Build A Cellar

Why Build A Cellar?

Price

Building a wine cellar doesn’t have to mean a large one-off investment. By buying steadily over time, clients have the opportunity to create a diverse and exciting fine wine collection, spreading cost while gaining access to a broad range of vintages and styles. Put simply, a modest investment now can offer rich rewards for years to come, as you enjoy the satisfaction of opening beautifully preserved wines that have grown in both complexity and value.

As wines age, their value typically increases - particularly in the case of top Bordeaux - where appreciation can be considerable. Where châteaux and merchants consistently invest, global supply gradually diminishes, and prices tend to rise, especially for the most sought-after producers in exceptional vintages.

Provenance

Buying fine wine at a young age offers the rare advantage of storing it under perfect bonded conditions at Octavian. Nestled 30 metres beneath the hills of Wiltshire, the cellars maintain a constant temperature of 12°C throughout the year, allowing your wine to mature at its full potential.

Building a fine wine cellar in this way also avoids the risks associated with reduced condition and questionable provenance from the shelf. It significantly reduces the chance of encountering corked or spoiled wine — an expensive and frustrating disappointment.

Another benefit of buying en primeur or young is access. Many of the wines we offer simply aren’t available five or ten years later, particularly in the case of Burgundy, Rhône, Italian and Spanish wines, and Champagne.

Pleasure

From personal experience, we can say just how much pleasure there is in having a well-stocked collection of wine at home.

The ability to pull out a 1998 Châteauneuf-du-Pape one evening and a 1994 Rioja the next - not to mention a selection of mature Médocs, Saint-Émilions, Pomerols, Burgundies or Barolos - is immensely good fun. Either that, or we’re taking it all far too seriously!

Option 1 - Cellar With Farthinghoe, at Octavian

All of our professional wine storage is managed through Octavian Bond in Wiltshire – widely regarded as the UK’s leading bonded warehouse for fine wine. Octavian safeguards over 1.2 million cases of the world’s most valuable wines, with ideal conditions for long-term ageing and full compliance with UK Customs and Excise regulations.

Farthinghoe has worked closely with Octavian for over 25 years, managing more than 20,000 cases on behalf of our clients. Our longstanding relationship ensures a high standard of service, with the very best in physical wine storage, security, administration and reliable delivery.

Option 2 - Build A Cellar At Home

Not everyone has the luxury of a cool, dark cellar at home – so it’s worth planning ahead to ensure your wine arrives from Octavian to a suitable, well-prepared space. Today, a wide range of home wine storage options is available, from fully bespoke cellars to specialist wine fridges and accessories.

One of the most versatile options is offered by Vinum Copia, based in Farthinghoe – the village where Farthinghoe Fine Wine was founded. Their expert workshop in nearby King’s Sutton builds beautiful bespoke cellars, wine rooms and feature walls – all designed to fit your space and showcase your collection. Whether you prefer bottles displayed flat, angled or up-tilted, or require secure large-format wine storage, everything is tailored to your needs. Past projects include a temperature-controlled walnut wine room for 850 bottles, an oak cellar for over 1,200 bottles, and a striking cellar with magnums suspended from the ceiling. Visit www.vinumcopia.co.uk to explore more.

If you don’t have room for a full cellar, EuroCave wine storage cabinets offer a practical and elegant alternative. These wine fridges mimic the conditions of a perfect cellar, providing consistent temperature, humidity and UV protection with a compact footprint.

We’re always happy to advise on the best wine storage solutions – tailored to your space, budget and collection – and connect you with the right experts to bring it to life. Ultimately, how your wine is stored will affect how it matures, so it’s worth getting right from the start.

Useful links:
www.vinumcopia.co.uk – bespoke cellars, rooms and wine walls
www.eurocave.co.uk – wine fridges and cooling systems
www.wineware.co.uk – wine accessories and racking