Wine lovers planning their new kitchen will definitely want to include appliances and furniture that organize the space around their passion: here are three ideas for designing a kitchen for wine enthusiasts.

• Wine cellar
• Wine tasting area
• A well-stocked pantry

If you are designing your new kitchen and love wine, a wine cellar is certainly a must-have to store bottles or serve them at the right temperature.

Wine cellars are essential appliances for wine enthusiasts, as wine is a product that evolves over time and requires special care to bring out its best during tasting.

Wine cellars are carefully designed pieces of furniture, intended to protect the wine from UV rays, humidity, and odors that could affect the wine’s characteristics. They also help maintain red, white, rosé, or sparkling wines at the ideal temperature for serving.

These appliances come in various models and sizes, either built-in or freestanding, and equipped with different cooling systems, making them perfect for aging wine, serving it at the correct temperature, or both.

Discover Built-in or Freestanding Wine Cellars

The wine cellar is designed in every detail to protect the wine from UV rays, humidity, and odors that could spoil its characteristics, while also preserving and serving bottles at the ideal temperature.

When designing your new kitchen, consider the available space to choose your wine cellar and assess the best location for the appliance. It should be placed away from heat sources such as stoves and fireplaces, and shielded from direct UV rays.

If you have ample space, you can invest in a wine cellar designed to hold large wine collections, with different temperatures to store various wine types and serve each wine at the right temperature.

In a large kitchen, you might choose a column wine cellar to place in a section of the room or one or more built-in wine cellars beneath the countertop, installed in the kitchen island. For smaller kitchens, a compact wine cellar that holds a few bottles may be the best choice.

Regardless of the type of wine cellar, when designing a new kitchen, it’s better to choose built-in wine cellars over freestanding ones. Built-in models blend into the room, making the space aesthetically more pleasant, organized, clean, and uniform.

Thanks to the option to customize the wine cellar, you can adapt it by choosing finishes that complement the style of the furniture or other built-in appliances planned for the design.

In addition to the wine cellar, an essential appliance for wine lovers, when designing your new kitchen, you can have fun by organizing a dedicated wine tasting area—an inviting space to welcome friends and offer them your best bottles.

The tasting area can definitely be included in a large kitchen but can also fit in smaller kitchens.

For a larger space, the design process will be easier. In this case, you might consider having a central island that houses a built-in wine cellar, a pantry, a place to display glasses and other wine accessories, along with comfortable stools for guests.

Alternatively, you could create a more secluded corner, away from the meal prep area, furnished with armchairs or a small sofa, and place the wine cellar, along with a sideboard or display cabinet for glasses and accessories, in this space.

The tasting area can be designed according to the available space. Even a small area can host a wine-dedicated space, for example, by using multifunctional counters and installing a wine cellar for storage and serving.

If you're designing a small kitchen, it's important to maximize the space for the tasting area without sacrificing room for meal preparation. In a small kitchen, the tasting area can be organized within a multifunctional counter, which can also be used as a work surface or for serving breakfast and quick meals. The wine cellar can be installed as a built-in under the counter, and a cabinet can be included for storing glasses and other accessories. Foldable stools are perfect for accommodating guests and can be stored in small spaces when not needed.

The design of the new kitchen can also include a small, separate tasting area where a compact wine cellar, a glass display cabinet, foldable armchairs, and a folding console can be arranged to welcome guests.

To separate this area from the meal prep zone, you can play with wall colors, lighting, or wine-themed decorations like posters, paintings, or objects related to the world of wine.

Those who appreciate wine know very well that each bottle is enhanced by the right pairing: this is why, when designing a new kitchen, a well-stocked pantry is essential, especially if it is located in the wine tasting area.

In the pantry of a wine lover, there should be selected cheeses, chosen to complement the wines in their collection, served with artisanal preserves made from fruits or vegetables in oil or vinegar, caramelized onions, or a selection of fine honey.

In addition to cheeses, cured meats are a must to accompany wine, particularly red wines. Of course, good artisan bread should also be included, not only to accompany cheeses and meats but also to enjoy with fine olive oil.

In a wine lover’s kitchen, a well-stocked pantry is crucial to complement the bottles in their collection and offer guests a unique tasting experience.

To enhance the tasting experience of certain wines and enrich bread, charcuterie, cheeses, or other ingredients, the pantry should include balsamic vinegars, spices, and aromatic herbs such as thyme, rosemary, pepper, and paprika.

For more refined palates, dried or roasted fruits such as walnuts, hazelnuts, and almonds, as well as a selection of artisanal high-quality dark chocolates possibly flavored with lemon, orange, ginger, or chili are must-haves.

Finally, another key ingredient in the pantry of wine enthusiasts is fresh seasonal fruit, perfect to serve with cured meats and cheeses. Figs, chestnuts, grapes, pears, and pomegranates are among the best fruits for this purpose. Besides enhancing the organoleptic experience, a basket of fresh fruit will further refine the wine tasting area you’ve designed in your new kitchen.