California has always been a state of wine lovers, buoyed by multiple world-renowned wine regions that stretch across the state. And eventually, as residents celebrated the state’s viticulture and pricey vintages became prized collectors’ items, wine storage became a standard part of everyday home decor for many, be it through small countertop wine racks or plug-in fridges. At the high end, some homeowners shifted from a tucked-away basement cellar to a stately, more prominent wine room. Bottles stacked ornately showcased extensive collections, and it was hard to find a luxury real estate listing that didn’t feature a dark, wood-paneled room lined with bottles, centered around a tasting table. 

Decades later, people are drinking far less, the wine industry is in trouble, and health and wellness have overtaken these once-requisite spaces as the must-have of California living. California real estate agents across the state are noting that while wine rooms certainly aren’t disappearing altogether, many California homebuyers are opting to convert them in favor of health and wellness amenities. 

Former Golden State Warriors basketball player Adonal Foyle views some of the selections of wines in his large collection at his home in Orinda, Calif., on Wednesday, Nov. 14, 2018.

Wine collector and investor Dr. Ken Bleifer is photographed holding a bottle of 1990 Dom Perignon, inside the........

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