Wine making is an art well worth preserving… Why not protect your investment with state of the art storage? |
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WineKeeper is Boise’s first and premier computer monitored, temperature and humidity controlled wine storage facility with on site security, ease of access and a convenient downtown location.
The WineKeeper is the brain child of three brothers - Garrett, Darren, and Brett Goldberg. Garrett, who lives in Boise and is managing the business, related how the idea came about - "My brothers and I have always been encouraged to follow our dreams, and this business evolved out of my brother Darren's dream to own a jazz club. A year ago our mother helped us buy a building on 8th Street that we thought would one day be a great location for Darren's club. My older brother, Brett, who is a wine connoisseur, had the idea that we should start collecting wine for Darren's club. Finding no storage facilities in the area, we thought what better place than the basement of our future jazz club, and if we're going to build it, why not make it a business." Thus, the WineKeeper idea was born. After several months of site visits to other storage facilities, consultations with restaurant owners and wine distributors, substantial research into security, temperature and humidity control systems, and countless design team meetings with a local architect, construction was ready to begin. Taking a little over 6 months to complete the first phase, the WineKeeper is a one of a kind Idaho facility. |
The WineKeeper is housed in a beautifully restored brick building in the heart of downtown Boise. Originally built in the 1920’s, the building was designed as a shipping warehouse with the below grade basement used for the storing of perishables. It is free of natural light and its cool, dank feel lends itself to an ancient French cave and allows us to maintain a very steady temperature year round – even as Boise reaches 100 degrees in the summer.
During construction of the WineKeeper, special attention was paid to detail due to the nature of the aged building. Constructed mostly of brick and wood, state of the art vapor barrier and insulation products were used both to protect the integrity of the structure and ensure an airtight tight seal to maintain a steady temperature and humidity. Woven wire storage units allow constant air flow and eliminate temperature fluctuations in the lockers. With R-30 insulation throughout and a fully integrated security and monitoring system, we have created a top of the line facility.
Located on the corner of 8th and Fulton Streets, the facility is easily accessed at all times. Dubbed the ‘cultural district’, the 8th St. corridor is home to some of Boise’s finest shopping, eating and entertainment.
850 Fulton Street, Boise (208) 433-9345
Your investment is valuable, and with time and more importantly with care will it mature and grow in flavor and value. WineKeeper Idaho makes that possible by providing a state of the art wine storage facility in the heart of Boise. Top of the line coolers, sensors, security systems, and lighting ensure optimal storage conditions.
Features
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Temperature: As temperature is the most important aspect to proper wine storage, WineKeeper utilizes state of the art HVAC systems, controls and sensors to ensure a constant 58 degrees. Temperature is continuously monitored through the remote security system. Should the system fluctuate by more than +/-2 degrees, WineKeeper’s security system will sound the alarm. |
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Humidity: With a targeted range of 60% WineKeeper’s humidity control regulates humidity within +/- 5%, even in the driest Idaho summers. |
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Security and Access: Proper security control is paramount to proper wine storage. WineKeeper’s security features include: 24 Hour Video Monitoring with Continuous Backup Full Motion Detector, Door Contact, and Glass Break Secure Keyfob Access computer monitored Security and Computer Systems are Monitored Remotely Fire suppression systems. |
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Ventilation: Wine needs to be kept in an odor-free environment. WineKeeper’s extensive cooling system continually circulates and filters the 58 degree air. |
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Darkness: WineKeeper Idaho is free of natural light and equipped with motion detected LED lights to guarantee darkness when the cellar is empty. |
There is true science and chemistry to the aging process. The process and reactions are understood, but vintages, growth patterns, sugar contents and grape varieties vary. Hence the need for vintage charts and blends. Proper wine storage is an art a combination of science, palate and chemistry. Part of the picture is to create a constant environment to increase the probability of a given outcome and to remove as many variables as possible... There is a little luck involved in the 
science and the mystery of wine. All wines need some ageing...whether it is in the barrel or bottle all wines will improve to some degree...others improve in infinitum. But there are never guarantees. Some wines improve that shouldn't while others degrade that should be good for years...but that is the mystery of the process. The luck of the draw is to find the peak of perfection and to enjoy the successes. In our "immediate need" society people have a tendency to drink wines ...now... and not give them the time and proper storage they deserve. Experts all agree that proper storage is paramount yet collectors and consumers cut too many corners. Negative effects of improper storage take their toll and "accumulate" over time. One episode of overheating or too much light starts the chemistry down a path that is irreversible and may shorten the lifespan of the wine...it may not ruin the wine, but it will have a significant and lasting effect on bouquet and flavor. Sometimes the differences are subtle and other times it is pronounced. The differences may not be noticed by most novices, unless they have a sample of a properly stored wine to compare it to.
All wine has a shelf life...all wine is perishable. There is not sufficient alcohol to preserve it forever. There are sugars and fruit that can" spoil" and degrade. All wines will eventually "go bad" or at very least change character into an undesirable less robust and favorable state without proper storage. Even the best wines, wines that can be aged for years (and will continue to improve in the right environment) will degrade in under a year without proper storage.
