Hidden Wine Cellar in Epping by Studio Minosa
A once-forgotten subterranean room in Epping is reborn as an intimate wine sanctuary - a space where light, texture and ritual honour a life-long passion for Australian wine.
A Secret Cellar Beneath the House
Hidden away in Epping, New South Wales, a previously anonymous “subterranean” room has been transformed into something far more personal: a private wine cellar for a dedicated collector and connoisseur of Australian fine wine.
What was once an unused space beneath the home is now a quiet retreat - a place to slow down, uncork a bottle, and disappear for a moment into a world defined by scent, temperature and shadow.
Inspired by Beloved Wineries
For this project, Studio Minosa looked to the wineries the clients love most, both close to home and abroad. Rather than copying a specific destination, the design distils an atmosphere: the calm of barrel rooms, the subtle glow of tasting counters, the tactile pleasure of stone, timber and glass under low light.
The cellar wraps the collection in a warm, enveloping envelope. Carefully detailed joinery frames each bottle; subtle linear lighting guides the eye along the labels. The result is less about spectacle and more about intimacy - a room that feels discovered rather than displayed.
Craft, Light and Temperature
In a space dedicated to wine, design begins with control: of light, of humidity, of temperature. Studio Minosa treats the architecture almost like an instrument, tuning every element to protect and prolong the life of the collection.
Surfaces are chosen for their performance as much as their beauty. Robust finishes line the walls and shelving, balancing the need for durability with a refined, residential character. The colour palette is deliberately subdued so the bottles, and the ritual around them, become the focal point.
Under soft, indirect lighting, labels glow without being exposed to harsh brightness. The room feels cocooned, yet never claustrophobic - a careful orchestration of contrast between dark and light, solid and transparent.
A Dream Realised
At the heart of this project is a long-held personal vision. The client speaks of having dreamt for years of owning an “incredible wine cellar”; the finished space now feels, in their own words, beyond their wildest dreams.
That emotional response is what elevates the cellar beyond a functional room. It becomes a sanctuary - a place where collections are not only stored, but celebrated, and where design quietly amplifies everyday rituals: selecting a bottle, clinking glasses, sharing stories.
In a world of constant noise, this hidden cellar in Epping demonstrates how a small, carefully crafted interior can offer something rare: privacy, slowness, and a deep connection to the things we truly value over time.
Project credits
Architect: Studio Minosa
Photographer: Nicole England
Location: Epping, New South Wales, Australia