As U.S. Interest in Wine Matures, So Grows the Market For More StorageVintage Appeal

Americans consumed 250 million-plus cases of table wine in 2006, according to a recent survey conducted by the Wine Market Council, which noted the intake per capita to be at an all-time high. In other words, the association's report concludes, this emerging domestic market is ripe for the picking.

Keeping pace with this rapid progression, prescient refrigeration manufacturers are developing an increasingly broad range of residential wine storage appliances, giving builders and remodelers solutions to suit the needs of every homeowner—from casual wine consumers to dedicated connoisseurs.

When Sub-Zero was looking to extend its built-in and integrated refrigeration lines in the late 1990s, corporate marketing manager Paul Leuthe explains, it was apparent from designer and consumer focus groups that some sort of wine preservation appliance was the way to go. And what customers wanted was choice, flexibility, and control.

To meet those demands, says Leuthe, "We went with an interior cavity where one-third of the cabinet could be dedicated to one type of storage and the other two-thirds could be dedicated to another." Thus one could hold white wines within the preferred serving temperatures of 41 and 50 degrees F and reds between 50 and 64 degrees F. Alternately, either compartment could be programmed at the recommended 55 degrees F for long-term preservation.

Not surprisingly, Leuthe notes, Sub-Zero's most popular unit is the 24-inch undercounter 424 wine storage model. Not only does its size allow for easy integration into kitchens and bars, it holds about two cases, so it's not too big or too small.