Expert answers to your questions about designing an exquisite, custom wine showcase displayed in a Glass Wine Cellar.

The Glass Shoppe specializes in creating a one of a kind Glass Wine Cellar. Not only do we install the glass enclosure, we provide creative wall treatments and customizable wine racking options.

We love custom wine cellars for so many reasons…they are stylish and timeless.  Glass wine cellars provide a fantastic and truly unique atmosphere for entertaining, they add unique beauty and interest to any décor.  Best of all, they are the perfect way to showcase the creativity and splendor of a fantastic wine collection right in the heart of your home. What could be better?

I find that most homeowners and wine lovers need little convincing on whether or not to install a custom glass wine cellar…the questions really start when they begin to consider all of the options that lie before them. Endless customizable options mean that glass wine cellars can be designed to fit any home’s needs and budget.

For starters, I recommend that all wine cellars are installed using frameless, ultra-clear glass. The frameless look is clean,  and the ultra clear glass is nearly invisible. All of the attention is focused on your collection

What about Climate Control?

Most of the frameless Glass Enclosures you will find on our website, and also on our main site  have climate controlled refridgeration. Yes, you can do a frameless wine room and have your climate control too! Some bullet points regarding a frameless climate control wine room.

• Refrigeration unit will need to be increased to accommodate glass walls
• Your unit will likely run most of the time
• Condensation has not been an issue!
• Don’t have the vents blowing straight at the glass, this will cause condensation
• 1/2″ Glass provides comparable climate control to insulated or double pane glass

What Else Should You Consider for your Glass Wine Cellar?

Framed vs. Frameless is just the beginning. Clients pose many of the same questions when considering the installation of a glass wine cellar. Here is a look at some of the questions we hear every day:

When is the best time to begin planning a glass wine cellar?

Ideally, the installation of your glass wine cellar will occur during new construction. This allows for a completely frameless look as all hardware is installed prior to the finishing of walls and flooring. It also allows you to plan and install refrigeration with minimal disruption and expense and to coordinate all of your glass wine cellar styling options with the décor of your new home.

The second option is to install a new glass wine cellar during a remodel. Much like installation during new construction, this allows you to find that perfect space in your home that tcan be converted to a functional wine display feature.

Small wine collections do not require much storage space. We have installed beautiful glass wine cellars under stairways and placed shallow wine cellars that run the length of a blank wall – contributing beauty and elegance to the room without closing it in or monopolizing valuable floor space.

What type of racking should I consider?

There are so many options to consider when selecting wine storage. Look no further than Vintage View Racking!

Modern Customizable metal racking provides endless options.

The modular design of metal racking makes it an ideal option for glass wine cellars of all configurations. Bottles are displayed label forward for easy viewing and accessibility. Label forward racking allows all of the attention to be focused on your collection.  Wall mounted metal racking is available in single, double or triple deep showcase-style. The above wine cellar was for a spec home. The builder chose to add the racks to the wall only, allowing the future buyer to customize the racking with floor to ceiling mounted in front of the glass if they desire.

VintageView metal racking is available in wall-mount, free-standing and floor-to-ceiling options. The aluminum racks are available in a variety of finishes.

Feature your favorite bottles with Vino pins as a showcase wall. Vino pins are available in metal or acrylic. The acrylic is a favorite of ours for a floating appearance.

Cable rod shelving brings the elegance of glass to the interior of your glass wine cellar.

The metal cables create a beautiful, sophisticated look that is clean and elegant. You can accommodate collections of all sizes, also easily scalable to grow with your collection. Suspended racking is customizable for single, double and triple deep storage options.  Rod or Cable systems can
be combined with integrated glass shelving.  With a cable system creative layouts can be achieved while featuring the beauty of each individual bottle.

The bottles appear to be floating in the air. The glass enclosure further enhances the modern and minimalistic aPrice- Cable wine storage does come at a higher cost. Cable systems require 4 fittings per bottle. The majority of the cost is in the fittings. The cost per bottle is therefore greater than the cost per bottle of the metal racking. Installation is intricate as well.

What type of wall-covering should I choose?

Zack is installing the metal label forward wine racks over the Stikwood Reclaimed wood. This is Stikwood’s newest collection, The Hamptons. Imagine how the wine bottles will pop against the white wood!

Have you fallen in love with Stikwood yet? We have!

If you have visited our showroom or poked around on our site, you know how much I love, love, love Stikwood! We love that Stikwood is less expensive and easier to install than traditional wood, and it is equally beautiful. The 3/16-inch panels have a simple, peel-and-stick installation and come in a seemingly endless variety of finishes and colors to complement any décor.

Reclaimed Barrel Oak, Infused with the aroma and tint of countless bottles of wine,  is a favorite for glass wine cellars.  Reclaimed Barrel Oak was made to live in wine cellars!

Painted glass panels are great for infusing a quirky pop-of-color into your glass wine cellar.

Painted glass wall panels are making their way into every room of the house, including glass wine cellars. Walls covered in painted glass are grout-free and are extremely easy to clean and maintain.  Sherwin Williams or Benjamin Moore colors allow for custom color matching. As a result, the color options are limitless. Coordinate the back painted glass to match, complement or contrast the color of your surrounding room.

You’ve installed an infinity pool…why not an infinite wine cellar

Mirrored walls on the interior of your glass wine cellar create the illusion of an endless collection. As a Result, your guests are certain to do a double-take when they notice that your wine collection seems to go on forever!

Antique mirror happens to be one of our other specialties. We keep our handmade antique mirror in stock, or we try to! Antique Mirror is in high demand, the designers choice for a decorative mirror. You must check out our Antique Mirror Subway Tiles at Striptiles!  The dark tones of the tiles provide subtle reflection to create depth and compliment the natural hue of wine bottles.

What about my door options?

Full-glass, frameless doors create a sleek silhouette when paired with a frameless, glass wine cellar. The appearance is striking when combined with an over-sized ladder-pull handle. In addition, Larger pulls add to the luxury look and fit with the overall design of the room. We recommend selecting a ladder-pull handle that is at least 24 to 36 inches in height and has a thick diameter for a dramatic and contemporary look.

Finally, if security is a concern, consider using a locking handle. Glass-to-glass locks fix the wine cellar door to the glass panel wall while extra-long handles secure the door into the floor. We prefer locking hardware, installed close to the floor and out of the sightline.

Glass wine cellars increase the overall value of your home while providing a compelling entertainment space that will be enjoyed for years to come. Showcasing your praiseworthy wine collection in a stunning, custom glass wine cellar is sure to make you the envy of the neighborhood.

Still have a few unanswered questions or just want to discuss your picturesque design ideas? Leave me a comment below or, better yet, stop by our showroom to really get those creative juices flowing!