For the oenophile whose collection has outgrown the in-home cellar, offsite wine storage is a must. For fortified protection of overflow vintages, look no further than the Presidio Wine Bunker, San Francisco’s only for-rent underground wine storage and an unusual architectural and historic gem.
The building, located on Compton Road just south of Rob Hill, began life as part of the Presidio military complex in the 1880s and was heavily in use during the Spanish-American War. It later became artillery storage in World War II (coincidentally, weaponry and wine have surprisingly similar storage needs) and the concrete floors still have the WW II-era track grooves for carts used for transporting munitions.
As the Presidio has aged and nature has reasserted itself over structures, many of the bunkers above ground have taken on the evocative air of medieval ruins, and the Wine Bunker is no exception. The worn concrete walls, iron rings for tying mounts, circular court where cannons were once stationed and near-wild living roof (an early example of the green building technique that contributes to the ideal wine storage climate) make the bunker look just foreboding enough that you could easily miss it on a trek through the park grounds. Inside, the bunker’s climate naturally stays at an ideal temperature of 55 to 59 degrees with humidity from 70 to 79 percent, and minimal light. Because of the bunker’s thick walls no additional climate-control system is required, making it as eco-friendly as it is perfect for wine maturation.
For more details on the unit contact Paul @ the Presidio Wine Bunker
1430 Compton Road
San Francisco, CA 94129
In San Francisco Large 10 X 6 X 8.50 underground wine storage unit (Excluseve Presidio Wine Bunker) $600