13 December 2009
How to Set Up a Wine Cellar
Posted by Crystal under: Wine .
Most wines develop as they age. Setting up a wine cellar can maximize the full potential of the wine, and it doesn’t have to be complicated:
Budget. Wine cellars are available to fit any budget, from luxury models to the economy wine cellars. Determine how many bottles you will be keeping in the cellar: Wine cellars vary in price based on the number of bottles they hold. The average wine cellar on the market will hold 200 to 500 bottles. If you have a large wine collection, you can purchase wine cellars that will hold over 1,000 bottles. Also consider what kind of wine racks you want. Your cellar price will differ depending on whether you want stackable plastic wine racks, wine racks made of redwood, iron wine racks, or ornamental racks.
Physical Arrangement. Select an area that is cool and away from the main traffic of people. Make sure the room (area) is well-insulated and that you have a high quality air-conditioner to keep the room properly chilled. Electric black-outs and outages should be avoided at all costs. If your area is prone to them, consider getting a generator.
Temperature. Wine needs to be stored at a constant temperature, because temperature fluctuations will affect wine. The ideal temperature to store is 46 to 59 degrees Fahrenheit (7 to 15 degrees Celsius). Bottles should be placed horizontally: it helps the aging process and allows you to store more wine. Humidity in the cellar needs to be at about 70% to prevent evaporation and the corks from drying out.
Tasting Room. If you have a large enough walk-in cellar, consider if you want a small tasting room next to it. Even if you decide to have a stand-alone wine storage unit, you might put it in a large enough room to fit tasting room. Having wine tastings right in your cellar will create quite a special experience for your guests.
Lighting. Direct sunlight should be avoided: indirect lighting is best. It is important to use LED lighting in any wine cellar. Using regular light creates UV radiation and infrared heat that are harmful to the wine and might interfere with refrigeration systems. LED lighting is also energy efficient, and you can leave lights on for most of the time. UV-protected glass will also protect wine from harmful light. Use the light to create a special ambience and an atmosphere of romance and relaxation. Often, impressive lighting can be created by concealing wine cellar lighting strips behind the racks along the rear surface of the wood (closet), shining light forward on the bottles.
Wine Cellar Type. The most impressive looking and expensive type of wine cellar is a custom built-in wine cellar equipped with custom wine racks in a large, specially designated room. More affordable option is a walk-in cellar. The walk-in wine cellar is generally easy to assemble, and adding a furniture stain and window door to the walk in wine cellar makes for a truly striking finish. An even cheaper option is a free-standing wine cellar: there are many high-quality, technologically advanced wine refrigerators in a wide range of prices. Any wine cellar must be properly insulated and vapor sealed for the unit to cool properly.
Make It Organized. The cellar should be balanced. Have a good selection of everyday wines, as well as a couple of collectible labels and hard-to-find wines. Accessible drinking wines need to sit closer than rare and more expensive bottles. Maintain a careful record of all wine bottles in your inventory, including dates and vintages.
Keeping a cellar is a great investment: it will ensure that your wine is stored safely and that it ages properly. As your wine ages correctly in your cellar, you can always sell it at a higher replacement value. Having a climate-controlled wine cellar will give you a peace of mind that your wines are aging to perfection to create ultimate value for your customers.
Image provided by Free Foto.
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