MEMPHIS TN- What do you do when the investment value of your wine collection far surpasses the cost of the cellar you plan to build? You custom design the best cellar you can, of course. Memphis tech entrepreneur Craig Weiss did just that when he began looking for a home for his prized 3,000 bottle wine collection, to be housed in the dream home he was building.

Wine cellar designs typically emerge after the home is built, not before.  "Not knowing what the costs to cover my pet project would tally, yet determined to design a cellar worthy of my collection, I kept the wine cellar separate from the cost of building the home so it would not be part of my contractor's meticulous budget," said Weiss, Vice President/Partner of Tower Ventures in Memphis.

Weiss hired Revel Cellars to build his cellar. He had read online articles about them in Forbes and Wine Spectator and liked how their unique cellar components allow the wine bottles and their labels to be showcased as opposed to traditional racking systems which conceal everything but the neck and cork end of the bottle.

Which Wood Works Best for a Wine Cellar? 
According to Wine Spectator, A few different woods are commonly used for wine racks, including cedar, redwood and mahogany. Cedar is popular because it’s attractive and relatively affordable. Mahogany is gorgeous and takes to wood staining better, and is perhaps a bit more durable and resistant to rot. But it does come with a higher price tag.

Michigan-based Revel considers the wine cellar in Weiss' Memphis home to be its paramount project to date.  "We were thrilled to design and deliver this 'statement' cellar for our client that would do justice to his well-curated collection," stated Jim Cash, Revel's founder.

Unlike traditional racking systems, Revel's mahogany cabinetry showcases bottles and their labels. 

A mix of brick, stone and Fijian Mahogany comprises the interior of the cellar. Warm LED accent lighting highlights the wine nestled in the sliding drawers and rotating wine wheels. Solid mahogany ceiling beams dramatically tie the wine cabinetry into the gracious setting.  

His collection includes multiple vintages from prestigious producers in Napa Valley and Italy. For Weiss, the cellar protects the significant investment his collection represents: "For me, it's not just about aesthetics. The sliding drawers and rotating wheels allow me to view my collection without ever actually touching a bottle. And minimizing the handling of the bottles means reducing the risk of breakage or damage to the labels."

Many of Revel's other wine cellar projects and more on their proprietary and patented designs can be found at revelcellars.com.