If those pod hotels we all hear about in Japan aren’t very enticing, here’s one better: wine casks turned into hotel rooms.

Even though I despise the whole “got milk” campaign for its degradation of the English language, here goes: Got Wine? Got Wheels? Yup.

Despite that historically the term barrel or cask seems to connote the ability to be moved by hand, these hotel rooms in Stavoren are built out of 14,500-liter wine casks, they sleep 2, and are situated nicely along some local bike paths. (But, then again, in the Netherlands what isn’t situated on a bike path!) When you are feeling claustrophobic from the completely air-tight seal of the “rooms,” the proprietors will rent you a bike.

More photos over here. Cheers.

In another life, many moons ago, I was a purveyor of wine for weekly dinner parties. After a while, needless to say, the cost caught up with me. Right about that time I discovered boxed wine. 5 liters! For (then) $7.99! Woot!

Now, we here at WineandWheels.com feel that there is nothing wrong with saving a few dollars. However, we also feel no need to be ashamed of budget wine. And, there are times when only a boxed (well, make that bagged) wine will do — recently back from a backcountry ski trip, we can attest to the convenience of not having to pack out empty glass bottles of wine. In short, these boxes to hold boxed wine and dispense boxed wine are ridiculous. That’s all there is to that. Sorry if you were looking for brilliance or divine intervention on this one.