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.
Fitting InWhen 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.
Other manufacturers report similar interest in this 24-inch size and configuration. Dacor's Epicure WineSteward features two equal compartments. Even
Marvel, the 20-year veteran and proponent of single-zone units for the optimum long-term storage environment, is set to concede to customer demand by adding a 24-inch undercounter dual-zone wine cellar to its Chateau collection. The unit, which sports a black interior and unobtrusive behind-the-door digital controls, "is for maintaining serving temperatures," says vice president of sales Gerry Reda. "You still need a wine preservation unit."
Among single-temperature models, the Ariston Cantina Vino is unique in that it integrates flush with the cabinetry thanks to a drop-in design that sits under a counter and on a base to allow for a contiguous kick.
This sort of build-in ability is essential to designer Robin Pittman of Design Galleria in Atlanta. "The key element is not only that the product functions, but also that the unit accepts a custom panel to be fully integrated. Our clients come to us looking for a kitchen that blends seamlessly with the rest of the home," she says. "Most often, I specify Sub-Zero or U-Line wine units, and they are placed in a bar or entertaining area rather than in the kitchen."
To suit such custom installations, the U-Line échelon Wine Captain drawer is available with an overlay option as well as a stainless steel frame in addition to de rigueur appointments common to the best of the bunch. These include UV- and vibration-resistance, easy-access bottle-cradling racks, precise digital controls, interior lighting, and 50 percent humidity.
Integration often translates into the buyer selecting a suite of coordinating appliances, claims developer Juliann Bergano of New York City-based Urban Residential, citing that potential condo buyers are more brand-savvy than even three years ago. "We've been very thoughtful about marrying the wine cooler with the refrigerator as far as design and manufacturer," she says. "In a recent project, we are using a whole Viking refrigeration package, both the refrigerator and wine cooler."
Easy UpgradeIn terms of marketing, Bergano attests to the logic of including such a specialized appliance in the company's average 250-square-foot kitchen. "The undercounter wine cooler is always shown as a feature and has been a very effective sales tool for us," she says.
Likewise, Reynoldsburg, Ohio-based builder Ray Diyanni of Diyanni Homes started offering the option of undercounter wine refrigeration in 2002 for a line of move-up homes in the $375,000 to $450,000 price range. "The bar options we've designed have been successful," he says. "We sold them in the majority of the homes we built in that community." There was one caveat, adds Diyanni: "We didn't get good feedback when we explored trying to remove standard cabinets to add a wine cooler. It had to be included in additional cabinets."
The beverage/wine fridge is an emerging hybrid said to be spot-on for this type of casual bar-based entertaining. Sub-Zero's 24-inch UC-24B beverage center holds all manner of cold beverages on the bottom and a dozen bottles of ready-to-pour wine on the top in one single-zone compartment. Danby offers two separate temperature zones—one for wine, one for other potables—in its 24-inch built-in Silhouette French door beverage center.
KitchenAid's 24-inch Architect Series II undercounter beverage center boasts three distinct temperature zones for wine and upright bottles of water, beer, soda, and juice. For tight spaces, the Perlick 15-inch Wine Reserve is packed with top-of-the-line features and teams with a similarly scaled refrigerator, beer dispenser, beverage center, and refrigerator drawers.
Full ScaleOn the other side of the spectrum, tall, full-sized wine refrigerators are rivaling traditional wine rooms in capacity, style, and efficacy. "It's fine to have a room designated as a wine room," says Vinotemp president India Hynes. "But I feel it would be better to line each wall with refrigerated wine cabinets. Energy-wise, you don't have to cool a whole room."
This manufacturer will customize wine units for just about any location in a home, even under the stairs, with state-of-the-art cooling and humidity systems and décor-matching door fronts. "Send us a sample and we could match it," says Hynes.
BSH sibling brands Bosch, Thermador, Siemens, and Gaggenau offer ready-to-install 18- and 24-inch-wide-by-84-inch-high modular columns designed and priced for a gamut of buyers.
"At first glance, the wine units will look similar because they are built-in with stainless or custom panels," says Chuck Bryant, BSH senior product manager of refrigeration marketing. "We use different types of lighting, shelves, storage and display options, extension shelves, and profiles to differentiate the brands."
At Electrolux, the Icon Absorption wine cellar was engineered for freestanding or built-in installations and is said to have zero-vibration operation due to a compressor-free cooling system. Miele's first foray into wine storage, at 24 inches by 84 inches high, features easy-install height-adjustable rear wheels, three independent cooling zones for up to 100 bottles, and a proprietary wireless remote monitoring system.
As trends go, Leuthe doesn't see residential wine storage waning. Quite the contrary, he notes: "Wine is in the upswing, and we see consistent growth by our numbers."
Pittman couldn't agree more. "With the perception of wine becoming more accessible and more of an everyday indulgence rather than a luxury reserved for dining out and special occasions, specifying wine storage units will only become more frequent and standard in spaces I design." --BUILDING PRODUCTS
If square footage and budget allow, the luxury of a true wine room is hard to beat. However, cautions Vinotemp president India Hynes, when you're dealing with a whole wine room you've got to coordinate numerous variables such as insulation, ventilation, noise, cooling systems, and humidity.
