Wine Cellar

On moving in to the house this cellar had a simple dirt floor and had served as an earth refrigerator for dried meat. However, with some research we established that the cellar has a consistent humidity and temperature that is just perfect for storing wine.

We engaged a Bavarian ‘Weinkellerbauer’ to design and build the much needed wine cellar. They retained the original ceiling and used the rocks found in this room to build a step, as the cellar floor was very uneven. The Bavarians brought house bricks from an old factory in Germany, which were cut in half and retain the original stamp of the bricks.

Horst found an old wine barrel which we now use as table for Wine and Schnaps tastings, or as Tatjana’s Dad would say ‘for our meetings’.

The crafted handrail that leads you down into the cellar from the entry hall on the ground level and the beautiful wrought iron door covering an alcove and the hand rail were handmade by Horst — a very good family friend.