Wine cellars are often reserved only for the most extravagant homeowner, but must it be built underground?
As the name suggests, a wine cellar must be built underground, but that doesn’t mean it’s the only option. When constructing a similar build above ground, it simply becomes a wine room but has mostly the same aspects as the underground variant.
Read on to learn more about wine cellars, rooms, and everything in between.
As Above, So Below
It’s said that the human race has been storing wine in underground cellars for almost four thousand years. In 2013, an ancient cellar was unearthed in Israel, packed full of ‘amphorae’, which were a type of clay vase used thousands of years ago.
When these amphorae were analyzed, traces of wine were detected, offering credence to the theory that it was the earliest example of a wine cellar. Throughout history, there are plenty of examples of civilizations using cellars or underground storage areas to house their wines.
For example, the Romans used ‘cella vinaria’ rooms to house their lavish wines, to both age and preserve them. In the Middle Ages (particularly in Europe), heavy stone cellars were often constructed to house wines and other beverages.
However, it’s in France that the wine storage craft was perfected, particularly around the 17th century. The French were renowned for being master vintners, and some would dedicate their lives to the craft.
There are areas in France that are legendary among the wine-making world, such as the region of Champagne. It’s here that champagne was allegedly invented, hundreds of years ago, by a Benedictine monk called Dom Pierre Perignon.
If that name sounds familiar, it’s because it’s also the name of one of the finest champagnes today. You can read about this champagne at length in another article we posted.
Ultimately, wine storage would remain underground for hundreds of years to come. The main reasoning behind this is the fact that it’s naturally cooler underground, and therefore it’s more conducive to long-lasting bottles of wine.
In truth, the term ‘cellar’ does refer almost explicitly to an underground room or construct. However, as time went on and innovations saw the light of days, it would become a common practice to store wines above ground.
Breaking The Tradition
There were innovations in the engineering world that permitted the human race to leave old-fashioned cellars and pantries and move above ground. There was a time when all food and beverages were stored in dark, cool environments, but that’s a thing of the past.
In 1899, the first mechanical refrigerator was invented, and it forever changed the world of food storage. Just a few years later, in 1902, the first modern air conditioning unit was invented.
And so, you had enough to recreate the environment of a wine cellar, above ground. You didn’t need the cool air found underground, as you could create it yourself in any room of the house.
These aspects contributed to the creation of the wine room, a construct that mirrored a cellar in almost every respect but relied more on technology. You could create the optimum environment for wines to be stored using air conditioning systems, humidifiers, and refrigeration units.
It was the best news possible for those that either didn’t have an underground cellar and certainly didn’t want to build one. Ultimately, it’s much cheaper to convert a room into a wine room than it is to build a totally new cellar.
In one article posted on barrons.com, these ideas are explored at length. It was revealed that many more homeowners were opting for wine rooms as opposed to cellars, obviously taking the more modern, technical approach.
Some of these wine rooms can be equipped with the capacity to store thousands of bottles of wine, and they’re often extravagant. It’s not uncommon for these rooms to be dual-purpose, offering people the opportunity to sample and enjoy their wines in the very room they’re stored.
This aforementioned article discusses the circumstances of one particular wine aficionado. It’s alleged that this man had a two million dollar collection of fine wines and champagnes, with almost every bottle having been purchased in Europe.
It’s said that when he transitioned back to the United States, he commissioned the construction of a two hundred thousand dollar cellar to store his collection in. Of course, this was an underground storage area and not the modern above-ground wine rooms we’re referring to.
Ultimately, it’s up to the homeowner – would you prefer your wine to be stored above or below ground?