Smitten with the success of its popular Wine Reserve undercounter wine refrigeration modules, GE Monogram upped the ante for serious collectors with the Walk-In Wine Vault, an approximately 8-foot-by-8-foot-by-8-foot insulated stainless steel chamber that maintains close to 1,100 bottles of fine wine at a guaranteed cave-like humidity level and temperature of 55 degrees F, optimum for long-term storage.
The interior sports handsome redwood racks, crown molding, creamy white walls, and motion-detection halogen lighting. Additionally, the company borrowed from its own computerized product control to develop an innovative inventory management system.
"This isn't meant to be a replacement for the person who builds his own cellar," says Monogram general manager Nolan Pike. Although, he notes, it could be incorporated into one for prized acquisitions that require unfailing stability.
Similarly, Vinotemp offers a series of walk-ins in metal or wood (which lowers the price considerably) complete with racking, digital temperature and humidity systems, and options such as glass panels and inventory control. This, intimates Hynes, will save an uninitiated builder a lot of time and angst.
 | Ariston. Designed for seamless integration, the 28.1-inch-high-by-21.3-inch-deep-by-23.1-inch-wide Cantina Vino has a cleverly placed vent behind its upper door and rests on a solid base to allow for a kick contiguous with the cabinetry. Said to provide a true flush-to-cabinet configuration, each unit can be installed under the counter, raised to an ergonomic eye level, or even stacked to double the capacity. 800-356-0766. www.aristonappliances.us. |
| Liebherr. Available in stainless steel or ready for custom panels, the SBS 245 48-inch Vinidor side-by-side refrigeration unit contains five climate zones, including a dual-temperature wine cabinet above a no-frost freezer, an 8.4-cubic-foot refrigerator, and a 3.5-cubic-foot BioFresh humidity-controlled area for meat and fresh produce. Actually two tall units, each can be installed separately or joined with a side-by-side kit. 866-543-2437. www.liebherr-appliances.com. |  |
 | Marvel. The Chateau collection includes 15-, 24-, and 30-inch undercounter wine cellars as well as full-sized units. All are equipped with digital temperature controls, vibration neutralization, and a Sentry System said to ensure consistent humidity and temperatures. The new 24-inch dual-zone wine cellar was designed for maturing and chilling. For additional storage, there is a coordinating beverage and wine refrigerator. 800-428-6644. www.marvelindustries.com. |
| Sub-Zero. Created to enhance the 24-inch model 424 wine storage undercounter unit, the UC-24B undercounter beverage center is ideal for storing white and sparkling wines at serving temperatures along with the likes of mineral water, beer, juice, and soft drinks. Available in stainless steel or with an overlay kit, this model boasts electronic controls visible through the double-pane full-view glass door and two roller-glide wine shelves edged in natural cherry. 800-532-7820. www.subzero.com. |  |
 | Bosch. Available in 18-inch 70-bottle and 24-inch 98-bottle versions, Integra dual-temperature wine columns coordinate with the company's like-named refrigeration series. Features include a unique hinge that opens out and away from adjacent cabinetry and jambs for a built-in installation, glass doors with stainless steel or custom panel options, electronic controls, and a combination halogen/LED lighting system. 800-921-9622. www.boschappliances.com. |
| Dacor. With a temperature range of 41 to 68 degrees F, the 24-inch dual-zone EpicureWineSteward maintains up to 44 bottles of white, red, and sparkling wine at long-term storage or serving temperatures in its two equal compartments. Engineered to minimize vibration, this model provides electronic touch controls and a UV-protected glass left- or right-opening door. 800-793-0093. www.dacor.com. |  |
 | Electrolux. Measuring 23 1/2 inches wide by 29 3/4 inches deep by 56 1/2 inches high, the 160-bottle Icon Absorption freestanding wine cellar has a cooling system that requires no compressor, which the firm says ensures silent, vibration-free operation. Features include air filtration, humidity control, and a pre-set temperature of 54 degrees F with an override ranging from 46 to 64 degrees. A trim kit is available for built-in installation. 877-435-3287. www.electroluxusa.com. |
| Siemens. Planned for 2008 availability, the 84-inch-high-by-24-inch-deep-by-18-inch-wide avantGarde Wine Tower stores as many as 70 bottles within its dual-climate cavity. Outfitted with a stainless steel-framed glass door or ready to accept a custom panel, this modular unit features halogen lighting and a special "accessHinge" that allows the reversible door to be opened wide and around adjacent walls and cabinetry. 800-474-3636. www.siemens-home.com. |  |
 | U-Line. Each compartment of the Wine Captain drawer is an independent, vibration-free refrigerated unit with its own digital control and display. Available with UV-resistant thermal tempered glass framed in stainless steel or with a custom overlay, this model accommodates up to 43 bottles in its elegant black interior. Plus, the maple trim of the wine racks can be stained to match existing cabinetry. 414-354-0300. www.u-line.com. |
| Miele. Part of the company's new integrated refrigeration lineup, the 84-inch-high-by-24-inch-wide MasterCool wine cooler boasts three independent cooling zones with a capacity of more than 100 bottles. Wine-smart features include tempered tinted glass doors, 14 low-vibration acacia fixed and extendable shelves, LED lighting, a proprietary remote wireless monitoring system, precise temperature and humidity control, and height-adjustable rear wheels for smooth installation. 800-843-7231. www.miele.com. |  |