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5 Homes for Your Private Wine Collection

Luxury Defined presents a collection of stylish homes which pay special attention to the preservation, presentation, and appreciation of fine wine

Some of the world’s finest and rarest wines will go under the hammer at Christie’s forthcoming wine and spirits sale in New York. Collectors will find a rare bottle of H.M. Borges, T Terrantez 1760 Madeira among a choice selection of fine red wines from Napa Valley, Bordeaux, and Burgundy—including Domaine de la Romanée-Conti 1978, a case of which is estimated to fetch between $30,000 and $40,000. Such extraordinary wines demand extraordinary care: Precious and fragile, fine wines demand secure cellars, wine rooms, or showcases, where temperature is constant and regulated; their curators must have space nearby for decanting, aerating—and savoring—this treasure. The five homes presented here all feature highly specialized wine cellars devoted to the preservation, care, display, and serving of great vintages. Each property finds a different way to incorporate the wine cellar into the collector’s lifestyle. These homes await you, your family, friends—and your wine.

Whitehall Estate in Napa Valley, California

Whitehall, a contemporary Napa Valley vineyard estate, is defined by exquisite craftsmanship, utter privacy, and seamless indoor-outdoor living with vistas over 14 acres of cabernet sauvignon vineyards and the Mayacamas Mountains beyond.
Conceived by Bay Area architect Lewis Butler, the elegant 9,744-square-foot main house is a modern vineyard masterpiece": a suspended wine cellar, encased in glass, provides a view through to the property's 14 acres of vineyards.

Situated in the heart of California’s Napa Valley, in Saint Helena, California, the Whitehall private vineyard estate embodies a New World approach to architecture and wine making on a secluded plot of 20 acres—14 acres of which are planted with Cabernet Sauvignon grapes. Conceived by Bay Area architect Lewis Butler, the elegant 9,744-square-foot main house is a modern vineyard masterpiece: A suspended wine cellar, encased in glass, provides a view through to the property’s vines. A sun-drenched pavilion, terraces, infinity-edge pool, and grounds offer vistas of the Mayacamas Mountains. Like a distinctive glass of Rutherford Bench Cabernet Sauvignon, the Whitehall Estate unfolds with confident, compelling character. It is truly a balanced property in terms of its built environment and its vineyards. Napa Valley’s sheltered location, combined with its diverse fertile soil, creates ideal conditions for growing grapes. The Whitehall estate’s Cabernet Sauvignon vineyards—now in their fifth leaf and in full production—lie within the Rutherford American Viticultural Area (AVA).

Darlington Mansion in Mahwah, New Jersey

Built in 1907, Darlington Mansion has been restored to its original splendor. The 21st-century updates include a custom-designed wine cellar with tasting room and spectacular multi-bottle display area.
The magnificent 58-room Jacobean-style mansion in Mahwah, New Jersey, is listed on both National Register of Historic Places and the New Jersey Register of Historic Places.

Darlington Mansion is an architectural masterpiece located within 25 miles of New York City, offering approximately 50,000 square feet of spectacular living space and more than 12 acres of grounds framed by the Ramapo Mountains. The Jacobean-style manor was built in 1907 for businessman and railroad scion George Crocker. He commissioned architects James Brite and Henry Bacon to model Darlington on Bramshill House in Hampshire, one of England’s greatest “prodigy houses.” The magnificent 58-room mansion, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, has been meticulously restored over seven years by an international team of artisans. All mechanical systems were replaced, all bathrooms were rebuilt, and a new living area of 12,000 square feet was added. Among Darlington’s lavish contemporary upgrades are a wine cellar and tasting room, cigar room, game and poker rooms, a cinema, a dedicated luxury spa with lap pool, wet and dry saunas, massage room, gym, and beauty salon, as well as an outdoor pool and tennis court.

Contemporary Sea-View Villa near Saint-Tropez, France

This contemporary villa’s luxury lifestyle amenities include a wine-tasting lounge featuring a high-tech wine-bottle display space with temperature-controlled storage.
The property has a serene, private setting in the Gulf of Saint-Tropez, with panoramic views of the countryside and the sea.

This exceptional property has an ultimately private and secure setting in the Gulf of Saint-Tropez. The newly constructed contemporary main house has a beautiful stone façade with vast windows to capture the panoramic views of the Mediterranean Sea and the Provençal countryside. Enclosing 8,000 square feet, the light-filled living and entertaining spaces open to wide, covered terraces. The accommodations comprise six en suite bedrooms and a two-bedroom guest apartment. The luxury lifestyle amenities include a spectacular wine room with glass-enclosed, temperature-controlled display and tasting lounge; a billiards room and bar, and a cinema. Surrounding the villa are beautiful grounds with a heated outdoor pool, resort-style sundeck, and verdant lawns leading to a private helipad.

Lake Norman Estate in Denver, North Carolina

This lakefront home has a two-story wine grotto with multi-bottle capacity and a cask storage area, ideal for leisurely curating or the serious collector.
The estate’s dramatic setting on the shores of Lake Norman offers an unmatched sense of privacy and breathtaking views.

Situated on 2.5 acres in a private, gated community in Denver, North Carolina, this serene waterfront estate overlooking Lake Norman is at once grand and inviting. A cobblestone drive lit by gas lanterns leads to the stately 7,289-square-foot manor house. The lovely, rusticated stone façade is complemented by a slate roof with copper accents and solid mahogany doors. The interiors are appointed with reclaimed wood beams and floors, custom-designed fireplaces, and walls of windows welcome the lake views. The elegant living spaces include a two-story brick wine grotto, lakeside great room and dining room, and lounge with antique bar, billiard table, and humidor. There are five bedrooms, including a master suite with a private staircase leading up to a fitness center with steam room. Further highlights include a loggia with fully equipped kitchen, seating, and screening area; a lakeside pool and spa; a pier with rooftop deck; and, a helipad.

Sui Generis in Brielle, New Jersey

This idyllic riverfront estate combines supreme luxury with everyday functionality. Wine collectors will enjoy the 12,00-bottle cellar and adjacent wine-tasting room with climate-controlled bar.
The 31,000-square-foot home is appointed with outstanding recreational amenities, including two deepwater docks on the Manasquan River.

Sui Generis is a masterpiece of design, combining the owner’s architectural vision with the sweeping beauty of the Manasquan River as its spectacular backdrop. This one-of-a-kind residence, which takes its name from the Latin word for “unique,” is a beautiful merger of pure opulence and supreme functionality. The 31,000-square-foot, nine-bedroom home is appointed with outstanding amenities for entertaining and leisure. The wine cellar has climate-controlled storage for up to 12,000 bottles; adjacent is a Mediterranean-inspired wine tasting room. There’s also an entertainment lounge with billiards room and bar, a home theater with three levels of seating, and a two-story atrium with a show-stopping panorama of the river. Beyond the splendor of the living spaces is a pool with cabana, bar, and outdoor kitchen; a Japanese-style garden; and two deepwater docks and slips, which can accommodate boats of up to 65 feet.