Nov 19 2008
Several Aspects to Consider when Building your Own Wine Cellar
Some people may think that a wine cellar is an extravagance that only the very rich can afford but nothing could be farther from the truth! Amateur wine enthusiasts are now building their own private cellar that is nothing like what you might imagine in a luxury home or upscale restaurant.
You do not need a basement in order to create a wine cellar, just an enclosed space that will get some air circulation as well as some steady temperature and humidity control. A nook in your dining room, an unused closet or even the kitchen pantry could be transformed into a working cellar to house your wine collection.
Insulating your Area
For wine to be at its best, it must be stored at a stable temperature in the dark without movement and be well-ventilated with a controlled humidity. Your wine cellar area, whether it is a closet or something else requires insulation to help provide those controlled conditions. If you are not ready to dig a deep dark hole in the ground for steady storage conditions, you need to look into using polystyrene as the basis for the insulation inside your cellar walls.
Steady Temperature and Humidity Controls
Wines are best when stored in a wine cellar at a steady temperature of 49-50 °F because warmer temperatures of 75 °F and over age them rapidly and they lose flavor. Each type of wine will age at different rates so it is important that they stay in a designated dark, temperature controlled place until consumption. The use of a hygrothermometer which measures temperature as well as the moisture in the air (humidity) can help you maintain a constant environment.
The hygrothermometer, as mentioned above, measures the water vapor in the air or humidity and 70% is the optimal goal for a humidity reading. When the atmosphere in the wine cellar is too dry, the cork seal of the bottle shrinks a bit allowing air to move into the bottle, altering the flavor. When humidity is too high, your wine will continue to age wonderfully but you can expect mold to grow on the wine bottle label which decreases its value and attractiveness.
Absence of Light
Your wine cellar should be dark, only lit when you must retrieve a bottle for your enjoyment, because light will cause your wine to age far too early. Dark colored bottles are best because they let in less light than clear bottles but ensuring the absence of light will take care of any aging problems. It is important also that no ultraviolet light be in your wine cellar as it can cause your wine to break down the organic components which are what make the wine taste and smell good.
The final requirement for your wine cellar should be the ability to store your bottles in the prone position with the wine making contact with the cork. When the cork dries out, it shrinks a bit letting air into the bottle which will degrade your wine. Instead, storing your bottles horizontally with labels face up allows your wine to age more beautifully.