Extraordinary wines require extraordinary care: Precious and fragile, fine wines demand secure cellars where temperature is constant and regulated; their curators must have space nearby for decanting, aerating—and savoring—this treasure. 

Herewith, like a grand sommelier, Luxury Defined curates a collection of homes with highly specialized wine cellars devoted to the preservation, care, display, and serving of great vintages. Each property finds a different way to incorporate the wine cellar into the collector’s lifestyle. 

Like the wine glass both encloses the vintage and illuminates it, these luxury homes will enfold, fulfill, and delight their occupants in unexpected and ever-changing ways. 

1. The Icon House in Breckenridge, Colorado 

A ski house for the 21st century, The Icon House offers a luxurious turnkey lifestyle within minutes of Main Street and the world-class, high-alpine slopes of Breckenridge Ski Resort. 

This brand-new contemporary home was designed by luxury custom builder and developer New West Partners with interiors by Twyla Gurlea of ColorView Design.   

The elegant entrance hall is styled as a lounge space with a dual-sided fireplace, wet bar, and glass-enclosed, temperature-controlled “wine rendezvous.” 

The double-height great room is oriented to frame the summit of Breckenridge Ski Resort: Peak 8 (elevation 12,840 feet), and adjoins the dining room, gourmet kitchen with bar seating and a cozy breakfast nook. 

The suite of lifestyle amenities includes a spa retreat housed in a tower, with an exercise studio, dry sauna, steam shower and massage/yoga space. The three-bay garage/workshop features fully washable, epoxy-coated floors and walls.   

The heated upper-level deck has a built-in hot tub for après-ski relaxation, as well as a sunset-view patio with a fire pit for evenings under the stars. 

2. The Little Castle of Neubeuern in Bavaria, Germany 

This cliffside aerie has a storybook setting above the picturesque village of Neubeuern in Germany’s Inn Valley, about 40 miles southeast of Munich and 50 miles west of Salzburg. 

Built into a rock face, surrounded by ancient woodland, the residence takes inspiration from the Gothic castles for which this peaceful corner of Bavaria is renowned. Indeed, it’s often referred to locally as “the Little Castle of Neubeuern” (in reference to the ninth-century castle that dominates the skyline).  

The interiors are modern yet timeless, with bespoke furnishings, wood and stone finishes, and a perfectly coordinated color palette. Curved walls of glass provide a bird’s-eye view across the village of Neubeuern toward the Bavarian Alps. 

The central living spaces occupy a Gothic-inspired tower: The first level contains the wine cellar and tasting room. Above is the first-floor dining space, the second-floor primary suite, and the top-floor relaxation suite and its sauna. 

A secluded swimming pond lies within idyllic gardens below the house. A loft apartment with a separate entrance is a luxurious addition.  

Related: Discover Luxury Homes in Popular Summer Spots

3. An Exceptional Country Estate in St John, Jersey, Channel Islands 

This sumptuously restored country estate resides in the Parish of St John in Jersey, Channel Islands, surrounded by landscaped grounds and its own 80 vergées (about 35.5 acres) of agricultural fields. 

The original granite farmhouse of some 14,200 square feet has been extended and entirely renovated. The heart of the home is the kitchen, 22 feet long, with an octagonal rooflight and a bay window overlooking the garden. The dining room is served by a bespoke wine tasting room with temperature-controlled storage. Nearby, the cinema room has a star-effect ceiling, surround-sound tech, and 14 comfy cinema-style armchairs on three tiers. 

The indoor pool, sauna, gym, and changing rooms are in a new extension. The tennis court stands beyond, surrounded by a shield of trees. Just along from the walkway is the 40-meter all-weather sand training/dressage yard and its four stables and tack room.  

A four-bedroom guest cottage connects with the main house but has its own external access to the south patio garden and the main driveway. There are two detached pitched-roof garage blocks that house four and three cars respectively, and a one-bedroom staff residence.  

4. Haynes Manor Estate Home in Atlanta, Georgia 

This château-inspired estate home is in the wooded environs of Atlanta’s upscale Buckhead neighborhood, a nine-iron shot from the Bobby Jones Golf Course. 

The elegant stone manor underwent a redesign by the current owners in collaboration with Kay Douglass Interiors. The 4,727-square-foot interiors extend across three levels. 

The centerpiece of the main floor is an integrated fireside lounge and dining space under a beamed ceiling. The adjoining white marble galley kitchen has a cozy keeping room with a log-burning fireplace. French doors lead out to a landscaped courtyard with a fountain and alfresco dining space.  

A stylish office and a custom-built, glass-enclosed, 500-bottle wine cellar occupy the lower level. 

The finished attic space provides three luxurious en suite bedrooms and a bonus room. The primary suite has two renovated bathrooms as well as a sitting room with fireplace, walk-in closets, and a private balcony. A spiral staircase rises to the roof terrace overlooking the home’s lush private grounds. 

Looking for for a wine cellar to house your collection? Start here.