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The Ideal Wine Cellar: Everything You Need to Get Started







So you've decided to take a large step, and move from wine lover

to wine connoisseur. You are going to buy a wine cellar. This

guide will give you all the information you need to make this

purchase.

Wine Bottle Storage

The ideal location for

storing wine is a dark, draftless area that stays at a constant

50-60 degrees, with 60-70 percent humidity. The bottles should

be kept on their sides to keep the corks moist, and should be

exposed to limited vibrations. This will ensure that you will be

able to keep bottles at their best for years to

come.

 

One thing to consider if you decide to

purchase a large wine cellar: make sure the unit will fit! This

sounds obvious, but many times stand-alone wine cellars are much

wider than a standard door. Another thing to think about is

weight. Consider not only the weight of the storage unit, but be

sure to calculate 3 pounds each for a standard bottle of wine.

You might not want to store your wine upstairs. This is another

reason that wine is typically stored in a cellar.

Types of Wine Cellars

If you are lucky

enough to live in a house, maybe you can use the existing cellar

or a spare room, or have one built. Just be sure not to skimp on

building materials - it would be silly to have 400 bottles of

wine crashing to the floor because you wanted to save a few

bucks on thinner wood. Also, be sure the condensation will be

able to evaporate; otherwise, the humidity will increase beyond

ideal levels.

Consider the cellar as an investment.

If you

don't have a large amount of space, you can buy a freestanding

wine cellar. While not actually a cellar in the traditional

sense, these are large units that can be stored in a house or

apartment. They are available commercially for a wide variety of

prices. Always consider where you are going to be storing the

wine. If it will be kept in your home, you will not need to have

as much insulation or as strong of a cooling unit, but a unit

kept in the garage will have to be much higher

quality.





Building Your Own Wine Cellar





The best location for the cellar is below the level of the

house. If your basement has outside walls, keep in mind that

north-facing walls will get the least amount of light. Some

smaller crawl spaces may not work very well if they experience

extreme changes in temperature. The same goes for a garage. The

first floor of the house can also be used, and as long as the

house stays at a fairly constant room temperature, the cooling

unit will not have to work too

hard.





Framing

The first step in

building a wine cellar is the framing. The outer walls of the

basement or room should be framed with 2" by 6" wood studs. If

the floors are cold, use 2" by 4"

studs.





Insulation

The next step in

the creation of a wine cellar is insulation. The room needs to

be kept at the most constant temperature possible. The best type

to use is sprayed 2 pound polyurethane, although less expensive

methods can used, especially if the cellar is on the first floor

of the house. Once again, consider the cellar to be an

investment.

Doors

Don't forget about the door! It needs

to have weather stripping and also be insulated.  Otherwise

all the work done to insulate the walls will be

wasted.





Drywall

To finish the walls,

use a drywall that is resistant to moisture. Other wall material

can be used, but make sure that it will not soak up moisture and

that it will not impart an odor on the wine.

Racks

Don't leave the design of the racks

until the end. Start first with this design to make sure that

you have enough space for the number of bottles you'd like to

store. A good place to start would be to look at the smaller

racks available at your local wine store. These will give you

ideas on the design you would like. Once again, make sure the

construction is sturdy enough for the weight of the wine.

Temperature and Humidity and Wine

As

mentioned before, the ideal temperature for wine is between 50

and 60 degrees. If the temperature is too high, it will spoil

quickly. If it is too low, it will not age properly. If the

temperature changes often, the cork will expand and contract.

This may lead to air getting into the wine. Keeping this in

mind, never buy wine chilled at a store, as you have no idea how

long it has been that way. Also, don't keep wine in your own

refrigerator for more than 1 or 2 days.

Humidity can also damage wine. If the humidity is too low, the

cork can dry out. While a tipped bottle will keep one side

moist, the rest of the cork can become cracked and brittle.

Also, ensure the wine will be kept in a dark place, away from

vibrations. Colored bottles help keep the light out to some

extent, but don't rely on the bottle to keep the light out.

Movement may cause the bottles to shift. Wine needs to stay in

contact with the cork so it will not dry out and crack, so limit

the movement the bottles are exposed to.

Wine Cellar Cooling Units

After you cellar

is complete, you can purchase a commercial wine cooling unit.

Many of these work similarly to a window AC unit. They vent

through a wall rather than being installed in the ceiling.

However, if you are below ground or for some other reason cannot

use a window unit, there are commercial units that can be

installed. These are slightly more costly, but work well in

those situations.

Every wine has an ideal aging time. If your wine cellar is built

properly, it will keep your wine for years to come.

About the author:



Jason Connors is a successful writer and wine connoisseur

providing valuable tips and advice on wine cellar design, wine

making, and wine basics. http://www.about-wine.net



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