The Art of Wine Storage
“Having a wine room is becoming more and more widespread. It used to be that people wanted a bar or a home theater, but now the wine room is a vital part of a luxury home.”
–Shaun Cunningham, Utah Wine Cellar Design
for a growing number of people, wine storage is moving out of the shadows of the cellar and becoming a highlighted feature on the main level of the home. Mike Wirthlin of Silver Mountain Glass and Shaun Cunningham of Utah Wine Cellars are collaborating with clients to create beautiful spaces that not only preserve wine, but also make a stunning impact.
“Having a wine room is becoming more and more widespread,” says Shaun. “It used to be that people wanted a bar or a home theater, but now the wine room is a vital part of a luxury home, and people want to see their wine rooms. They almost serve as a piece of art in the home that people want to showcase.”
When building wine storage of any kind, there are several factors to consider in order to properly protect the integrity of the wine. The temperature of the room must be meticulously maintained and the humidity must be managed as well. “Cellars are cold, dark places underground that are naturally well-suited for storing wine,” says Shaun. “When you move into the main level, you have light to contend with, radiant floors, and other heat gain.”
The key to making the ideal wine storage, according to the team at Silver Mountain Glass, is balancing the function of the room with the aesthetics. “There are a lot of options these days when it comes to wine storage—wine walls, wine displays, wine rooms,” says Mike. “We specialize in designing beautiful solutions that are based on the needs of our clients. There are so many styles out there and they can all look really nice, but we want to help our clients choose the one that is not only the right fit visually, but also functionally.”
When beginning a new project, the team asks many questions to shape the requirements of the job. Details like the number of bottles the owner anticipates storing can make a big difference in the final design. Some of Silver Mountain’s recent projects include installing a stunning living room wine cabinet, creating an all-glass wine room that stores more than 500 bottles, and a glass wine display to complement a billiards room.
“Every room we build is different,” says Shaun. “They are each based on the client’s needs, the size of the space, and its location. And, most importantly, making sure the wine can age properly with the right lighting, insulation, and materials. Whether it be an Old World Tuscan look with wood racking or going the route of a modern cellar with metal racking, we meet with each client to develop a scope that is one-of-a-kind for their needs, bringing a concept to reality. We have exclusive access to unique hardware, exotic woods, and metals to create beautiful custom designs.”
“We specialize in designing beautiful solutions that are based on the needs of our clients.”
–Mike Wirthlin, Silver Mountain Glass
According to Mike and Shaun, there are many different reasons why homeowners are opting to add wine rooms. Some are just avid wine drinkers, others are major collectors who use wine as an investment, and still others are looking for a showpiece that will add resale value to their home.
“In our market today, wine rooms add value to the home,” says Shaun. “And I think it is something builders and architects should consider. Coming to retrofit a house for a wine room is a much bigger challenge than if we can work from the ground up and already rough in for the cooling and insulation demands. It saves on costs and makes the installation less invasive, rather than having to open up walls in a finished home.”
Whether doing a new build or an upgrade, Silver Mountain Glass has all the experts needed to craft the perfect wine storage from start to finish. They can manage any project from the design phase through to final execution. “There is such a high demand for these rooms here in Park City, and we want homeowners and contractors to know that the Silver Mountain Glass team can coordinate and install all elements of their wine room,” says Mike. “You might not think to connect us with wine storage, but we are ready to provide full service when it comes to these projects.”
““There is such a high demand for these rooms here in Park City, and we want homeowners and contractors to know that the Silver Mountain Glass team can coordinate and install all elements of their wine room.”
–Mike Wirthlin, Silver Mountain Glass
Established in 2007, Silver Mountain Glass is open Monday through Friday from 8am to 5pm. For more information, visit silvermountainglass.comor check them out on instagram @silvermountainglass
