Modern wine cellars go beyond basics

New York

WHEN somebody brags about his wine cellar, do you picture a cold, damp, cobwebby underground space that's so dark you can barely spy bottles by the light of your smartphone? If you answered yes - it's time to get with it.

Today's versions go way beyond basic wine storage. They're now adult playrooms, man caves, personal style statements and part of the living environment, like splashy paintings on dining room walls. New-wave cellars often feature tasting tables, comfy chairs, lighting worthy of an art gallery and space age technology. They even look good without any wine in them.