Building Your Own Wine Cellar

Doors

Don't forget about the door! It needs to have weather stripping and also be insulated.

Building Your Own Wine Cellar

The best location for the cellar is below the level of the house. However, if you are below ground or for some other reason cannot use a window unit, there are commercial units that can be installed.

Every wine has an ideal aging time.

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. While a tipped bottle will keep one side moist, the rest of the cork can become cracked and brittle. While not actually a cellar in the traditional sense, these are large units that can be stored in a house or apartment.

Drywall

To finish the walls, use a drywall that is resistant to moisture. This will ensure that you will be able to keep bottles at their best for years to come.

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. Keeping this in mind, never buy wine chilled at a store, as you have no idea how long it has been that way. 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. Consider not only the weight of the storage unit, but be sure to calculate 3 pounds each for a standard bottle of wine..

Racks

Don't leave the design of the racks until the end. 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. This may lead to air getting into the wine.

Insulation

The next step in the creation of a wine cellar is insulation.

Humidity can also damage wine. If the floors are cold, use 2" by 4" studs.

If you don't have a large amount of space, you can buy a freestanding wine cellar. The bottles should be kept on their sides to keep the corks moist, and should be exposed to limited vibrations. 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. If the temperature is too high, it will spoil quickly. Start first with this design to make sure that you have enough space for the number of bottles you'd like to store. They vent through a wall rather than being installed in the ceiling. If the humidity is too low, the cork can dry out. The outer walls of the basement or room should be framed with 2" by 6" wood studs. 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. This guide will give you all the information you need to make this purchase. Once again, make sure the construction is sturdy enough for the weight of the wine. If the temperature changes often, the cork will expand and contract.

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. Also, don't keep wine in your own refrigerator for more than 1 or 2 days.

Also, ensure the wine will be kept in a dark place, away from vibrations. Once again, consider the cellar to be an investment. These will give you ideas on the design you would like.

Temperature and Humidity and Wine

As mentioned before, the ideal temperature for wine is between 50 and 60 degrees. Always consider where you are going to be storing the wine. The same goes for a garage. Colored bottles help keep the light out to some extent, but don't rely on the bottle to keep the light out.

Framing

The first step in building a wine cellar is the framing.

Wine Cellar Cooling Units

After you cellar is complete, you can purchase a commercial wine cooling unit. You might not want to store your wine upstairs. 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. Movement may cause the bottles to shift. Some smaller crawl spaces may not work very well if they experience extreme changes in temperature. You are going to buy a wine cellar. Consider the cellar as an investment. The room needs to be kept at the most constant temperature possible. 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. Otherwise all the work done to insulate the walls will be wasted. This is another reason that wine is typically stored in a cellar. Also, be sure the condensation will be able to evaporate; otherwise, the humidity will increase beyond ideal levels. If your basement has outside walls, keep in mind that north-facing walls will get the least amount of light. Another thing to think about is weight. Many of these work similarly to a window AC unit. If it is too low, it will not age properly. These are slightly more costly, but work well in those situations. They are available commercially for a wide variety of prices. A good place to start would be to look at the smaller racks available at your local wine store.So you've decided to take a large step, and move from wine lover to wine connoisseur. If your wine cellar is built properly, it will keep your wine for years to come.