Custom Wine Cellars
According to a recent Gallup poll, the results of which were published in the San Francisco Chronicle on July 28, 2005, more people now list wine as their preferred alcoholic beverage that beer. Of those polled, 39-percent said that they consume wine most frequently, while only 36-percent listed beer as their beverage of choice. That is a 12-percent increase in oenophiles since a similar survey in 1992.
Undoubtedly, such a spike in the popularity of wine comes hand in hand with an increased desire for more sophisticated taste -- a taste that cannot possibly be obtained by keeping vintage wine in a refrigerator or a simple wine rack in an air conditioned room. No, the truly discerning wine aficionado will be best served by creating a custom wine cellar to house his or her prized bottles of Chardonnay or Zinfandel. Such an investment will not come cheaply -- price estimates can exceed $50,000 -- but it is well worth it for those serious about their wine.
So how does one go about creating a custom wine cellar?
"Some wine drinkers retro-fit their existing basements to make them ideal for wine storage... The fortunate oenophiles are those who can include a cellar in their plans for a new home." writes award-winning wine columnist Natalie MacLean in a November 2002 article. "Since renovating your basement, or building a custom cellar, can involve several trades -- electrical work, insulation, carpentry, lighting, engineering, masonry and interior design -- it's advisable to hire an experienced contractor or a cellar consultant."
"High-end cellars can be intoxicating fantasies," she adds. "The options make the creative juices flow faster than anything Bacchus could pour: mood lighting to evoke a Tuscan sunset, glass-rinsing sinks, antique furniture, limestone floors, carved doors, map drawers to show where the wines originated, and even a sprinkling of imported Bordeaux dust on the bottles for the instant authentic look." Such creations, however, will likely be out of the price range of most novice wine aficionados, at least to begin with.
A good way to get started exploring custom wine cellars is to browse the Internet, for many cellar-design specialists maintain an online presence. For example, there is Cellarworks, Inc, a firm that, according to its website, specializes "in the consultation and creation of distinguished wine cellars for private clientele." Likewise, Innovative Wine Cellar Designs and Design Build Consultants both design and build wine cellars for individuals as well. There are many others, most of which offer samples of past projects, cost estimates and additional information online. The investment required may be considerable, but for those with a deep and burning passion for a classic vintage, custom wine cellars are well a bargain at any price.