Residential
Cellars for the house you already live in
Under the stairs, behind glass off the dining room, a closet conversion, or the whole basement wall. We plan for the bottles you own now and the ones you keep buying.
Family run since 1973 · Visit us in Walnut Creek
Make room for the wine you love.
A few cases under the stairs, or a room you can walk into? Tell Mike what you collect and where you would like to keep it. He can help you plan the racking and cooling together. Start with a photo, or bring your ideas to our Walnut Creek showroom at 1617 Locust St.
- Cooling sized to your room, not guessed from a catalog page
- All-heart redwood, walnut and metal racking built to your wall
- Plan the design and equipment together with one showroom
Where is the wine going?
Two ways we build
Every project starts in the same place, the room you already have, and then goes one of two directions.
Commercial
Wine walls that still work at 7pm on a Friday
Restaurants, wineries, tasting rooms and retail. Label-forward display for guests and bulk storage for staff, planned around your wine list.
Since 1973
Meet Mike. He has been here since 2001.
Elliott Mackey founded Wine Hardware in 1973. Mike joined in 2001 and bought the business with his wife, Cari, in 2014. Bring him the bottles you want to make room for and the questions you have yet to answer.
- We quote the cellar, not a catalog page: bottle count, cooling load, materials and a real budget range.
- We work with the contractors and designers who build across the East Bay, and we hand off drawings they can build from.
- Already own equipment from us? Bring the model number and your question to Mike for help with the next step.
1973
Family run since
Mike joined in 2001; he and Cari became owners in 2014.
15
Bay Area cities
Alamo and Danville to Napa, Sonoma and San Francisco.
200+
Products stocked or ordered
Cooling, racking, refrigerators, glassware and gifts.
1617
Locust St, Walnut Creek
Visit on a weekday, or arrange a Saturday appointment.
How a cellar happens
Start with the space you have.
A photo and a rough bottle count give Mike a place to begin. Together, you can compare a cabinet, fitted racks or a full cellar before choosing the design work your room needs.
Tell us about the room
Dimensions, a photo or a floor plan, and a bottle count you would be happy with in five years. We talk through budget and timeline before anyone draws anything.
Design and cooling plan
Compare the layout, materials and cooling options. We help you work through the room dimensions, construction and glass before choosing equipment and finalizing the design.
Build, install, walk through
Confirm product lead times and coordinate installation with your contractor. Review the finished racking and equipment instructions with the people responsible for the work.
Already have drawings? Email them to Mike at michael@winehardware.com to work through the racking and cooling choices before you order. Call Mike at (925) 944-1084
Cellar equipment
The parts that keep wine at 55°F
Compare the cooling, racking and refrigeration available through our Walnut Creek shop. Tell us whether you are planning a complete cellar or choosing equipment for a project of your own.
Cooling units
35 products
Through-wall, ducted and split systems from WhisperKOOL, Wine Guardian, CellarPro and CellarCool. Tell us the room and we will size it.
Rack kits
35 products
Compare VintageView metal racks, Modularack timber systems and Designer Kits in redwood and mahogany. Confirm the components, assembly and mounting requirements for the selected kit.
Wine refrigerators
11 products
Transtherm and Le Cache cabinets for apartments, offices and rooms that will never take a cooling unit. Plug it in and fill it.
Glassware and accessories
30 products
Openers, preservation systems, decanters, crystal and the gifts that solve December. The part of the shop people walk in for.
Brands we stock and stand behind
- WhisperKOOL
- Wine Guardian
- CellarPro
- CellarCool
- VintageView
- Modularack
- Transtherm
- Le Cache
- Marvel
Not sure what fits?
A shorter list starts with your room.
Mike can help you compare equipment around the space you have. Call with the ceiling height, room construction, bottle count and possible equipment locations.
Karl's Cellar Club
Something new to open, four times a year.
Karl's Cellar Club brings you quarterly wines from small, family-owned producers. Seven levels range from two bottles to twelve, with showroom pickup or local delivery for eligible levels and addresses. Members get 10% off additional wine and 20% off wine accessories. Tell Mike what you like to pour and explore the levels together.
