Wine storage has emerged out of earthen cellars and into the design toolkit for contemporary entertaining, dining, and living spaces, providing a focal point for both libations and conversation. Recent innovations in wine storage and conditioning systems have paved the way for connoisseurs and casual wine drinkers alike to display their bottles in harmony with the surrounding interior design aesthetic. But it requires an experienced builder and interior designer to plan the space properly and coordinate the many installers and suppliers needed to attain these unique features. Let’s unpack the details that make these wine displays pop.
The first step is to identify the display space. In the case of this stunning display nestled between the kitchen and formal dining room, a ten-inch, two-bottle depth floor-to-ceiling metal rack was selected to be mounted in the middle of the twenty-four-inch-deep alcove. This granted enough room behind the racking to install a strip of LED tape light in the surrounding molding, backlighting the wine and the cork wallpaper backdrop. A raised cedar pedestal beneath the bottles protrudes to the glass doors, creating a more trimmed enclosure. This compact design accommodates 168 bottles! Floor-to-ceiling mounted racks do not disrupt the wall surface, so the wall can be any material, including brick or stone. For greater wine capacity, this racking can be ordered double-sided to create a wine display island in a room or a freestanding wine wall separating two spaces.
In this display, the enclosure is not conditioned, meaning the wine is kept at room temperature for short-term display and storage. Displaying the wine while keeping it at a controlled temperature and humidity adds a fair amount of complexity and cost, but overall would not appear much different. A wine-chilling AC unit would need to be installed in the crawlspace below, with a floor vent, to deliver the conditioned air. Because wine storage is typically below the dew point, the walls need to be insulated (and, ideally, also the display glass) and the gaps between the glass should be weather-stripped.
In our second example (above), we have a true wine cellar in terms of ideal temperature and humidity for longterm storage, and it’s conveniently located in the heart of the entertaining space. This cellar blends with the architecture of the home, achieving a rustic yet contemporary aesthetic, which corresponds with the surrounding kitchen, dining, and great room. We utilized modern acrylic racks atop walnut shelving for bulk storage, and a backlit quartzite floor for fun. The cellar is tucked behind a TruStile walnut door with Flemish glass and a custom iron overlay, communicating with the custom walnut cabinetry of the adjacent wet bar and nearby kitchen. Wine cellars and displays have become staples in our homes and are often in the heart of entertaining areas. As we’ve all experienced, social gatherings inevitably end up in the kitchen. Stylish wine displays like these create one more reason why.
EVAN BOST is the director of sales and marketing at BOST CUSTOM HOMES. For more information, call 919-460-1983 or visit BOSTHOMES.COM.