Uncork and Unwind

When it came time to flesh out the details of the wine cellar in the 10,000-square-foot home he designed in Weston, Massachusetts, architect Christopher Pagliaro was reluctant to relinquish the design to specialists. “That only brings in the ‘man likes wine’ clichés and some wine racks,” Pagliaro says. “I said, ‘You’ve got to give me a chance to design it.’”

As a luxury architect based in Fairfield County, Connecticut, Pagliaro has designed more than a few wine cellars and tasting rooms in his career. He understands the behind-the-scenes mechanics involved—bottles must be stored at specific temperatures and humidity levels—and he also considers the personal nuances. How does the collector interact with the collection?

“Once we get past how many bottles they need to store, I ask, ‘What are your goals?’” Pagliaro explains. “This particular client said he wanted people to sit and enjoy conversation with the wine.” The homeowner also felt strongly that the space itself be integral to the experience of savoring the wine and be a distinctive feature of the residence. In other words, the wine room should be as celebrated as the wine itself. It was also essential that the wine room fit into the home’s context; it should have a meaningful dialogue with the home’s overall architecture.

As one descends from the foyer to the lower level, the 800-bottle, stone-walled wine cellar is unveiled, presenting a drawn-out drama. It sets the tone for what’s to come: a formidable Shangri-La devoted to sensory pleasures.

The stairs, which interior designer John Stefanon covered in a Stark Carpet runner with an acid-spill design, wrap about a third of the multi-sided wine room. While simple, rhythmic balusters continue down one side of the staircase from the foyer, the wine room’s glass walls function as the opposite banister. “The glass is set flush into the stairs, so it appears to be buried into the steps,” Pagliaro says.

Although the room is actually a hexagon, it feels like an eight-sided space thanks to its octagonal ceiling with walnut planks and beams. The shape replicates, albeit in a smaller size, the octagonal foyer a floor above it. Thus, Pagliaro uses the architecture to reinforce the idea that the wine room is not merely a storage space but a core component of the home. The materials do the same. “The walnut ties to the architectural details in the rest of the house, and [the paneling and shelves] are made by the millworker instead of a wine-rack fabricator,” the architect says. “It also provides warmth without the cliché of mahogany.”

The back wall boasts a curved, smoky marble countertop where the owner can uncork and pour vintage wines. Drawers offer storage for tools and books, and beneath, shelves of different heights accommodate cases. Adjacent shelves have single and double deep slots for bottles and diamond-shaped compartments for unloading and storing vintages that the owner wishes to keep together. The perforated backs of the shelves allow air to be evenly distributed from behind. “The mechanical systems are behind the wine, so you don’t see them,” Pagliaro says.

Also, behind the shelves? Lighting. On the left, light comes from a stone passageway built to resemble a grotto, complete with pointed arches. The hall leads to an entertainment lounge with a bar, a trio of oversized TVs for watching sports, a pool table, a theater for movie screenings, a workout room, an outdoor yoga studio, a spa, and even a stone-framed exterior secret garden. “The backlit shelves are about drawing the eye through the room and leading the subconscious,” Pagliaro explains. “If you see light coming from behind, you will be naturally curious and wander over. It’s about making one wonder what’s there.”

The expansive lounge affectionately referred to as “the shack” is outfitted with a Sub-Zero Undercounter Refrigerator and Ice Maker, ready for any beverage. “The clients wanted to feel like they were going on a vacation when they went down there,” Pagliaro says.

Back in the wine cellar, Stefanon’s furnishings complete the sublime experience. “The striped stools bring life to the room, and the chandelier drops low over the elegant table, defining the center of the room,” Pagliaro says. “It’s saying, ‘Come in and sit down.’”