WINE
Gone are the days of descending into the wine cellar , eventually emerging with dusty prized vintages to share with guests in the main living areas . More recently , cellars have evolved into tasting rooms for small-scale gatherings . Today ’ s cellars , while still intimate venues , have been upgraded to host dinners , with the family ’ s wine collection on full display .
LED lighting artfully shows off the bottles without the damaging heat . An indoor wall fountain or waterfall can provide needed humidity as well as serve as a statement piece . Dishwashers have been installed to clean stemware in situ , alongside heating ovens to keep each course of the meal warm . Some of the features of an outdoor kitchen , a trend of years past , are going underground .
Alternatively , wine cellars aren ’ t necessarily even in the cellar anymore . Wines can now be displayed on the main floor behind glass wall , allowing a full appreciation of the scope of a collection — yet in a controlled environment — so that guests need not cope with the chilly temperatures that wines require .
“ Many of today ’ s wine collectors are not only looking to maximize storage of their wines , they are also seeking out tailored décor to display their collection artfully while complementing their home ’ s interior design . Wine cellars and tasting rooms are also increasingly an important aspect of the serious collector ’ s home and may feature special finishes such as imported marble and decorative stone .”
Per Holmberg , Head of Wine , Americas , Christie ’ s
SPIRITS
The boom in “ bespoke ” cocktails and collectible spirits — bourbon , scotch , rum , tequila — breathed new life into the in-home bar as an entertainment centerpiece . Rivaling anything found in a six-star hotel in both size and popularity , meaning bars are bigger than ever before .
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