Vintage Cellars’ specialty is custom wine cellar designs. All wine cellars have to have functionality, of course. Racking and a cooling system are the bones any wine cellar must be built on. But when building a custom wine cellar, most clients have something more in mind than just mere functionality. Beyond storing their wine in perfect conditions for aging, a wine cellar should have a special stamp that makes it unique, and says something about the collector.

But dreaming up a unique design can be easier said than done. How to put your own brand on your custom design? Sometimes, the best way to get inspired is to jump-start your imagination with some fabulous examples. Here are five of Vintage Cellars’ favorite examples of unique wine cellar style:

Rolling library-style ladder:

This wine cellar at the Mariott Marina in San Diego makes use of vertical space and adds a bit of whimsy with a rolling, library-style ladder.

Glass doors:

Glass doors modernize this wine cellar, and dramatically make the collection the focus.

Wine cellar dining room:

Forget tucking your collection away in a hidden corner. This Louisiana wine cellar makes double use of the cellar as a stunning tasting room.

A dramatic arch with wine storage:

This arch gives this 1,500-bottle San Diego cellar a focal point.

Ceiling wine racks:

This wine cellar is already dramatic, with its tasting table and custom cabinetry…but when guests look up, the ingenious ceiling storage truly takes their breaths away.

Tell us about your dream wine cellar!

When most people think of a wine cellar, they think of the aesthetic: a grand door, gorgeous wooden racking, perhaps a piece of wine-themed artwork. And of course, these aspects of your wine cellar are incredibly important; they’re what make it fit seamlessly in the design of your home, work with your lifestyle, and put a stamp on your cellar that’s uniquely yours.

But one of the most important parts of a wine cellar is one that’s entirely behind the scenes: the cooling system. Wine cellar cooling units are much more than air conditioners. They control not only temperature, but also humidity. They are specifically engineered to create the ideal environment for preserving and aging wine. The best wine cellar cooling units not only control the environment, but constantly monitor it, allowing you to see at a glance that your wine is being taken care of.

There are many companies that manufacture wine cellar cooling units, but only a few that do it to the exacting standards that your valuable wine collection deserves. One of the best manufacturers of wine cellar cooling units is Breezaire. Some of Breezaire’s excellent features include:

1. Gentle cooling: Most air conditioning systems blast the room with a stream of freezing-cold air. But this kind of extreme temperature can interfere with the delicate wine aging process. Breezaire cools by using a gentle stream of cool–not cold–air, which keeps the wine protected from abrupt temperature changes.
2. Automatic humidity control: Humidity is vital to a wine cellar. The proper level of humidity helps prevent label deterioration, and more importantly, cork deterioration, which can ruin your wine. Breezaire systems maintain humidity at an ideal level of 50 to 75 percent.
3. Quiet operation: Your wine cellar should be a place you enjoy being. A noisy cooling system can ruin your sense of peace and tranquility. Beyond that, vibrations–even those too small for a human to detect–can interfere with your wine’s aging process. Breezaire systems are assembled by hand and tested to ensure that the level of noise and vibration is kept at an absolute minimum.
4. Simple and elegant installation: Breezaire systems are designed to require no special plumbing, wiring, or complicated procedures to install. Once installed, Breezaire systems are design to sit flush with the wall, and are virtually unnoticeable.
5. Expert support: Installing a cooling system can be tricky. Breezaire has a team of experts equipped to design the perfect system, problem-solve, and maintain your system far into the future.

Interested in building the wine cellar of your dreams, complete with a cooling system that will help you build the wine collection of your dreams? Contact a Vintage Cellars expert to talk about the best options for you.

The following is a delicious recipe courtesy of Christopher Noel, a Wine Cellar Specialist at Vintage Cellars.

This family recipe is the perfect way to slow cook short ribs to tender perfection, and it features a whole bottle of Cabernet Sauvignon!

As a side dish, Christopher has also shared his Creamy Gorgonzola Polenta recipe. Garlic mashed potatoes or any of your favorite starch sides will also pair well with these delicious slow-cooked ribs. Bon appetit!

