids love the tactile nature of the wall and some have written their initials on the corks. Take that Facebook: people can write on Christy’s real wall.
Related: “I just saved you $40 at Pottery Barn”
13,500 bottles of wine are the wall
Map of the best wine shops in New York City
One of the "seven best wine blogs." 
One of the three best wine blogs
On January 28th, 2009 at 11:34 am ,Dylan wrote:
When you think about it, 30 hours isn’t even too much time, and look at the beautiful result it garnered. It goes to show, a touch of creativity and some calloused hands can always get the job done.
On January 28th, 2009 at 12:01 pm ,Tish wrote:
Been to Frankly. She has a mighty fine selection for such a small store, I would add!
On January 28th, 2009 at 2:52 pm ,CG wrote:
I like that there are a bunch of ‘red-ends’ sticking out too. Nice color effect.
CG
On January 28th, 2009 at 2:53 pm ,Sarah wrote:
Someone should do a Chuck Close-esque portrait with those!
On January 29th, 2009 at 4:16 pm ,Anu Karwa wrote:
I love Christy & Frankly Wines. Since it’s such a small shop, every bottle has a purpose there. I tried and love the Petalos (mencia grape) from Bierzo, Spain. so lovely…must got back to get some more.
On February 4th, 2009 at 4:10 pm ,Terry Hughes, mondosapore.com wrote:
I love Christy’s shop too — and thank you, Tish, the wines are very well selected — including 3 of the ones I am importing.
On February 5th, 2009 at 9:16 pm ,Nick wrote:
Woohoo, Frankly Wines rules!
On February 7th, 2009 at 2:21 pm ,15,000 Corks Reused for Wine Store Decor | Only Hybrids wrote:
[...] Photos via Dr. Vino [...]
On February 7th, 2009 at 4:01 pm ,15,000 Corks Reused for Wine Store Decor | EcoSilly wrote:
[...] Photos via Dr. Vino [...]
On February 7th, 2009 at 9:04 pm ,Daily Links « A word to the wise… wrote:
[...] 15,000 wine corks – girl needs a hobby [...]
On March 5th, 2009 at 4:32 pm ,Frankly Wine’s Christy Frank - NY wine shops - a 2,400 part series | Dr Vino's wine blog wrote:
[...] (right sidebar). Thanks for visiting!Christy Frank of Frankly Wines–last seen in front of her cork wall–returns with some answers to a few of my questions about the possible changes NY wine [...]
On May 18th, 2009 at 6:22 am ,Cork dork: Ten cool things to do with leftover wine corks | Dr Vino's wine blog wrote:
[...] The wall o’ corks as you may remember from the 15,000 cork wall at Frankly Wine, a Manhattan wine [...]
On August 26th, 2009 at 11:56 am ,Vent your spleen: synthetic corks! | Dr Vino's wine blog wrote:
[...] ones), nearly impossible to shove back in the bottle, not biodegradable, and until someone makes a wall of synthetic corks, they haven’t had much appeal being reused functionally or [...]