Redwood is by far the most common wood used for high-end

racks, chiefly because its high level of tannin protects the

wood from mildew and rot. Other species also used include

mahogany, walnut, and West Australian jarrah, a very hard

eucalyptus. Quite a number of woods fit the bill for use in a

cellar, so species choice is often based on aesthetics.

Rack layout is another important feature of the overall cellar

design. While most racks are designed to sit against a wall and

follow a conventional “bookcase” layout, innovative lines and

curves can also be achieved. Paul Wyatt, President and

designer at Fine Wine Rack & Cellar Company in San

Francisco, specializes in such designs, utilizing laminations

and other techniques to achieve dramatic and unusual results

(see photo on this page).

The variety of architectural features currently employed in

high-end cellars is astonishing. From tasting tables topped

with marble or exotic hardwood, to rack arches, to

hand-painted tile floors, to murals and faux effects, to

completely themed cellars, decorative variety is almost

endless.

Many of the firms listed in our Buying Guide on page 80 have

showroom cellars that will give a good idea of design and

decoration possibilities, while some have showrooms of the

virtual variety on their websites. Valentini’s Fine Wine Line,

for instance, has a marvelous showroom in Scottsdale, Ariz.,

which features many of the firm’s architectural and decorative

offerings as well as an active wine cellar. Likewise, Fine Wine

Rack & Cellar has an extensive and extraordinary showroom

cellar in San Francisco.

Perhaps the most important thing to remember in considering

a wine cellar is its function — it is, after all, a storage area in

much the same way as a pantry. Of course, once the basic

environmental elements of the cellar are achieved, it can

become far more than simple storage. With the basics in place,

virtually anything is possible..u

Valentini’s Fine Wine Line showroom in Scottsdale, Ariz., is a showcase

not only for extensive lines of standard racking and climate-controlled

cabinets, but also for the firm’s custom-design capabilities. The striking

faux-stone arches, built up from standard drywall and hand-painted, add a

Tuscan feel, while the counter top was crafted from granite. The firm’s

showroom cellar, seen at the left, features a huge range of racking styles.

A portion of the 1,600-sq.ft. showroom is also given over to rented private

wine lockers.

Fine Wine Line owner Kathleen Valentini Bonner has a background in

architecture and construction, as well as the wine industry, and wanted her

showroom to be a “one-stop design and build shop” for those who are

serious about their wine storage. Bonner has a long history of designing

and constructing high-quality cellars for 600 to 6,000 bottles.

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