Gregory Rumburg
You go to wine tastings. You research the latest releases. You spend your wine budget methodically. So why are you still storing your house favorites next to the bay window—you know, where your wine sunbathes like it’s on the beach in Destin?
Wine isn’t décor; it’s an investment in life and happiness. And it’s easier than you think to secure the right storage environment, from a simple wine cooler to an elaborate, custom-built room.
A Door to Possibilities
Start by forgetting the stereotypical image of a wine cellar—a dank, earthy basement teeming with cobwebs. Instead, think conceptually: a personal wine cellar that keeps bottles at their best.
Cellars today tend to be a specialized appliance or a dedicated interior space. Unlike boxes or stand-alone wine racks, cellars include a cooling unit so temperature is maintained between 55 and 58 degrees with a relative humidity target at 70 percent—an optimal environment for wine. Wine-spoiling conditions, including light and vibration, are reduced. Once in place, proper storage provides logistical and money-saving advantages and loads of entertaining promise.
Wayne Gilreath, a Williamson County resident, started his wine collection in 1985. Often hosting clients over dinner, wine knowledge enhanced the evening’s food experience—and the table talk. He started buying modestly and now he’s collected around two thousand bottles. Gilreath, who’s married and retired, says, “Whenever we get ready to eat, we like to be able to go get something out of the cellar that you maybe can’t readily get at a store. Sometimes, just for fun, we like to get a two-dollar box of pasta, a three-dollar jar of marinara sauce and open up a 1992 Beringer Private Reserve,” he says. “There’s nothing like enjoying what’s now an expensive bottle of wine—but one you bought early on—with your five-dollar dinner.”
Money is poured down the drain, however, when that stash of Meeker Meritage Four Kings you bought after the charity tasting is stored under the wrong conditions. Memories can be lost, too, like that champagne you bought to keep the day your child was born. Securing a quality wine cellar provides the right day-to-day protection your investments demand.
To pick the right style, consider three questions: How much space is available? How many bottles will need to be stored? How will the wines be displayed? Cellars come in a variety of sizes and price points, from a four-foot tall cube storing around 140 750ml bottles to an entire household room where capacity is limited only by imagination and budget.
The Dream Cellar
For a top-of-the-line experience, a custom personal cellar is the way to go. With all the housing construction in Davidson and Williamson counties, custom cellars are increasingly popular among owners building in the $500,000 and above category, sometimes supplanting the gadget-laden media room. That’s according to Matthew Germano, an expert cellar builder based in Middle Tennessee.
“We’re not dealing with typical household refrigeration here,” Germano says, “Lights can sweat. Water in your cellar can lead to mold, all because a vapor barrier was installed incorrectly or the cooling system wasn’t vented properly. From design to finished product, the people in my field know everything that needs to go into building a cellar.”
Germano describes two basic categories of custom-built cellars. An entry-level approach is the closet conversion. That’s when space like a walk-in closet is remodeled for wine storage. The advanced option converts a room or basement; the more square feet available, the more capacity for storage. In both cases, top-notch, rough-in construction is critical, including framing, water-resistant wallboard, and an integrated cooling and ventilation system. Round out the construction with décor options like stone tile or hardwood flooring, brick or wood walls, cool-temperature lighting, and even custom art design, explains Germano. Furnish the cellar with redwood, mahogany, or metal racking to showcase your cache and an optional tasting table. Finally, close off the space with a custom cellar door, a final defense against wine’s environmental foes.
A 5-foot by 8-foot by 9-foot project storing approximately 800 bottles can quickly tally a $15,000 tab. Larger room-size projects, like ones on the rise in regional new-home construction, can easily double and triple that price tag. Germano advises that homeowners not skimp on the rough-in construction or the cooling unit. Rather, costs can be reduced by selecting modest decorating and racking options. Still, Germano recognizes not everyone is ready to invest in a custom-built cellar, which is why he and other local retailers provide other solutions.
The Alternatives
Wine grottos (a.k.a. wine coolers) are a strong entry point for daily use and starter collections. At about four feet high and resembling a college dorm room refrigerator, these units require the least amount of space but provide a limited view of the bottles. A freestanding grotto can be placed anywhere, so long as there is proper clearance for air circulation. Built-in units tend to be front-venting so they can be placed in zero-clearance spaces, such as under kitchen or bar countertops, says Stephanie Carter of Nashville’s Expo Design Center. “Built-ins have a more custom appearance too. Owners can select a trim to match their cabinetry,” she adds.
Brands accommodating around 32–140 bottles include Marvel, Viking, GE Monogram, Avanti, and Transtherm Loft and run from about $400 to $2000. Units storing 24–36 bottles, sold at discount outlets for $150, can be hit-or-miss (think discount Lasik surgery—who trusts it?).
A leap forward finds the collector considering the wine cabinet, self-contained units resembling an armoire. Bottle capacity increases significantly over the grotto (172–560 bottles) and, depending on the cellar door selected, can handsomely display your wine enthusiasm.
Some owners choose wine cabinets that are more like an elegant piece of furniture, rather than a monster appliance. Germano retails brand names such as Baalbek (a Cadillac of a unit, handmade of mahogany) and the more commonly available Vinothèque. But because these are ready-to-use, shipping can be costly.
An alternative, often sold by online and catalog wine accessory retailers, is the modular unit. These prefab models tend to be less stately. They’re shipped flat and must be assembled by the owner. Wine cabinet price points range from $1,300 to $10,000, depending on the type of desired wood finish, the storage capacity size, the door style selected, and whether you assemble it yourself.
Remember, no storage system is absolute insurance against spoilage. Mother Nature has a way of reminding us she’s still in charge. Even the playing field by using proper storage. Distinguish your wine obsession with a quality cellar. And for your efforts, pat yourself on the back by popping open that hard-to-find Cab and enjoying it with your five-dollar pasta dinner.
Contact Information:
Matthew Germano
Germano Wine Cellars
Phone: 615-586-2142
Email: Info@germanocellars.com
www.germanowinecellars.com
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