Whether you own a store that is in need of a wine isle makeover or you want to turn your basement into a small cellar for your collections, with Wine Cellar Innovations the only limits are as far as your imagination.
Originally known as Deckebach Construction & Remodeling, the business was launched in 1977. In seven short years Jim Deckebach built his first wine cellar as part of a remodeling job. Less than a year later he began specializing in them. Fast forward to today and you’ll find that his company is now offering wine cellar solutions for nearly any budget.
Tell us a little about Wine Cellar Innovations.
Founder and creator Jim Deckebach’s love of fine wines and foods began in 1974 when he studied in France. He returned to the US to manage a restaurant in Cincinnati and remodel homes on the side. He started Deckebach Construction & Remodeling Business in 1977 out of his garage, and built his first wine cellar as part of a remodeling job in 1984. Within one year he specialized in custom wine cellars.
In 1998 Deckebach moved to their current 350,000 sq. ft. facility in Cincinnati and began a refrigeration department with test chambers to develop the best storage methods for aging wine. Builders, remodelers and architects began looking to Deckebach to fulfill the highly specialized needs of building and designing wine cellars. Today, Wine Cellar Innovations employs 350. They design, craft and install the world’s leading wine cellars for discerning clients the world over . Their distinctive details fill the room with an aura of excitement. They are functional yet breathtaking.
How many cellar designs would you say the company has done over the years?
1) Beveled Rails with Eased Edges:
Every rail on our Individual Bottle rack in both our Platinum and Gold Series has a beveled front edge, which is of an aesthetic benefit. Each rail also has an eased edge, which is a functional benefit. The eased edge is to ensure that when you are inserting a bottle into the rack that the label does not tear.
2) Eased Edge Front Posts:
The front post of every rack also has an eased edge. This is also to ensure that when you are inserting a bottle into the rack that the label does not tear.
3) CNC Machined Spacer Bars:
The spacer bar is the piece that runs across the entire width of your rack and is dadoed (notched) at various centerlines to provide the proper spacing for your racking. Our spacer bars are machined to include the radius of the post material to ensure a seamless fit.
4) Table Tops:
WCI offers 3 manufactured options with our table tops: 1 3/8 thick plank table top (Standard with Platinum) 11/16 thick plank table top (Standard with Gold) 3/4 thick veneer table top (Optional w/Gold or Platinum)The 1 3/8 thick plank table top has the Ogee profile cut into the material so you do not see a seam line. The boards also run in the same direction to minimize seam lines.
5) Cellar Entry Doors:
Our Cellar Entry Doors are made out of the same material as your wine cellar. If your cellar is ordered with one of our water based stains, we will also put the same stain on your door. You can request that only one side be stained if you want the exterior door to be unstained to paint and match the stain of the doors in the rest of your home as well. All doors are made with vertical grain, solid edge-glued wood.
6) Individual Bottle Bins:
When you need to store 3 liter or larger bottles, we manufacture Individual Bottle Bins. These are miniature rectangle bins that come in medium or large sizes. The medium size will hold 1-3 liter bottle, 1-1.5 liter bottle, or 2-750 mL bottles. The large size bins are for 1-6 liter, 1—5 liter, 2-3 liter, 2-1.5 liter, or 4-750 mL bottles. This gives you flexibility to order larger format storage and still utilize it for smaller bottles when not in use for large format storage.
7) Quarter Round Shelves:
Each shelf is dadoed(notched) into the sides and screwed into place from the back. The shelf is custom designed for equal centerlines on your shelves based on the overall height. You can select either solid, edge-glued material, or veneer plywood options for this item. The molding will be radiused to match the shelf or you can choose a square cut molding option for additional savings.
8) Diamond Bins:
These units can be made with either solid edge-glued wood or plywood. The interlocks with these units have a front-to-back dado (notch) that connects the interlocking pieces together. This gives the unit a uniform and structurally sound connection. The ends are supported by termination blocks that in combination with the perimeter trim hold the interlocks in place. For added visual impact we also offer interior face trim (as shown) to provide an old world look to your diamond bins.
9) Cabinets and Drawers:
You can choose a variety of door options: raised panel, radius raised panel, flat panel, glass, or mesh inserts. The material behind the doors can be made of either solid edge-glued wood or veneer plywood. WCI uses high quality, 110 degree, concealed European hinges on all of our doors. The drawers have ball bearing, full extension slides with 1 over travel.
What separates you from the competition?
Wine Cellar Innovations’ greatest attribute is matching a consumer’s budget and storage needs with an appropriate product. The company offers three custom product levels. The Silver Series maximizes storage space, while minimizing cost. The Gold Series increases craftsmanship, finish, and adds storage options. The Platinum Series is the quintessential product offering, with storage options limited only to the imagination.
In addition, the company’s custom design capabilities allow contractors, architects and their discriminating clientele to experience color 3D virtual walk-through’s of their dream cellars before construction begins, ensuring satisfaction and opportunities for modifications during the design phase.
What should a customer look for when they are looking for a company to design/build a cellar for them?
A customer should look for a company that not only designs wine racking but can provide them with a one stop shop for all items needed inside their cellar. At WCI we have perfected the art of building a wine cellar from the outside in. We have done countless studies on the proper storage and applied this information to the most effective and now common way to build a wine cellar. A customer should also look for a company who can provide them with the utmost knowledge of storing wine and customer service to get them there.
What are some goals you hope to accomplish over the next year or so?
We are coming out with a new line of stackable kit series, called the Winemaker. It is a more economical version of our successful Vintner Series. We are also going to be offering Pine in our Vintner, Designer, and wine store fixtures.
What are some lessons this business has taught you?
On average a person spends 10% of the value of their wine on a wine cellar. Contractor’s have a million different things going on simultaneously when they are in the middle of building a home. We have learned to keep a keen ear to what our customer’s feedback and requests are as many of our most successful product offerings have come from customer requests or advise. We have continued to fine tune the process for room construction to the point of almost every competitor utilizes our construction guidelines as the industry standard.
Any advice you’d like to offer fellow entrepreneurs that are just getting started?
To entrepreneurs wanting to get started in the wine cellar industry, we would suggest a good understanding of construction will be as important to your success as a firm understanding of wine.