Suggested Wine Pairings: 2007 Chateau Montelena Cabernet Sauvignon or Zinfandel

Cabernet Sauvignon Short Ribs:

5 Pounds of short ribs bone in

4 table spoons of olive oil

3 carrots chopped & peeled

2 whole yellow onions

2 celery stalks

3 bay leaves

5 sprigs of thyme

2 sprigs of rosemary

2 pinches of oregano

5 sprigs of chopped flat leaf parsley

1 head of garlic finely chopped

Kosher salt

Pepper

Old Bay Seasoning

1 Can of tomato paste

1 bottle of Cabernet Sauvignon

3 Cups of beef stock

Directions:

1) Preheat oven for 350 degrees. Season meat generously with Old Bay seasoning pepper and Kosher salt.
2) Heat Dutch oven with 2 table spoons of olive oil.
3) Brown ribs on all sides, then set them aside.
4) Use additional 2 table spoons of olive oil if needed and sauté onions/carrots garlic and celery until onions are brown and tender. While vegetables sauté, season them with 2 table spoons of old bay and add in 1 table spoons of tomato paste and 2 table spoons of all-purpose flower.
5) Once stirred, add wine, beef stock and ribs until ribs are covered along with all herbs and bring to a slight boil. Reduce heat and cover with lid. Put into oven for 2.5 to 3 hours until tender.
6) Strain gravy and skim off fat as needed. Add additional seasoning to gravy if needed and drizzle over ribs.

Creamy Gorgonzola Polenta:

1 cup of Gorgonzola cheese

2 Tablespoon unsalted butter

2 Tablespoon olive oil

2 Teaspoon freshly minced spring garlic

1-1/2 cups heavy cream

1-1/2 cups milk

4 cups chicken broth

1/2 cup instant polenta

Kosher Salt and black pepper to taste

Directions:

1) In a heavy saucepan, melt the butter and olive oil over medium heat.
2) Add the garlic, and sweat for about 2 minutes, but don’t let the garlic brown.
3) Add the cream, milk and chicken broth and increase the heat to high. Let the broth simmer for 5 minutes.
4) Turn the heat back to medium. Whisking constantly, pour the polenta in a thin stream into the simmering liquid. Cook, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon until the polenta starts to thicken.
5) Turn the heat off, and add the cheese. The heat from the burner should keep the polenta cooking; stir until all of the cheese is melted. Adjust the flavor with kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper. Serve immediately with short ribs, drizzled in any leftover sauce.

Curious about the process of building a wine cellar start-to-finish? Today we’re showcasing a new 800 bottle contemporary wine cellar we built in La Costa, California. The client, Don, presented us with a challenge: convert a study in his new home into a wine cellar with a unique design. Read on to find out how we did it.

The Client

Don started collecting wine about six years ago and developed a love for California cabs. He began taking yearly wine tasting (and buying) trips, and wanted to start coming back with more wine but had nowhere to store it. It was time to get serious about his collection. He began his search for a wine cellar builder, came across Houzz and found Jake and Vintage Cellars’ work.

The Space

Don sent Jake a look at the model for his new home and explained that he wanted to convert the study into a cellar. He also wanted to be able to easily pick out a bottle visually, so the labels had to be prominently displayed.  Jake drew up a couple of designs, and came up with one that suited Don perfectly: a contemporary space completely different from your standard wine cellar.

The Project

Since the original room was a study, it wasn’t built for the challenges of storing wine in climate-controlled conditions. Jake and his team re-insulated the walls to ensure that the new cooling system would perform at its peak. They designed a custom cabinet to seamlessly fit the study’s curved wall. They installed a Vintage View wine racking system that displayed the majority of his collection labels-out, making it easy for him to locate the perfect bottle for a dinner party or cozy night at home. Their 800-bottle racking system also left space for storing larger bottles, and shelf-style racks below for storing bottles in larger quantities.  Lastly, Jake recommended Don use a door made to face outdoors in the cellar to keep the room insulated.

Jake and his team finished off the project with a central bar area, complete with wine artwork. Though Don never imagined himself lingering in the cellar, at the behest of his friends, he now finds himself turning off the cooling system for an hour at a time so that he and his guests can relax there! What was originally intended as a study is now a beautiful space that functions not only as a place for storing Don’s growing collection, but also as a conversation-starter and gathering space.

Click to enlarge each image.

