USA

Located onsite at a working Trappist monastery.

Underground storage in a thick-walled (vibration-free) brick building by the Hudson River keeps relative humidity at around 70 % and temperatures are controlled at 55 deg F. Charges are based on either open storage, private 18-, 36- or 72-case lockers, and custom-built lockers holding between 100 and 1,000 cases. Open, inventoried storage costs $5 a case (for up to 99 cases) a month, which includes insurance, while private lockers come in at $70, $130 and $225 a month respectively, so it ain't cheap. On the other hand, CWS say they have 'tasting areas and staging tables so our clients can enjoy the experience as a hobby or connoisseur. There's plenty of room to enjoy working on their collection or sharing a glass with another client or my staff. Most of my staff is formally educated in wine fundamentals' - all of which makes it sound like one big party. There's also a sophisticated online system, including maturity advice.

Also at Fort Worth and Southlake.

For other locations nationally see website.

Near Seattle. Provides lockers with 9-84 case capacity at 57°F and 60-70% humidity.

The storage facilities most obviously attuned to the private collector in an old cold war bunker so that they can claim these cellars in rural Connecticut 'were originally built to withstand an indirect hit from a nuclear warhead' which is certainly a unique feature, along with its 12-ton bank vault door. Temperature is the standard 55 deg F and relative humidity 70 % and, unusually in the US, the fees, which are charged per case per month rather than in often awkward specific volumes, include insurance against theft and breakage.

Locations throughout California.

Noteworthy for offering a web-based app service with full inventory, stock photographs and tasting notes accessible by members over the internet. Their storage facility is kept at 55°F and 65% relative humidity. To withdraw a wine all the customer need do is select that wine in the app and it will be made ready for collection or delivery via courier.

Also at Solana Beach.

Previously Marin Cellars in San Rafael just north of San Francisco. Operates on the locker model. StorQuest is a big company offering self-storage on a much more general basis in Arizona, California, Colorado and Hawaii but this location has the facilities for temperature- and humidity-controlled wine storage. According to the StorQuest website, wine storage is also offered at their Anaheim Hills branch.

The domain name suggests a certain primacy and this Illinois outfit has been going for 15 years - a long time in US wine trade history. It offers drive-in access to the wine lockers with stiff security checks en route. Temperature is 55 deg F and relative humidity 60-70 %. Rates are per lot, generally increasing in eight-case increments, per year with per case equivalents declining slightly with bigger volumes.

Twenty Twenty Wine charges from 500 dollars a year for a 16-case locker to 2,500-3,000 dollars for a 100-case unit, open only to those whose wine lies within them. Owner Bob Golbahar says his staff will do inventories and maturity assessments for a 'nominal charge'.

Vinfolio’s Full-Service Wine Storage Facility of 45,000 sq ft is in the heart of Wine Country in Northern California. With private collector clients in all 50 states and 20 countries internationally, Vinfolio provides white-glove storage services for the global wine collector. Services include: receipt of shipments, individual bottle inspection and barcoding, online collection management and cellar analysis tools via its proprietary software, VinCellar, and both domestic and international shipping on demand. The facility provides high-level security and is kept at 55 degrees F and 65%-70% humidity. NB this is not a self-storage locker facility based on the US model but more like Octavian in the UK.

A bit like Octavian in the UK they have many advantages but one serious disadvantage: monthly charges (payable every six months) are levied assuming a minimum of 40 cases. Western Carriers are the professionals just outside New York City and in northern California who store millions of cases of wine for the wine business and the major auction houses. They also specialise in moving wine collections within the US for those who are relocating their cellars. They offer on-line access to inventories 24/7 but no valuation or current maturity dates. They have their own sophisticated tracking software, online access for private customers, a temperature maintained at 56 deg F and relative humidity about 65 %. Sotheby's Wine Department operates on site within the facility.

Contact Joel Rubins +1 800 631 7776 ext 7243 

Located in Windsor in Sonoma County, CA. Full-service storage facility that offers basic locker rentals and adds services for additional fees. Individual lockers and bulk storage. 55 degrees/70% humidity with 100kw backup generator. 24-hour video surveillance. Fully alarmed. Vault doors are secured by Digilock computer keypad locks. Master computer system identifies and tracks all activity in each vault. Deliveries accepted and shipping services provided with sister company Wine Country Shipping (fees apply). Tasting lounge and conference room are available.

Based in the Bronx. Used by Christie's New York.

They say, 'Individual wine lockers are available in 15 sizes from 10 to 150 cases. You provide your own lock and key, so only you have access to your wines. In addition to holding a constant 55 degrees, our warehouse is alarmed, outfitted with video surveillance, remote environmental monitors, and fully equipped with a sprinkler system.' 

lockers@adventuresinwine.com

Fully below ground level with 5,000 sq ft of storage. 80% of the space available is for bulk/12-bottle-case storage, 20% set up for racking single bottles (two-deep in each slot). Temperature-, humidity-, and light-controlled environment with security and fire-suppression systems. Opening hours from 10am to 9pm every day of the week, accessed by electronic key card.

$300/yr for a 12-case locker (or $25/yr per case); free cellar relocation for 3 or more lockers.