By Tina Skinner and Melissa Cardona
As wine enthusiasts, authors Tina Skinner and Melissa Cardona have first-hand knowledge of the aesthetic of the wine experience. They describe their book, Wine Cellars: An Exploration of Stylish Storage, as a “beautiful dream book,” displaying over 100 cellars in more than 200 rich photographs. Designed as a resource for fellow wine enthusiasts interested in building their own cellars, the book provides a chapter-by-chapter guide on important factors to consider, offering style suggestions illustrated with vibrant photographs.
From common sense topics like temperature and humidity to the lesser-known problems involved with lighting, vibration, and even materials, Wine Cellars guides readers through the complications of constructing a wine cellar. While the book provides a solid jumping-off point, Skinner and Cardona do suggest that hiring a wine cellar consultant is the most efficient way to avoid later renovations and possible mistakes.
Wine Cellars also includes a chapter on restaurant wine cellars, as well as a resource of fine dining for wine enthusiasts, including restaurants with tables in the cellars. For collectors who do not want to spend the money on a wine cellar, the authors provide alternative suggestions from smaller electronic storage units to restored antique wine caskets. This book is stuffed with colorful photographs that will spark readers’ imaginations and start them down the road to wine cellar design.
157 pages/Schiffer Publishing, Ltd. Reviewed by Brandy Keller