WineKeeper’s Magnum 8 Bottle

You found that perfect wine while tasting at a sun-soaked vineyard years ago. You carefully carried a bottle home and placed it in your wine cellar. You monitored the temperature and humidity. You researched and thought about when the right time to open it. Finally, tonight’s the night: it’s time to uncork that bottle and at long last, enjoy the wine inside. But here’s the rub: you don’t want to down the whole precious bottle in one night. How do you enjoy the wine over a few days without losing that taste you’ve worked so hard to build?

Anyone who’s left a bottle out on the counter or in the refrigerator knows that the wine just doesn’t taste quite as good the next night. Can you save your wine without losing taste? The answer is yes: Your just need a wine dispenser.

Wine dispensers are devices designed to preserve wines. They store wines at appropriately cool temperatures, and keep oxygen from coming in contact with the liquid inside the bottle. You’ve probably seen wine dispensers used at restaurants and bars. But wine dispensers are available for home use, too.

One wine dispensing system we recommend is the WineKeeper. WineKeepers work by replacing the oxygen in the open bottle with nitrogen, a gas that doesn’t react with wine. Meanwhile, they hold bottles in a refrigerator specifically calibrated to the right temperature to preserve the wine. To use the system, you uncork the wine, insert the dispenser’s stopper faucet, and plug in the gas. You’re ready to pour a perfect glass.

WineKeeper offers a wide variety of dispensers. If you’re a restaurant or bar owner, you might be interested in something like their 8-bottle model, available in all kind of finishes from oak to stainless steel, and customizable with features like chrome faucets and a door lock. This model has different temperature zones for white and red wines, making it simple to keep each at its correct temperature.

If you’re a home enthusiast, you might be more interested in WineKeeper’s 4-bottle model, called the Napa. Though smaller, this model uses the same nitrogen preservation technology and advanced refrigeration system, and has two separate compartments for wine and red wines.

Whether you need a commercial or personal model, WineKeepers will keep opened bottles of wine fresh for weeks, so that you never waste that second half of the bottle again.

Many wine lovers face a dilemma. They’d love to start a collection (or have already begun one!), but they don’t have an out-of-the-way space for a wine refrigerator, and they’d rather not put that piece of equipment in their perfectly-decorated dining rooms. What they need is a wine storage solution that is both functional and aesthetically pleasing. But does such a thing exist?

Budding wine collectors will be happy to know that the perfect solution does indeed exist. It’s called a wine credenza. A wine credenza is a piece of furniture that also has climate-controlled wine storage. Wine credenzas are often used in the place of a traditional buffet in a dining room. Instead of dishes stored inside, the cupboards are filled with your favorite vintages, aging away under ideal conditions. The top of the wine credenza can be used to display art, serve as a bar area, or hold dishes during gatherings like Thanksgiving.

Don’t have space in your dining room for a wine credenza? Think outside the box. Since wine credenzas don’t take up too much space–they’re only about 30 inches deep, they are also a perfect fit for hallways. Wine credenzas can also work in family rooms…you could even replace your TV stand with one!

From a design standpoint, the best thing about wine credenzas is that they can be completely customized to fit in to your existing decor. For those with traditional taste, there are credenzas like this Provance 3-door credenza from Vinotheque, available in light, medium and dark stains to blend it into your existing furniture. For those with a bolder aesthetic, there is this Vinotheque Boxed Up 4-door credenza, with a wooden exterior mosaic made of traditional wine shipping boxes. (This design would be great in a wine cellar!) For those homes with an industrial feel, try the clean, modern look of this Vinotheque AlumaSteel 3-door credenza.

Besides being beautiful, these wine credenzas really work to store and age your wine properly. Vinotheque credenzas are designed with your growing collection in mind–they all maximize the number of bottles they can hold while minimizing the overall size of the cabinet. These credenzas have top-of-the line cooling systems and insulation, along with UV-resistant glass that blocks harmful rays from damaging your wine. Many of these credenzas can also be made with a front venting option that allows the credenza to be custom-built into existing furniture.

Whatever your style, if you’re a serious collector who is looking for a storage option that will fit seamlessly into your home, a wine credenza might be the right choice for you.

Beautiful Cooperage floor from Fontenay

Looking to add a subtle, yet show-stopping accent to your wine cellar? Consider a gorgeous, custom wood floor…made entirely from reclaimed barrels and tanks. Fontenay, the world’s original source of reclaimed wine barrel flooring, installs one-of-a-kind wood flooring that tells a story of winemaking in the very grain of the wood.

