Serving Berkeley
Custom wine cellars in Berkeley
A dining room, hillside remodel or existing basement needs a plan for the room as it stands. Bring Mike the ceiling height, wall construction and storage plans before choosing the racking.
- From the showroom
- Visit our Walnut Creek showroom
- Showroom
- Walnut Creek
- Mike
- (925) 944-1084
What we build here
What a cellar in Berkeley could look like
Measure the whole route into the space, not just the room. Pipes, joists, uneven walls and old trim belong on the plan before a rack layout or a refrigerator gets picked.
Work around the ceiling
Note the low points and obstructions. Compare shorter rack sections, case shelving and cabinet heights against the space you can actually use.
Plan the rack support
Mike gives the rack specification to the contractors he brings in so the wall structure is checked against the manufacturer's mounting requirements before install day.
Respect the finished rooms
Talk about where equipment, ventilation and service access could go. Sort out any exterior changes with whoever is responsible for the building before you order.
What we do here
Four jobs, one showroom
We plan and supply the cellar. Mike sizes the storage and cooling, orders the equipment, and schedules the contractors he brings in for the build and installation.
Design and capacity
Rack elevations and a bottle count by format, so you know what the room holds before anything is ordered.
Racking
VintageView metal, Modularack pine, redwood and mahogany kits, and custom millwork when the room refuses to be rectangular.
Cooling
WhisperKOOL, Wine Guardian, CellarPro and CellarCool, sized against the room's heat load rather than its square footage.
Install coordination
Delivery, the install date and the contractors Mike brings in, coordinated from the showroom so the room is ready when the equipment is.
The nearest finished room
Step inside the Walnut Creek cellar
Redwood, a long aisle and storage on both walls: the closest thing we have photographed to a hall conversion.
Look for: the lit display row running the length of the aisle.
Nearby
Three towns over
Same showroom, same equipment, different rooms. These are the neighbors we work in most often.
Straight answers
Asked in Berkeley
- Is a cool Berkeley basement enough for wine storage?
- One cool afternoon does not tell you much. Log the temperature and humidity over time, then talk to Mike about what you plan to store before deciding whether the space needs active cooling.
- The trim and the plaster are original. Can racking go in without wrecking them?
- Often, yes, but the mounting is the question rather than the rack. Send Mike a photo of the wall and he will explain what the system needs behind it, then have his crew check the wall before anything is ordered.
- How long does a cellar in Berkeley take?
- It depends on design decisions, product availability and the schedule of the contractors Mike brings in. Tell Mike your plans and target date and he will walk through the next steps and current lead times.
- Do you come out to Berkeley to measure?
- Send whatever dimensions and photos you have to (925) 944-1084. Between you Mike will work out whether a site visit would help, who handles it and which drawings the project needs.
- What will it cost?
- It depends on room prep, racking, cooling and finishes. Send dimensions and a bottle count and Mike will talk through the scope and what he needs to put a project quote together.
- What if I already have a Berkeley general contractor or architect?
- Mike works alongside them when the cellar is part of a larger project. Bring the current plans while the construction details, equipment requirements and finishes can still move.
Cellar reading
From the Wine Hardware blog
Racking, cooling and capacity questions worth reading before you plan the room.
What would you like to open here in Berkeley?
Bring Mike a photo and the collection you have in mind. Call (925) 944-1084 to compare storage options for your room, or come to the Walnut Creek showroom and see the equipment in person.
