by Jennifer Jones
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Do you wish to have an area specifically designed for storing your personal wine collection? Purchasing wine is an investment and should be cared properly in a cool, damp storage area that is perfect for the aging of expensive wines.
Wine is a living and breathing entity. It goes through stages of infancy, maturity and old age. Some wines reach maturity very quickly while others are heartier and need several years to properly mature to the best taste.
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Some experts say that wine storage began in the underground caves of Europe. These caves provided the consistent storing conditions that allowed wine to age at a proper pace. The principal role of the cellar is to provide a constant, cool temperature. The ambient temperature for your cellar should be around 50¢XF to 60¢XF. A good starting point is to take advantage of the naturally cooler, damp area of your basement. Underground basement temperatures are relegated by the ground surrounding the basement walls, which creates ideal cellar temperatures. It will help to provide a cool, dark storage space that can keep the wine at a stable temperature and humidity.
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Refrigerated wine cellars give owners the ability to control many aspects such as the aging, temperature and humidity. It is important to properly outfit the room before installing a cooling system. Without converting the room correctly, installing a system will not work properly and could cause damage to your walls, ceiling and most of your wine.
Insulation and humidity are critical for custom wine cellar design. Proper insulation is key to keeping your wine cellar cool. If the space is too dry, the corks may dry out and the wine may spoil. Consider installing a humidifier device to keep moist air circulating in your cellar. On the adverse side, humidity can cause damage to the walls and ceiling. A vapor barrier will protect your insulation from the humidity. It should be installed on the warm side of the insulation on the walls and ceilings.
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The interior wall and ceiling design is determined by the decor theme of the cellar. Rot and mildew resistant walls are the best choice, such as drywall, green board or Redwood. Green board is most resistant to moisture and mold, but it is more expensive than standard drywall. Good quality paint, like latex, will hold up through the years and not require the owner to repaint the walls. Do not be too concerned with the color or design of the walls, since they most likely will be covered with wine racks.
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Racks are produced in many different materials, styles and display options. Wine racking is available in various woods and metal. Redwood and Mahogany are common woods for racks because both are resistant to rot in the cool, damp cellar environment. The racks should store the bottles on their sides.
As with wall coverings, flooring is also chosen to match the overall decor colors of the wine cellar. Slate, tile, marble, and vinyl are the most commonly used types of flooring. Carpet will mold and mildew in the cool, damp climate conditions of a cellar.
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The door to your wine cellar must have a very good seal to keep the cool air from escaping. It should be solid core or insulated, usually made from rot-resistant Mahogany or Redwood. Heavily insulated steel doors work well, like the ones used between a garage and a house. Glass inserts and glass doors must be dual pane insulated glass. Weather stripping should be attached to all four sides of the doorjamb for best insulation.
Lighting plays a major role in showcasing your wine cellar. Track lighting is often used as the main lights within the wine cellar. Various display lights to accent different areas of the cellar are also popular. Be sure to pick fixtures that work well with the design of your racks, walls and flooring, so that it showcases your collection in the best way possible.
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There are many considerations that need to be addressed to insure successful wine storage. Put your own personal touch in designing by choosing the perfect colors, accents and styles to make the cellar your own. Most importantly, create a storage space that will keep your wines safe, secure and ready to enjoy at any given time.
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