So, you've splurged on that bottle of Bordeaux (and eleven of its friends because you didn't want it to get lonely!), and you know it needs to age for at least another year or two before you crack it open. Now what? Sure, you could put it up on that fancy rack you have on the bar, but do you really want to risk opening up vinegar in a few years because your place overheated one too many times in summer or your countertop's at a bad angle? Of course not.So, what do you do?
You rent a wine locker.
And that's where these guys come in. Aside from a little sign out front, you'd never even know this old ivy covered brownstone on an industrial side street facing the 405 in West LA was a mega wine storage facility housing some of the finest and rarest vintages ever bottled. There's nothing glamorous about this place (which is evident when you sign in and out at the lobby, decorated with some antiques, old stuffed pheasants, vintage crates and dusty tapestries), but it more than meets the needs of any wine enthusiast - from the novice starting out with a case or two to the sommelier and collector looking to house many a vintage long term. The facility is monitored for precise temperature and humidity, under 24 hour security and surveillance, and fully insured.
Ever wondered where folks in the wine business store their wine? Now you know.
Locker sizes, (and corresponding annual rents), range from the modest to the entirely immodest. For example, a top level (meaning, you'll need to stand on a ladder to get to it), 18 case locker with a plain plywood door and padlock holder, (you provide the lock), will run you about $300/year. A steal compared to space at a wine shop or any other "fancy" storage facility where you'd pay triple that. Prepare to nearly weep as you walk past some of the cage lockers and spy floor to ceiling high stacks of prized cases valued in the tens of thousands.
Naturally, something this great is kept a secret for a reason, and getting in on the action doesn't come by easy. If you're in the market for a locker, call to see if there's miraculously something available - but be prepared to have your name on a wait list for as long as a year or more if there isn't.
Tip - You can only access the wine lockers when the facility is open, so always check the hours before you head out. They're generally closed Sunday-Monday and early before holidays, so if you had some great bottle in mind for that Christmas Eve dinner, plan ahead and get in there before they're closed.
1919 Pontius Ave
Los Angeles, CA 90025 (310) 477-9463
You rent a wine locker.
And that's where these guys come in. Aside from a little sign out front, you'd never even know this old ivy covered brownstone on an industrial side street facing the 405 in West LA was a mega wine storage facility housing some of the finest and rarest vintages ever bottled. There's nothing glamorous about this place (which is evident when you sign in and out at the lobby, decorated with some antiques, old stuffed pheasants, vintage crates and dusty tapestries), but it more than meets the needs of any wine enthusiast - from the novice starting out with a case or two to the sommelier and collector looking to house many a vintage long term. The facility is monitored for precise temperature and humidity, under 24 hour security and surveillance, and fully insured.
Ever wondered where folks in the wine business store their wine? Now you know.
Locker sizes, (and corresponding annual rents), range from the modest to the entirely immodest. For example, a top level (meaning, you'll need to stand on a ladder to get to it), 18 case locker with a plain plywood door and padlock holder, (you provide the lock), will run you about $300/year. A steal compared to space at a wine shop or any other "fancy" storage facility where you'd pay triple that. Prepare to nearly weep as you walk past some of the cage lockers and spy floor to ceiling high stacks of prized cases valued in the tens of thousands.
Naturally, something this great is kept a secret for a reason, and getting in on the action doesn't come by easy. If you're in the market for a locker, call to see if there's miraculously something available - but be prepared to have your name on a wait list for as long as a year or more if there isn't.
Tip - You can only access the wine lockers when the facility is open, so always check the hours before you head out. They're generally closed Sunday-Monday and early before holidays, so if you had some great bottle in mind for that Christmas Eve dinner, plan ahead and get in there before they're closed.
1919 Pontius Ave
Los Angeles, CA 90025 (310) 477-9463