- Quarterly releases chosen by the shop team and approved by Karl
- 10% off additional wine and 20% off wine accessories for members
- First look at limited wines, seasonal finds and club events
Join Karl's Cellar Club
Members drink better on a Tuesday. That is the whole pitch.
What customers say
Walnut Creek talks
A replacement cooling unit. An elusive Cork Pop. Here is what customers say about getting help at Wine Hardware.
Michael the owner helped me quickly, was completely knowledgeable on what exactly I needed, and I was able to complete the replacement order in under 15 minutes. The unit arrived and is up and running in less than a week.
Sean AndradeReplacement cooling unit Super friendly staff offering a wide selection of wine accessories. This shop has been here for over a decade and the man who runs the shop (I think his name is Mike?) is super knowledgeable and friendly. We got a Cork Pop here which we had difficulty finding elsewhere.
Jenny PhuShowroom customer Super friendly and knowledgeable staff. Competitive pricing and great assortment of quality hardware for all things wine. I refer anyone who is interested in cellar equipment and accessories here.
Dan BatlinCustomer
Before you call
The questions everybody asks first
What does a custom wine cellar cost?
Bottle count, materials, room construction and cooling needs all affect the budget. A closet with kit racking differs from a glass-walled room with custom cabinetry. Send dimensions and photographs so we can discuss the scope and the information needed for a useful estimate.
How long does a cellar take?
Timing depends on design decisions, product availability and the work needed to prepare your room. Custom racking and glass can have different lead times from rack kits. Share your target date so we can discuss the current schedule before you order.
Do I really need a cooling unit?
Start with the conditions in the proposed room and how long you intend to store the wine. Temperature changes, insulation and the surrounding spaces affect the decision. We can help you compare a suitable cabinet or cellar cooling system after reviewing the room.
Do you install, or do I need my own contractor?
We design the cellar, supply the racking, cooling, doors and glass, and coordinate the install. Framing, insulation, vapor barrier and electrical are done by a contractor: yours, or one of the East Bay builders we work with and are happy to refer. Either way you get drawings and a cooling spec they can build from.
Can I see any of this before I decide?
Yes, and you should. The showroom at 1617 Locust St has racking you can put your hands on, cooling units, cabinets you can open, and glassware in daylight. Monday to Friday, 9:30am to 5:30pm; Saturdays by appointment; closed Sunday. If you cannot get to Walnut Creek, walk through a finished cellar in a 360 tour first.
Do you ship equipment outside the Bay Area?
Know the delivery cost before you choose. Call Mike with the equipment or accessories you want and the delivery address to discuss shipping, including freight for large items. Review fit and any design or installation work separately. Wine is available for showroom pickup or local delivery only.
Start here
What would you like this room to become?
A photo, dimensions or a floor plan can start the conversation. Call Mike at (925) 944-1084 to work through capacity, cooling and the choices that shape the budget. The form below is a beta preview and does not email the store.
What happens next
- Have a photo, rough dimensions and the bottles you want to store in mind.
- Call Mike at (925) 944-1084 or email michael@winehardware.com to discuss the room.
- Arrange a consultation to discuss the room, your collection and the next design decisions.
Not sure what to measure? Call Mike with what you know. Measurement guidance is part of planning the cellar. Call Mike at (925) 944-1084
From the shop
What we are reading, drinking and specifying
Cellar projects worth borrowing ideas from, and plain-English answers about humidity, cooling and capacity.
Wine Cellar Insurance & Collection Documentation
April 28, 2026
A clear collection record makes a wine cellar insurance conversation more useful. Gather bottle inventories, photographs, equipment details and…
Planning a Wine Cellar That Can Grow
April 21, 2026
A cellar that can grow begins with space for tomorrow’s bottles and a practical route for future work. Map likely additions, equipment access and the…
Wine Cellar Security & Access Control
April 14, 2026
Wine cellar access should suit the household and the collection. Decide who needs entry, how guests are accommodated and what happens if a lock or…
One conversation
Bring the room. Bring the questions.
Which bottles deserve the display row, and how much room should you leave for the next case? Bring Mike a photo and a bottle count to work through the layout, cooling and budget at the showroom.