At least 30 percent of kitchen remodelings include installing a wine chiller beneath a counter, said John Damico, general manager of Bray & Scarff, a regional kitchen and appliance company.
And at least one appliance maker offers the wine room as a unit, a walk-in wine vault, complete with computerized tracking of more than 1,000 bottles.
andrea.siegel@baltsun.com
WINE CELLAR TIPS
A few wine-cellar basics:
Location --Basements are cooler than the rest of the house. Still, heat and humidity fluctuate there. Main-level wine rooms are less common.
Walls and other surfaces --Construction should be moisture-resistant and mold-proof.
Climate control --Experts disagree on optimal temperature and humidity levels for lengthy wine storage. But they agree on this: Too moist, and the risk of mold is too high. Too dry, and the corks dry out and the wine evaporates. They also disagree on whether whites need to be kept cooler than reds, but 58-60 degrees and 60 percent humidity are in the ballpark.
Racks --Wood is most popular, but racks can be made of metal and terra cotta in varying styles, from cubes to cubbies.
Lighting and style --Light is wine's enemy; low lighting and switches that dim are best. Typical decor is an old European look: textured ceramic tiles; stone, wood or tile uncorking surface; painting or fresco or tile mural; and an ornate wood door.
Wine cabinets --Climate-controlled, glass-front wine fridges allow you to chill wine, not guests. They range from pretty to plain and can be built into a wine room or other space.
Kits --An online search using the words "wine cellar" and "kit" turns up a wide range, from kits for racks only to companies that, if you send room dimensions, help design a room.
Andrea F. Siegel
