When it comes to luxury interiors, few features are as sophisticated as a custom wine cellar. Much more than just storage, a wine cellar is a bold statement of status and identity, offering an opportunity to showcase prized collections while complementing various design aesthetics.
But how do you go about designing a custom bronze wine cellar? What features should you be looking for based on the size, value and nature of your client’s wine collection? What are the options for blending a wine cellar successfully into contemporary versus traditional interiors?
In this blog, we’ll explore the key design elements, customization options, and technical considerations that influence the practical and aesthetic character of custom bronze wine cellars, with advice on how to commission a cellar that complements your client’s wine storage needs.
What are my options for custom wine cellar design?
At Renaissance Genuine Solid Bronze, we have the capability to create completely custom wine cellar enclosures based on designers’ or architects’ unique concepts, but for reasons of practicality and cost, the majority of the wine cellars we manufacture are based on our three core product ranges: Nexus, Omnia and Revival.
Each of these products delivers a unique design aesthetic that adapts to a variety of interior styles, as well as some key practical features designed to meet the needs of most clients from the hobby collector through to commercial applications in the hospitality sector. Let’s take a closer look at each.
Nexus Wine Cellar Enclosure
Drawing inspiration from classic Crittall doors and Victorian factory windows, our Nexus wine cellar system is designed for installation into a finished opening, making it ideally suited to retrofitted wine cellars.
Featuring solid bronze frames, each panel is divided using genuine bronze muntin bars to create multi-lite profiles with matching transoms and sidelights, for a timeless aesthetic that sits comfortably in classic and contemporary homes. Nexus is fitted with insulated, tempered glass as standard (UV-resistant wine glass is optional) with silicone bulb weatherstripping and multi-point locks for optimal sealing, making it ideal for chilled or temperature-controlled wine storage. Nexus can be configured to any size or layout, and is available in our hand-rubbed bronze patina finish in five luxurious shades.
Omnia Wine Cellar Enclosure
Our Omnia enclosure system is identical to our Nexus system in every way, with one key exception; it’s designed for installation into a rough opening. This makes it ideal for construction or renovation projects. Once installed, the fixing system is hidden within the wall, for a clean finish with the narrowest profile of all our wine cellar systems.
Thermally-broken frames with insulated double glazing and genuine bronze muntin bars create a characterful aesthetic that delivers energy-efficient protection for your wine collection.
Revival Wine Cellar Enclosure
Inspired by the trend towards frameless wine cellar doors, Revival is our most minimalist enclosure system, and delivers beautifully crisp aesthetics for storage of wine collections that do not require a temperature-controlled enclosure.
Revival’s solid bronze frames are not thermally broken, which enables them to be incredibly narrow. There are no muntin bars, and each panel is fitted with insulated glass, silicone weatherstripping and multipoint locks. As with our Nexus and Omnia systems, Revival can be configured to any layout and is available in 5 hand-rubbed patina finishes.
Which wine cellar enclosure is best suited to my project?
There are two key considerations for designers when it comes to specifying a wine cellar enclosure system – the practical storage needs at hand, and the overall design aesthetic you’re trying to achieve.
For wine cellars where climate control isn’t necessary, our Revival range is the obvious choice. Simple and unfussy, it leans towards the more contemporary end of the design spectrum, but can be customised using a variety of finishes to add more character, helping it blend into classic interiors too.
If your client has an extensive wine collection that includes valuable or aged wines requiring temperature-controlled or chilled storage, especially in warm climates, then an enclosure from our Nexus or Omnia collections is the obvious choice.
Within these systems, there’s huge scope for customisation in order to achieve a particular design aesthetic.
Contemporary wine cellars
For example, in a very contemporary design scheme, you might opt for horizontal muntin bars only, evoking a postmodern look that resonates with a variety of architecture styles from the 1930s onwards. To add an even more modern feel, selecting our charcoal patina emphasises the crisp lines while still allowing the warmth of the bronze underneath to shine through.
Classic wine cellars
For a more classic or traditional interior, specifying more lites (with vertical and horizontal muntins creating that timeless ‘factory window’ look) and selecting a warmer shade, such as chestnut or even a natural unlacquered finish, lends more character to the wine cellar. You can read more about our finish options here.
Temperature control & wine preservation
As already discussed, Renaissance’s Nexus, Revival and Omnia enclosure systems are designed to support climate-controlled wine storage, delivering the same performance as a refrigerator door, with the added benefit of a lockable enclosure. There are three major factors to consider when it comes to wine storage – temperature, humidity and light. Let’s take a closer look.
What temperature should wines be stored at?
Temperature is the most important factor when it comes to storing wine. Whether it’s red, white or sparkling, it’s important to store all wines at a stable temperature – around 55°F is ideal.
Temperatures higher than this can cause the wine to oxidise leading to permanent chemical changes that can make it taste too acidic or vinegary. In hot climates, the ambient temperature can easily exceed this, so it may be necessary to chill your wine cellar.
Our Nexus and Omnia wine cellar systems are thermally broken because of their larger surface area, delivering optimal thermal efficiency. We use the polyamide strip method to thermally break our frames, giving them superb dimensional stability and protecting against dry shrinkage. Combined with silicone bulb weatherstripping around door seals, this keeps cool air in and warm air out, protecting the wine and reducing energy costs.
Why does wine need humidity?
Wine bottles need to be stored at a humidity between 50-80% to prevent the corks from drying out, allowing oxygen to get into the bottle and causing premature ageing of the wine. In very dry climates, this may mean storing the wine in a sealed enclosure with an HVAC system that has a built-in humidifier. It’s vital that the doors form an airtight seal to prevent air egress and reduce the cost of running this equipment.
Why do I need to protect wine from light?
Most wines, but particularly reds, are sensitive to UV light, which can affect the taste but also the color and aroma of the wine, a phenomenon known in the industry as ‘light strike’.
The ultraviolet rays in sunlight can have an effect on the naturally occurring riboflavin and pantothenic acid in the wine, causing chemical reactions with the wine’s amino acids. The outcome of this is the production of sulphur, which causes unpleasant tastes and aromas within the wine – typically an acidic flavor and a smell of sulfur or cabbage! To prevent this, wine cellars that are exposed to significant levels of UV – for example, in open-plan rooms – can be fitted with wine glass that has UV filters applied to its surface.
Custom Wine Cellar Layouts
When it comes to the layout of your wine cellar, the only real limits are the constraints of the architecture – and your imagination. All three of our wine cellar enclosure systems can be used to craft freestanding or alcove wine cellars in any size or shape. We can custom manufacture wine cellar doors to any height – ideal for high-ceilinged period homes, or for tucking a dainty wine cellar into that awkward space under the stairs. We work closely with wine cellar dealers all over the country to ensure your wine cellar enclosure perfectly complements your preferred wine rack system for a cohesive look that enhances any space. To start your Renaissance journey, find your nearest wine cellar dealer or simply get in touch to discuss your needs.
