An ideal area for entertainers and collectors alike, this wine cellar incorporates Old World design with everyday functionality. Photo courtesy of Brush Master Studios. Design by Emerald Remodeling Company.
When general contractor Gary Shackelford of Reisterstown, Maryland-based Emerald Remodeling Company was contacted by a Roland Park couple interested in adding a wine cellar to their home, he knew he was in for something special. The homeowners enjoyed collecting wine and loved entertaining, and with this space, they hoped to bring these two passions together.
The finished product is a rustic, Tuscany-style cellar complete with a seating area for guests, bar amenities, and an exhaust system to expel any cigar smoke. To punctuate the look, Shackelford hired faux specialty artist Scott Steward of Brush Master Studios in Hunt Valley, Maryland to catapult the space back into the Old World by using paints and glazes to produce aged patinas and cracks, and accenting the room with European-inspired patterns and embossments. There’s even an anteroom: twist the correct wine bottle and—voila!—you’re granted access to a secret room that houses the investment-grade wines and other collectibles.
Creating a wine cellar suitable for tasting parties and other gatherings is arguably becoming as de rigueur as theater rooms and home spas—and they’re not just for hard-core wine enthusiasts. “It certainly seems to be the trend to have a dedicated wine room,” says Mike Donaldson, Sales and Marketing Director at Baltic Leisure Co. in southeastern Pennsylvania. “I’ve seen their popularity grow steadily over the last 10 years or so.”
Perhaps people just love drinking wine more than ever. According to Wine Institute, a public policy advocacy group for California wine growers, wine sales in the United States were up 4% to 668 million gallons in 2004.
Or maybe folks are in nesting mode. Chris Hemmingsen, salesperson at DAD’s Appliance in Beltsville, Maryland, has also witnessed a surge in sales of wine-storage related items. “After 9/11, people wanted to stay at home, so they began putting more money into their houses,” he says. “Now instead of going out for a gourmet dinner, they stay at home and cook and enjoy fine wine.” Whatever the reason, building a wine cellar may not be as difficult as you might think.
To get started, designate the space, says Sandy Zebron, Regional Design Consultant for Wine Cellar Innovations. “It can be as small as a 6-foot by 8-foot space or as large as you want,” she says. “It really depends on your needs.” According to Zebron, the walls of the cellar should consist of three layers: a vapor barrier on the outside; insulation with an R-rating of at least 13 (R-19 for the ceiling) in the middle; and a non-porous green board on the inside. Choose an airtight, exterior grade door, and keep lighting to a minimum. Zebron recommends low-voltage halogen or xenon lighting.
Configuration of your racking system is generally determined by how you plan to purchase wine. “If you need bulk storage because you buy wines by the case, then we’ll build bins and diamond cubes,” says Donaldson. “If you buy individual bottles of investment-grade wine, then that also needs to be taken into consideration.” As for materials, Zebron suggests redwood. “It doesn’t mold, mildew, or have an odor,” she says. Clear Western red cedar is also a good choice, adds Donaldson, because it is scent-free. It’s always wise to anticipate growth, so allow for ample storage space. In the Roland Park project, Shackelford opted for a 2,500-bottle capacity, even though initially the homeowners owned many fewer bottles. “Filling up the space is half the fun,” the homeowner says.
The latest in high-tech wine storage, the GE Monogram Walk-In Wine Vault offers flexible storage for up to 1100 bottles. An electronic monitoring system allows homeowners to control temperature settings and provides a database to find bottles easily. Photo courtesy of General Electric.
Keeping your wine at a consistent temperature and humidity is vital to its aging process, so consider installing an artificial cooling system. A split air handler system is the high-end choice, says Zebron, and operates similarly to a central air conditioner. It’s the quietest option because the unit is situated in a remote location with return ductwork to manage airflow. Some models, including those utilized by Wine Cellar Innovations, come equipped with alarm systems, which notify you if conditions deviate. A less-expensive option for cooling is the self-contained unit, which resembles a window-anchored air-conditioning unit.
When it comes time to decorate, Dolly Howarth, designer and owner of Howarth Designs LLC in Arlington, Virginia, suggests thinking outside the box—literally. “Be creative, and do not fall into the trap of thinking everything has to be grapes and vines,” she says.