Imagine a floor that displays remnants of wine names, dramatically dispersed amongst the planks. With a custom floor made from reclaimed wine barrels, you can go for this or any other look you desire, from streamlined planks in matching hues, to a beautifully rustic mismatched look. There are several distinctly different types of Fontenay flooring to choose from.

Fontenay collects barrel heads, and turns them into three different materials. The first is the Cooperage collection, which is the outside of the barrel head, complete with the special patina earned from age, as well as stamps and brand markings that winemakers have put on the barrels.

The second type of material is the Wine Infusion collection. This wood comes from the inside of the barrel, and so has been naturally stained with the color of the wine the barrel held. Different types of wine deliver different colors and tones, so a Wine Infusion collection floor can represent a stunning variety of all your favorite varietals.

The third type of material is the Stave collection. This collection comes from the outer part of the barrel, from which the hoops have been removed. Stave flooring comes in an interesting and eye-catching pattern made from long and short pieces, with natural markings from the barrel hoops.

Not only is a floor made from reclaimed wine barrels beautiful, it’s eco-friendly, too. In the United States, most wine barrels are made from beautiful white oak, which can take hundreds of years to grow. But the life of a wine barrel ranges from a mere one to five years, and large vineyards can use as many as 100,000 barrels per year. If you choose Fontenay flooring, you can feel good about making a flooring choice that’s good for the planet, as well as a unique and gorgeous design.

Collectors building custom wine cellars often struggle with a question: “How do I make my wine cellar reflect me?” Wine is your true passion, so you want your wine cellar to be more than just rows and rows of bottles. You want it to reflect your personal style, and say a little something about you and your love of wine.

One create way to add that special personal touch to your wine cellar is with artwork. A print, painting or mosaic can speak volumes about you and your taste, helping make your wine cellar unlike any your guests have ever seen before. But where to get started? Here are our top five picks for wine cellar artwork. Have a favorite that we missed? Tell us in the comments!

1. 

   ESPARANTOstudio print

   Prints: Modern and edgy, graphic prints can say a lot with just a few words. Wine-themed prints are often witty and clever, making them great for the connoisseur with a sense of humor. Try this “Life is too short to drink bad wine” print from  seller ESPARANTOstudio, or these wine-themed graphic prints, uniquely printed on vintage dictionary pages, from Etsy seller TheSalvagedSparrow.

2. Mosaics: For a piece of artwork that is totally unique, consider a handmade mosaic mural. Mosaics can be made of small bits of glass, fine china, porcelain, or a mix. The mosaic artist composes the pieces into a decorative image, then grouts the pieces and seals the creation. A mosaic can be placed on walls, framed, surround an archway, or cover a tabletop. An artist can create an image unique to you: think your favorite wine region in Spain, or your favorite place to drink a glass in the backyard.
3. 

   AnnToozeFineArt pastel

   Paintings: A wine painting can add a focal point to your wine cellar, and become a conversation-starter between you and your guests. Whether you’re drawn to soft watercolors or a bold, modern style, you can find a wine-themed painting that perfectly suits your taste. Browse these beautiful original pastels from Etsy seller Anna Tooze Fine Art. For something extra-special, look for art that uses reclaimed materials, such as this wine bottle and glass silhouette painting.

4. DIY cork art. Been saving your corks for a rainy day? You can use old corks to create a variety of totally original art pieces that would be fabulous addition to a wine cellar. For inspiration, check out this fabulous wall hanging, this cork monogram, or this wine cellar door completely covered with cork halves. Now that’s a unique piece!
5. Vintage posters. Do you have a thing for all things vintage? A vintage wine ad poster might be the perfect way to put your personal stamp on your collection. Frame one print as a focal point for your cellar, or try a gallery wall that showcases your favorite vintages in style. Check out this Contratto champagne ad, and this Sandeman’s port ad.

console

You’re a wine connoisseur. You spend every spare moment reading up on the greatest vintages and hunting down that perfect bottle. But do you ever feel like your hobby is confined to the wine cellar? With your collection shut away, it’s easy to feel like your passion takes a backseat. How to integrate your love of wine into your home?