Storage requirements vary by variety, blend, quality as well as its intended use. Wines from the Grand Cru's of France or the limited "cult wines" of California are blended for a minimum of 2+ years of bottle storage and produced for the eventual consumption by a trained palate. These wines need the strictest control available.... There is no need to control the aging process for cooking wine (although Julia Childs would might argue as she would never cook with anything she would not drink) or the "ready to drink" wines produced for the local grocery store in mass...most wine purchased...go home and get drunk while unpacking the groceries....but even those wines can be stored for 8-12 months if kept with reasonable storage conditions
Storage Needs of the Enthusiast & Collector
Enthusiasts and collectors of premium wine have more serious storage needs. They maintain large and/or valuable collections. Due to the sheer size of some of the collections, even "ready-to-drink" wine tends to go unopened for long periods. With the negative consequences of improper storage increasing with time, all the wine is susceptible if not stored properly. The collector/enthusiast also participates in premium age-worthy wines. These wines improve with age and may only reach their full potential after 5, 10 and up to 25 years in the bottle. If you do the math and drink 4 bottles a month..1 per week...that is 48 bottle per year...not too much....but if you are storing this wine for ten years it adds up to a minimum of 480 bottles or 40 cases....this requires space! And good storage is a pre-requisite for this type of product.
Six Critical Elements Associated
With Proper Wine Storage
Average Temperature
The ideal temperature for wine storage is 13ºC to 15C (55ºF to 59F). Wine is a complex and fragile balance of amino acids, phenols, carbohydrates and other chemical compounds. Aging wine is a series of different chemical reactions between these compounds and the minute quantities of oxygen allowed into the bottle through the cork. These reactions are easily affected by physical and chemical changes taking place in the environment. Since the speed of the average chemical reaction increases with temperature (the rate doubles for every 10ºC increase in temperature), wine hardly ages at all if stored below about 10ºC (50ºF). Place it at 78ºF, and an age worthy wine that would normally require ten years of careful aging, may be past its prime in just a few months.
Temperature Stability
Wine must be kept in an environment where temperature is constant and stable. An acceptable level of temperature fluctuation is said to be about 2-3ºC (5ºF) around the average once per year. This is the single most important factor to storage....log this temperature...watch it carefully....Larger facilities gain stability from shear size...the wine itself helps to "store energy" the more mass...the more stability. A compelling argument for none home storage...even the best of the home lockers fluctuate more than desirable levels for long term storage. Fluctuations in temperature allow more air/oxygen into the wine. As the environment warms up, the wine (and air) in the bottle warms up and expands. The only thing that can give is the cork. Either the cork moves out slightly, or some of the air (or wine when stored on its side) will push past the cork. As the air cools, the contents of the bottle will contract, drawing air/oxygen into the bottle. Over many temperature fluctuations, quite a bit of this outside air can actually replace the wine. This leads to the low fill level or ullage as it is called seen in older bottles. Fluctuations must be minimized in both magnitude and frequency. Fluctuations of only 1.5ºC (3ºF) can be very damaging to wine if they occur on a daily basis.
Humidity
Relative humidity levels can be anywhere between 50 and 80 percent. Not enough humidity and the cork dries....simple as that...with a dry cork air gets in and wine get out...hot and cold increases the oxygen levels and the wine spoils... Humidity too high...and the risk of mold and mildew can ruin the wine....sometimes called "corked" wines
Ventilation
Wine needs to be kept in an odor-free environment. Strong odors just as the mildew above can 'flavor wine" this is caused by the gas exchange that takes place around the cork. Never store fruits, vegetables, cheeses or any other food that is capable of fermenting.
Darkness
Wine should not be subjected to excessive amounts of light. Light breaks down the molecules in wine, just as light breaks down the furniture on your deck. Most wines have dark glass to help mitigate this, but this alone is not enough. Little or no light is a must to allow the wine to age and not breakdown. Exposure to light will age a bottle of wine prematurely. Ultraviolet light will penetrate even dark-colored glass, but it is clear bottles and sparkling wines that are most susceptible. Ultraviolet light may impart unpleasant aromas that can ruin your wine.
Security
Although not an environmental condition, the issue of security is an important one. One we take seriously at WineKeeper Idaho. Collections can easily add up to 10's of thousands of dollars even one that is considered a minor collection can top $100K ...collections have been known to be valued in the millions....Home security, home cellars with basic above ground drywall and especially the home style "lockers" cannot offer the protection needed from fire, theft, or the worst of them all... loss of power. Home units cannot offer refrigeration necessary to maintain the same quality given by a commercially cooled and humidity controlled, below ground facility. Home systems also do not offer world-wide paging (and if you are on vacation who is going to let the repairman in?) nor do they have state of the art computer controls and back up systems without spending a personal fortune. Many a Collector has returned from vacation to find their years of collecting gone to a heat wave and a power outage.
Space shown by appointment
Call (208) 433-9345
e-mail: info@gsquarecompanies.com
We offer month to month rentals with discounts for paying in advance and longer term contracts with discounts.
| Location | The location was chosen carefully to be in the heart of Boise's Cultural District on the corner of 8th and Fulton Street; central to all of Boise and the surrounding areas. Our facility has easy access for loading and unloading.
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| Access | Customers with rented wine storage space access our facility at your convenience, through special electronic key fobs. Regular access available from 7AM to 9PM 365 days a year. Special access during off hours may be arranged as needed for restaurants, special events, distributors or should an odd need arise. Once in the facility, you and only you will have access to your locker secured by your own personal lock. You will have the peace of mind and knowledge that all persons in and out are monitored and recorded.
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| Delivery | Should you be unavailable to receive your delivery, WineKeeper can coordinate a delivery of any amount of wine and securely store in the temperature controlled facility for you until you can put it in your own personal secured space.
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| Varied Locker Sizes | 15+, 25+, 36+, 50+, 72+, 100+, 150+ and 300+ case lockers are available. WineKeeper is currently under expansion in phase two and can custom build any size space for growing collections. |
WineKeeper
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