Nanek Rai’s Wine Cellar: Where Design Meets Perfect Preservation
A sleek 420-bottle showcase kept at a flawless 55 degrees proves that style and science make the perfect pairing.
Aesthetics are an important aspect of the design and installation of a wine cellar – after all, that is what everyone notices when they first see the cellar or enter it. However, the heart of a wine cellar is its cooling system, which protects the wine collection by keeping bottles at a consistent temperature and humidity level.
Nanek Rai put considerable thought and attention into designing his wine cellar for his home on St. Theresa Boulevard four years ago. He was inspired by Wine Enthusiast, a publication that serves as a guide to wine trends, ratings, and reviews, and food and travel, as well as online retailing of wine storage products and accessories. Nanek designed the wine cellar with a private contractor doing the installation of the racking system, and Luxury Cooling & Heating, installing the cooling system. The cellar maintains a consistent 55-degree temperature year-round, the perfect temperature for preserving a wine’s aroma and allowing for proper aging.
The Rai wine cellar is contemporary in style and appearance. It holds 420 bottles. Nanek favors bold red wines. His collection includes bottles from Beaulieu, Prisoner and Quintessa. One of his favorite red wines is from Pine Ridge Winery in Napa Valley’s Stag’s Leap district, which he visited a few years ago. Since then, he has been a member of their wine club and likes drinking Pine Ridge’s Cabernet Sauvignon when enjoying a good steak with his wife Shilpi on their veranda.
Considerations When Designing Your Cellar’s Cooling System
When designing a wine cellar cooling system, key considerations include proper insulation and a vapor barrier, as well as cellar size and its location to determine cooling load.
Select a cooling unit type -- self-contained, split system, or ducted -- based on space, noise tolerance, and installation complexity.
Ensure adequate ventilation for heat exchange, a stable temperature ideal for wine aging -- around 55°F with 60-70% humidity -- and factor in the costs of both initial purchase and ongoing operational expenses.
If you aren’t up for building an actual cellar in your home, there are many great free-standing refrigerated units to consider. Check out Wine Enthusiast’s offerings at www.winenthusiast.com.
If you have a wine cellar and/or favorite wines that you would like to have featured in a future issue of The Stroll, email me at susanaelder@gmail.com.