What's Hot Now: A Wine Cellar in Your Home

Koder's consulting firm, founded in 2004, caters to a lifestyle in which money is not an issue but quality is. Many of his clients own second or third homes and say that a quality wine cellar is the one thing lacking.

Better With Age

Imagine walking your date into a cellar made entirely of limestone and hand-forged wrought iron wine racks to look up through the windows of the vaulted ceiling into the water fountain above it. It can be done -- for $800,000.

More important than impressing dates and having a sumptuous array of spirits at your fingertips, a properly constructed wine cellar can add value to a home. "Realtors think homeowners are interested in prestige, when they are more interested in a return on their investment," says Koder, most of whose clients work in the financial sector.

Each time Wine Trend finishes a cellar project, it provides a folder to the homeowner stating how much value the room adds to the home and an estimated appreciation.

Four years ago, says Koder, a quality wine cellar was possible for around $19,000. Today, the same cellar can't be done for less than $40,000.

According to the study, demand is likely to continue to grow, as only 15% of those polled now own a wine cellar but 59% said they were interested in purchasing one in the future.

And with the housing market cooling down, says Koder, wine amenities help homes fetch a better price and even make properties more attractive to buyers.

Besides adding property value, 83% of survey respondents gave wine entertaining as the top reason to install a wine cellar.

The Price of Preservation

According to the survey, 58% of respondents prefer to consult a specialist when considering the installation of wine amenities -- and for good reason.

Donald is surprised at how many architects and designers build cellars that look stunning but have serious defects when it comes to actually preserving and storing wine. Despite all the bells and whistles, says Koder, you won't be happy with the return unless the room does its job: preserve your collection in an efficient manner.