Condos of more than 2,000 square feet often incorporate wine rooms.
For serious wine collectors, downsizing from a home to a condo is a serious challenge. It often means swapping a roomy wine cellar for a wine fridge with decidedly less space.
Though some luxury condos offer a communal wine cellar or include modest wine storage in their units, most of the latter don't hold more than 200 bottles. "Anyone who is serious about their wine collection needs a fair-size space – and the utilities – to store it," says Chris Morris, vice-president of Toronto Vintners.
As more baby boomers downsize, it's a challenge that's being taken up all over the city in various ways. Here are a few of the most popular.
Gary LaRose of Rosehill Wine Cellars says a storage closet or extra bedroom (right) can be converted for wine storage. A 60-square-foot space can hold 300 to 400 bottles. Photo: Dieter Hessel
Spread out the collection among properties
Gary LaRose, president of Rosehill Wine Cellars, works frequently with downsizing collectors. "It's not unusual to transfer a 3,000-bottle collection into a condo unit that can take 600 bottles or fewer."
One solution is to redistribute the collection among properties, such as a cottage up north or a winter home in Florida. "You won't be able to put your hands on your complete collection at one time, but there's a good chance you'll be able to keep it all," he says.
Customize the condo
If you want to keep your collection intact, the best solution is to get ahead of the game by planning. Custom wine storage can be installed just about anywhere, but often requires attention to detail.
"It's nice if we get involved at the building stage because certain requirements for mechanicals have to be considered," Mr. LaRose says. "We need power, a spot for drain lines and exhaust." Ideally, his company engages with a condo as it's being built in order to design the refrigeration and mechanical systems. "Then, we can come in after the drywall has gone up to finish the space and install racking."
If that's not possible, Mr. LaRose says there are custom options for finished condo units with no wine storage. "Some clients sacrifice a storage closet or spare bedroom for their wine collection. It's challenging to sort out the mechanicals, but it can be done."
Mr. Morris did exactly that in his own basement. "We had a bathroom roughed in and I built a little cellar for myself."
He says that a 60-square-foot space is ample for 300 to 400 bottles. "If you're going to do it yourself, you'd need to buy a wine cooling unit to control temperature and humidity, but it's certainly a cost-effective way to store a small collection."
Mr. LaRose says another simple and relatively cost-effective solution is to buy four or five wine fridges and line them up in a row. "We can build cables on the end, a header and crown molding and maybe a base so it appears as if it's a built-in, custom-made cabinet and they just plug [it] in the wall."
Make use of storage clubs
If you're short on space and wouldn't dream of thinning your collection, private wine management facilities are available to house your valuable vino in secure, climate-controlled conditions.
Iron Gate has a vault 20 feet underground for ideal aging conditions. They offer to collectors a barcode-based inventory system, delivery and pick-up. In contrast, Fine Wine Reserve has climate-controlled wine lockers for self-storage and custodial storage by the case. Both clubs boast elegant spaces for members to enjoy their wine.
"Wine management facilities are good places to store several hundred bottles of wine and then have a place to stop by any time with friends," says Mr. Morris. "It's a popular option for people who live outside Toronto to have wine in town. If you've gone to the Air Canada Centre, you could pop over and open a $500 bottle of wine to enjoy."
Thin the herd
One of the least popular solutions for a downsizing collector is to sell off some bottles and drink what has already aged. "There's a lot of enjoyment and charm in buying a case of wine and enjoying it over five to 10 years, discovering how the taste profile changes over that time," says Mr. LaRose, who then adds, "but there's a lot of wine that's great to enjoy now."
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