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Wine Rooms and Glass Wine Walls in Bellevue, Medina and Mercer Island

A glass wine wall or wine room holds wine at about 55°F and 50% to 70% humidity (Wine Rack Concepts, 2026). Custom cellars run $40,000 to $250,000+, and all-glass rooms $80,000 to $220,000+ (Genuwine, October 2026). Volcano Builders builds the insulated room, the glass openings, the power and the finishes, with a cellar specialist for racking and cooling. In Seattle, a split cooling system also needs a refrigeration permit.

By appointment. Limited start dates.

See starting prices
DINING ROOMWARM SIDENEXT ROOM, WARM SIDEOUTSIDECONDENSER55°F, 50% TO 70% RHFRAMED INSULATED GLASS,R-7 TO R-9 (VINTAGEVIEW)R-19 WALLS,R-30 CEILINGVAPOR BARRIER ONTHE WARM SIDE1/2 IN DRAIN(WHISPERKOOL)LINE SET TOOUTDOOR CONDENSEREVAPORATOR18 TO 24 IN DEEP (WINE RACK CONCEPTS)
IllustrationDay view

Key numbers for a wine wall or wine room

18 to 24 in
Depth of a glass wine wallWine Rack Concepts, glass enclosure guide, read Oct 2026
100 to 150 sq ft
Floor area for about 1,000 bottlesGenuwine, Oct 2026
55% to 65% humidity
What specialists specify for Seattle cellars, with dehumidificationGenuwine, Washington page, Oct 2026
R-7 to R-9 framed, about R-1 frameless
Insulation value of wine room glassVintageView, May 2026
45 dBA at night
Limit for an outdoor condenser at a Seattle residential property line, 10 pm to 7 amSDCI, Nov 2025

What we build: wine walls, glass wine rooms and lower-level cellars

A wine wall starts with the room behind the glass. We plan and build a wine wall in one of four configurations, with the cellar specialist inside the plan from the first drawing.

DINING ROOMWARM SIDENEXT ROOM, WARM SIDEOUTSIDECONDENSER55°F, 50% TO 70% RHFRAMED INSULATED GLASS,R-7 TO R-9 (VINTAGEVIEW)R-19 WALLS,R-30 CEILINGVAPOR BARRIER ONTHE WARM SIDE1/2 IN DRAIN(WHISPERKOOL)LINE SET TOOUTDOOR CONDENSEREVAPORATOR18 TO 24 IN DEEP (WINE RACK CONCEPTS)
Illustration

Glass wine wall

An insulated alcove 18 to 24 in deep along a dining room, kitchen, hall or stair wall. Label-forward racking sits behind a glass front and door, with split cooling and the condenser outside. 300 to 1,200 bottles.

Starting at $40K+

DINING ROOM10 X 12 FT120 SQ FTTOTAL 960 TO1,152 BOTTLESFACE 1FACE 2FACE 3RACKING FACE 4 X 8 FT:320 TO 384 BOTTLES (GENUWINE)GLASS WALL ANDINSULATED GLASS DOORCONDENSEROUTSIDE:SEATTLE NIGHTLIMIT 45 DBAAT THE PROPERTYLINE (SDCI)PROPERTY LINESIDE YARD12 FT10 FT
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Glass-enclosed wine room

A walk-in room of 80 to 200 sq ft on the main floor, open to living or dining through one to four glass sides. Insulated glass, ducted or ductless split cooling, a stone or wood floor and feature lighting. 500 to 2,500 bottles.

Starting at $70K+

WINE ROOMBEHIND GLASSTASTING COUNTERAND WET BARLOUNGE SEATINGLINE SET AND DRAIN ROUTEOUTSIDE WALL AT TOP
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Lower-level cellar and tasting room

A wine room of 120 to 250 sq ft behind a glass front, with a tasting lounge beside it: counter, wet bar or wine refrigerators, and seating. Finished as one suite in an existing basement.

Starting at $120K+

Wine room in an addition

A glass room or a cellar suite built as new floor area. The condenser location, line set route and glass sizes are fixed before framing.

Priced by consultation

See home addition pricing

Who does what

We build the room. A cellar specialist joins at design and supplies the racking and the cooling.

The cooling unit is sized by a heat load calculation, and glass rooms need 2 to 3 times the cooling of solid-wall rooms (Wine Rack Concepts). So the glass, the insulation and the cooling are drawn together, before framing.

