In 1934, a year after prohibition ended with ratification of the 21st Amendment, Americans consumed an average of .26 gallons—or 4 glasses —of wine per year. Today, we drink about a billion gallons of wine each year. That translates to about 49 glasses of wine per every resident of the United States. The number would be markedly higher if only those individuals old enough to legally drink were factored into the equation.
These statistics, and others supplied by the California-based Wine Institute, (wineinstitute.org) show that wine consumption has been, for the most part, growing at a steady pace for the past 86 years. While bourbon rooms and craft breweries are all the rage right now, it is clear wine is in it for the long run.
Oenophiles know their love of the grape is not a passing fancy and many of them have carved out a space—be it a cellar, a cave, a room or a place under the stairs—to properly pay tribute to their collection. Take a look at a few of our favorites.
An Upper Arlington couple wanted a space with a bit of French inspiration blended with a modern vibe to store their wine collection. A few steps down from their dining room, through double glass doors, a crystal halo chandelier shines on the rich wood of the cabinets, the dark tile floors, and the hexagonal tiles that add a 3D effect to the ceiling. Hidden from sight are high-tech tools that control the temperature and humidity.
RESOURCES
Construction and Design J.S. Brown & Co., Monica Lewis, CMKD, MCR, UDCP
Free-floating wine racks are mounted to a wall of whitewashed cedar in this glass-enclosed wine room. Its contents can be enjoyed in the adjacent spaces which were custom designed to suit the homeowners’ specific entertaining needs. A double bar, beverage center and wine chiller, allow for plenty of options when it comes time to gather with friends and family.
RESOURCES
Builder and interior design G.A. White Homes
Residential design Shawn Duncan Associates
Lighting Premiere Lighting Gallery
Flooring Premiere Flooring
Art Dayton Art Solutions
In Columbus, this striking circular wine vault houses 1,721 bottles and is a national award winner. Custom wood veneer light fixtures from Spain accentuate the textures of the vertical stacked stone to create a balance between the modern and natural elements of the space. A stone and pebble lighting ledge circles the space and conceals wiring and houses uplighting. The temperature and humidity can be controlled by smartphones.
RESOURCES
Contractor Dave Fox Design-Build Remodelers (Steve Dempsey, sales director and Samantha Magee, CKMBD, interior designer)
Tile Emser Tile & Hamilton Parker
Glass Eastway Supply
Lighting Northern Lighting
Wine racking system VintageView
Wood tops Urbn Timber
After relocating to Cincinnati from San Francisco, a couple knew they needed the right space to accommodate their extensive wine collection. This home’s lower level turned out to be the perfect spot. A black racking system, placed along a curving back wall, was designed to house 2,200 bottles of wine. An entire glass wall runs across the front of the wine cellar to control the temperature and humidity inside the room.
RESOURCES
Contractor Neal’s Design Remodel
Designer Cyndi Kohler, CKD
Glass wall Ryan’s All-Glass
Racking system Wine Cellar Innovations
HVAC Anderson Automatic
With an industrial/contemporary twist, this custom-built wine center takes clever advantage of unused space under the stairs. Racks made of white oak were designed to hold 100 bottles of wine. LED lighting changes color to light the unit from within and add a bit of a show for those enjoying a meal and conversation in the adjacent dining area.
RESOURCES
Design and construction Jayme Dickey, Luxe Design Remodel
Glass Alluring Glass
The interior stonework and archway design elements of this wine room are carried throughout the rest of this lower-level entertainment area of this traditionally-styled Cincinnati home. The space also includes a billiards area, a kitchen and a comfy space for catching a game or movie.
RESOURCES
Contractor Neal’s Design Remodel
Lead designer Laura Webster
Two backlit glass towers in a formal dining room in New Albany provide easy access to wines for dinner parties and holidays. Hidden in a wall panel between the towers is a stone-covered staircase, carefully lit by lanterns, which provides access to the lower levels of the wine storage—the cellar and the cave. The lower cave has a natural stone floor which allows for a desired level of humidity.
RESOURCES
Architect Brian Kent Jones Architects, Inc.
Builder Ghiloni Custom Builders
Wine cellar stone Columbus Builders Supply
Just steps from the kitchen, great room and dining areas, a crisp white curved countertop serves as a bar in front of a built-in and lighted wine rack in this Cincinnati home. The bar’s location makes it practical, while its slightly contemporary style makes it elegant.
RESOURCES
Builder Arthur Rutenberg Homes
Beneath its arched brick ceiling this wine room features built-in storage for 450 bottles, a corking station, and a table and chairs custom built for the room. Antique black cabinetry adds a rich design element as do the seven-inch-wide planks of American hickory on the floor. Adjacent spaces include a complete bar and kitchen area as well as a cigar room.
RESOURCES
Designer and contractor Architectural Justice
This Columbus area lower-level wine room was designed to take advantage of an existing bay of the foundation. New iron doors were custom designed to match a wrought iron design on a console table owned by the homeowners. They were then faux finished with a metallic paint to recreate the patina. Custom wine racks, a wood panel ceiling, and wine refrigerator complete the room.
RESOURCES
Construction and design J.S. Brown & Co.
Iron doors Fortin Ironworks