The Basics to Designing an At-Home Wine Cellar

A personal wine cellar is a beautiful and distinct addition to any home. Contrary to popular belief, there’s no need to have a vast or expensive collection, all wine can benefit being stored in a wine cellar. When appropriately done, the wine ages finely enhancing its flavor, whether it be for a few weeks or many, many years. If you are familiar with these benefits, it may be in your interest to design your own wine cellar (and to continue reading on)!

1. Design a wine cellar so it makes a statement about your sense of style. 
Whether classic, contemporary, or anything in-between! Even the simplest designs will need wood, marble or plastic lumber shelves supported by several appropriate joints. Besides finding the perfect look, don’t forget to create a design that makes it easy to stock wine and makes each one easy to locate. For instance, bottles placed lengthwise on shelves with their bottom facing outward allows you to quickly check labels.

2. Determine how much wine you want to store to get an idea about how much space you need.
Luckily, a large area is not required to build a wine cellar, as 25-square foot area would be able to accommodate about 500 bottles of wine. However, the size of each bottle and its shelf placement contribute to the final number count. For example, one magnum bottle takes up the same amount of space as two Bordeaux bottles. Besides the size of your wine cellar, the location, temperature, and moisture control are crucial factors. All of which are often overlooked .by wine aficionados.

3. Pick out a spot in your home where your wine collection can stay at a consistent cool temperature.
Wines ideally should be stored in temperature about 57 degrees Fahrenheit. For this reason, basements are an ideal location! However, temperature can still fluctuate so a cooling unit is necessary to fully reap the benefits of a wine cellar. Cooling units, such as a refrigerator, sense any temperature changes and only turn on when required to do so. Also, make sure the cellar flooring can withstand lower temperatures. Materials such as brick, lumber, or stone are great options that won't wear out prematurely.

4. Maintain proper humidity by making sure your wine cellar is equipped with good insulation.
To prevent corks from drying out and to prevent fungus from developing, a humidity level between 55 to 75% is recommended. If not maintained, the flavor of the wine could be ruined because of oxidation. Wine cellars should have a humidifier as well as vapor barriers on the ceiling and walls to keep humidity at this proper level. To avoid the release of bacteria into the airstream, find a system that doesn’t require manual water refills and one that emits humidity as vapor.

Ready to get started on the wine cellar of your dreams? Cardinal Heating & Cooling can help! Contact us today to learn more about our wine cellar refrigeration service and maintenance.

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