THE ROOMFRAMING · INSULATION ·VAPOR BARRIER · GLASS OPENINGS ·POWER · DRAIN · FINISHESA VOLCANO BUILDERSTHE WINERACKING · COOLING · CONTROLSB CELLAR SPECIALISTONE PLANONE SCHEDULE
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Volcano Builders

  • Design, drawings and permit documents. Framing, insulation and the vapor barrier on the warm side. Openings for glass walls and doors, specified as insulated, Low-E safety glazing. Dedicated circuits, lighting and the condensate drain path. Floors, stone, millwork and paint. One schedule and the city inspections.

Cellar specialist

  • Racking design, supply and installation. Cooling selection from the heat load calculation, then installation and start-up. Controllers and monitoring. Named here once our agreement is signed.

Refrigeration contractor licensed by the City of Seattle

  • Sets split systems assembled on site inside Seattle and pulls the refrigeration permit, as SDCI requires.

You

  • One contact at Volcano and one schedule for the room, the glass and the cooling.

Wine wall and wine room cost

Our glass wine walls start at $40K+, glass-enclosed wine rooms at $70K+ and lower-level cellars with a tasting room at $120K+.

The configuration sets where the wine lives. The tier sets the glass, the cooling, the racking and the finish.

Glass wine wall

Basic

Starting at $40K+

  • Design session, measured plan and one 3D view of the wall or room (design fee listed separately)
  • Framed and insulated envelope, R-19 walls and R-30 ceiling, with a vapor barrier on the warm side
  • Self-contained or ductless split cooling, sized by a heat load calculation
  • Label-forward metal racking for the stated bottle count
  • Glass front or one glass wall, with an insulated glass door
  • LED lighting with no UV output on its own switch, permit drawings and inspections

Includes a standard material allowance. Upgrades are priced from your selections.

Mid-Range Recommended

Starting at $70K+

  • Full design set: elevations, racking layout and cooling location
  • Envelope sealed and gasketed, with moisture-resistant board inside
  • Split system with the condenser outside and a digital controller
  • Framed insulated glass, dual pane and Low-E, on one to three sides
  • Mixed racking: label-forward display rows, bulk storage and magnum rows
  • Dimmable LED scenes and a stone or wood floor

Includes a standard material allowance. Upgrades are priced from your selections.

Luxury

Starting at $120K+

  • Design-led concept with material boards and a lighting plan
  • Ducted split cooling, with the evaporator outside the room
  • Structural glass on most sides, in thermally broken frames
  • Custom racking in wood and metal, with display shelves and case storage
  • Tasting counter or stone surround, with stemware storage
  • Remote temperature and humidity monitoring with alerts

Includes a standard material allowance. Upgrades are priced from your selections.

Super-Luxury

Starting at $175K+

  • Bespoke design, with specialist engineering for the glass and the climate
  • Frameless or structural glass enclosure with anti-condensation detailing
  • Zoned cooling: separate red and white zones
  • Gallery racking in architectural metal, rare wood or both
  • Museum-style lighting scenes tied into integrated controls
  • Everything in Luxury, including monitoring, the tasting counter and case storage

Includes a standard material allowance. Upgrades are priced from your selections.

Glass-enclosed wine room

Basic

Starting at $70K+

  • Design session, measured plan and one 3D view of the wall or room (design fee listed separately)
  • Framed and insulated envelope, R-19 walls and R-30 ceiling, with a vapor barrier on the warm side
  • Self-contained or ductless split cooling, sized by a heat load calculation
  • Label-forward metal racking for the stated bottle count
  • Glass front or one glass wall, with an insulated glass door
  • LED lighting with no UV output on its own switch, permit drawings and inspections

Includes a standard material allowance. Upgrades are priced from your selections.

Mid-Range Recommended

Starting at $130K+

  • Full design set: elevations, racking layout and cooling location
  • Envelope sealed and gasketed, with moisture-resistant board inside
  • Split system with the condenser outside and a digital controller
  • Framed insulated glass, dual pane and Low-E, on one to three sides
  • Mixed racking: label-forward display rows, bulk storage and magnum rows
  • Dimmable LED scenes and a stone or wood floor

Includes a standard material allowance. Upgrades are priced from your selections.

