Basic HTML Version
magnums of Ridge Monte Bello. A third room contains fine
Burgundies, both white and red, from 1982-2008. California,
Spanish, German and Italian wines are represented there, as well
as vintage Ports and other French wines.
Stacks of wine in their original wooden cases are part of an
organization project that is underway. The unadorned wood and iconic
lettering of such names as Romanée Conti and La Tache add warmth
to the ambiance.
As for cellar management, John prefers to browse the cellar
himself when it comes time to locate a given wine. “Some of my
wine is computerized,” he says. “But a computer is for people
with static cellars.” He compares his collection to a garden, which
needs tending. “Like my garden, my cellar is a living thing” he
says. “I drink some wines, remove some, and add some. It’s
always evolving.”
Innovations in Cellar Design
Having recently completed unique personal cellars in Santa Barbara
and Montecito, respected cellar designer Tom Warner finds advances in
materials, software and climate control exciting.
“The new trend in interiors is to use fully sustainable materials,”
Warner states. To that end, he says he is “creating bamboo cellar
systems that are unique, beautiful, solid and environmentally
responsible.”
Tom’s first step in meeting a client is to inquire about their wines.
“I ask them to complete a one-page collection profile, showing their
current collection, and what they anticipate it will become.” For clients
drawn to a modernist aesthetic, metal and glass elements may be
used. A traditional design features a vaulted ceiling of used brick.
It’s not all about beauty. The recent “Green Build” show in Chicago
90
summer
|
fal l
Cellar designer Tom Warner
finds advances in materials, software
and climate control exciting
Photo: Thomas Warner Wine Cellars