A St. Paul collector strikes a balance between refined design and grab ’n’ go wine service
To determine the size for his cellar, Tom Votel did some simple math: Two bottles a day times 365 days a year equals space for less than 750 wines. A “drink up” sensibility runs through the collection, in the converted lower-level kitchenette of his home in the St. Paul suburb of Sunfish Lake, Minn.
“I wanted wine around me that I like and can enjoy with other people without getting too into the library, antiquarian aspect of wine collecting,” Votel says. “Our cellar was made intentionally small and practical. It was designed as a drinking cellar.”
On that count, the space succeeds with aplomb. The open design trades clinical glass panels and vault like aesthetics for an accessible, welcoming appearance, enabling an easy flow from serving station to sitting area to patios. Climate-controlled cabinets and an ingenious air-vent system moderate temperatures across the room, keeping Chardonnays racked on the left cooler than Cabernets on the right.
“Before I built the cellar, I was keeping my wine in the coolest and darkest place I could in our basement,” Votel recalls. “No controls at all. I was getting frustrated by having wine spoil.”
This story is from the November 30, 2017 edition of Wine Spectator.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the November 30, 2017 edition of Wine Spectator.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Drouhin Expands its Burgundy Acreage
Maison Joseph Drouhin has purchased two estates in Burgundy, totaling nearly 50 acres of vineyards: Château de Chasselas in St.-Véran and the Rapet estate in St.-Romain.
Gallo Buys Notable Pinot Noir Player
America's largest wine company continues to expand, particularly with Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.
Brad Pitt and the Perrin Family Get in the Gin Game
After a decade of building the Côtes de Provence-based Miraval brand together, Brad Pitt and Famille Perrin have decided to partner in the spirits industry with Gardener gin.
Jack Daniel's, Bad Spaniels and the Supreme Court
\"This case is about dog toys and whiskey, two items seldom appearing in the same sentence.\"
THE MARTINELLI STORY
LOVE SONOMA PINOT NOIR AND ZINFANDEL? THANK THE HARD WORK OF FIVE GENERATIONS OF THIS CALIFORNIA GRAPE-GROWING FAMILY
Exploration Brings Rewards
Part of the beauty of wine is the opportunity to expand horizons. Often there's also a value element to less-known wines.
2020 Cabernet Intel: Spottswoode
The Napa winery was able to thread the needle, with most of its harvest already fermenting before the smoke rolled in.
Paneer: A Simple Recipe to Make at Home
There's a lot to like about paneer, the fresh cheese that's a major staple of Indian cuisine.
Scientists Identify Byzantine Era Grapes
Archaeologists digging in the Negev desert in southern Israel have uncovered evidence of a booming wine industry dating back more than 1,500 years.
Château Haut-Brion Owner Buys Significant Wine Book Collection
In April 2022, Sonomabased antiquarian bookseller Ben Kinmont oversaw the sale of the Thackrey Library, a valuable collection of more than 700 tomes and documents assembled by California winemaker Sean Thackrey.