Luxury

Starting at $210K+

  • Design-led concept with material boards and a lighting plan
  • Ducted split cooling, with the evaporator outside the room
  • Structural glass on most sides, in thermally broken frames
  • Custom racking in wood and metal, with display shelves and case storage
  • Tasting counter or stone surround, with stemware storage
  • Remote temperature and humidity monitoring with alerts

Includes a standard material allowance. Upgrades are priced from your selections.

Super-Luxury

Starting at $290K+

  • Bespoke design, with specialist engineering for the glass and the climate
  • Frameless or structural glass enclosure with anti-condensation detailing
  • Zoned cooling: separate red and white zones
  • Gallery racking in architectural metal, rare wood or both
  • Museum-style lighting scenes tied into integrated controls
  • Everything in Luxury, including monitoring, the tasting counter and case storage

Includes a standard material allowance. Upgrades are priced from your selections.

Lower-level cellar and tasting room

Basic

Starting at $120K+

  • Design session, measured plan and one 3D view of the wall or room (design fee listed separately)
  • Framed and insulated envelope, R-19 walls and R-30 ceiling, with a vapor barrier on the warm side
  • Self-contained or ductless split cooling, sized by a heat load calculation
  • Label-forward metal racking for the stated bottle count
  • Glass front or one glass wall, with an insulated glass door
  • LED lighting with no UV output on its own switch, permit drawings and inspections

Includes a standard material allowance. Upgrades are priced from your selections.

Mid-Range Recommended

Starting at $200K+

  • Full design set: elevations, racking layout and cooling location
  • Envelope sealed and gasketed, with moisture-resistant board inside
  • Split system with the condenser outside and a digital controller
  • Framed insulated glass, dual pane and Low-E, on one to three sides
  • Mixed racking: label-forward display rows, bulk storage and magnum rows
  • Dimmable LED scenes and a stone or wood floor

Includes a standard material allowance. Upgrades are priced from your selections.

Luxury

Starting at $300K+

  • Design-led concept with material boards and a lighting plan
  • Ducted split cooling, with the evaporator outside the room
  • Structural glass on most sides, in thermally broken frames
  • Custom racking in wood and metal, with display shelves and case storage
  • Tasting counter or stone surround, with stemware storage
  • Remote temperature and humidity monitoring with alerts

Includes a standard material allowance. Upgrades are priced from your selections.

Super-Luxury

Starting at $450K+

  • Bespoke design, with specialist engineering for the glass and the climate
  • Frameless or structural glass enclosure with anti-condensation detailing
  • Zoned cooling: separate red and white zones
  • Gallery racking in architectural metal, rare wood or both
  • Museum-style lighting scenes tied into integrated controls
  • Everything in Luxury, including monitoring, the tasting counter and case storage

Includes a standard material allowance. Upgrades are priced from your selections.

In a lower-level suite (C), each tier also includes the matching tier of our lower-level basement suite for the tasting room and the rest of the level.

Wine room in an addition By consultation. See home addition pricing

Every tier: the room runs empty for one week at temperature before wine goes in (Genuwine, September 2026).

Starting prices include construction, project management, the cellar specialist's racking and cooling package and a standard finish material allowance for each tier.

Not included in starting prices: Design fees · City permit fees · WA sales tax · Appliances you buy · Finish upgrades beyond the allowance. We price these in writing if your project needs them.

Also priced in writing when the job needs it

Wine, inventory software and monitoring service fees. Loose furniture, art and glassware. Excavation for spiral cellars or new below-grade space. Changes to bearing walls, beams or footings, quoted after an engineer's review. Changes to the home's main heating and cooling system. Electrical service or panel upgrades, priced after a load calculation. HOA or architectural review fees.

FRAMELESS GLASS: ABOUT R-1WINE FOR 1 TO 5 YEARS, LOW 60S °FFRAMED INSULATED GLASS: R-7 TO R-9HOLDS 55°F FOR LONG AGINGINSULATED CELLAR WALL: ABOUT R-17VINTAGEVIEW, MAY 2026
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How we priced this

We priced each tier from the cellar specialist's package (racking, cooling and glass) plus the room we build around it. Racking and glass unit costs come from Fixr (January 2025), cooling from Genuwine (October 2026). Design fees, city permit fees and WA sales tax are listed separately, so no markup for them sits in these prices. Lower-level cellars (C) are priced from the cellar and tasting room costs, not from our basement suite tiers.

