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Top 10 Wine Storage Tips in New York City

September 6, 2011
Wine Storage In New York City Closet

How does one store wine in a very tiny apartment or space in New York City? The first thing to do is call an experienced wine cellar designer to walk through the space and truly see what is possible. Having built thousands of wine cellars, coolers, and wine rack options in NYC for over 10 years, we know how to maximize wine storage for small spaces.There are a few questions you should ask yourself:

  • How many bottles would I like to store?
  • Does it need to be refrigerated?
  • Is it a show piece, or just simple storage?
  • What is my budget?
  • What am I willing to give up in terms of space (and believe it or not we have converted bedrooms, bathrooms etc).

So here are our top 10 tips to storing wine in a tiny space:

  1. Find out what the building will allow (is it a co-op? condo? etc) once that is determined you can then decide where, how, and when your wine storage can begin.
  2. If refrigerated (cooling system) split system? self contained? If self contained, there will need to be a space as big as the wine storage space to vent into (example being a converted closet the unit could be located above the door and vent into hallway outside the cellar) you will be surprised how many solutions there are with the proper design and budget. Cooling units start $700 and can run as high as 5k...but for smaller spaces you're more likely to be in the $1,500 area.
  3. In NYC, the apartments are usually small but many have high ceilings which would allow for additional wine storage. So remove that painting and create a true work of art with dramatic and tall wine storage
  4. Think horizontally as well as vertically! Designing  bottles with horizontal storage allows for a much smaller footprint into the overall space (vs. the bottle being cork forward) the difference is 9".
  5. If you are looking for a show piece then a spot where it is visible is the best option. One of the most popular solutions is coat closets or pantries. Do you really need all those spices?
  6. A tasting table which can easily convert to a dining room table, desk etc with plenty of racking underneath for wine storage. A simple 50" x 24" table can hold well over 150 bottles.
  7. Wine fridge/cooler are easily built into existing cabinets or niche areas. (They can easily be used as end tables as well!)
  8. Wine cabinets are normally bulky, but elevating a cabinet off the ground on a spare wall with horizontal storage could have a footprint only 6-7" off of the wall in which it hangs from.
  9. Is there a common space shared with the building? We have been installing wine lockers in common storage areas where owners can either buy or rent lockers for wine storage.
  10. Sit back and evaluate how many bottles you would like to store and how many will simply turn over. If the majority will be consumed, then a custom wine rack on any wall could be the answer. Try to find a spot that is away from any window or use UV glass in the cabinet or wine cooler.

I encourage you to seek options toward your tiny space...where there is a will (and a great designer) there is a way!Stay Thirsty.

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