| If you have a growing collection of wine, it may | | | | Insulation and Vapor Barriers |
| be time to consider constructing a wine cellar. | | | | The wine cooling unit is only part of your climate |
| Some time ago the custom wine cellar was a | | | | control plan for a custom wine cellar; you also |
| rarity; today more and more wine lovers are | | | | need a vapor barrier made of plastic sheeting |
| learning about wine cellar construction or | | | | used on the "hot" side of the wall. Some people |
| contracting the work out to those who know | | | | cover the interior of the wine cellar previous to |
| how to do the job correctly. | | | | placing the insulation, leaving the plastic loose so |
| Wine cellar rooms are more than a dark, cool | | | | that insulation can be positioned between the |
| place to hold an assortment of wine bottles. | | | | studs in the wall. Wrap the ceiling and the walls, or |
| Today's custom wine cellar is a controlled | | | | your vapor barrier will be incomplete. After the |
| environment where humidity and temperature are | | | | barrier is installed, the insulation will come next. |
| regulated to allow wine to correctly age without | | | | Good wine cellar construction requires the right |
| harm to corks, labels or the wine itself. | | | | kind of insulation for your walls and ceiling. For |
| There are two styles of wine cellars. One is a | | | | example, if you are building a 2x6 wall, R19 |
| room that has been particularly constructed to | | | | insulation is recommended, but if you have a |
| store wine in the perfect environment and the | | | | smaller wall of 2x4, R13 may be your best bet. |
| other is a stand-alone unit that mirrors those | | | | (The "R" designation represents the heat |
| conditions. A stand-alone wine cellar is not as | | | | resistance of the insulation.) Ceilings need R30. |
| valuable as a custom-built version, but some | | | | Custom wine cellar builders should never set up |
| people desire the aesthetics of a small cooled | | | | the insulation loose without packing the material |
| refrigerator over a custom wine cellar. Those who | | | | into the sections, as this lessens the insulation's |
| do choose a custom cellar have three simple | | | | effectiveness. |
| considerations for proper design. | | | | The next step is to install a kind of drywall called |
| Temperature Control and Venting | | | | green board, which is moisture-resistant, making it |
| A wine cellar room is used to hold and age the | | | | a bit more expensive than normal drywall. Install |
| wine in the bottle rather than keeping it at a | | | | an exterior-grade door to the wine cellar and your |
| serving temperature. (A stand-alone wine fridge is | | | | climate control plan is finished. |
| excellent for bringing wine out of the cellar to | | | | Lighting and UV Exposure Control |
| store at serving temperatures.) Aging wine is a | | | | Wine is destroyed by UV exposure, which is why |
| balance of time, temperature and the chemical | | | | the bottles are usually made out of dark glass. |
| reactions that occur as an outcome of the two. | | | | Avoid putting in fluorescent bulbs in the wine cellar |
| Wine should be aged in conditions ranging between | | | | room, as they give off UV radiation. Control the |
| 55 and 65 percent humidity and a solid 55 | | | | brightness by using recessed lighting on a dimmer |
| degrees Fahrenheit, give or take one degree. | | | | and avoid shining light directly on your wine bottles |
| Wine stored at higher temperatures will age | | | | for long periods of time. Some wine racks are |
| quicker and wine experiences chemical reactions | | | | constructed with compartments that hide bottles |
| at higher temperatures that devalue the flavor | | | | from the light which can help reduce exposure, |
| over time. | | | | but if your bottles are stowed in clear view, try |
| In some areas of the country, homeowners with | | | | to avoid the "spotlight" effect on your bottles. |
| basements often find that conditions are right for | | | | Other Concerns |
| basic wine storage, but seasonal temperature and | | | | Just about any kind of flooring can be used in |
| humidity variations should be avoided. The best | | | | your custom wine cellar. If your home is big |
| storage solution is a custom-built or | | | | enough for a tasting room to complement your |
| DIY-construction wine cellar with climate and | | | | cellar, you may want to give them both a |
| humidity control using a wine cellar cooling | | | | matching look, but by no means use carpet and |
| component to maintain the temperature at a | | | | rugs in the cellar area. They simply can't hold up |
| stable 55 degrees. | | | | to the required humidity levels without giving |
| These units come in a variety of sizes and the | | | | away to mold. Mold growth will spoil your wine, as |
| dimensions of your wine cellar will control what | | | | can any powerful odor from chemicals or |
| size you need to purchase. In no way select a | | | | cheeses. A wine cellar should be used only to hold |
| wine cooling system too small for your room; you | | | | wine; store food in a separate area. |
| most likely will never get an accurate, optimal | | | | At all times check the temperature and humidity |
| storage temperature and the cooling unit will | | | | in your wine cellar with an external sensor or |
| become overtaxed trying to keep up. | | | | gauge. Never assume that the wine cooling |
| Wine cooling units demand proper venting, and | | | | component will always function properly. A quick |
| your wine cellar construction job requires either a | | | | look at the external gauge can offer you early |
| hole in the wall to permit venting outdoors or | | | | warning if the wine cooling system is having |
| enough vent space to move warm air out of the | | | | difficulties, or if the unit is showing a wrong |
| room. Check the specs of your wine cooling unit; | | | | readout because of a bad sensor or other |
| most require a venting space at least two times | | | | technical problems. |
| as large as the wine cellar space itself. | | | | Making a custom wine room may ask for some |
| Electrical power is also an issue. Custom wine | | | | attention to the design demands of good wine |
| cellar builders recommend a devoted power | | | | storage, but once correctly built, you may realize |
| source to run a wine cooling unit. Those who | | | | that your collection grows rapidly; it's simple to |
| want to use a shared power source frequently | | | | invest more money in wine when you know it will |
| find the system overloading with blown fuses and | | | | be held securely for maximum delight. |
| other electrical issues. | | | | |