Fine WINE

Fine

WINE

WHETHER YOU’RE A WINE CONNOISSEUR OR SIMPLY ENJOY A GLASS OF YOUR

FAVOURITE, A WINE CELLAR

IS THE IDEAL SPOT TO STORE, SAMPLE AND SHARE YOUR LOVE OF A GOOD VINTAGE.

WE’VE ROUNDED UP SOME TIPS FROM LOCAL DESIGNERS

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Margaret Berichon of Margaret Berichon Design transformed this outside storeroom adjacent to the garage into a wine cellar. The rustic herringbone patterned brick flooring and the timber shelving contrast beautifully with the contemporary metal legs of the stonetopped table and black leather barstools. “The shelves can hold 600 bottles of wine and the LED backlighting ensures they make a striking feature,” Margaret notes. The temperature is controlled via a wall-mounted air-conditioner and built-in cabinetry ensures that glasses and other wine-tasting tools are close by for when the owners are hosting guests in here. The finishing touch is the wine opener attached to the table and a series of pendant lights, which can be dimmed, overhead. Picture: Lar Photography

In this wine cellar designed by Douglas and Douglas, a custom made floor-to-ceiling metal wine rack transformed a seldom-used room into a showstopping space. The chevron design of the shelving is a striking focal point enhanced by the aged patina of the wall behind. The cellar has two entrances – through a large pivoting door from the living area, and on to the patio entertainment space via sliding glass doors – which ensures the room is ideal for use whatever the weather.

To make sure the cellar’s functionality is as good as its aesthetic design, there are several practical elements including a series of drawers to hide clutter, shelves that allow champagne bottles to be stored upright,

temperature control and a wallmounted shelf which makes serving a breeze. The finishing touch is the deep navy blue and gold palette which adds to the sophisticated air of the space. Picture: Michelle Reynolds

In this wine cellar designed by Hannah Interiors and Taryn Flanagan Interiors, classic and contemporary elements sit comfortably together. The glass walls enhance the sense of space and add a contemporary feel that contrasts perfectly with the slate floors and oak boards on the ceiling – a nod to the traditional location of wine cellars beneath a house. This juxtaposition continues in the furnishings with a classic wine barrel table flanked by industrialstyle leather stools and an intricate, modern chandelier overhead. The floor-to-ceiling metal shelving is suspended between concrete pillars which echo the off-shutter concrete walls outside and, although they have been built from floor to ceiling, a ladder which slides across the wall makes reaching for exactly the right vintage a breeze. The glass doors ensure the wine cellar is a focal point of the living space while insulating against temperature fluctuations.

Picture: Lar Photography

FOR MORE INFO Margaret Berichon Design: bdesignstudios.co.za Douglas and Douglas: douglasanddouglas.co.za Hannah Interiors: hannahinteriors.co.za Taryn Flanagan Interiors: tarynflanaganinteriors.co.za

TIPS FOR WINE CELLARS

* Temperature and humidity control – both keeping the wine at the correct temperature and avoiding fluctuations in temperature – is vital in storing wine correctly. So install an air-conditioning unit in your wine cellar and consider a small wine fridge if you have expensive champagnes or fragile old wines.

* To aid in temperature control, an area away from windows or exterior walls is a good location.

* Wine bottles need to rest on their sides to keep corks moist so shelving that allows for them to be stored lying down is essential.

* Turn your wine collection into a focal point of the design with an eyecatching shelving unit and lighting which highlights it.

* Good storage for barware is a necessity, especially to keep the space looking neat, so include some drawers or cupboards where essential but unattractive items can be stored.

* It is also a good idea to store glasses in an enclosed area, so that they do not become dusty between uses.