Market figureRangeSource
Custom wine cellar, most clients$40,000 to $250,000+Genuwine, Oct 2026
Entry wine closet, 200 to 500 bottles$25,000 to $60,000Genuwine, Oct 2026
Wine room, 500 to 1,500 bottles$60,000 to $150,000Genuwine, Oct 2026
All-glass statement room$80,000 to $220,000+Genuwine, Oct 2026
Cellar of 1,500+ bottles$150,000 to $500,000+Genuwine, Oct 2026
Cooling package$6,000 to $40,000+Genuwine, Oct 2026
Build cost per sq ft$300 to $600Fixr, Jan 2025
Home tasting room in a cellar$50,000 to $200,000Fixr, Jan 2025
Build cost per sq ft$250 to $700Wine Rack Concepts, 2026
Glass in place of wood wallsOften doubles the build costWine Rack Concepts, 2026

Prices checked October 2026. Sources: Genuwine, Fixr, Wine Rack Concepts, CRD Design Build (links in Sources below).

Get a price for your wine wall or wine room.

Book a consultation. We walk the space with you and price it in writing.

Book a Consultation Call (206) 666-0412

By appointment. Limited start dates.

Room requirements for a wine wall or wine room

A wine room is a refrigerated room inside a heated house. Each line below sets a layer, a circuit or a glass type on the drawings.

Room requirements for a wine wall or wine room, with sources
ItemRequirementSource
ConditionsAbout 55°F and 50% to 70% relative humidityWine Rack Concepts, 2026
Seattle conditions55% to 65% humidity with dehumidification; corrosion-resistant hardwareGenuwine, Washington page, Oct 2026
Wine wall depth18 to 24 inWine Rack Concepts, glass enclosure guide
Room sizeAbout 100 to 150 sq ft per 1,000 bottlesGenuwine, Oct 2026
Racking densityLabel-forward metal 10 to 12 bottles per sq ft of wall face; wood slots 8 to 10Genuwine, Sep 2026
Bottle heightsStandard 750 ml 11.5 to 12 in; magnum 13.5 to 14 in; larger formats over 18 inWine Rack Concepts, bottle guide
InsulationR-19 walls, R-30 ceilingWine Rack Concepts, 2026
Vapor barrier6-mil polyethylene or closed-cell spray foam on the warm side, continuous, including the floor over a slabWine Rack Concepts, 2026; Fixr, Jan 2025
Vapor barrier, codeSeattle's code puts the vapor retarder on the interior side of frame walls. A wine room reverses this, so the wall goes in the permit set as an engineered design, the alternative the code allows2021 SRC R702.7
Wall boardMoisture-resistant board over the vapor barrier; no carpetFixr, Jan 2025
Glass, insulationFrameless about R-1; framed insulated glass R-7 to R-9; insulated cellar wall about R-17VintageView, May 2026
Glass, typeDual pane insulated units, Low-E, in thermally broken framesWine Rack Concepts, glass enclosure guide
Glass, cooling loadGlass rooms need 2 to 3 times the cooling of solid-wall rooms; size by heat load, not floor areaWine Rack Concepts, modern glass guide
Glass, condensationSupply air never blows on the glass; doors seal with gasketsWine Rack Concepts, modern glass guide
Safety glazingGlass in doors is a hazardous location. A pane over 9 sq ft with its bottom edge under 18 in, top edge over 36 in and a walking surface within 36 in is hazardous. Floor-to-ceiling wine wall glass meets this test, so it must be labeled safety glazing2021 SRC R308.1, R308.4.1, R308.4.3
Power, split systemEvaporator: 115V, 15 A dedicated circuit. Condenser: 115V, 15 A or 20 A dedicated circuit, by modelWhisperKool Platinum Split spec sheet
Power, through-wall unit115V, 20 A dedicated circuitWhisperKool SC PRO spec sheet
Line setCondenser up to 100 ft from the evaporatorWhisperKool Platinum Split spec sheet
Condensate1/2 in drain tubing from the evaporator, with a planned drain pathWhisperKool Platinum Split spec sheet
Heat from self-contained unitsHeat goes into the next room; a small closet or hall overheatsWine Rack Concepts, split guide
Noise insideCellar target under 35 dB; ductless evaporators run 45 to 55 dBWine Rack Concepts, split guide
Noise outside, Seattle55 dBA by day and 45 dBA from 10 pm to 7 am at a residential property line; SDCI approves side yard installs predicted at 47 dBA or lowerSDCI, Nov 2025 (SMC 25.08.410, 25.08.420)
Racking anchorageInto studs or solid backing; floor-to-ceiling posts need floor and ceiling structureVintageView, Oct 2025
Floor load40 psf design live load for rooms other than sleeping rooms; heavy racking on an upper floor gets an engineer's check2021 SRC Table R301.5
DINING ROOMWARM SIDENEXT ROOM, WARM SIDEOUTSIDECONDENSER55°F, 50% TO 70% RHFRAMED INSULATED GLASS,R-7 TO R-9 (VINTAGEVIEW)R-19 WALLS,R-30 CEILINGVAPOR BARRIER ONTHE WARM SIDE1/2 IN DRAIN(WHISPERKOOL)LINE SET TOOUTDOOR CONDENSEREVAPORATOR18 TO 24 IN DEEP (WINE RACK CONCEPTS)
Illustration
DINING ROOM10 X 12 FT120 SQ FTTOTAL 960 TO1,152 BOTTLESFACE 1FACE 2FACE 3RACKING FACE 4 X 8 FT:320 TO 384 BOTTLES (GENUWINE)GLASS WALL ANDINSULATED GLASS DOORCONDENSEROUTSIDE:SEATTLE NIGHTLIMIT 45 DBAAT THE PROPERTYLINE (SDCI)PROPERTY LINESIDE YARD12 FT10 FT
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4 FT8 FT4 X 8 FT FACE = 32 SQ FT10 TO 12 BOTTLES PER SQ FT,LABEL-FORWARD METAL (GENUWINE)320 TO 384 BOTTLES PER FACE3 FACES:960 TO 1,152 BOTTLESABOUT 1,000 BOTTLES NEED100 TO 150 SQ FT OF FLOOR (GENUWINE)
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FRAMELESS GLASS: ABOUT R-1WINE FOR 1 TO 5 YEARS, LOW 60S °FFRAMED INSULATED GLASS: R-7 TO R-9HOLDS 55°F FOR LONG AGINGINSULATED CELLAR WALL: ABOUT R-17VINTAGEVIEW, MAY 2026
Illustration
WINE ROOMBEHIND GLASSTASTING COUNTERAND WET BARLOUNGE SEATINGLINE SET AND DRAIN ROUTEOUTSIDE WALL AT TOP
Illustration

