SANTA ANA, Calif. - More and more homeowners across the country are becoming very interested in proper wine storage. For these people, the $10 countertop wine rack from Target is not good enough. Instead, serious wine collectors are willing to turn sometimes large chunks of their homes into insulated and refrigerated spaces, so their vintage bottles can continue to age gracefully.
Installing a wine cellar is not for the faint of heart - or wallet. Cellars can range from 60 to 600-plus square feet and often cost anywhere from $8,000 to $30,000. Those who can afford this expense usually turn to contractors who have specific training in the design and installation of wine cellars. Just because a contractor may know how to install an air conditioning system does not mean he is familiar with the special conditions required in a wine cellar.