Wine more and more people getting interested in wine these days, you may want to think about creating your own personal wine cellar. Wine consumption has increased nearly 10% from 2001 to 2005. Although commercially available, wine refrigerators which can hold anywhere from 10 to 200 bottles and range in price from about $150 to well over $5,000. Most people store wine in kitchen cabinets, on top of the refrigerator, or even the corner of a closet. If you enjoy wine you may want to consider creating a wine cellar. This article will describe some of the basic principles.
Purpose of a Wine Cellar
When you create and maintain a wine cellar, the purpose is to control the aging process. Bottled wine continues to mature and proper storage is essential to help it do so correctly. However some wines are meant to be consumed shortly after it is purchased and will not improve with age. You should do your homework when purchasing wine to see how it should be stored and when you should drink it.
Environmental Conditions
Ideally wine should be stored in an environment where temperature and humidity and can be controlled. It depends on your climate, but in many homes this can be accomplished in a basement. If you don’t have a basement, look for a cool place where the wine bottles can be laid flat, free from vibration, high humidity, and varying temperature.
Darkness is also an ingredient for proper wine storage. Why does it need to be dark? Natural ultraviolet light and bright artificial light can create premature aging. Fluorescent light is worse than incandescent lighting since it puts out more UV light. Be careful when wine shopping and avoid purchasing wine that is kept on the top shelf beneath bright lights.
Normal household activity probably will not harm your wine. However, exaggerated vibration prevents the normal sediment process, especially in the fines wines such as Burgundy. The higher up you store wine, the more vibration it will experience. If you don’t have a basement, keep it on the ground floor.
Wines need to be in a constant temperature, somewhere between 52 and 56 degrees Fahrenheit, which will allow the wine to age correctly. Lower temperatures will throw the wine into a state of dormancy. Storing wine in the refrigerator at near-freezing temperatures will make it taste flat. Higher temperatures will accelerate the wine’s aging and when kept above 75°F the wine will slowly bake. Excessive temperature fluctuation will cause the wine to expand and contract in the bottle, which will draw in air through the cork and cause oxidation.
Humidity control is another key factor in wine storage. Damp air keeps wine corks from drying out, which keeps the cork expanded and maintain a proper seal. Laying a bottle on its side will also ensure the cork remains moist on the inside, which is just as important to keep the cork swollen. The ideal humidity level for your cellar is between 55%-80%. If you’re concerned about humidity, buy a hygrometer to measure your cellar’s humidity level. You can always install a humidifier if your cellar is dry, especially in the winter months. Very high humidity is also not good so you must not let the humidity rise much above 90% as this will cause mold to grow on the corks. If you see any labels that have loosened or have any mold growth, then the humidity is likely too high.
Wine Racks
Inside your storage area you’ll need to think about the racks that hold the wine. Wine racks come in a variety of materials and can be custom made to fit into unique spacing requirements.
Be careful not to waste space on placement, as your storage area might fill up quicker than you think. No matter what material or design is chosen, racks must be sturdy and able to store bottles on their side to this keep the cork moist.
Stacking the bottles two deep on their sides will still allow you access while saving space. The wines that will be ready for uncorking the soonest should logically be placed at the front, with those with ageing at the back.
Basic Components for Wine Cellar Construction
Depending on the size of your wine cellar and where you will place it will determine the method of construction and cooling.
If you convert a pantry or closet into a wine storage room, you need to completely insulate the interior since most interior rooms do not have insulation inside the stud cavities. It is easier to apply insulating board over the drywall; you should paint the existing walls with a high quality stain-blocking primer to help prevent any deterioration. You should use at least 1 ½ inch boards, Polyisocyanurate, commonly referred to as polyiso, and polyurethane materials offer high R-values (R 5.6 to R 8) per inch of thickness. You will need to install metal tracks in between the boards so that you can install drywall over the insulation. Also install a vapor barrier over the insulation, this will help retain moisture in the room and help protect the existing drywall.
The drywall should be a moisture-resistant material such as Greenboard, which has additives in the paper that inhibit mold and moisture penetrating the gypsum. You can also opt for mold-resistant drywall made with fiberglass instead of paper.
You will need to extend outlets, lights, and light switches so that they are not buried in the insulation board. The ceiling will also have to be insulated. You may also want to install a ceramic or stone tile floor since wood or carpet will be of no use. Vinyl is also acceptable, but the thermal mass of tile will help maintain the temperature of the room if there is a cooling failure and also adds to the ambiance.
The door leading to the closet or wine cellar should be a solid wood door or insulated exterior-grade metal door. You will also need to install weatherstripping around the entire door and have a proper threshold. The better sealed the room is, the easier it will be to maintain the proper temperature and humidity and lower energy costs.
Cooling and humidification can be complex, but several manufacturers make units that are specially designed for wine cellars. A standard air conditioner will work, but you will need to set up a drain for the condensate and you would also need to install a humidifier. Small self-contained wine room conditioners are available in various sizes for between $600 and $1,200 for use in cabinets. Split systems can cost around $1,500 plus installation. Usually only one supply and return are required and it is best not to have the air blow directly on the bottles.
In determining your cellar needs, you should overestimate the quantity of wine you will collect. Once you begin collecting wine, you will invariably buy more than you expected.
Vinotemp
http://www.vinotemp.com/Default.aspx
The Wine Institute
