CHIC WINE CELLARS RISE IN POPULARITY
Decide if you’re a collector or consumer before considering a design, experts say
With designs becoming more artistically driven, even art gallery worthy, 21st century wine cellars have come a long way from their conceptual roots as dark, cold, earthen rooms in underground caverns.
And for many, the wine cellar has become a must-have component of a well enjoyed and well loved home.
“I would say that probably eight of 10 clients who are building or renovating want a cellar, but the type of wine room really varies depending on the client,” says Rob Hryszko, managing partner of Veranda Estate Homes in Calgary.
Whether it’s a nook underneath the stairs or a glassed-in 5x5 foot picture window in the dining room, wine rooms are the epitome of form and function. But when thinking about the design, the considerations are numerous and go well beyond esthetics.
“There are really two types of wine people — collectors and consumers. It’s best to figure out which category you fit into first and then go from there,” says Hryszko.
If the purpose of the wine room is simply to look beautiful and to hold a few bottles of wine for ready consumption, then the design impetus can sprout more from esthetics, rather than from function — a drastic temperature shift in a room can destroy vintages in a matter of hours, a scenario that could cost the serious collector thousands of dollars in lost inventory.
Regardless of where the cellar is located, the construction considerations are always the same. The goal is to emulate the conditions in the wine caves in France and essentially create a sealed, walk-in fridge with high humidity, constant temperature, no UV rays and little or no exposure to vibration.
To achieve this, adding insulation (R13 at minimum) is paramount, as is a vapour barrier.
“The storage temperature should also be set to 13 C. This is the world de facto standard for aging, storing and warehousing wine. It mirrors the temperature from the caves of Champagne,” says Dirk Chan, partner at deVine Wines & Spirits in Edmonton.
Chan also notes that one of the most important components of a cellar is the door.
“It’s often one of the most expensive expenditures in the building process. The door must be well insulated and sealed, so that cold air doesn’t escape,” he says.
But that doesn’t mean that it can’t have some serious design wow to it.
“It’s fashionable now to have secret access codes, thumb print and even retina scans to gain entrance,” says Chan.
In a recent new build estate home in Calgary’s Mount Royal community, Veranda Estate Homes added a stunning wine cellar to the lower level layout.
“We really wanted to make it a feature and a focal point, when walking down the stairs to the lower level,” says Melissa Hryszko, interior designer at Veranda Estate Homes.
The exterior facing wall and door are shrouded in an opaque, water patterned glass to add a touch of mystery.
“Our clients have loved this idea and we have incorporated into a few of our homes,” she says.
Inside a wine room, space for storage, display and tasting are the key considerations.
“Think about the number of bottles that you want in your cellar and then double it — otherwise you’ll be surprised how quickly your cellar becomes full. Then you’re in the ‘I can only buy more if I replace what I drink’ mode,” says deVine’s Chan.
As for racking, keep in mind that not all bottles are the same size — Bordeaux bottles are narrower than Burgundy bottles, while wines from Australia and Argentina are longer. And don’t forget about half bottles, magnums and storage space for full wooden boxes.
And if you’re a newbie collector, Chan has some savvy advice.
“Buy in a minimum of threes, one to enjoy young, one after midterm cellaring, and a third when the wine is fully mature. This is to avoid the ‘aw, shucks, I should have bought more’ syndrome if you only have single bottles of something,” he says.
When it comes to return on investment, experts say that it can go either way with wine cellars.
“They’re not an expected feature at lower price points, but once you get to the $700K-plus market, a wine fridge is the bare minimum,” says Pedro Villamar with Re/Max, adding that as a home’s price increases, so will the demand for the complexity of the wine cellar.
But like anything, it’s all dependent on the tastes of the buyer, which Villamar pragmatically translates to: “When it comes to resale, a wine cellar may or may not add value to a home.”
But like beautiful art, a wine cellar is about more than a financial investment.
“It’s a real source of pride and joy for most,” he says.
However, the price for beauty and well stored wine doesn’t come cheaply; expect to pay anywhere from $7,500 for the bare minimum, and all the way up to $100,000 for a thermally sensitive, artistically inspired, glossy design magazine-worthy showstopper.
I would say that probably eight of 10 clients who are building or renovating want a cellar, but the type of wine room really varies.