Wine Rider

Architect Dick Clark produced this 3,000-bottle wine cellar for a retired international motorcycle racing champion well on his way to becoming a serious oenophile. A rugged stone and leather encased grotto seemed a natural fit for Clark’s thrill-seeking client. The 12-by-15-foot room descends about 4 feet below grade in his “toy” barn, which also houses cars, boats, mountain bikes, and motorcycles. “So many cellars are just racks on walls,” laments Clark. “We wanted to break it up and make it inviting for people to linger.” Local Texas sandstone is dry stacked with random stones cantilevered as single-bottle display shelves. A particularly large slab juts out as a tasting table. The nearby bench and wall behind it are upholstered in unfinished cowhide for a soft contrast to the jagged walls. Fir base cabinets provide storage for full cases and support matching racks. Above the open cubes are special glass-fronted, completely sealed cupboards for collectible vintages. Low-voltage copper fixtures provide the mood lighting. Builder: Prince Brothers Construction, Wimberly, Texas; Architect: Dick Clark Architecture, Austin, Texas; Photographer: Paul Bardagjy.