“Think about the adjacent spaces, and make the design flow from those rooms in terms of style.” Recently, Howarth updated an existing wine cellar and converted an adjacent closet into a tasting room for the NSO Decorators’ Show House 2005. In this Scandinavian-inspired design, she used Centiva bleached vinyl flooring (“it wears like iron and is impervious to water, moisture, and humidity,” she says), painted the walls off-white, and juxtaposed a mixture of contemporary and vintage accent pieces. For a whimsical touch, she included a bowl where homeowners can collect corks from bottles gone by—an inexpensive yet fanciful conversation piece. Decorative enhancements can also contribute to a healthy wine cellar environment, says Zebron. A fountain, for example, is not only charming, it also boosts humidity.
The GE Monogram Stainless Steel Wine Reserve offers adjustable temperature control to properly age red or white wines. With full-extension sliding racks, wine bottles can be stored horizontally or vertically to increase storage space. Photo courtesy of General Electric.
No cellar? No problem
If your home’s floor plan—or your pocketbook—doesn’t allow for a dedicated wine cellar space, you can still properly store your bottles. Considered a breakthrough in wine storage, the cutting-edge GE Monogram Walk-In Wine Vault is an all-in-one self-contained unit with a 1,000-bottle capacity. Complete with temperature and humidity controls, it can be customized with arched backdrops and cork tabletops. There’s even an electronic inventory system that allows you to access tasting notes, store prices, and keep tabs on which bottles are ready to drink.
If space is an issue, an under-the-counter unit may be more practical. According to Hemmingsen, true wine connoisseurs will likely splurge on the Cadillac of all wine storage units, Sub-Zero. Unlike any other manufacturers on the market, Sub-Zero’s products boast two independent, digitally controlled storage units that maintain temperature, humidity, and UV protection. Whites can be stored a bit cooler and reds a tad warmer, thereby eliminating the need to slightly manipulate temperatures prior to serving. Depending on the size of the unit, between 46 and 147 bottles may be stored. The company also recently added a stand-alone unit, one that’s surrounded on all sides by stainless steel, making it ideal for any room in the home.
The 427R Wine/Refrigerator offers storage for 78 bottles, along with two refrigerator storage drawers. An illuminated shelf provides room for collector wines to be displayed. Photo courtesy of Sub-Zero.
Other companies, such as GE, KitchenAid, Marvel, and U-Line, offer wine storage units, but their main drawback, says Hemmingsen, is that they rely on a three-temperature-zone system. “The bottom of the unit is cooled and then the overflow goes up, so you store your sparkling wines at the bottom, your whites in the middle, and your reds on top,” he explains. “But the three sections are not sealed or individually controlled.”
For a bit of the “wow” factor, Hemmingsen recommends the GE Monogram Undercounter Wine Reserve with Liquid Crystal Window. The door turns from opaque to clear with the flip of a switch, which provides UV-protection when it’s dark but can showcase your collection once company arrives. Taking a cue from the Sub-Zero models, most other companies, GE Monogram included, now incorporate wire racks with wood fronts into their designs.
Generally, no extra wiring is required for a wine storage unit, as they are all equipped with a standard 120-volt three-prong plug. “However, if you choose one of the larger Sub-Zero units, make sure it is on a devoted circuit,” recommends Hemmingsen.
Kelli Rosen is a freelance writer based in Monkton, Maryland.
Contacts:
Baltic Leisure Co.: balticleisure.com or 800-441-7147
Bin 604, The Charleston Group: bin604.com or 410-576-0444
Brush Master Studios: 443-255-8234
DAD’s Appliance: dadsappliance.com or 301-937-0222
Emerald Remodeling Company: 410-526-7093
General Electric: ge.com or 800-626-2005
Howarth Designs LLC: howarthdesigns.com or 703-671-8448
KitchenAid: kitchenaid.com or 800-422-1230
Marvel: lifeluxurymarvel.com or 800-428-6644
Sub-Zero: subzero.com or 800-222-7820
U-Line: u-line.com or 414-354-0300
Wine Cellar Innovations: winecellarinnovations.com or 800-229-9813
Wine Institute: wineinstitute.org or 415-512-0151
