Before Kessick became a name synonymous with exceptional wine storage, it all began with a backpacking trip through Europe.
As a young man traveling through the sprawling vineyards and timeworn cellars of Europe, Robert Bass developed a deep appreciation for wine and the centuries-old traditions behind it. Later, armed with a building science degree from Clemson, Robert knew he had a passion for design and woodworking. What he hadn’t yet discovered was where those interests would lead.
Then he thought back to his travels and to wine.
One place, in particular, had stayed with him: Keswick, an English market town in Cumberland. With a small nod to the Bass family’s fondness for double “s” combinations, Robert replaced the “w” with an “s” and gave his new venture a name: Kessick.
But a name was only the beginning. The vision was to build something better.
Kessick started as a father-and-son venture, with Robert and his dad, Ralph, designing and constructing custom wine cellars. Dissatisfied with the quality of the wine racking systems available at the time, they set out to create their own systems that reflected the craftsmanship, functionality, and attention to detail they believed exceptional wine storage deserved.
That commitment became a defining principle of the business. As Kessick grew, Robert and Ralph made a deliberate choice: their products would never be reduced to kits for customers to assemble themselves. Instead, Kessick wine storage systems would be delivered with fully assembled components, ready for installation like fine cabinetry. It was a decision rooted in their belief that quality should be built into every detail, not left to chance.
That commitment would become the Kessick difference.
What began as a small family endeavor has grown into a national supplier of premium wine cabinetry and contemporary wine storage systems, serving the professionals who bring extraordinary wine spaces to life. As the business expanded, so did the family behind it.
True to their roots, Robert and Ralph built their team around people they knew and trusted. A brother, a sister, her husband, and several grandchildren joined the business, bringing three generations of the Bass family together under one roof. In time, Ralph retired, leaving behind more than a business he helped build. He left a legacy he could watch his family carry forward.
Today, Kessick represents more than exceptional wine storage. It represents three generations of American craftsmanship, a family’s belief in doing things the right way, and an unwavering commitment to quality, thoughtful design, and enduring function.
From a journey through Europe to a family-owned American company, the vision remains the same: to create wine storage where beauty and function come together, and where quality is never an afterthought.