Today's Wine Cellars Are Ripe For Entertaining

Wines cellars used to be only for the rich. They were large, dark, cold rooms in estate homes, usually underground, with perfect conditions for storing wine.

Now that we have refrigerated wine coolers, even people who live in condominium apartments can enjoy a modest wine collection.

Because wine is readily available today, it's not necessary to have a really large space for a wine cellar. The trend, in fact, is to more intimate, temperature-controlled wine tasting rooms with bistro-style furniture, wall murals, decorative lighting and clusters of pillar candles.

These are rooms meant for entertaining. Red wines are displayed on open shelves while white wines are kept in refrigerated wine cooling units. A china cabinet holds glassware and decanters. Often, a sink is installed to make clean up easy.

Tile floors, wrought iron gates and plaster walls are used to create a wine cellar with an Old World ambience.

In a contemporary setting, designers are using less textural finishes, choosing instead black granite counters, maple or beech cabinetry with stainless steel hardware and ceramic tile flooring, or hardwood. A raised serving counter with modern bar stools provides a place for guests to sip their favorite vintage.

Whatever the mood of the home, there's a wine cellar to match.

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