Designing high-end wine cellars is essentially a specialty art form conducted on a commission basis for wealthy individuals. With the growing interest in wine collecting globally, it shouldn't be surprising that a globetrotting cellar designer has emerged to meet the needs of those who can afford the best.
Cellarworks specializes in "architecturally distinguished" wine cellars
Lee Zinser, started his firm, Cellarworks, in 1994. His clients include a range of celebrities from the movie, TV, sports, and music industries (as well as some 5-star hotel groups) - sorry, I can't share any names because Lee's strict confidentiality policies don't permit him to tell me. Lee and I met in New York recently to discuss his business:
- They're designers not builders (meaning that Cellarworks' fees do not cover construction costs)
- Median fee (i.e., the "typical" project): $400,000-$500,000; minimum fee: $100,000
- Cellarworks differentiates itself by developing designs which integrate with the customer's wine lifestyle and which enable customers to demonstrate their wine sophistication by everything from the architectural concept/layout to the materials used in a design (e.g., the latest transparent nanotechnology film which provides complete UV and heat protection when applied to glass but which is otherwise undetectable). In short, they'll make you look smarter than you really are.
- After the cellar is designed, Lee's team including Nathan Woodson, a sommelier with Per Se in NYC, can also help recommend and procure wines on an ongoing basis. Clients are even given Nathan's cellphone number to be able to reach him any time with their wine questions.
- Average of 20 cellars in progress simultaneously (including some for restaurants and hotels)
- Project duration - shortest is 6 months and the longest is 4 years (a home with many construction delays)
- Current projects are located in Beijing, Sydney, Italy (2), London, NYC tri-state area, Idaho, San Francisco, Los Angeles
- Offices in New York, Beverly Hills, London, and Sydney.
Vinfolio partnership
Vinfolio has developed a partnership with Cellarworks in which we will introduce our interested clients to them and Cellarworks will offer various services (inventorying, VinCellar, buying and selling wine) to its clients enabled by Vinfolio. Read a copy of the press release.
Example designs
Here are a few more of Cellarworks' designs to heighten your interest:
