Great Machines: Preserving the Goods

Kimberly Smith

06/02/2004

Marvel Industries Wine Grotto with Humidrawer
Because fine wine and premium cigars have always partnered well, it makes sense to house them together. Enter Marvel Industries, maker of specialty refrigeration products, which has introduced the Wine Grotto personal cellar with the Humidrawer cigar compartment.

From its Luxury Series, the 50-bottle Wine Grotto 61WC and the 100-bottle 66WC models are designed to deliver the durability of Marvel’s heavy-duty medical and military products with a healthy measure of high style. Both have properly canted, chrome-plated racks and high-gloss black interiors with adjustable lighting to showcase a prized collection. Stored wine is protected from UV rays, vibration, and temperature fluctuations via tinted, dual-pane doors and a quiet, efficient 461 Btu compressor. An adjustable thermostat controls humidity and maintains a constant temperature between 42ºF and 64ºF; the 66WC model has two zones with independent temperature control for red and white wines.  (Click image to enlarge)

More than a marriage of convenience, the Grotto aids the Humidrawer in cigar preservation, too. Because humidity can make or break a cigar, causing it to dry and split if the moisture level gets too low and to grow mold or expand if the humidity climbs too high, the estimated 50 percent relative humidity maintained by the Grotto provides an optimal environment. A refrigerated environment also reduces the chances that tobacco insects will damage a cigar. The self-contained Humidrawer is constructed of ¾-inch solid walnut—other woods are available by special order—and sealed to prevent the release of moisture. It is structured with tongue-and-groove joints and a smooth gliding drawer lined in the favored wood/material for aging cigars: untreated Spanish cedar. 

Designed exclusively for these models, the 15⅛-inch-deep by 14⅜-inch-wide compartment sits comfortably on the Grotto’s top shelf and accommodates up to 200 cigars with the help of adjustable dividers that accept cigars of between 5 and 8 inches in length. Ideal for under-the-counter installation, the 34-inch-high Wine Grotto 61WC starts at just over $1,000; the taller 68⅛-inch 66WC retails from $2,700. Both are available in black, white, almond, and stainless steel. The Humidrawer is optional and sells for $450.

Marvel Industries
800.428.6644
www.marvelindustries.com