Cellars tug at my curiosity…what's down there? The oldest cellar I ever visited was in the south of France near the commune of Vacqueyras. My host M'sieur Bernard, who makes an excellent Cotes du Rhone grasped what I thought at first glance was a cask lying on is side, lifted the round top, then put a bottle on top. Burled woods glowed in the candlelight. The edge was like the rim of a cask. The tightly fitted sections reminded me of well joined staves. I reproduced this Vacgueyras wine table in solid beech with a veneer top composed of six matched oak burl sections and 6" diameter Spanish-walnut burl center. Secure doweled construction and 17-step hand-finishing process.

Limited edition, 2 available. 39" diam x 30.5" high; 47" H with top tilted vertically. $195 shipping. Tilt Top Wine Table (No. 3006).