How And Why To Build A Wine Cellar

Do you want to know how and why to build a wine cellar? Lately, wine has become an important part of a great meal. If you´re setting up a romantic dinner or a work related meeting, having a wine cellar is sure to leave in your guests a good impression. A wine cellar is a confined environment to preserve wines. Given the fact that good wines get better if stored properly for a number of years, having an adequate place to keep them is sure to be a good investment. There are different styles of cellars. Depending on the size, we can divide wine cellars between room and cabinet cellars. Also, if the wine cellar has devices to control temperature and humidity it will be called an active cellar, whilst a cellar that has no controlled conditions is called a passive cellar. Most passive cellars are built underground, to prevent fast temperature swings.

To build a cabinet wine cellar, you will need:

• An air tight insulated cabinet.
• A moisture regulator.
• A temperature regulator.

1. Install the moisture and temperature regulators in the cabinet. Temperature and humidity sensors must be placed at half height inside the box, preferably away from the door.
2. Place the sensor´s screen facing the door. This way you will be able to check the figures with no need to open the door, thus avoiding heat and temperature loss.
3. Separate the bottles inside the cellar for long term storage. A simple layer of cardboard will be the minimalist solution. However, a wood frame to sit bottles is sure to provide better support and also let air flow around every bottle, making the cellar also look good.
4. Place the cabinet cellar in a dark place. Light is also harmful for the wine. Additionally, insulating the cellar´s base with a rubber layer will prevent normal vibrations from interrupting the wine´s maturation process. 

 To build a room wine cellar is:

• A deeply insulated basement.
• An air tight door.

1. Choose the room that will become the wine cellar. Ideally, a room wine cellar will, by it´s own construction, provide a stable temperature. A regular American house basement will not provide enough darkness or thermic insulation, as they're designed to let air and light in.
2. Install an air tight door. To access the cellar.
3. Place the shelves. Leave enough space to walk between them.
4. Do not install regular light bulbs. Again, ideally a wine cellar will remain dark and quiet at all times, other than the necessary to go inside to pick up a few bottles.

No matter if you will store twenty bottles or two hundred, the temperature must be kept in the 50° to 57°, and the relative air humidity around 70 per cent, to keep organic corks from drying.