Realtor: See the Light: Glass Wine Cellars Are Having a Moment

Wednesday, November 2, 2016

See the Light: Glass Wine Cellars Are Having a Moment

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There are many ways to store wine, whether you’re stashing a wallet-friendly pinot to enjoy with pizza or a bottle of Bordeaux you’d like to age gracefully for the next few decades.

You can squirrel away your bottles in the closet, or maybe hoard them under the bed. You can choose to ensure they are safely and neatly ensconced in a dark, temperature- and humidity-controlled chamber, far from preying eyes. Or you might just want to do what more West Coasters are doing: Install a glass-enclosed wine cellar and show off your collection to the world.

Wine collecting, of course, can be as much a lifestyle statement and an art as a gastronomic delight. And the same can be said for the stunning glass-walled structures showing up in new homes in Southern California.

What they are not, according to experts, is the ultimate storage option for serious oenophiles.

“It’s purely aesthetic—that’s the main value to them,” says Jay Rosen of Washington Valley Cellars in Martinsville, NJ. His company builds between 30 and 40 custom cellars for residential clients each year.

Of the nearly 2.6 million homes currently for sale on realtor.com®, about 10,000 boast wine cellars, proof of their popularity. However, most private cellars lie in a home’s lower level or basement—to ensure proper storage temperature of between 55 and 65 degrees Fahrenheit—and are custom-crafted from wood and wrought iron.

However, some cellars are all about modern design, begging for luxury labels that can be seen through the cellar’s glass walls. These new-look cellars are not made for long-term storage.

“I recommend a glass cellar for wines that will be consumed within two years,” says Joey Kleinhans, managing director at the Sommelier Company of Austin, TX.

Currently there are 34 homes for sale across the country with glass wine cellars—and the list is growing fast. In an effort to suss out the validity of these high-design cellars, we spoke to a few wine experts about proper storage.

1495 Capri Dr., Pacific Palisades, CA

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Are glass wine cellars really a thing now?

While these cellars are not new to restaurants, “you are seeing them in more homes—especially as designers are realizing they can be a real showpiece,” says Brahm Callahan, master sommelier and beverage director for Boston’s Himmel Hospitality Group.

Kleinhans says they’re especially popular for “a fancy home with glass and/or steel architecture.”

But isn’t light the enemy of wine?

Yes. With all-glass construction, the cellar inevitably lets more light enter. But if you’re not aging wine and plan to drink your bottles within 10 years, this light will not damage the wine, says Rosen. However, it’ll speed up the aging process. Light’s “going to help to prematurely age the wine.”

But keep an eye on constantly evolving technology, according to Bob Rawson, co-owner of Urbano Cellars in Berkeley, CA. He says it’s increasingly possible to control the impact of dreaded sunlight “with UV filters on the glass and LED lights.”

Where should you put a traditional wine cellar?

“The most common kind of cellar is located in the basement,” says Rosen. “Ninety-five percent have a glass door,” he says, and are made of mahogany with metal racking. And there’s a reason they’re usually underground: The humidity is often high enough for corks to avoid drying out, and the threat of sunlight isn’t an issue.

1535 Carla Rdg., Beverly Hills, CA

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Are these glass wine cellars just for looks?

Yeah, pretty much. Rosen says glass wine cellars cater most to showy personalities, perhaps the same people who want to live in a trophy home. He remains unimpressed.

“You know what? I don’t need to advertise that I have a lot of money’s worth (of wine),” says Rosen.

“They really are primarily a spotlight for conspicuous consumption,” says Joseph Spellman, master sommelier for Landmark Vineyards in Sonoma, CA. He notes that this type of design frames and highlights special bottles.

656 Regatta Way, Bradenton, FL

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Proper wine storage: The basics

Store your wine between 55 and 58 degrees, Spellman says, and keep the humidity between 60% to 70%, so corks don’t dry out.

Storage should also be vibration-free (that’s one of many reasons why keeping wine on top of the fridge is a no-no) and as dark as possible. “High temperature swings can result in wine tasting cooked,” says Rawson.

Does every wine stored properly get better with time? Not necessarily, says Trisha Antonsen, Drizly’s chief cocktail officer. Consider the vintage, wine varietal, production method, and storage conditions.

“Wine experts … are looking at four primary aspects of the wine’s composition: tannin structure, acidity, alcohol level, and residual sugars,” Antonsen says.

15024 Hesby St., Sherman Oaks, CA

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Why are new homebuilders gaga for glass cellars?

“Wine as a design element has surged over the past two decades,” says Spellman. “Homebuilders are following the fashions of certain showy restaurants that like to display their rare bottles and huge collections.”

Make no mistake: Builders of high-dollar homes know their audience.

“People don’t want to hide their wealth and taste,” says Kleinhans. “This is a display of their identity.”