The Basics of for Storing Valued Bottles

Aaron Schossau is an established presence in the Michigan real estate development community who heads Stonegate Luxury Homes, LLC, and also operates James & Bloom, LLC. With the latter firm, Aaron Schossau assists in home renovation projects and guides the design, build, and installation of custom cabinetry for all areas of the home.

One area of focus is wine storage cabinetry that features quality natural wood and contemporary and classic design elements. A well-built cabinet provides wine with a solid and undisturbed environment that allows optimal aging over the months and years. Horizontal slots provide for corks that stay moist and do not dry out and shrink, which can allow in air. At the same time, cabinet doors prevent sunlight from hitting the bottles directly and degrading the wine.

One element to be aware of is that 3.25” to 3.5” slots for standard wine racking may not be adequate for every bottle. While varieties such as Bordeaux and Cabernet typically fit this range, bottles for Pinot, Burgundy, and Champagne tend to be larger and require at least 3.75” slots.

Seeking to control humidity, some connoisseurs will opt for a wine cooler, which is essentially a racked-equipped, temperature-controlled wine cabinet.

New York Style Brownstone Architecture

Streets of NYC
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Aaron Schossau, owner-operator of Stonegate Luxury Homes, has completed a number of developments in Monroe, Michigan, including homes in Park Place, St. James Park, and Abbey Road Farms. Many of these homes feature New York brownstone. Aaron Schossau is also considering a new project in Detroit that would also feature brownstone in 10 to 25 condos of about 1,200 square feet each.

“Brownstone” can refer to either the sandstone itself or to the particular architectural style prominently featured in New York. One of the unique properties of the sandstone that makes it appealing is that the iron in it oxidizes over time from pink, when it is first cut, to its iconic brown color.

Since the late18th century, brownstone has invoked an Italianate style of rowhouse or townhouse. The actual amount of brownstone used in such construction varies. Older houses in this style usually only have a facade of brownstone, while newer ones might feature brownstone throughout the construction.