PRIVATE WINE CELLARS 101: SO YOU'RE THINKING ABOUT BUYING A WINE CELLAR

Do You Enjoy Wine? Although wine collecting has a lot of cache attached to it, it's a luxury hobby. Remember, you've got to purchase the wine AND the climate control system not to mention the insurance for the wine. Ask yourself if this is truly a passion of yours and if your willing to invest in it. Based on your response, remember that there are different kinds of wine cellars that require different cellar designs and wine types.

The Instant Gratification Cellar includes wines that are at the peak of their drinkability. These wines are mature and are ready for short-term consumption. The collection might be diverse including everyday wines and prestigious blue-chip wines.

(A glass front, 1600 bottle wine cellar, on a main floor addition with a combination of redwood and metal racks and a black granite counter top. Built by Brian Wilson owner of Boston Wine Cellar Designs, Inc).

The Wine Tasting Cellar should include wines for comparative tastings. Vertical tastings examine one estate (producer) through multiple vintages. Here you acquire 4-10 vintages of the same wine and compare. Horizontal tastings explore one type of wine across multiple estates. Hierarchical tasting explore a pyramid of qualities offered by one producer.

The Investment Cellar is for very serious wine collectors who buy highly rated wines and store them impeccably to increase their value (warning: not all wines increase in value). To sell prestigious wines in the future, keep track of their provenance and their original wooden cases. Storage times are at least five years after which time the wines are sold at auctions where the average cost of a bottle of wine is $3,000.

How to Store Wine? The general consensus is that 55 degrees Fahrenheit is the ideal temperature for most wines (champagnes prefer slightly colder temperatures). Relative humidity should be between 50%-65% to ensure that the cork stays expanded and no oxygen enters. Wine bottles should be stored on their side to keep contact with the cork so that it doesn't shrink and allow oxidation. The cellar should have good air-flow and ventilation, be free of U/V lighting (wine is photo sensitive), and be in a low vibration environment.

Do Wine Cellars Increase the Value of Your Home?

 The rise in the demand for wine cellars by home buyers, in itself, increases the value of a home with a wine cellar. A report from the National Association of Home Builders found that among new-home buyers with an annual household income of $150,000 or more, 31% named a wine cellar as their most desired amenity. (A media room was the top choice for 45% of the 4,326 recent and prospective home buyers polled). For luxury homes, a wine cellar or wine room has become an expectation by the buyer. In addition, home appraisers increase the value of homes that have high-end wine cellars.

Women & Wine Cellars? Anyone who knows me knows that I don't like to make generalizations and that there's always "exceptions to the rule." Having said that, the brain seems to need to organize itself around patterns to help us to understand what's happening around us. In the real estate world, there are definitely trends and as far as I can see, men still seem to be the ones buying and building wine cellars. In New England, designs remain traditional (for the most part) and colors and wood types remain dark (redwood, black walnut, etc..). Some contemporary design elements have emerged in the past 5-10 years but it may be that the traditional French chateau cave is still the model of the ultimate wine cellar (aka man cave). With more and more wine rooms being built on the main floor of homes, we're seeing more diversified designs and color schemes. These innovations are slowly having an affect on the wine cellars down below.

Experience Sotheby’s Wine

Sotheby’s Wine offers a selection of the world’s best wines for every palate and occasion. Whether you are an adventurous collector or are simply in search of a fine bottle to serve at your next dinner party, we invite you to explore our range or enlist the advice of our trusted team of specialists.

Visit our New York City retail location at 1334 York Avenue (72nd and York), in the Sotheby's worldwide headquarters building, for an exciting selection of well-priced bottles for immediate consumption, or investment-grade cases to add to your collection. We also have a retail location in Hong Kong with its own online store; as well as auctions in New York, London and Hong Kong.