Permits for a wine room in Seattle, Bellevue and the Eastside

A wine room with new walls, circuits or cooling needs permits in every city we work in. We prepare the drawings and our expediter submits the permit documents. City permit fees are the owner's cost.

  • Seattle, buildingAltering a house needs a building permit. The exemption covers only minor repairs of $6,000 or less in any 6 month period (SRC R105.1, R105.2).
  • Seattle, electricalNew circuits for the cooling unit need an electrical permit (SDCI).
  • Seattle, refrigerationA split system assembled on site needs its own refrigeration permit. A refrigeration contractor licensed by the City of Seattle pulls it, and the installer holds a City refrigeration license for the refrigerant used. SDCI issues most within a couple of days, then inspects (SDCI).
  • Seattle, mechanicalDucted cooling falls under a mechanical permit. SDCI says to plan for 9 weeks for most mechanical permits; simple ones issue within 24 hours, subject to field inspection.
  • Seattle, condenser noiseThe outdoor condenser must meet 45 dBA at night at the property line (SMC 25.08.410, 25.08.420). SDCI warns against minimum 3 ft side yards for condensers.
  • BellevueInterior remodels that change the house need a building permit. Installing cooling equipment needs a mechanical permit, and condensate piping needs one too. Self-contained refrigeration equipment with less than 10 lb of refrigerant or less than 1 HP is exempt. New or moved circuits need an electrical permit. Permits without plan review issue the same day; converting unconditioned space to conditioned space takes plan review, about three weeks.
  • Kirkland, Mercer Island, Sammamish, Issaquah and unincorporated King CountyThese permit offices use the MyBuildingPermit tip sheet: "A permit is required for work not listed" (TS-00, Jun 2026).
  • Medina, Clyde Hill and IssaquahWashington L&I issues the electrical permits. Building permits in Medina go through the City of Medina Development Services.
  • Thermostat and sensor wiringHVAC and refrigeration low voltage wiring falls under the Washington 06 limited energy specialty license (WAC 296-46B-920). The 115V circuits need a general electrician and a permit.
  • Refrigerant ruleWashington's HFC rule (WAC 173-443-040) lists HFC-134a among prohibited refrigerants for several refrigeration uses. Some cellar units use R-134a, so the cellar specialist confirms in writing that the specified unit is legal to install new in Washington.
  • Electrical codeWashington moves to the 2026 National Electrical Code for wiring on or after 31 Dec 2026 (WSR 25-23-069).