One great option is to use specialty wine furniture. Howard Miller designs stylish furniture that is a great way to showcase your love of wine. From inviting bar stools to ornate wine cabinets, wine furniture allows you to bring your passion out of the cellar and into the most lived-in areas of your home.

Bars and Bar Stools

No wine lover’s home is completely without an elegant bar area. A bar is a great place to open and decant wine bottles and of course, mix up the occasional cocktail. Howard Miller bars have luxurious Italian marble tops, and are adorned with carved details. The bars offer chilling drawers perfect for storing wine, wine racks, and a variety of finishes to complement your decor. And no bar would be complete without a place to sit and enjoy your cocktail, so Howard Miller offers a variety of bar stools as well. Built to seamlessly match the bar, these bar stools truly complete the look.

Cabinets 

Wine cabinets are a great way to make your wine collection fit seamlessly into your home.
Wine cabinets come in a choice of high-quality finishes, with details such as carved feet, built-in wine racks, and lighting. For a wine cabinet that doubles as a bar, choose a model with stemware storage built right in. With so many customizable options, you can find a wine cabinet that both houses your collection and makes a beautiful design statement.

Consoles

If you’re looking for a piece of wine furniture that is both functional and practical, look no further than a
Howard Miller wine console. Consoles offer the storage of a wine cabinet with the counter space of a bar. Use a large console in your dining room: it doubles as an place perfect for holding a holiday-worthy buffet. Use a small console to fit that empty corner: the top can display photos from your travels to wine country, while the storage space holds your bottles from the trip. With a variety of models available, it’s easy to find the one that perfectly fits your collection’s needs.

Whether you’re a casual collector who keeps a couple of bottles around for special occasions, or a serious aficionado who has a custom cellar packed with carefully-catalogued wine bottles, one of the keys to maintaining your wine collection is learning about the different types of wine rack styles available. Wine racks hold bottles, of course, but they can also help provide the optimal conditions for wine aging, as well as adding a touch of beauty to your wine collection.

What does a wine rack do?

You can’t store wine properly just by putting it on any old shelf. This is because wine racks are designed to keep your bottles stored at the proper angle. The right angle of storage ensures that the cork is completely covered in wine, preventing it from drying out. A dry cork can interfere with the oxygen levels within your wine, interfering with the aging process or even causing your wine to go bad.

Within the world of wine racks there are many variations. Wine racks can be small or large, and come in many styles, from modern to traditional to antique. Here are three of the most popular and unique types of wine racks among wine collectors today:

Hanging wine racks

Most wine racks resemble shelves, so if you’re going for an aesthetic that’s a little unusual, hanging wine racks might be the right choice for you. Hanging wine racks showcase a column of floor-to-ceiling shelves that display wine racks horizontally and parallel to the floor.

Since hanging wine racks don’t display bottle facing outwards, they take up far less room than traditional wine racks, and so are often ideal for kitchens or other smaller spaces. Hanging wine racks store bottles at the appropriate angle for aging, and also have the added advantage of allowing the label to be clearly displayed, making finding the right bottle a simple task.

Metal lattice wine racks

Another unique choice is metal lattice wine racks. If you’re on a budget, or just appreciate a clean, simple aesthetic, these might be the right choice for you. Metal lattice wine racks are a set of interlocking, heavy-gauge wire shelves. Available as a kit, metal lattice wine racks are a great choice for a do-it-yourselfer. Each kit holds 150 bottles, making metal lattice wine racks a great choice for the avid collector.

Metal wine racks are also a great choice for commercial wine sellers, because they are cost-effective and easy to set up and move around. Many commercial wine sellers choose to use metal wine racks for their back-room storage, and more traditional wooden wine racks in their retail section. We carry a wide variety of wine racks designed for retailers.

Stackable wine racks

Do you love the look of custom wine racks, but shy away from the price tag? Stackable wine racks may be the best solution for you. Stackable wine racks don’t have the high price tag of custom wine racks, but they can be modified to fit your space much better than a wine racking kit. Stackable wine rack sets come in a choice of elegant wooden finishes, and offer a variety of different styles that you can mix and match to fit seamlessly into your space. There are wide and narrow column-style wine racks, curved wine racks for corners, “waterfall” shelves that add visual interest, and even arched wine racks for over doorways. By choosing a set of the right stackable wine rack pieces for you, you can create a beautiful, customized wine cellar look without the high price.