The designer.

“Always think of the future when creating a cellar so you’ve got room for more bottles. But temperature and humidity are the most important factors to consider, which is why wine cabinets are so popular.”

LEE HARDCASTLE Lee Hardcastle has long consulted on cabinetry and design jobs big and small, so he knew exactly what he wanted for his own underground cellar. The build took two years and his new 3.5m-deep bunker is his pride and joy. The space holds 3000 bottles, a three-metre oak dining table and a winding staircase leading to a bathroom, plus there’s an adjoining whisky bar and Tuscan-style courtyard and garden outside. The director of Brisbane’s Enigma Interiors has seen a lot of wine spoil in Queensland’s warm, humid conditions, which is why wine cabinets feature in almost every job his business undertakes, as well as his own home. “We’re not in an ideal climate for wine, so I’ve always used a series of Vintec cabinets to keep my wines in the right condition,” Lee says. But as his collection grew, he knew it was time to dig and create a dedicated space for his wines. “The humidity sits at a comfortable 60 to 70 per cent, and while the temperature can get warmer than preferred, I do have climate control that comes on at peak times,” he says. “For the most part, the temperature sits in the high teens.” While Lee still has plans to install a Vintec Transtherm multi-zone cabinet to keep his ready-to-drink wines at the ideal temperature, his cellar space is everything he hoped it would be. Even his kids have taken to it. “They read in there – they love the peace and quiet,” Lee says. “And we have meals there too. I also love telling people to choose any bottle. Let’s try it! That’s where I see the value in my cellar; my most prized or special bottles are worth nothing unless they’re opened and drunk. All my wines are bought to be enjoyed.”