As we get within a 4-6wk window of opening our first commercial wine storage facility in DC, we’re looking for suggestions as to a la carte services to add as we expand our operations. If you’re currently storing offsite or have plans to do so, what services would be important to you? Access to auction market? Access to private sellers? Inventory services? Concierge services catering to local dining options? Connections to wineries or winemakers? I’d love to hear your suggestions as this is being built by collectors and for collectors so we’d love to be as dynamic as possible.
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- Ability to accept shipments and inventory them.
- Might not be feasible with your space, but a tasting space for members and guests.
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An app where I can login, check my inventory, then select deliver to a restaurant, and have that wine appear within 1 hour would be the GOAT. (for a fee obviously)
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Being able to receive shipments in Delaware would be optimal.
Having event space, real time inventory that’s accurate, cataloging and storage of wine, access to auctions and private cellars would be good too.
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- Accepting shipments directly from wineries (and retailers/auctions) – Being able to have purchases sent straight to the facility and logged into inventory upon arrival would be huge.
- Picking up wines from local retail stores – Offering coordinated pickup from wine shops would make it much easier to buy opportunistically without worrying about transport or storage conditions.
- Detailed digital inventory with spreadsheet access – I’d love a clean, exportable spreadsheet (Excel/CSV) that tracks producer, wine, vintage, format, purchase source, date, cost, location in the cellar, and drinking window. Bonus points for integration with CellarTracker so everything stays synchronized.
- Home delivery on request – The ability to schedule delivery to my house would be incredibly convenient, especially for dinners, events, or last-minute needs.
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operator is fiscally sound, owns the facility or has a long-term lease, has no criminal record or connections, and maintains low visibility
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high-security (top tier)
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precise high-and-low temperature and humidity control
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48+ hours of immediate, on-demand backup power (generator and/or battery storage) for all temperature control, humidity control, and security systems
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vibration-, smoke-, and contaminant-free
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24-7-365 access
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complete confidentiality
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client is immediately notified of all entries into leased space by operator’s personnel
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client is timely notified of any upcoming changes to the facility or its operations
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storage rates set by volume of storage space, not number of bottles
We plan on using Cellartracker as our inventory system so anyone using CT could allow us access to add/remove wines from their online inventory. Cellartracker provides an add/removal history so that clients can see in real time any changes to their inventory. We’ll offer these services for a per bottle fee almost from the outset.
As for receiving shipments and adding to the client’s locker, that will be provided at no additional charge so long as the client has sufficient space in their respective locker. Should the client want the wine transferred to a lay flat box for storage efficiency, that service will be provided at a per bottle rate.
We have no immediate plans on a tasting room given we’ve strategically chosen a vibrant area of the City in close proximity to wine shops and restaurants. We plan on partnering with a few select restaurants that will allow free corkage for our clients.
Given the proximity to the White House (just a few blocks away), we reside on the same redundant power grid to ensure reliable power. We also reside underground so any short term loss of cooling would have little to no effect on the cellar climate.
I love the idea of a DE location with transfer services to the DC storage site. This would be extremely beneficial in tax savings for those ordering on multiple mailing lists or via retailers that charge sales tax.
Love the thoughts and appreciate the feedback.
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I store wine offsite at Seattle Wine Storage Inc.
I think a tasting room is essential so that members can build community.
Number 1 though - I very much value the fact that I have the ability to show up and pick up wine whenever I want (within business hours). I would never store wine somewhere that I does not allow direct access to my bottles and locker.
My storage facility has one and I only use it to eat lunch when I’m down there doing inventory. I also rarely see anyone else use it.
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There is a New York wine group that once had a cellar with tables and chairs in an open space that allowed people to bring food, open wine and do tastings. I think it was really valuable for the group. I don’t think it would take much to offer this, just some space, a table and chairs.
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Living in NYC, I’ve generally been happy for nearly a decade with Manhattan Wine Company and its no-access, vendor-inventoried system.
But what I and others miss about the old Chelsea Wine Storage (1999-2016) is:
- access to our wine lockers 6 or 7 days a week;
- no charge for drop offs placed in our lockers for us to inventory and shelve/store ourselves; and
- the space to hang out, particularly the large table where we could, and regularly did, gather for an afternoon of food and bottles.
For the last 9.5 years of my CWS run, we split a 400+ case walk-in locker among five of us, and it was great.