Timeline

Wine room timeline by phase, with sources
PhaseDurationSource
Design, with the cellar specialist2 to 6 weeksGenuwine, Sep 2026
Permit, Seattle buildingGoal 30 days; 75th percentile 64 days in City control for single family alterationsSDCI, goals as of Oct 2025
Permit, Seattle refrigerationMost issued within a couple of daysSDCI, read Oct 2026
Permit, Seattle mechanicalPlan for 9 weeks; simple permits within 24 hoursSDCI, read Oct 2026
Permit, BellevueSame day without plan review; about 3 weeks with plan reviewCity of Bellevue, 2025 and 2026
Build on site8 to 12 weeks, plus lead time on glass and rackingGenuwine, Sep 2026
Empty runOne week at temperature and humidity before wine goes inGenuwine, Sep 2026

Glass and racking are ordered during design. The order of work is set by the room: the glass and door seal it, then the cooling is fitted and tested, then lighting and controls, then racking after the finishes (Genuwine, September 2026).

01DESIGN ANDHEAT LOAD02ENVELOPE: FRAMING,INSULATION, VAPORBARRIER, WARM SIDE03GLASS AND DOORSEAL THE ROOM04COOLING FITTEDAND TESTED05LIGHTING AND CONTROLS,THEN RACKING AFTERTHE FINISHES06ONE WEEK EMPTY ATTEMPERATURE, THENTHE WINE GOES IN55°F
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How a wine wall gets built

  1. Book a consultation.

    Call (206) 666-0412 or use the form below.

  2. Site visit.

    We measure the wall or room, check the depth available, the electrical panel, the floor under the racking and a condenser spot outside.

  3. Drawings with the cellar specialist, then a written, itemized proposal.

    Glass, cooling and racking are set before framing.

  4. Build, inspections, then the wine.

    We build and finish the room. The city inspects each stage. The specialist installs the racking and starts the cooling. The room runs empty for one week, then your wine goes in. The room is covered by our warranty.

By appointment. Limited start dates.

Add-ons

Market figures, not Volcano prices. Each add-on is priced in your written proposal.

Wine room add-ons with market figures
Add-onMarket figure or noteSource
Remote temperature and humidity monitoring47% of Genuwine's 2025 projects included digital inventory or climate monitoring (vendor data)Genuwine, Sep 2026
Second cooling zone for whites and sparklingWhites served at 45°F to 52°F, reds at 60°F to 68°FFixr, Jan 2025
Secure door with a lockSteel $600 to $4,000; wood $500 to $3,000Fixr, Jan 2025
Humidity controlHumidifier $50 to $500; digital controls from $300Fixr, Jan 2025
Magnum and large format rowsMagnums stand 13.5 to 14 in tall and need their own openingsWine Rack Concepts, bottle guide
Hidden door through the wine wallPriced in your proposal
Tasting counter and stemware storageA full tasting room runs $50,000 to $200,000Fixr, Jan 2025
Stone, brick or wood inside the roomNatural stone $5 to $100 per sq ft; brick $10 to $45. Avoid iron-bearing stone such as Bianco Carrara, which may rust in humidityFixr, Jan 2025
Theater or golf room on the same levelSee Home Theaters and Media Rooms and Golf Simulators and Recreation Rooms

Google reviews of past Volcano projects

Bar's team completely transformed my outdated Seattle bathroom with their exceptional work. Their communication was excellent, keeping me informed every step of the way. The quality of their workmanship exceeded my expectations, turning my old bathroom into what I wanted. I highly recommend Bar and his team for any remodeling project; they're professional, efficient, and produce outstanding results.

Filip, Seattle, April 2024, Volcano Builders Bellevue Google profile

Bar and his team did an excellent job on our condo bathroom renovation. From the start, Bar was easy to communicate with and quick to respond to all our questions and concerns. We couldn't be happier with the results and highly recommend Volcano Builders to anyone considering a remodel.

