Maison Sichel invest €10m in wine ‘bunker’

Bordeaux négociant, Maison Sichel, has invested €10 million in a new cellarage facility for fine wine.

The “bunker” has been specifically designed for the long term storage of grands crus classeés and fine Bordeaux and has been completed after five years of planning.

The facility is capable of storing six million bottles on racks rising to eight metres in concrete and metal-shielded curved vaults designed by architect Eric Catagnet.

On site surveillance, temperature, light and humidity controls and a sprinkler system have been installed at the facility to ensure maximum security of the wines.

Allan Sichel, managing director of Maison Sichel, said: “There were just so many good reasons to build the bunker here, since provenance is now a major issue for producers, negociants, investors and wine lovers.

“The challenge we face as negociants is one of obtaining allocations. We need to reassure the châteaux that we are capable of keeping their crus in the best conditions possible to get the wines we want.

“Of course, wine stored in perfect conditions increases in value ‒ a case that comes directly from Bordeaux will always fetch a higher price ‒ so there are consequently obvious benefits for investors, and because we can offer short and long-term cellarage in Bordeaux, the wines can be bought and sold on the market several times, without moving an inch, until they go to their final destination.

“It’s just a logical extension of what we began in the 1980s ‒ controlling quality ‒ which benefits everyone.”