Why are wine cellars making such a splash?
As a college student, Jay Rosen and his fraternity brothers had their fun with alcohol — but not in the way one might assume.
"I was never really a big beer drinker," Rosen says. "We used to go out to our local liquor store on the weekends; me and my fraternity brothers would taste it (wines) and compare and contrast. It just became a passion, and a vocation as well."
His love of wine, and regular readings on its health benefits, led him to found the business Washington Valley Cellars in the Martinsville section of Bridgewater in 1992, a business that designs and installs custom wine cellars in homes in New Jersey and beyond.
Wine cellars, he finds, are the third most trending addition to homes this year, not far behind home theaters and outdoor decks.
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"A wine cellar is right up there in this day and age," says Rosen. "It's just another space that is to be enjoyed. Wine consumption and the benefits have become more known. More and more people are turning to wine."
Incorporating a wine cellar into a home — and cultivating a flavorful and boozy collection — can lead to quite the indulgence.
Washington Valley Cellars, which reportedly has built hundreds of custom cellars across the nation, handles proper framing, insulation and vapor barriers, lighting and temperature control, refrigeration and design. This year, Rosen finds customers are requesting a more contemporary style featuring glass and metal. One job, he adds, was a wine cellar with LED lighting all throughout it.
A wine cellar "evokes a picture of a cave," says Rosen, "there are people that have a more rustic appeal to a wine cellar."
Wine cellars are also more often being incorporated into easily accessed rooms of a home, specifically off of family or dining rooms, versus basements.
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"Most people have an extra space off the first floor," says Rosen, but adds "empty nesters" can take advantage of spare bedrooms. "(It's) 'my kids have left so I have an extra bedroom; we can use these guest rooms and make it a wine cellar'. It's trying to incorporate the wine cellar into your living space rather than a basement."
Refrigeration is also key.
"Ninety-nine percent of the wine cellars are conditioned, meaning there is refrigeration," says Rosen. "It is important for the long-term care of wine. You want to make sure it has the proper temperature controls, to make sure the storage is going to benefit the wine."
Rosen's personal cellar in his home — also in the Martinsville section of Bridgewater — is a 4,000-bottle wine loft built adjacent to his dining room. It features limestone floors, a plaster-finished barrel ceiling, and horizontal wine racks — a Washington Valley Cellars signature. He also stores an additional 1,500 bottles in a "makeshit cave" in his basement.
In regards to storing wine in a cellar, Rosen states 85 to 90 percent of wines are meant to be consumed in three to five years of putting the wine in the bottle.
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"If you're going to buy one, you want to make sure it's stored properly," Rosen says. "The other 10 to 15 percent that is meant to age [for about 7 to 10 years], it evolves."
Celine Hymoff, cellar manager at The Wine Cellar at Red Bank, often borrows a quote from master wine educator Kevin Zraly when customers ask for her advice on starting a cellar and aging wine. She says, according to Zraly, only one percent of the bottles produced in the world are to be aged.
"Ninety percent of all wine made in the world today is meant to be consumed within one year," Hymoff recalls of Zraly's quote. "Another nine percent should never see more than five years. Therefore, 99 percent of all wines should be consumed within five years. If you're shopping in the $5 to $25 range, all of those wines are really meant to be consumed now."
Hymoff adds, "That being said, when it comes to aging, I myself am a traditionalist and like to turn towards the wines made in the old world, to start."
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As mentioned, Hymoff tends to go with more age-worthy wines for those beginning to add to a wine cellar.
"I love to begin with a mix of things, the classics: Bordeaux, Burgundy, then some other options that are very age worthy Barolos and Barbarescos from Piedmont Italy," says Hymoff. "Of course Tuscany with Brunello and even Chianti Classico. Spain with its Riojas and Priorats is a must as well. There are also great whites to be aged, Burgundies, some Alsatian and German wines to name a few."
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She suggests people should begin by hunting down old vintage wines, to understand what older wines taste like.
"Then work your way back to younger vintages of the same wines and understand how the wines are aging," Hymoff says, adding people should buy more than one bottle of specific wine to make sure it is drank at its peak of quality and the point of reference is known. "Tasting is the best way to navigate the world of wine."
One might think that Rosen, who has thousands of wines stored in his home, has an all-time favorite. But it's tough for the expert to make a choice, though he admits his favorite grape is of Pinot Noir.
"It's hard to say one favorite wine, because even if you go to the same winery the vine ages are different every year," Rosen says. "I can tell you the top couple of wines, but it wouldn't necessarily be the same wine every year."
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As the fall wines — earthier, heartier reds, such Italian Zinfandel from California and Cabernet from Washington state — begin to move aside, the winter varieties are coming to the spotlight, waiting to be sipped on.
Though some people will drink Chardonnay year-round, heavier wines for the colder months might be a Cabernet or Syrah "that has got a little bit more weight to it," Rosen explains.
For this season, he says the Joseph Phelps Napa Valley Insignia is a great wine to indulge in. Port wine is also a dessert wine ideal for winter, and is typically paired with cigars.
Rosen recommends people develop a relationship with a local wine consultant at a nearby liquor store to recommend new wines on the market.
THE FAVORITES
The Wine Cellar at Red Bank lists their favorite wines for fall and winter:
Vieux Château Guibeau Bordeaux 2011 (premium)
Bric di Bersan Dolcetto 2012
Le Prince de Courthézon, Côtes du Rhône 2012
William Knuttel Dry Creek Zinfandel 2012 (premium)
Selezione San Blas Valle Ribolla 2012 ( premium)
WINE CELLAR BUILDING PROCESS
Washington Valley Cellars explains step-by-step how a wine cellar comes to life in a home
• In-home consultation: A truly custom cellar begins with a comprehensive in-home consultation. We will assess the space and take measurements, discuss your storage needs, and learn more about your wine collection and aesthetic vision. How you enjoy wine and your design tastes are also explored. We will then provide you with a variety of wine cellar design ideas to help guide you.
• Design and project proposal: We will submit a design, including sketches of project details and wine rack design and décor, along with a formal proposal for review. Adjustments will be made if necessary. Once a proposal is accepted, your project is set to begin.
• Project commenses: Necessary renovations, demolition and / or framing of the cellar begin most projects. Electrical wiring and lighting, followed by the installation of insulation and vapor barriers as necessary will follow. A refrigeration unit, walls and flooring are installed.
• Design elements: With the framework and functional aspects complete, your cellar is ready for the design and architectural elements to give it its unique character.
• Select from various species of woods, flooring, and granite or stone countertops: Racking and cabinet options include mahogany, cherry, and walnut while flooring can range from laminate, ceramic, porcelain and other distinctive stone options. Your cellar begins to take shape as custom racking and cabinetry is installed by our master craftsmen. Archways, tasting tables and other amenities complete your custom design.
• Finishing elements: The warmth of wood racking combined with finishing elements such as brick, stonework, granite, faux painting and tile backsplashes put the finishing touches on your dream wine cellar.