Amiya, October 2024, Volcano Builders Bellevue Google profile

Bar and the team at Volcano Builders did a great job! Professional service, great communication throughout the whole process, and everything was done with care and attention to detail. Highly recommend!

Rosslana, May 2026, Volcano Builders Bellevue Google profile

License

WA License VOLCABI792C6. Over 200 projects completed. Our main office is in Bellevue.

Questions about wine rooms and wine walls

How much does a custom wine room cost?

Most custom wine cellars run $40,000 to $250,000+, and all-glass statement rooms run $80,000 to $220,000+ (Genuwine, October 2026). Build cost runs $250 to $700 per sq ft (Wine Rack Concepts, 2026). Our design-build prices, with the room included, start at $70K+ for a glass-enclosed wine room and $120K+ for a lower-level cellar with a tasting room.

How much does a glass wine wall cost?

Our glass wine walls start at $40K+ for about 300 bottles, with cooling, a glass front and an insulated door. The price rises with width, bottle count and glass type. Entry wine closets run $25,000 to $60,000, and full structural glass "typically moves the project into the next tier" (Genuwine, October 2026).

Can a glass wine wall go on a main floor without harming the wine?

Yes, with insulated glass, cooling sized for the glass and lighting with no UV output. Framed insulated glass reaches R-7 to R-9 and holds 55°F for long aging. Frameless glass is about R-1 and suits wine drunk within 1 to 5 years, kept in the low 60s °F (VintageView, May 2026). Glass rooms need 2 to 3 times the cooling of solid rooms (Wine Rack Concepts).

What temperature and humidity should a wine room hold?

About 55°F and 50% to 70% relative humidity (Wine Rack Concepts, 2026). Seattle cellars are specified at 55% to 65% humidity with dehumidification and corrosion-resistant hardware (Genuwine, October 2026). The cooling unit holds both, sized by a heat load calculation for the room and its glass.

Do I need a split cooling system for a wine room?

A split system is the quiet choice for a room next to living space. The compressor sits outside, up to 100 ft from the evaporator (WhisperKool). Ductless evaporators run 45 to 55 dB against a cellar target under 35 dB, and a ducted split moves the compressor out of earshot (Wine Rack Concepts). Through-wall units suit small rooms with a large room next door to take the heat.

Do I need a permit to build a wine room in Seattle?

Yes. A wine room needs a building permit (SRC R105.1) and an electrical permit for new circuits. A split system assembled on site also needs a separate refrigeration permit, pulled by a refrigeration contractor licensed by the City of Seattle (SDCI). SDCI issues most refrigeration permits within a couple of days. We prepare the drawings and our expediter submits the permit documents.

Where does the vapor barrier go in a wine room?

On the warm side, which is the outside face of the wine room's walls and ceiling. Use 6-mil polyethylene or closed-cell spray foam, with R-19 walls and an R-30 ceiling (Wine Rack Concepts, 2026). This reverses the usual rule in the Seattle Residential Code (R702.7), so the wall goes in the permit set as an engineered design, the alternative the code allows.

How much space do 1,000 bottles need?

About 100 to 150 sq ft of floor (Genuwine, October 2026). Label-forward metal racking holds 10 to 12 bottles per sq ft of wall face, and wood slots hold 8 to 10 (Genuwine, September 2026). A 10 x 12 ft room with three 4 x 8 ft racking faces holds about 960 to 1,152 bottles.

How long does it take to build a wine room?

Design takes 2 to 6 weeks and the build 8 to 12 weeks on site, plus lead time on glass and racking (Genuwine, September 2026). The room then runs empty for one week at temperature before wine goes in. Add permit time: Seattle's building permit goal is 30 days, and SDCI says to plan 9 weeks for most mechanical permits.

Signature Spaces

Tell us about the wall or room you have in mind and about how many bottles it should hold. We call you back to set a site visit.

By appointment. Limited start dates.

Prefer to call? (206) 666-0412. Mon to Fri 6am to 9pm, Sat and Sun 9am to 5pm.

Volcano Builders team member holding a phone showing the Google Business listing, Built Without Compromise

Book a consultation for your wine wall or wine room

Four quick steps. Tell us about your project and we’ll reach out to discuss it and see if we’re the right fit.

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Which room? *

Sources

Prices checked October 2026.